Import and export areas
Importing needs the same role as drawing an area (see Create areas). Anyone who can see an area can export it.
Import areas from files
On the Overview map, select a project, then Add Area and drop your files under Upload. Review them in the Preview panel and select Save (N).
Supported files
| Format | Extensions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GeoJSON | .geojson, .json | Longitude and latitude (WGS84). |
| KML | .kml | Point and Polygon placemarks. Lines are ignored. |
| KMZ | .kmz | The first .kml inside. |
| Shapefile | .zip | Must contain the .shp, .shx and .dbf files. |
A MultiPolygon becomes one area per polygon ("{name} - Part 1" and so on). Lines and multi-points may appear in the preview but fail to save, so delete those rows.
A file that cannot be read (invalid, missing Shapefile parts or holding no points or polygons) is skipped without a message. Check it in a GIS.
Batch limits
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Files per upload | 25 |
| Areas loaded from one upload | 50 (only the first 50 are loaded) |
| Areas in the preview at once | 50 |
How imported areas are named
Each area takes the first text value among the name, title, label, description, feature_name, area_name and region attributes (any case), else the file name.
Attribute values often break the naming rules (letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens and underscores, unique in the project). Check every name in the preview.
Automatic shape corrections
Unlike drawn areas, imported shapes are corrected before the preview opens: multi-part shapes reduced to their largest part, crossings repaired, holes filled, slivers sealed and vertices reduced to 500. A message lists what changed, and the preview shows exactly what will be saved. The 1,000,000 square kilometre limit still applies.
Review and save a batch
Files and data services both open the Preview panel.
- Choose one Group for the whole batch, or leave it empty.
- Edit names, and use Edit shape or Delete on any row.
- Fix rows marked with an error. Rows with errors are skipped.
- Select Save (N).
If only some save, the saved ones leave the preview and the rest stay with their error so you can fix them and save again.
Create areas from a WFS or ArcGIS service
Draw published boundaries (for example mining tenements or cadastre) on the map, click the features you want and turn them into areas.
Add a service
In Add Area, under Data service, select Add WFS / ArcGIS service. Paste the service address and select Connect (or pick a preset such as WA Mining Tenements), choose a layer and select Add layer. Layers are listed in the Data services panel on the right edge of the map.
Service rules
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Storage | In your browser only, per workspace. Other users and devices do not see your services. |
| Maximum services | 3. |
| Browser access | Your browser contacts the service directly, so it must allow cross-origin requests. |
| Zoom | Features load only at zoom level 10 or closer. |
| Features in view | Over 10,000 features of one layer in view and none are drawn. Zoom in. |
Service errors
| Message | What to check |
|---|---|
| "Could not reach this address..." | The address is wrong, or the service blocks browser access. |
| "This address did not return a WFS service description." | The address is not a WFS endpoint. |
| "This WFS service only returns GML, which cannot be read in the browser." | The service offers no readable format. |
| "The service did not respond in time." | The service is slow or down. |
Find and select features
Click a feature to add it to the selection and click again to remove it. The layer's search button in Data services searches the whole service, not just what is drawn. You can select up to 50 features at once.
Turn the selection into areas
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Create N areas | One area per feature, named from its most distinctive attribute, or "Feature N". |
| Merge into 1 | Combines two or more selected polygons into "Merged area". Polygons that do not touch become separate parts. Points and lines are left out. |
The new areas open in the Preview panel. The selection bar is disabled in All projects and in projects you cannot edit.
Export areas as GeoJSON
| What | Where | File |
|---|---|---|
| One area | Download GeoJSON in Area Details, or right-click it on the map | {area name}.geojson |
| A group and its areas | Download GeoJSON in Area Group Details, or right-click inside the group's bounds | {group name}_with_areas.geojson |
Files are FeatureCollections in WGS84 with id, name, project_id, area_group_id, is_point, created_at and updated_at. There is no export of every area at once: put them in a group and download the group.