Grid Map Generator Tool: Create Square, Hexagonal & Rectangular Grids for Spatial Analysis

Generate Professional Map Grids in Seconds – No Software Required

Are you looking for a free grid map generator that works directly in your browser? Whether you’re conducting field research, planning urban development projects, designing archaeological surveys, or need systematic sampling grids for environmental studies, our free online grid generator tool makes it simple to create professional-quality spatial grids in meters with precision accuracy.

This comprehensive guide will show you how to use our interactive grid mapping tool to create square grids, hexagonal grids, and rectangular grids for any location worldwide. Plus, export your grids in GeoJSON, KML, or GPX format for use in QGIS, ArcGIS, Google Earth, GPS devices, and field data collection apps.

Key Features of Our Grid Map Generator Tool

Interactive Map Drawing Tools for Precise Area Definition

The tool includes intuitive polygon and rectangle drawing capabilities powered by Leaflet Draw technology. Click to place vertices and create custom boundaries around your exact study area, or use the rectangle tool for quick orthogonal area selection. The drawing interface provides real-time area calculations in square meters and square kilometers, helping you understand the size of your region before grid generation.

Multiple Basemap Options for Spatial Context

Choose from three professional basemap layers to visualize your area. OpenStreetMap provides detailed street-level context with roads, buildings, and place names. ESRI Satellite imagery offers high-resolution aerial photos for visual reference and terrain analysis. OpenTopoMap displays elevation contours, terrain shading, and topographic features for outdoor and mountainous areas. Switch between basemaps instantly using the layer control.

Three Grid Types for Different Analysis Needs

Square Grid Generator: Create uniform square cells with equal width and height dimensions. Square grids are the most common tessellation pattern and work well for general-purpose spatial analysis, systematic sampling, alignment with raster imagery, and applications requiring equal-area cells. Specify cell size in meters from as small as 1 meter to any size needed for your project scale.

Rectangular Grid Generator: Generate rectangular cells with independent width and height dimensions. Rectangular grids excel for elongated study areas, corridor analysis along roads or rivers, agricultural fields with directional orientation, and situations where your area’s proportions don’t match square cells. Set width and height separately in meters to match your specific requirements.

Hexagonal Grid Generator: Build hexagonal tessellations where each cell has six equidistant neighbors. Hexagonal grids minimize edge effects, provide superior neighbor relationships for spatial analysis, reduce sampling bias, and create more natural representations of continuous phenomena like temperature or population density. Ideal for ecological modeling, urban analytics, heat mapping, and advanced spatial statistics.

Flexible Cell Size Configuration in Meters

All dimension inputs use meters as the unit of measurement, providing intuitive scaling for field work and research applications. Enter values from 1 meter for fine-scale analysis up to 100,000 meters for regional studies. The tool automatically converts meter inputs to kilometers for internal calculations using Turf.js geospatial algorithms, ensuring accurate grid generation across all latitudes.

Real-Time Cell Count Calculation and Warnings

As you adjust grid dimensions, the tool instantly calculates and displays the estimated number of cells that will be generated. This preview helps you optimize cell size before generation. When estimated cell counts exceed 20,000, a warning appears suggesting dimension adjustments to maintain optimal browser performance and manageable file sizes.

Automatic Grid Clipping to Drawn Boundaries

The grid generator creates cells covering your drawn area’s bounding box, then automatically clips the grid to your exact polygon boundaries using geometric intersection calculations. This ensures your final grid includes only cells that overlap your study area, with partial boundary cells precisely cut to match your drawn shape. No manual trimming required.

Professional Export Formats for GIS Integration

GeoJSON Export: Download grids in GeoJSON format, the modern standard for web mapping and GIS workflows. GeoJSON files work seamlessly with QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Python GeoPandas, R sf package, PostGIS databases, MongoDB geospatial queries, Mapbox, Leaflet, and virtually all modern mapping platforms. Each grid cell includes properties like cell ID, grid type, and cell dimensions for easy attribute-based analysis.

