Collecting GPS data with KoboToolbox

Last updated: 23 Apr 2026

KoboToolbox allows you to collect GPS data in your forms, including when working offline. GPS questions can capture a single location, a route, or an area during data collection. This is useful for tasks such as mapping infrastructure, tracking field visits, monitoring environmental sites, or recording service locations. GPS data can be collected using both web forms and KoboCollect.

This article explains how to collect GPS data in KoboToolbox, including the available GPS question types, how GPS data is collected in web forms and KoboCollect, how to use GPS data in advanced form logic, how to manage GPS data in KoboToolbox, and how to troubleshoot common GPS issues.

Setting up your form to collect GPS data

KoboToolbox supports three GPS question types for collecting geographic data directly in a form, several metadata options that collect location information automatically in the background, and map-based select questions in XLSForm.

GPS question types

GPS questions are visible to respondents. They allow respondents to collect GPS coordinates by manually selecting or automatically recording a single point, a line, or an area. The following GPS question types are available in KoboToolbox:

Formbuilder	XLSForm	Description
Point	geopoint	Collects a single geographic location, such as the coordinates of a school, clinic, or household.
Line	geotrace	Collects multiple GPS points that form a line, such as a path, road, or route.
Area	geoshape	Collects multiple GPS points that form an enclosed area, such as a plot of land or a field.

To learn more about adding GPS questions to your forms, see GPS questions in KoboToolbox and Question types in XLSForm.

GPS metadata questions

GPS metadata questions are not visible to respondents. When enabled, they collect GPS data automatically in the background during form completion. The following metadata question types are available in KoboToolbox:

Formbuilder	XLSForm	Description
audit	audit	Records detailed GPS location and other audit information during form completion, including location information for each question as the form is filled out.
start geopoint early	start-geopoint	Automatically captures a single location in the background when the form opens.
Not available	background-geopoint	Automatically captures a single location in the background after respondents answer a specific question.

To learn more about adding GPS metadata to your forms, see Adding form metadata in the Formbuilder and Form metadata in XLSForm.

Selecting options from a map

In addition to collecting GPS coordinates, you can also let respondents select from predefined locations on a map in XLSForm. This is set up using a select question with the map or quick map appearance, along with a geometry column in the choices sheet that stores the coordinates for each choice.

To learn more about setting up select from map questions, see Selecting options from a map.

Collecting GPS data

GPS data can be collected in both web forms and the KoboCollect app, but the collection process differs between them.

Web forms

When using web forms, respondents can enter GPS data in several ways:

• Detect the current location of the device

• Select a location directly on the map

• Search for an address

• Manually enter GPS coordinates

For line and area questions, respondents can add multiple points on the map to create a route or polygon.

Note: You can detect the current location of the device by clicking on the location target button in the top right corner, next to the search bar.

You can use appearances to change how the GPS question is displayed in web forms, specifically to hide the input fields for GPS coordinates. However, web forms do not allow you to fully prevent manual location selection. If you want to collect a location automatically without allowing manual selection, use background-geopoint instead.

KoboCollect

In KoboCollect, GPS data is captured automatically from the device’s current location when the user taps a button. Manual location selection is not enabled by default for point questions, although additional appearances can change how GPS questions behave.

The capture method in KoboCollect differs depending on the question type:

Question type	GPS data capture
Point / geopoint	Tap Get point to begin capturing the device’s location. Once the device reaches the default target accuracy of 5 meters or better, the point is recorded automatically. The enumerator can also tap Save to record the current location manually before that accuracy is reached.
Line / geotrace	Tap Get line and click to choose an input method. The available methods are: Placement by tapping: The enumerator manually taps points on the map to draw the line. Manual location recording: The enumerator moves to each location and taps Record a Point to capture each point from the device’s current position. Automatic location recording: The app records points automatically while the enumerator moves, based on a selected time interval and required accuracy. A line requires at least two points. After recording your points, click the Save button in the bottom left corner.
Area / geoshape	Tap Get polygon and click to choose an input method. The same input methods as above are available, but to create an enclosed area instead of a line. An area requires at least three points.

Beyond the default behavior, you can use appearances to change how GPS questions function in KoboCollect. For example, you can use appearances to:

• Display a map of the automatically selected location

• Enable manual location selection

To learn more about GPS question appearances, see GPS questions in KoboToolbox.

