Drawing and managing map annotations
Map annotations are pins, lines, and polygons that you draw directly on the survey map. Unlike imported GIS layers (which come from external files), annotations are created in-app and saved to the survey. They are useful for marking points of interest, delineating sub-areas, and recording informal spatial notes during planning and fieldwork.
Annotation types
- Pin — a single point on the map. Use for waypoints, landmarks, and points of interest.
- Line — a multi-vertex linestring. Use for tracks, fence lines, drainage channels, or any linear feature.
- Polygon — a closed shape. Use for habitat patches, exclusion zones, or any area boundary.
Drawing an annotation
- Open the map view for your survey.
- In the map toolbar, select the draw tool: Pin, Line, or Polygon.
- Click on the map to place the first point.
- For lines and polygons, continue clicking to add vertices. A live preview follows your cursor.
- Double-click to finish a line or polygon.
Save dialog
After finishing, a save dialog appears. You can:
- Enter an optional label to identify the annotation (for example, "Northern access gate" or "Wetland patch A").
- Enter optional notes with any additional detail.
Click Save. The annotation is immediately saved to the survey and visible on the map.
Annotations panel
The Annotations panel in the sidebar lists all annotations for the current survey, grouped by type (Pins, Lines, Polygons). Each group has a count badge.
Use the filter buttons at the top of the panel to show only one type, or show all.
Click any annotation in the panel to fly to it on the map and highlight it.
Viewing and editing an annotation
Click an annotation directly on the map to open a popup. The popup shows:
- The label and notes
- The annotation type and creation date
- Edit and Delete buttons
Click Edit to update the label or notes. Geometry editing (moving vertices) is available via the Edit geometry option in the popup.
Deleting an annotation
Clicking Delete does not permanently remove the annotation — it moves it to an archived state. Archived annotations are hidden from the map and panel but remain in the database.
To permanently delete, open the annotation details and choose Permanently delete. This action cannot be undone.
You can view archived annotations by enabling Show archived in the Annotations panel filter.
Mobile and offline behaviour
Annotations created on the mobile app while offline are stored locally and queued for upload. When connectivity returns, they sync to the server automatically.
To prevent duplicate annotations if a sync is retried (for example, after a failed upload), the system uses a clientRef — a unique ID generated on the device when the annotation is first saved. If the same annotation is submitted twice, the server recognises the clientRef and returns the existing record rather than creating a duplicate.
Annotations synced from the server to a device are available for viewing offline. Editing is also supported offline, with changes queued for the next sync.
Related Articles
- Working with the map — Map navigation, layers, and drawing tools
- Measuring distances, areas, and bearings on the map — Measurement tools
- Syncing data to mobile — How offline sync works