Import Maps and Data with Mapbox Studio

This article will show you how to use Mapbox Studio to import different kinds of maps and data.

Please note that Gaia GPS can import GPX files and simple KML files directly, but Mapbox Studio will also let you bring in more data and geo-referenced image types like MBTiles, KML, GPX, GeoJSON, Shapefile (zipped), CSV, or GeoTiff.

• Import Maps and Data with Mapbox Studio

Import Maps and Data with Mabox Studio

• Create a mapbox.com account and open Mapbox Studio

• Click 'New Style'

• Select 'Blank' 

• Add your data by creating a new layer: Select the Layers tab > Then click the blue + icon > Select custom layer > Then click Upload data and select your file
  • Please note that there is a 300 MB limit for file uploads

• Once the upload completes, scroll down in unused sources and select the layer you uploaded to make it active.

• Set min and max zoom levels.

• Click "Publish" in the top right corner and publish the file
• Click "Share" in the top right corner
• In the Developer section, click the "Third Party" tab
  • Change the drop-down to "CARTO"
  • Copy the Integration URL

Import to gaiagps.com 

Use the Integration URL you copied to upload this map directly to your gaiagps.com account, follow the instructions here.

Import directly to the Gaia GPS app

1. Follow the steps here to create a TileJSON file using the TileJSON tester: http://trailbehind.github.io/TilejsonTester/ 

3. Open a text editor like TextWrangler or Sublime Text

4. Paste the text from the 'JSON, editable' section

5. Use the "Save As" option in your text editor to save the file with a '.json' extension. 

6. Import the JSON into the app:

• iOS: Follow the instructions here to import into Gaia GPS for iOS

• Android: Follow the SD card instructions here to import into Gaia GPS for Android

 Once imported, the file will appear in your layers list. Select the layer to view it.

Also note:

• If you cannot see the image after importing to Mapbox Studio, or if it doesn't show up after uploading to Mapbox.com, contact Mapbox Studio customer support

• If you have a paid Mapbox.com subscription, you may also find it easier to use their website directly to do the imports

• If you have old paper or digital maps that need to be geo-referenced, instead see this article about using mapwarper.net

• If you are importing a vector map to Mapbox Studio, it needs to be a zipped Shapefile that includes .shp, .shx, .dbf, and .prj files