GIS Albania User Manual

Welcome to GIS Albania

Use GIS Albania to view maps, draw and edit geographic features, work with Albanian and regional coordinate systems, analyse terrain and CAD data, and produce georeferenced outputs.

First start and privacy choice

1. Open GIS Albania in a modern browser with hardware acceleration enabled.
2. Choose Do not accept, Essential only, or Accept analytics. All GIS functions remain available.
3. Use the flag button to switch the application language.
4. Use the sun/moon button to change the appearance.
5. Use Manual in the application footer, immediately after Settings, to reopen this guide.

Projects are kept on the user’s browser/device. Projects without media can use .gisalbania.json; projects with photos or videos are downloaded as one .gisalbania.zip field package.

Interface overview

The fixed ribbon is organised from left to right:

The left panel contains map contents and services. The right panel contains symbology, export area, CRS and output settings. Both panels can be shown or hidden from the upper-right controls.

Navigate, search and inspect

• Pan/select: drag the map or click one editable feature. Open the Pan/select menu for Rectangle selection or Freehand/follow selection when you need several features.
• Zoom: use the mouse wheel, map buttons or touch gestures.
• Search: enter a place name or coordinates in the top search field.
• Inspect: click a layer to read values such as DTM elevation or layer attributes.
• Measure: choose the ruler, then create a line or area measurement.
• Coordinate readout: use the bottom selector to display Lat/Lon, KRGJSH-2010, UTM 34N, Pulkovo GK4, Web Mercator or KOSOVAREF01.
• Clear all: removes drawings/imported features from the current workspace and also clears every selection highlight; it does not alter your original source files.

Basemaps and official map services

1. Open Contents.
2. Select Esri World Imagery, OpenStreetMap, Google options, or None — WMTS/WMS only.
3. Use Add map service (WMTS/WMS) to choose an official catalogue entry or paste a GetCapabilities URL.
4. Select the layer to add and wait for it to appear under map services. A WMS/WMTS layer can be added only once; adding it again keeps the existing copy and turns it on if it was hidden.
5. Use layer visibility, opacity, order, zoom and remove controls as needed.

Service layers keep the styling supplied by the provider. Local symbology controls are intended for editable vector features.

Add and import data

Use Add data for supported GIS, CAD and tabular files. Select all components of a Shapefile together, or use a ZIP containing its parts. On desktop, you can also drag supported files directly onto the map; the drop is routed through the same Add data importer, while the Add data button remains available.

After import, check the CRS, geometry position, layer name and attributes before editing or export.

Individual drawings

Individual drawing mode preserves the original quick workflow: each created point, line or polygon appears as its own item.

1. Select a drawing tool from the ribbon.
2. Click the map to add vertices. For freehand, hold and drag.
3. Use +pt when available to add an exact segment from length and bearing.
4. Choose Finish or press Enter to complete the feature.
5. Select the feature to edit geometry, attributes, labels or style. Press Delete to review a warning and remove only the selected feature.

Use individual drawings for one-off annotations, measurements, export areas and separate objects that do not need a shared feature-class structure.

GIS feature-class layers

Feature layers group many features under one layer name, similar to a feature class in desktop GIS.

1. Open Project → Layers.
2. Choose Point, Line or Polygon.
3. Enter a layer name and define shared fields such as name:text, diameter:number, status:text, inspection_date:date or active:boolean.
4. Create and activate the layer.
5. Draw multiple features. Each new feature becomes a row in the same attribute table.
6. Open the layer table to edit values, or use Symbology and Labels to display the data.

Offline field use

GIS Albania can be prepared for offline field use. The main interface, editable features, attributes, notes, photos, videos and saved projects work without internet after preparation.

1. Open Project → Offline while connected to the internet.
2. Choose Prepare for offline use and allow the browser to finish preparing the required offline files.
3. Use Install app or your browser’s Add to Home screen command.
4. Pan and zoom through the survey area and every zoom level needed in the field.
5. Choose Save viewed map area to retain recently viewed basemap and service resources.
6. Save the project in the browser before leaving the connection area.

Point photos, videos and notes

Point feature classes include a QField-style field form for names, notes, photographs and videos.