KML Export: Generate KML files for instant visualization in Google Earth, Google Earth Pro, and Google My Maps. KML format is perfect for presentations, stakeholder communication, and sharing spatial data with non-GIS users. The KML output includes styling information and cell descriptions for enhanced visualization.

GPX Export: Create GPX files compatible with Garmin GPS devices, handheld navigation units, Gaia GPS, Avenza Maps, and field data collection apps. Load your grid waypoints directly onto GPS units for field navigation to sampling points. Each grid cell becomes a track segment in the GPX file with descriptive metadata.

Cell Numbering and Identification System

Every generated grid cell receives a unique sequential ID number, making it easy to reference specific cells in field notes, data tables, and analysis results. Cell IDs appear in popup windows when you click cells on the map and are included in all export formats. This numbering system simplifies field organization, data entry, and spatial analysis workflows.

How to Use the Grid Generator Tool: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Navigate to Your Study Area

The map initializes centered on London, UK, but you can navigate to any location worldwide. Use mouse wheel or zoom controls to adjust map scale. Click and drag to pan across the map. Use the basemap selector in the top-right corner to switch between street maps, satellite imagery, or topographic views depending on your visualization needs.

Step 2: Draw Your Area of Interest

Click the polygon tool (pentagon icon) in the left toolbar to draw custom shapes. Click once at each corner of your study area to place vertices. Double-click to close the polygon. Alternatively, use the rectangle tool (square icon) to click and drag rectangular areas. The tool displays area measurements as you draw, helping you verify your region size.

Step 3: Select Your Grid Type

Choose between three grid types using the radio button selector. Square grids create uniform cells with equal dimensions on all sides. Rectangle grids allow different width and height values for elongated coverage patterns. Hexagon grids generate six-sided tessellations for optimal neighbor relationships and reduced edge bias.

Step 4: Configure Cell Dimensions in Meters

For square and hexagon grids, enter a single cell size value in meters. For rectangle grids, specify width and height independently. The tool displays estimated cell count as you adjust dimensions, updating in real-time. If the estimate exceeds 20,000 cells, consider increasing cell size or reducing your drawn area size.

Recommended cell sizes for common applications:

Small urban areas, archaeological sites, local parks: 10-100 meters Neighborhood analysis, small watersheds: 100-500 meters
City districts, ecological sampling, agricultural fields: 500-2,000 meters Regional analysis, forest inventory, county-scale studies: 2,000-10,000 meters Large regional or state-level analysis: 10,000+ meters

Step 5: Generate Your Grid

Click the “Generate Grid” button to create your tessellation. The tool calculates the bounding box of your drawn area, generates a complete grid, clips cells to your polygon boundaries, and displays the results on the map with blue shading and boundaries. Grid cells appear with semi-transparent fill and solid outlines. Click any cell to view its ID number, type, and dimensions in a popup window.

Generation time depends on cell count and device processing power. Grids with fewer than 5,000 cells generate almost instantly. Larger grids may take several seconds. The browser performs all calculations locally without sending data to any server.

Step 6: Review and Refine

Examine the generated grid on the map. Zoom in to inspect individual cells and boundary clipping accuracy. Check that cell dimensions match your requirements. If adjustments are needed, click “Clear Grid” to remove the current tessellation, modify your dimension inputs, and regenerate. You can also draw a new area without clearing the grid if you want to start over completely.

Step 7: Export Your Grid Data

Once satisfied with your grid, choose your export format. Click “Download GeoJSON” for GIS software compatibility. Click “Download KML” for Google Earth visualization. Click “Download GPX” for GPS device navigation. Files download immediately to your browser’s download folder with descriptive filenames including the format extension.

Practical Applications and Use Cases

Environmental Monitoring and Ecological Research

Create systematic sampling grids for biodiversity surveys, vegetation monitoring, soil sampling, water quality assessment, air quality measurement networks, and wildlife habitat analysis. Generate consistent sampling frameworks for long-term monitoring programs. Establish permanent plot locations for forest inventory and rangeland assessment. Design point-count grids for bird surveys and acoustic monitoring.

