Prepare before leaving mobile coverage
Check the country coverage and retrieve the parcel while connected. Save the result and confirm it can be reopened before travelling. A blank result may mean unsupported coverage or a temporarily unavailable source; it does not prove that no parcel exists.
Record the parcel identifier, source and retrieval date alongside your field notes. Compare the map with what you observe without treating GPS or a drawn line as a surveyed boundary.
Step by step
- Check the exact location. Open the relevant country guide and confirm the regional exclusions. A country appearing in a coverage list does not mean that every region or data field is supported. An empty result is a reason to investigate the source, not evidence that a parcel does not exist.
- Retrieve and save before leaving. Look up the parcel with a network connection and save the result. Check the parcel identifier, source attribution and retrieval date. Reopen the saved record before you leave so you know which information you actually have. Saving a parcel and downloading the surrounding map are separate actions.
- Prepare the offline area. If you use Field, download the required area while connected and check that the download has finished. Open the area before travelling. New official parcel lookups still require a connection, and offline map downloads are unavailable in Switzerland. GPS availability does not make new cadastral data available offline.
- Record what you observe. Keep notes and photos with the saved parcel. Record the visit date and distinguish a measured distance, an observation and an official source value. A phone GPS position or a line you draw is not a surveyed boundary. Avoid using a visual alignment to settle a disagreement over ownership or access.
- Review the handoff. Check the parcel, dates, notes and selected export before sharing. Essentials supports parcel exports; Pro adds branded field-visit PDF reports and additional export formats. Review the current plan in the App Store. Share only information you intend the recipient to receive and retain your original field record.
What to keep with the visit
- Parcel identifier, country, source and retrieval date.
- Visit date, notes, photos and the purpose of any approximate measurement.
- Coverage gaps, unfinished downloads or source errors that still need checking.
- The original saved record alongside the exported handoff.
Honest limits
Read this before relying on a result.
- Parcel geometry is indicative and may be incomplete or outdated.
- Boundara does not supply ownership records or determine legal boundaries.
- Offline maps require preparation and the appropriate plan; a new lookup requires connectivity.
Questions
Does GPS prove where a boundary lies?
No. GPS locates your device approximately. It does not certify that a visible feature or map line is a legal boundary.
Is saving a parcel the same as downloading a map?
No. A saved parcel record and a surrounding offline map area are different. Check both before you travel.
Where can I find the official source?
Use the country guide and the source attribution shown with the parcel. The website sources page explains the selected public providers and their limits.