1. Open Project → Layers.
2. Create a Point feature class and keep Open the field form after every new point enabled.
3. Activate the layer and choose Draw.
4. Add a point. The field record opens immediately.
5. Enter notes and choose Choose photos, Take photo, Choose video or Record video.
6. Save the record. The point remains one row in the shared layer attribute table.
7. Open the attribute table to see the photo/video count in the Media column. Choose Preview to review or download the files stored on the current device.

Use the layer’s Records button to reopen any point record. Select an existing point and use Open selected point record to edit its notes or media. Every attachment can be previewed, downloaded or deleted.

Attribute tables

• Open Attribute table from the Data group or from a feature layer.
• Each feature is represented by one row and each field by one column.
• Edit supported values directly and confirm changes.
• Select or zoom to a feature from the table where the control is available.
• Use clean numeric values for graduated symbology and consistent text values for categories.

Imported attributes are preserved when the source format supports them. Export results depend on the selected output format and its field limitations.

Symbology and labels

Open Project → Symbology, select an editable vector layer and choose a method:

• Single style: one symbol, colour or line/fill style for the layer.
• Categorized: a different style for each unique text or coded value.
• Graduated: classes based on a numeric field.

Use the label controls to choose an attribute field, label size and visibility. Confirm that the legend and Layout use the intended layer name and categories.

Coordinate entry and CRS

GIS Albania supports common Albanian and regional systems, including EPSG:6870 KRGJSH-2010 / Albania TM, EPSG:32634 WGS 84 / UTM 34N, EPSG:28404 Pulkovo 1942 / GK zone 4, EPSG:3857 and EPSG:9141 KOSOVAREF01.

1. Choose Coords to paste or import coordinate rows.
2. Select the source CRS and geometry type.
3. Map the X/Y or longitude/latitude columns.
4. Preview the result and add it to the map.
5. Choose the required output CRS separately when exporting.

Never assume a coordinate system from the numeric values alone. Confirm the source CRS from the survey, provider or metadata.

Geoprocessing and analysis

Project analysis tools provide these common GIS operations:

• Buffer: create an area at a specified distance.
• Clip: keep only geometry inside a clipping polygon.
• Intersect: create output from overlapping input geometry.
• Dissolve: merge features, optionally by a shared attribute.
• Merge/Union: combine compatible layers or geometries.
• Spatial join: transfer information according to spatial relationship.

Operations create output layers and should not replace the source. For distance or area operations, use a suitable projected CRS with metre units.

Large vector and raster data

• PMTiles: add supported tiled datasets without loading the entire source into memory.
• Remote COG: open Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF data using only the required ranges.
• Large DTM clipping: the existing standard clip remains available with its browser safety limit. The separate 🔑 Clip DTM — Unlimited / Advanced command processes the selected polygon in native-resolution chunks, estimates output size and processing time, shows live progress/ETA, supports cancellation, and automatically splits very large results into ZIP parts without adding the complete DTM to the map.

For best performance, use appropriately tiled or cloud-optimised data and avoid loading unnecessary nationwide detail at very large scales.

DTM, elevation and contours

1. Choose DTM → Add DTM for a supported elevation raster.
2. Use Inspect to read elevation values.
3. Select a polygon when a limited study area is required.
4. Use clip, hillshade, stretch or contour tools as appropriate.
5. Choose contour interval, output and labelling settings carefully.
6. Export the resulting raster or contour layer.

The bottom elevation readout uses point geometry Z first, then a DTM you loaded, then the built-in regional terrain/seabed sample for Albania, Kosovo, the Adriatic and Ionian area.

Large DTM clipping can create a ZIP containing the clipped GeoTIFF. The 🔑 Unlimited / Single GeoTIFF tool processes very large selections in internal blocks but writes one whole polygon-clipped elevation GeoTIFF (and one whole hillshade GeoTIFF when selected). Contours can be exported to supported vector/CAD formats.

CAD total length and 2D/3D volumes

Open the Volumes dropdown:

• CAD total length: calculate total line length and detailed line results from supported CAD data.
• 2D volume: footprint area multiplied by a specified height.
• 3D volume — Auto: automatically select supported solid or TIN methods.
• 3D exact extrusions: calculate supported extruded solids using their geometric dimensions.
• 3D TIN cut/fill: calculate terrain volume relative to a reference or comparison surface.

