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Migrate from Avenza Maps ​

This guide is intended for current Avenza Maps users who consider switching to QGIS DocumentationQGIS and Mergin Maps. It might be helpful also to Mergin Maps users looking to transfer their maps and field data from the Avenza Maps ecosystem.

Getting familiar with Mergin Maps and QGIS

Switching to a new platform can be challenging. This documentation is here to help with the basics as well as some more advanced or specific settings.

To get familiar with Mergin Maps, we recommend starting with the tutorials. If there are specific topics that are crucial for your workflows, feel free to explore the documentation or contact our sales team or our support team to get more details.

QGIS is a powerful tool that comes with great community and resources. We recommend using QGIS DocumentationQGIS User Guide and QGIS DocumentationQGIS Training Manual to explore its functionality.

Avenza Maps and Mergin Maps ecosystems ​

Mergin Maps is a platform that seamlessly integrates QGIS DocumentationQGIS projects, providing a familiar workflow for GIS professionals. This connection ensures that Mergin Maps users can benefit from the styling options, attributes form design, and data management capabilities provided by QGIS.

Avenza Maps is built around georeferenced map documents. Users bring in a map from the Avenza Map Store or import their own georeferenced file, then collect placemarks, lines, areas and tracks on top of it. Data is moved in and out of the app by importing and exporting files.

Key differences between the platforms include:

  • Projects and maps

    In Avenza Maps, the map document is the starting point and feature layers are linked to it. Georeferenced raster documents (Geospatial PDF, TerraGo GeoPDF, GeoTIFF, or JPG packaged with a world file) are imported and tiled on the device. Alternatively, a basemap can be used as a starting point and the user can draw layers on top of it.

    Mergin Maps follows the logic of a QGIS project: a project holds all the survey layers, background maps, symbology and forms together. You prepare it once in QGIS on your computer and synchronise it to every device, so field users do not need to assemble the map themselves.

  • Layers, features and attribute forms

    Avenza Maps uses attribute schemas, which define an attribute name, its type and optional properties such as a picklist. Schemas are created in the app and shared between users as files.

    In Mergin Maps, the schema for created layers is standard. But it can be enhanced in QGIS through forms. Forms are configured in QGIS with widgets. Besides text, numbers, dates and value lists, you can use photos, relations, default values, constraints and conditional visibility to build forms that guide the surveyor and validate the data as it is entered.

  • Sharing data between the office and the field

    In Avenza Maps, projects are transferred as exported files, one map or one layer at a time.

    Mergin Maps synchronises the whole project. Changes made in the field are uploaded to the workspace and changes made in QGIS are pushed back to the devices, with project history recording every version and with support for collaborative editing by multiple surveyors on the same layers.

  • Supported formats of background maps

    Avenza Maps works primarily with georeferenced rasters imported to the device.

    Mergin Maps supports these raster maps as well, together with vector layers, XYZ tiles, MBTiles, WMS and WMTS services, and more (for more details, see the list of supported formats).

Migrating from Avenza Maps to Mergin Maps ​

Migrating your collected data ​

Map features collected in Avenza Maps can be exported in formats that QGIS reads directly, such as KML/KMZ, CSV, Shapefile or GeoPackage. Note that some export formats require an Avenza Maps Pro subscription.

To migrate your data:

  1. Export your features from Avenza Maps. KML is a safe choice, as it covers placemarks, lines, areas and tracks, and can carry attached photos. Navigate to your Map layers and select the Export option. Note that the free version supports only export of layers, not of the entire map (and only as .kml, .gpx and .csv).
  2. Create a QGIS project and save it in a local folder.
  3. Load the exported file(s) in QGIS using, e.g., KML Tools plugin. The plugin will retain all the attributes, but will convert certain types (such as Boolean or Dates) into Text type. It will also use a default symbology which has to be changed later.
  4. Use QGIS DocumentationRefactor Fields (from the Processing Toolbox) on the imported layers to re-create your attribute schema as desired (delete extra fields, convert Text types back to Dates/Boolean etc.). Save the outputs as GeoPackages.
  5. Proceed with applying the appropriate symbology on your layers and implementing various widgets on their attributes (such as List of Values or Date and time).
  6. For Photo attachments, you can use the Attachment widget. For this, your captured Photos must also be exported from your device and be placed in your local folder.
  7. Now you can upload your QGIS project onto your Mergin Maps workspace using the Mergin Maps QGIS plugin. Your project will automatically sync across your other devices, and you can view it from there as well, using the Mergin Maps mobile app.

Migrating your maps ​

Georeferenced maps used in Avenza Maps can be reused as background maps in your QGIS project:

  1. Add the GeoTIFF or geospatial PDF to QGIS as a raster layer and check that it is placed correctly.
  2. If needed, convert the file to GeoTIFF using the QGIS DocumentationGDAL tools available in the QGIS Processing toolbox. This is worth doing for PDF documents with a lot of vector content, which can be slow to render.
  3. Keep the file size reasonable and QGIS Documentationbuild overviews (pyramids) for large rasters, so that the map stays responsive on mobile devices.

Maps from the Avenza Map Store

Maps purchased or downloaded from the Avenza Map Store are licensed for use within the Avenza Maps app and cannot be transferred to another platform. Use your own georeferenced maps, or one of the background map options available in QGIS instead.

Using Mergin Maps ​

To use your QGIS project within the Mergin Maps platform:

  1. Sign up to Mergin Maps
  2. Install the Mergin Maps QGIS plugin
  3. Install the Mergin Maps mobile app
  4. Synchronise the QGIS project to the mobile app using the QGIS plugin. See how the settings done in QGIS translate to the mobile app.

Troubleshoot ​

Struggling to migrate your projects? We are happy to help you!

Book a short video call with our sales team or write your technical questions to our support team. You can also chat with our open-source community.

Join our community and ask questions!

If you are looking for a professional partner to migrate your workflow, you can ask our partners network or Lutra Consulting Ltd., the developers of Mergin Maps.

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Credits ​

Avenza Maps is developed and corresponding trademarks are owned by Avenza Systems, Inc.