MapConverter — GPS, GeoJSON & KML Conversion Tool

MapConverter — GPS, GeoJSON & KML Conversion ToolMapConverter is a versatile tool designed to simplify the process of converting geospatial data between common formats such as GPS (GPX), GeoJSON, and KML. Whether you’re a GIS professional, a web developer, a field surveyor, or a hobbyist mapping enthusiast, MapConverter streamlines converting, reprojecting, cleaning, and preparing geographic datasets for use in web maps, GPS devices, and GIS applications.

Why Map Conversion Matters

Geospatial data exists in many formats. Different tools and devices prefer or require specific formats:

• GPX is widely used for storing GPS tracks, routes, and waypoints.
• GeoJSON is the de-facto standard for encoding geographic data in web applications and JavaScript environments.
• KML is commonly used for Google Earth and some mapping tools.

Converting between these formats ensures interoperability across platforms and tools, enabling seamless sharing, visualization, and analysis.

Core Features of MapConverter

• Batch conversion: Convert many files at once (e.g., multiple GPX tracks to a single GeoJSON).
• Format support: Import/export GPX, GeoJSON, KML, Shapefile (SHP), CSV with coordinates, and more.
• Coordinate system handling: Reproject data between common coordinate reference systems (CRS), including WGS84 and popular projected systems.
• Attribute handling: Preserve and map attribute fields between formats; allow custom field mapping.
• Geometry simplification: Reduce coordinate density for large tracks/polygons to improve performance in web maps.
• Validation and repair: Detect and fix common geometry errors (self-intersections, invalid polygons).
• Metadata preservation: Carry over timestamps, route names, and other metadata where possible.
• Preview and quick edit: Visual preview on an interactive map with basic editing (split, merge, delete features).
• CLI and API: Command-line utilities and REST API for automation and integration into workflows.
• Privacy-first options: Remove or obfuscate timestamps and sensitive metadata before export.

Typical Workflows

1. From GPS device to web map:

   • Export GPX from a handheld GPS.
   • Use MapConverter to clean and simplify tracks.
   • Convert to GeoJSON for use in Leaflet/Mapbox or upload to a web server.

2. Preparing data for Google Earth:

   • Convert GeoJSON or Shapefiles into KML.
   • MapConverter preserves styling attributes (where possible) and converts coordinate systems.

3. Combining multiple sources:

   • Merge several KML files and GPX routes into a single GeoJSON FeatureCollection.
   • Reproject to a common CRS and export for analysis.

4. Mass conversion and automation:

   • Use the CLI to batch-convert entire directories of GPX files into Tile-reduced GeoJSON suitable for web tiles or vector tile generation.

Technical Details

• Input formats supported: GPX, GeoJSON, KML, Shapefile, CSV, TopoJSON.
• Output formats supported: GeoJSON, KML, GPX, Shapefile, CSV.
• CRS handling: Supports EPSG codes for reprojection. Defaults to EPSG:4326 (WGS84).
• Simplification algorithms: Ramer–Douglas–Peucker with configurable tolerance.
• Geometry validation: Uses robust geometry libraries to ensure exported files are compliant.
• CLI example:

  
  mapconverter convert --input tracks.gpx --output tracks.geojson --simplify 5 

Best Practices

• Always keep a copy of the original data before converting.
• Choose an appropriate simplification tolerance: higher values reduce size but may remove important detail.
• When converting to KML for Google Earth, be aware of KML size and complexity limits.
• For web use, GeoJSON is preferred; consider converting large datasets into vector tiles for performance.
• Use attribute mapping to keep important metadata across formats.

Use Cases by Audience

• GIS professionals: Integrate disparate datasets, reproject to project CRS, prepare for spatial analysis.
• Web developers: Convert server-side datasets into GeoJSON for client-side mapping libraries.
• Outdoor enthusiasts: Share GPX routes in GeoJSON to display on custom web maps.
• Researchers: Aggregate field data collected in CSV into GeoJSON for visualization and spatial statistics.

Limitations and Considerations

• Some format-specific styling and advanced features may not transfer perfectly (e.g., KML advanced balloon content).
• Large files may require chunking or simplification before conversion to avoid performance issues.
• Attribute types may differ between formats (e.g., Shapefile field name length limits).

Conclusion

MapConverter is a practical, privacy-conscious conversion tool that bridges the gap between GPS devices, web mapping formats, and GIS workflows. Its combination of batch processing, CRS handling, and simplification options makes it useful for professionals and hobbyists alike — enabling you to move geospatial data smoothly from collection to visualization and analysis.