Urban Planning and Smart City Development

Divide cities into analysis zones for demographic studies, land use classification, infrastructure planning, and service area analysis. Generate grids for measuring urban heat island effects, analyzing walkability and accessibility, assessing green space distribution, and evaluating transportation network coverage. Create frameworks for mobility analytics, parking utilization studies, and micro-mobility service planning.

Archaeological Survey and Cultural Resource Management

Design systematic survey grids for artifact recovery in previously unsurveyed areas. Establish excavation units with standardized dimensions for consistent data collection. Create reference grids for precise artifact mapping and photogrammetry. Plan ground-penetrating radar survey patterns and metal detector search grids. Generate grid frameworks for heritage site monitoring and condition assessment.

Precision Agriculture and Farm Management

Divide agricultural fields into management zones for variable rate fertilizer application, precision irrigation control, and yield monitoring. Create soil sampling grids for nutrient analysis across fields. Generate grid frameworks for crop scouting routes and pest monitoring programs. Design drainage planning grids and tile drainage layouts. Establish permanent monitoring points for soil moisture sensors and weather stations.

Forestry and Natural Resource Management

Create systematic sampling grids for timber cruise operations and forest inventory. Design plot-based sampling for volume estimation and growth monitoring. Generate grids for forest health assessment and pest and disease surveillance. Plan thinning and harvest unit boundaries. Establish permanent monitoring plots for long-term ecosystem studies and carbon accounting.

Search and Rescue Operations

Generate systematic search grids for missing person cases and disaster response. Divide search areas into manageable sectors for team assignment. Create grid frameworks ensuring complete coverage without gaps or redundant searching. Export grids to GPS devices for field navigation and coordination. Design grids sized appropriately for terrain type and visibility conditions.

Real Estate Analysis and Market Research

Create analysis grids for property value assessment, market segmentation, and comparative market analysis. Generate service area grids for analyzing amenity access and neighborhood characteristics. Design grids for evaluating development opportunities and site selection. Establish frameworks for tracking inventory levels and market trends across metropolitan areas.

Scientific Field Research and Data Collection

Design unbiased sampling frameworks for hypothesis testing and exploratory research. Create stratified sampling grids for studies with heterogeneous environments. Generate systematic transect grids for linear sampling approaches. Establish long-term monitoring plot networks for climate change research, ecological succession studies, and environmental impact assessment. Design citizen science observation grids for volunteer data collection programs.

Emergency Management and Disaster Response

Create damage assessment grids for post-disaster surveys. Generate evacuation planning zones and assembly point grids. Design grids for resource distribution planning and shelter location analysis. Establish monitoring point networks for flood forecasting, wildfire risk assessment, and hazardous material incident response. Create systematic inspection grids for infrastructure condition assessment after earthquakes or severe weather.

Public Health and Epidemiology

Generate spatial frameworks for disease surveillance and health outcome mapping. Create sampling grids for environmental health studies linking spatial exposures to health effects. Design grids for analyzing healthcare accessibility and service coverage. Establish frameworks for tracking disease clusters and outbreak investigation. Generate grids for mosquito control programs and vector-borne disease prevention.

Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering

Create analysis zones for traffic volume estimation and intersection level-of-service analysis. Generate grids for parking utilization studies and on-street parking inventory. Design grids for traffic count locations and travel time data collection. Establish frameworks for analyzing transit accessibility and first-mile/last-mile connectivity. Create grid systems for micro-mobility docking station placement and bike-share system planning.

Understanding Grid Types: Detailed Comparison

Square Grid Benefits and Best Use Cases

Square grids represent the most intuitive and widely recognized tessellation pattern. Their orthogonal geometry aligns naturally with cardinal directions, making field navigation straightforward using compass bearings or GPS coordinates. Square cells integrate seamlessly with raster imagery, satellite data, and digital elevation models that use pixel-based grids. The equal-area characteristic of squares ensures fair comparisons between cells in statistical analyses.

