Mapboard GIS is an iPad app for drawing maps with an Apple Pencil. Mapboard combines the intuitive workflow of pen-and-paper mapping with the precision, flexibility, and scale-independence of geospatial information systems (GIS). Its forward-looking design helps beginner and expert mappers produce multiscale, topologically consistent geologic maps.
MOTIVATION AND DESIGN
Mapboard GIS was born out of frustration with both paper– and GIS-based mapping workflows. It is primarily designed for geologists but is potentially useful in many situations demanding interpretive mapping. Mapboard attempts to bring digital mapping closer to the intuitive experience provided by paper. A sophisticated open-source spatial engine drives simple tools for drawing, erasing, and reshaping features. Outputs are natively compatible with common GIS software. Mapboard allows mapping time to be spent refining interpretations
instead of fighting with technical tools.
KEY FEATURES
- Editing tools geared towards pen-based mapping
- Powerful and intuitive reshaping, snapping, and erasing
- Iterative topology solver to fill map units
- Sophisticated onboard Spatialite GIS engine
- Project files natively readable by standard GIS software (QGIS, ArcGIS, etc.)
- User-configurable data types for line and polygon features
- Tether to remote PostGIS for work across large datasets and real-time collaboration
- Interoperable with standard formats (mbtiles, Spatialite, PostGIS) and open-source + commercial software
OTHER FEATURES
- Load MBTiles basemaps
- Satellite, streets, and topographic basemaps
- Dark mode support
- Geologic line types
TERMS OF USE: https://mapboard-gis.app/terms-of-service
PRIVACY POLICY: https://mapboard-gis.app/privacy
CHANGELOG: https://mapboard-gis.app/docs/ios/releases
This app looks like it could become the best chance of replacing paper mapping I have seen. Being able to import mbtiles and having a spatialite database in the backend makes this a real contender. There are some bugs but it is the first public release so no surprise there. Works smoothly and easy to draw geology and structures.
Map layer controls
- Improve the user interface for showing and hiding map layers
- Add an option to show only one map layer at a time, drastically increasing performance for large, multilayer datasets
Bug fixes and internal improvements
- Fix project file share sheet
- Properly upgrade projects from older versions on app startup
- More efficient handling of app initialization and project loading
- Improve message passing at the top levels of the app
- Update the underlying database framework to work with iOS 18
Version 4.3.0
The developer, Daven Quinn, indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .
Data Not Collected
The developer does not collect any data from this app.
Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More
Accessibility
The developer has not yet indicated which accessibility features this app supports. Learn More
Information
Seller
Daven Quinn
Size
72.2 MB
Category
Productivity
Compatibility
Requires iPadOS 16.1 or later.
iPad Requires iPadOS 16.1 or later.
Mac Requires macOS 13.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip or later.