You can also configure KoboCollect map settings to control how maps are displayed for GPS based questions, including defining the map source, selecting a map style, and adding offline map layers.

To learn more about KoboCollect map settings, see Customizing KoboCollect settings.

Improving GPS accuracy

GPS accuracy depends on both the device and the environment. It can be affected by factors such as whether the device has GPS enabled and a built-in GPS sensor, how recently it last determined its location, whether it is using satellite or network-based location services, and environmental conditions such as cloud cover or nearby buildings and trees.

GPS parameters

When building forms in XLSForm, you can use parameters to control GPS accuracy more precisely.

Common parameters include:

Parameter	Example	Description
capture-accuracy	capture-accuracy=15	Automatically captures the point once the device reaches the target accuracy. If set to 0, the enumerator must explicitly accept the point. The default is 5 meters.
warning-accuracy	warning-accuracy=30	Triggers a warning message if the GPS accuracy is not within the specified accuracy threshold. This does not prevent saving the point. The default is 100 meters.

Note: For most workflows, a capture-accuracy of around 5 meters is a practical target. In general, it is not recommended to set the target below 3 meters unless you are using an external GPS device, because built-in device GPS is often not accurate enough to reach that level reliably.

Recommendations for improving GPS accuracy

To improve GPS accuracy:

• Collect data outdoors in an open area with a clear view of the sky

• Stand away from buildings, trees, and other obstructions

• Make sure your body is not blocking the device’s view of the sky

• Warm up your device’s GPS by including start-geopoint at the beginning of your form

• Enable assisted GPS on the device if available

Advanced form logic with GPS data

KoboToolbox supports advanced form logic with GPS data in XLSForm. For example, you can use GPS functions in calculations, constraints, and skip logic to measure distance, perimeter, or area, or to check whether a location falls within a defined boundary.

Common GPS functions include:

Function	Description
area(${geoshape})	Returns the area, in square meters, of a geoshape value.
distance(geo)	Returns the distance, in meters, of either: the perimeter of a geoshape value the length of a geotrace value a list of geopoints either specified as strings or references to other fields (including from repeat groups), separated by commas
geofence(${geopoint}, ${geoshape})	Returns TRUE if the specified ${geopoint} is inside the specified ${geoshape}, FALSE otherwise. Supported only in KoboCollect.

To learn more about functions to manipulate GPS data in XLSForm, see Using functions in XLSForm.

Managing GPS data

After collection, GPS data can be reviewed, mapped, and exported in KoboToolbox.

Viewing GPS data in the data table

GPS responses appear in the data table like other form responses. A single GPS point is stored as four space-separated values in this format: latitude longitude altitude accuracy.

For line and area questions, multiple GPS points are stored in the same format and separated by semicolons.

To learn more about viewing your data in the data table, see Viewing and validating your data.

Mapping GPS data in KoboToolbox

KoboToolbox provides a built-in Map view for visualizing single GPS points. This makes it easier to review where submissions were collected, explore spatial patterns, and better understand the geographic distribution of your data.

To learn more about the Map view in KoboToolbox, see Mapping your GPS data.

Exporting GPS data

You can also export GPS data from KoboToolbox for use in external software. Available export formats support different workflows, from data review and cleaning to mapping and geospatial analysis:

• CSV and XLS exports are useful for working with GPS data in spreadsheet software and can also be imported into many GIS tools, though they often require additional setup such as defining coordinate fields or a coordinate reference system.

• For GIS workflows, GeoJSON is generally the recommended format because it is widely supported in tools such as ArcGIS and QGIS.

• KML is mainly intended for visualization in applications such as Google Earth and supports basic map styling, but it is more limited and is best used only when required for a specific workflow.

To learn more about exporting your GPS data for external analysis, see Exporting GPS data.

Troubleshooting

GPS location is not being captured

Check that location services and GPS are enabled on the device and that the device has a GPS sensor. You can also test GPS with another app to confirm that the device can determine a location. For better results, move outdoors, wait for a stronger signal, keep away from buildings, trees, and other obstructions, and allow extra time for the device to get its first GPS fix. 

GPS location is incorrect

If the recorded location appears to be wrong, the device may be using network-based location instead of satellite-based GPS. In some cases, turning off network location in the device settings can help force KoboCollect to wait for the actual GPS location. 

GPS accuracy does not reach the target threshold

 If a point never reaches the desired accuracy, the capture-accuracy threshold may be too strict for the device or field conditions.