Square grids work exceptionally well for applications requiring alignment with existing spatial data products, integration with aerial photography or satellite imagery, simple row-and-column organization for data tables, and situations where stakeholders expect traditional grid patterns. They’re ideal for teaching and demonstrations due to familiar geometry.

However, square grids have notable limitations. Cells have eight neighbors at two different distances—four adjacent neighbors sharing edges and four diagonal neighbors sharing only corner points. This creates directional bias in neighbor-based analyses. Edge effects are more pronounced than hexagonal alternatives. Distance relationships vary by direction, which can impact spatial statistics and interpolation accuracy.

Rectangular Grid Advantages for Elongated Features

Rectangular grids shine when study areas have strong directional characteristics or elongated shapes. River corridors, coastal zones, transportation corridors, agricultural field rows, and urban street grids often benefit from rectangular tessellations. By adjusting width and height independently, you can optimize cell coverage and minimize partial cells along boundaries.

Rectangles reduce the total number of cells needed to cover linear features compared to squares with the same area coverage, improving processing efficiency. They better match the geometry of many real-world features and administrative boundaries. Field logistics improve when cells align with natural travel routes or existing infrastructure.

Choose rectangles when your study area’s length-to-width ratio exceeds 2:1, when working along linear features like roads or pipelines, when cells need to align with directional phenomena like prevailing winds or ocean currents, or when field access is easier along one axis than another. Agricultural applications particularly benefit from rectangular cells matching equipment pass patterns.

Hexagonal Grid Superiority for Spatial Analysis

Hexagonal grids offer significant technical advantages for many spatial analysis applications. Every hexagonal cell has exactly six neighbors, all at identical distances from the cell center. This creates more uniform neighbor relationships compared to square grids where diagonal neighbors are approximately 1.4 times farther than edge-sharing neighbors. The equidistant neighbor property reduces directional bias in spatial statistics, interpolation, and neighborhood analysis.

Hexagons provide more efficient circular coverage patterns. A hexagon more closely approximates a circle than a square of equal area, reducing edge effects when modeling phenomena that spread radially from source points. This makes hexagons superior for analyzing dispersal, movement patterns, accessibility, and service area coverage.

Hexagonal tessellations create more aesthetically pleasing visualizations for many applications, with smooth visual flow and reduced visual artifacts compared to rectilinear grids. They’re widely used in professional cartography, urban analytics platforms, and spatial statistics applications.

Use hexagonal grids for spatial point pattern analysis, kernel density estimation, hot spot analysis, optimal facility location problems, ecological dispersal modeling, urban accessibility analysis, continuous surface interpolation, and any application where neighbor relationships significantly impact results. Hexagons are particularly valuable for research intended for academic publication in spatial analysis journals.

The main limitation of hexagons is lower familiarity among general audiences and more complex row-column organization compared to squares. They don’t align with imagery pixels or Cartesian coordinate systems. However, for applications where spatial accuracy matters more than simplicity, hexagons typically provide superior results.

Technical Specifications and Accuracy

Coordinate System and Geographic Projection

The grid generator operates in WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326), the standard coordinate reference system for GPS, web mapping, and international spatial data exchange. Input dimensions in meters are converted to decimal degree equivalents using geodesic distance calculations that account for Earth’s ellipsoidal shape and latitude-dependent scale variations.

This approach ensures that a 100-meter grid cell specification creates cells that measure approximately 100 meters on the ground regardless of latitude. At the equator, one degree of longitude equals approximately 111 kilometers, while at 60 degrees latitude it’s approximately 55 kilometers. The tool’s geodesic calculations automatically adjust for these variations.

Generated grids maintain WGS84 coordinates in export files for maximum compatibility with GPS receivers, mobile mapping apps, and web-based GIS platforms. If your workflow requires projected coordinates (UTM, State Plane, national grids), import the GeoJSON export into QGIS or ArcGIS and reproject using built-in coordinate transformation tools.