1. Choose the method.
2. Add the CAD or terrain input.
3. Select units and required parameters.
4. Review warnings and exclusions.
5. Run the calculation and export the report/Excel result where available.

Georeference an image

1. Choose Georeference.
2. Add the source image.
3. Select the destination CRS.
4. Add control points by matching known image positions to map coordinates.
5. Review residuals and remove incorrect points.
6. Run the transformation and download the georeferenced result.

Use accurately surveyed or trusted control points distributed across the image rather than points concentrated in one corner.

PDF tools

PDF tools contain four panels: PDF to image, Compress PDF, Split PDF and Merge PDFs. PDF to image and Compress PDF each accept one or several PDFs in the same chooser. One selected PDF uses the normal single-file workflow; several selected PDFs use automatic batch processing and download one ZIP.

• Compress one PDF: after choosing exactly one PDF, Minimum, Medium, Strong and Custom become available. Minimum preserves selectable text and vector linework; Medium gives a balanced smaller file; Strong prioritizes size; Custom targets the reduction you enter.
• Compress several PDFs: choose up to 20 PDFs. The optimization controls disappear and the same Compress button processes every selected file sequentially with automatic Strong compression, then downloads one ZIP. A failed or already-optimized PDF does not stop the remaining files.
• PDF to image: one PDF keeps Format and Scale. Several PDFs hide those controls, use automatic JPEG 2× processing and download one ZIP.
• For map sheets, preserve enough resolution for text, grid values and linework.
• For split or merge, confirm the page range and page order before download.
• Merge signed PDFs: merging creates a new PDF. Visible signatures are preserved, but the merged document is not cryptographically signed by the original signers and does not inherit their original signature validity. Untouched copies of the signed source PDFs are attached byte-for-byte for separate verification.

PDF processing is separate from Layout export. Use Layout when the map itself must be composed with legend, north arrow and scale.

Select export areas

The right panel provides three principal map-area workflows:

• Rectangle: a simple rectangular image or map package.
• Polygon: output limited to a custom polygon.
• Oriented grid polygon: multiple corridor-aligned parts for long or rotated study areas.

1. Choose the area type.
2. Select or draw the area.
3. Add more areas to the export list when required.
4. Choose CRS, map format and quality.
5. Review the estimated parts/output size.
6. Export and keep all generated files together.

Raster, vector and CAD exports

Maximum quality requests the native source level where possible. Balanced and Fast reduce load. Custom DPI applies to supported export workflows.

Oriented grid and AutoCAD packages

Use Oriented Grid Polygon for roads, pipelines, rivers and other long rotated areas.

1. Draw the complete corridor polygon.
2. Select Oriented Grid Polygon and choose the number/size of parts.
3. Review that cells follow the long direction and cover only the study corridor.
4. Export the CAD package.
5. Extract the ZIP into one folder before opening the DXF.
6. Keep image files, world files and DXF together.

The CAD package uses polygon clipping for the raster images. In AutoCAD, IMAGEFRAME controls whether image boundaries are visible.

Create a professional Layout

1. Open Layout.
2. Choose paper size and Landscape or Portrait.
3. Add and position one or more map frames.
4. Add Albania keymap, north arrow, legend, scale bar, text, image, Excel table or shapes.
5. Set map scale, frame extent, labels and grid options.
6. Use the compact Undo/Redo arrows for layout edits.
7. Export to JPEG or PDF.

Keep important content inside the page margins. Refresh the legend after changing visibility, names or symbology.

Save, recover and move projects

• Autosave/recovery: temporary working state is kept in the current browser/device.
• Named projects: save and reopen projects from Project.
• Portable project: download .gisalbania.json when no media is attached, or one .gisalbania.zip field package when photos/videos exist.
• Open project: select a compatible .gisalbania.json or .gisalbania.zip file. Packaged media is restored and remains downloadable from point records.
• Permalink: use for compact map view state where available; it is not a replacement for the full project file.

Mobile use

The mobile interface is designed for map viewing, offline field navigation, point-photo capture, drawing, importing and common exports. Use the bottom/side controls to open Layers, Data, Basemap, Export and Clear tools.

• Allow location access only when GPS navigation is needed.
• Use a stable connection for large imagery and services.
• For complex layouts, large CAD files and high-resolution exports, desktop use is recommended.

