Field data & GPS
Field data apps compared, how accurate phone GPS really is, and how to keep the location on every field photo.
ArcGIS Field Maps Alternatives for Restoration and Carbon Projects
ArcGIS Field Maps alternatives for mapping restoration and carbon sites: QField, Mergin Maps, Survey123, Avenza Maps, Fulcrum and ODK, checked October 2026.
ODK Alternatives for Restoration and Carbon Projects
ODK alternatives for reforestation and carbon projects: KoboToolbox, SurveyCTO, CommCare, QField, Survey123, CyberTracker and Epicollect5, checked October 2026.
KoboToolbox Alternatives for Restoration and Carbon Projects
KoboToolbox alternatives for reforestation and carbon projects: ODK, SurveyCTO, CommCare, Survey123, QField and Mergin Maps, prices checked October 2026.
QField Alternatives for Restoration and Carbon Field Mapping
QField alternatives for mapping restoration and carbon sites: Mergin Maps, ArcGIS Field Maps, ODK and KoboToolbox, with prices checked October 2026.
Why Do Field Photos Lose Their GPS Location?
Which apps strip GPS from photos, the phone settings to check, how to record camera direction, and how to fix photos that already lost their location.
What Is EXIF Location Data in Photos?
EXIF location data is the GPS position a phone saves inside a photo. What it records, why it goes missing, and how far to trust it as field evidence.
How Accurate Is Phone GPS for Field Data?
Phone GPS is usually accurate to 3–5 m under open sky and 5–10 m under canopy. What that means for plots, boundaries and trees, and how to test it.
Field-Data Apps for Reforestation Teams
Compare field-data apps for reforestation, including KoboToolbox, QField and ArcGIS, by workflow, technical capacity and who will maintain the system.