Grid Generation Algorithms and Processing

The tool uses Turf.js, a JavaScript library for geospatial analysis, to generate mathematically precise tessellations. Turf implements industry-standard algorithms for squareGrid, hexGrid, and bounding box calculations. Grid generation follows this workflow:

First, calculate the bounding box (minimum and maximum latitude/longitude) of your drawn polygon. Second, generate a complete regular grid covering the entire bounding box using specified cell dimensions. Third, test each grid cell for geometric intersection with your drawn polygon. Fourth, include only cells that intersect the polygon boundary in the final output. Fifth, assign unique sequential IDs and attribute data to each cell.

This approach ensures complete coverage of your study area with precisely clipped boundary cells. Partial cells along polygon edges maintain accurate geometric properties with areas calculated correctly based on their actual clipped shape.

Browser Performance and Cell Count Limits

All processing occurs entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. No data uploads to servers, ensuring complete privacy and security for sensitive project locations. However, browser-based processing has practical limits based on device capabilities.

Grids with fewer than 5,000 cells generate quickly on any modern device. Grids between 5,000-10,000 cells work well on most computers and tablets. Beyond 10,000 cells, generation time increases and map rendering may slow. The tool warns when estimated cell counts exceed 20,000, suggesting dimension adjustments for optimal performance.

For projects requiring extremely large grids (100,000+ cells), consider dividing your study area into sections, generating separate grids, then merging them in GIS software. Alternatively, use desktop GIS applications like QGIS or ArcGIS designed for large-scale batch processing.

Export File Formats and Data Structure

GeoJSON exports contain a FeatureCollection with Polygon features. Each feature includes geometry (coordinate arrays defining cell boundaries) and properties (cell ID, grid type, cell size). Files use indented formatting for human readability. Typical file sizes: 100 cells = 50KB, 1,000 cells = 500KB, 10,000 cells = 5MB.

KML exports follow the OGC KML 2.2 specification with Document structure containing Placemark elements. Basic styling defines line colors and polygon fill. Description fields include cell metadata. KML files are typically 20-30% larger than equivalent GeoJSON due to XML verbosity.

GPX exports represent cells as track segments (trkseg elements) since GPX was designed primarily for GPS tracks and waypoints rather than polygon features. Each cell becomes a closed track loop. This is a standard workaround for representing polygonal data in GPX format. Most GPS software correctly interprets these tracks as area features.

Optimizing Grid Generation for Different Scenarios

Small-Scale Detailed Analysis (1-100 meter cells)

For site-specific studies like archaeological excavations, urban parks, individual agricultural fields, or building complexes, use small cell sizes between 1-100 meters. Draw precise boundaries around your exact study area to minimize unnecessary cells outside your region. Start with 50-meter cells to test, then refine to smaller sizes if needed.

Small cells work best with areas under 1 square kilometer. A 1km × 1km area with 10-meter cells generates 10,000 cells, approaching browser performance limits. Consider using rectangle grids to match elongated site geometries, reducing total cell count while maintaining resolution along the key axis.

Export as GeoJSON for maximum flexibility in GIS software. Generate grid cell centroids in QGIS or ArcGIS for point-based field sampling locations if you need waypoints rather than polygons.

Medium-Scale Regional Analysis (100-2,000 meter cells)

For neighborhood studies, watersheds, municipal districts, or ecological sampling areas spanning several square kilometers, use cell sizes between 100-2,000 meters. A 10km × 10km study area with 500-meter cells generates approximately 400 cells, ideal for field research logistics and data management.

This scale works well for systematic field surveys where each cell represents a sampling unit visited by field crews. Consider hexagonal grids at this scale for improved spatial statistics and reduced edge effects. Export to GPX for GPS navigation, marking grid cell centers as waypoints for field teams.

Large-Scale Regional Assessment (2,000+ meter cells)

For county-level, regional, or landscape-scale analysis covering hundreds or thousands of square kilometers, use large cells between 2-000-10,000 meters. At this scale, grids serve primarily as analysis frameworks for aggregating existing datasets rather than direct field sampling.