Keyboard shortcuts

Georeference, export names and DXF CRS Converter

The desktop Georeference window is movable and resizable, and the image thumbnail now grows or shrinks with the floating window while preserving its aspect ratio. Resizing does not reset control points, transformation settings, zoom/pan state or georeferencing calculations.

Vector export dialogs include an optional file-name field. Leave it blank for the normal GIS Albania default. Shapefile ZIPs use the layer/group names shown in Contents for the internal .shp/.shx/.dbf/.prj datasets instead of generic Point/Polyline/Polygon names; mixed-geometry groups receive a geometry suffix only when required by the Shapefile format.

CAD import/export preserves a finite third coordinate (Z) when the source geometry contains elevation. Horizontal CRS transformation changes X/Y only and carries Z through unchanged.

DXF and DWG remain available in Add data. Browser DWG requests use the same-origin GIS Albania CAD gateway. The CAD gateway is self-hosted. GNU LibreDWG is used as the local DWG reader because DWG import is reliable in this workflow. LibreDWG DWG writing is deliberately not offered to users because files written by it can require AutoCAD RECOVER. A real .dwg output is enabled only when a separately licensed AutoCAD-compatible local writer such as QCAD Professional Server is configured. Otherwise GIS Albania automatically preserves the result as DXF. No external CAD conversion service is contacted at runtime.

Desktop export panel: map/raster output and its Quality controls stay in Output; drawing/layer formats are in their own Vector export section; CAD coordinate reprojection is in the separate DXF CRS Converter section. This separation avoids mixing raster quality settings with vector/CAD tools.

DXF CRS Converter is a separate DXF-only converter below Output. Choose or drag-and-drop a DXF, select Source CRS, Target CRS and drawing units, then convert. It reprojects the DXF directly without adding it to Layers. DWG remains available in Add data and normal Vector export, but it is intentionally not part of the dedicated CRS converter.

The converter works between any CRS exposed in its Source/Target lists, not only one named EPSG pair. It transforms only known model-space CAD coordinate semantics; unknown/proxy entities, paper-space records and non-planar OCS entities are preserved unchanged and reported instead of being guessed. Model-space drawing extents and the active viewport are updated to the new CRS so AutoCAD opens on the transformed drawing. The separate DWG Add data path still unwraps DWG using a DXF generation matching the source DWG where supported (for example AC1024 / AutoCAD 2010 to R2010 DXF) instead of silently downgrading to R2000; DWG is not accepted by the dedicated DXF CRS converter.

Troubleshooting

• Old interface after an update: hard-refresh with Ctrl+Shift+R or reopen in a private window.
• Map does not start: enable WebGL/hardware acceleration and disable blockers for the site.
• Layer appears in the wrong place: verify the source CRS. For an auto-detected EPSG:6870/EPSG:32634 layer, use the Source CRS selector in that layer's Contents header; the layer updates immediately without re-adding it.
• Shapefile has the correct extent but no visible line: export the layer again and verify that the source line geometry is valid; previously generated broken ZIPs must be regenerated.
• WMS/WMTS does not load: verify the GetCapabilities URL, selected layer, supported CRS and provider availability.
• Large export fails: reduce area, quality or part size and ensure enough browser/device storage.
• DWG will not import: check the self-hosted CAD gateway status and confirm the local LibreDWG reader is available.
• DWG export downloads DXF instead: this is intentional when no AutoCAD-compatible local DWG writer is installed. Open the DXF in AutoCAD and Save As DWG; GIS Albania will not knowingly deliver a LibreDWG-written file that may require RECOVER.
• CAD Z values are missing: confirm that the source geometry is genuinely Z-enabled; 2D input has no elevation to preserve.
• CAD image is missing: extract the whole ZIP and keep the DXF and image files in the same folder.
• Project is missing: check the same browser profile or open the downloaded .gisalbania.json/.gisalbania.zip file.
• Offline basemap is blank: reconnect, pan through the required area and zoom levels, then use Project → Offline → Save viewed map area.
• Photo/video is missing: open the complete .gisalbania.zip field package rather than extracting only project.json.

When troubleshooting, note the browser, application version, input type, selected CRS and the exact steps that produced the problem. Never share passwords, confidential project information or private documents.