Community organizations are resourceful. You might already have a list of delivery addresses in Google Earth, a hiking trail mapped on a handheld GPS device, or a set of service boundaries from a government website. The problem? This valuable data often comes in a confusing alphabet soup of file formats: KML, GPX, GeoJSON...
Getting this data into a new system can be a major headache. That’s why we built Community Care to be fluent in the language of maps.
What Are KML, GPX, and GeoJSON?
Think of these as the ".doc" or ".pdf" files of the mapping world. They are the three most common standards for storing geographic data.
- KML (Keyhole Markup Language): This is Google's native format. If you've ever created a custom map in Google Earth or Google Maps, you've used KML. It's great for visual presentations and includes not just locations, but also styling like colors and icons.
- GPX (GPS Exchange Format): This is the gold standard for outdoor recreation. Handheld GPS devices, fitness trackers, and hiking apps all use GPX to record tracks, routes, and waypoints. It’s built for capturing precise paths and points in the field.
- GeoJSON: This is the language of the modern web. It's a lightweight, easy-to-read format that is perfect for web applications. It’s incredibly flexible and has become the new standard for sharing map data online.
The Community Care Advantage: Your Data, Your Way
Instead of forcing you into a single, proprietary format, Community Care embraces the tools you already use.
- Seamless Import: Have a KML file with all your donation pickup sites from last year? A GPX track of your cleanup route? A GeoJSON file of your service areas? Just import it directly into the app. Our system intelligently reads the file and even learns new marker types or statuses on the fly, saving you hours of manual data entry.
- Universal Export: Plan your entire event in our app—draw regions, place markers, and optimize routes. When you're done, you can export your data back out as a KML, GPX, or GeoJSON file. Give your volunteer a GPX file for their Garmin device, or send a KML to a stakeholder to open in Google Earth.
By speaking the language of maps, Community Care doesn't replace your existing tools—it enhances them. It acts as your central hub, allowing you to bring data in from anywhere and send it out to everywhere, ensuring your team is always working with the right map.