Square grids work well at large scales for alignment with satellite imagery and land cover datasets. Export as GeoJSON for zonal statistics calculations in GIS software. Consider generating coarse initial grids, then creating finer grids in specific sub-areas identified for detailed study through adaptive sampling approaches.

Integration with GIS Software and Workflows

Importing Grids into QGIS

QGIS provides free, open-source GIS capabilities rivaling commercial software. To import your grid:

Open QGIS and create a new project. Drag and drop the GeoJSON file directly into the QGIS map canvas, or use Layer menu > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer and browse to your file. The grid imports as a polygon layer with attribute table containing cell IDs and properties.

Style your grid using Layer Properties > Symbology. Try graduated colors based on cell IDs for visual differentiation, or use simple fills with semi-transparent colors to overlay on basemaps. Add labels showing cell IDs using Layer Properties > Labels for field reference maps.

Calculate grid cell centroid points using Vector menu > Geometry Tools > Centroids. This creates a point layer representing cell centers, useful for generating field sampling waypoints. Export centroids as CSV with coordinates for data loggers or as GPX for direct GPS loading.

Perform spatial analysis like joining attribute data from other layers, calculating zonal statistics from raster datasets within each cell, or running spatial queries to identify cells meeting specific criteria.

Using Grids in ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Pro offers powerful commercial GIS capabilities for professional workflows. Import your grid using Map tab > Add Data > Data, then browse to the GeoJSON file. Alternatively, drag and drop the file into the Contents pane.

Use the Feature to Point tool (Data Management Tools) to convert polygon cells to centroid points for GPS export or point-based analysis. Apply symbology using Symbol gallery options, or create custom classification schemes based on cell attributes.

Calculate geometric properties like area and perimeter using Calculate Geometry in the attribute table. Join external data tables to grid cells based on spatial location or cell IDs. Run geoprocessing tools like Spatial Join, Intersect, or Union to combine your grid with other spatial datasets.

Create map layouts for field teams showing grid cells with IDs, overlay on satellite imagery basemap, and include scale bars and legends. Export layouts as PDF for field use or image files for reports.

Loading Grids into Google Earth

Google Earth provides accessible 3D visualization for presentations and stakeholder communication. Open Google Earth Pro (free desktop application) or Google Earth web version. For desktop, use File > Open and select your KML file. For web version, use Projects > Import KML file.

Your grid appears in the Places panel and displays on the 3D globe. Click individual cells to view descriptions with cell IDs and dimensions. Use the opacity slider in Places panel to adjust grid transparency, allowing underlying imagery to show through.

Add placemarks for field sampling points, draw additional annotations, or add overlays. Save your work as a KMZ file (compressed KML) for sharing via email or cloud storage. Share via Google My Maps for collaborative viewing and editing with team members.

Google Earth’s 3D terrain view helps identify topographic features affecting field access, allowing you to plan logistics around steep slopes, water bodies, or vegetation barriers.

GPS Device Loading and Field Navigation

Modern GPS devices from Garmin, Magellan, and TomTom support GPX format. Connect your GPS unit to computer via USB cable. Access the device’s file system, typically appearing as a removable drive. Locate the GPX folder (often “Garmin/GPX” or similar path).

Copy your grid GPX file to this folder. Safely eject the device. On the GPS unit, access the Track Manager or Waypoint Manager. Your grid should appear as a series of tracks representing cell boundaries. Navigate to specific cells using the device’s track navigation features.

Alternatively, use GPS management software like Garmin BaseCamp or Gaia GPS to import the GPX file, view it on a computer, edit if needed, then transfer to your device. Many smartphone apps like Gaia GPS, Avenza Maps, and Guru Maps also import GPX files for mobile navigation.

For optimal field use, also export grid cell centroids as waypoints rather than boundary tracks. Generate these in GIS software for more intuitive point-to-point navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this grid generator different from others online?

Our tool combines free unlimited access with professional-grade features typically found only in expensive GIS software. Unlike many online grid generators, we offer three grid types (square, rectangle, hexagon), multiple export formats (GeoJSON, KML, GPX), automatic boundary clipping, real-time cell count estimation, and complete data privacy with no server uploads. There are no watermarks, registration requirements, usage limits, or hidden costs.

Is the grid generator really free with no limitations?

Yes, completely free with no registration, payment, or usage restrictions. Generate as many grids as needed for commercial or non-commercial projects. No watermarks on exports. The only practical limitations are browser performance constraints with extremely large grids exceeding 10,000-20,000 cells.

Does this work on mobile devices and tablets?

Yes, the tool is fully responsive and works on smartphones and tablets. However, the best experience is on desktop or laptop computers with mouse input for precise polygon drawing. Mobile devices work well for viewing and simple rectangular areas but are less ideal for complex polygon boundaries.

How accurate are the grid dimensions?

Very accurate for most practical applications. The tool uses geodesic distance calculations to ensure specified dimensions in meters translate to real-world ground distances. Accuracy is highest near the equator and decreases slightly toward the poles due to coordinate system characteristics. For survey-grade precision requirements, consider reprojecting exports to local projected coordinate systems in GIS software.

Technical Questions

Why are dimensions specified in meters instead of kilometers?

Meters provide intuitive scaling for field work and research applications. Most field sampling, archaeological surveys, and urban analysis occur at scales where meter specification is natural (10m, 50m, 100m, 500m). The tool converts meter inputs to kilometers internally for calculations.

Can I specify dimensions smaller than 1 meter or larger than 100,000 meters?

The input fields accept values outside these ranges, but very small cells (under 1 meter) or very large cells (over 100,000 meters) may produce unexpected results or exceed browser capabilities. For sub-meter applications, consider using CAD software. For continental-scale grids, use desktop GIS software.

What coordinate system do exported grids use?

All exports use WGS84 geographic coordinates (EPSG:4326), the standard for GPS and web mapping. If you need different coordinate systems (UTM, State Plane, national grids), import the GeoJSON into QGIS or ArcGIS and reproject using coordinate transformation tools.

Why does my grid take a long time to generate?

Generation time depends on cell count, polygon complexity, and device processing power. Grids with fewer than 5,000 cells generate quickly. Larger grids may take 10-30 seconds. Reduce generation time by increasing cell size, simplifying polygon boundaries, or subdividing large areas into sections.

Grid Type Selection Questions

When should I use hexagonal grids instead of square grids?

Use hexagons when neighbor relationships are critical to your analysis, such as spatial statistics, ecological modeling, urban accessibility analysis, or continuous surface interpolation. Hexagons reduce edge effects and provide equidistant neighbors. Use squares when simplicity matters, when aligning with imagery or existing grid systems, or when your audience expects traditional grid patterns.

Why do hexagonal cells look irregular on the map?

Hexagons may appear distorted because they’re displayed in geographic coordinates on a 2D screen. The hexagons are actually uniform in real-world size and shape—apparent distortion results from map projection effects. This is normal and doesn’t affect accuracy. Exported coordinates are correct.

Can I create triangular or diamond-shaped grids?

Currently, only square, rectangle, and hexagon grids are supported. These three types cover the vast majority of practical applications. For specialized tessellations like triangular or diamond grids, use desktop GIS software with advanced grid generation tools.

Usage and Application Questions

How do I use this for archaeological field surveys?

Draw a polygon around your survey area. Choose square grids with cell size matching your survey unit dimensions (commonly 50m or 100m for reconnaissance, 10m-25m for intensive survey). Generate the grid. Export as GPX for GPS devices. In the field, navigate to each cell systematically, recording artifacts and features with associated cell IDs.

Can I use this tool for precision agriculture applications?

Absolutely. Draw field boundaries, generate rectangular grids matching equipment pass widths and desired management zone sizes. Export as GeoJSON for importing into farm management software or precision ag equipment. Use grids for soil sampling plans, yield monitoring, or variable rate application zones.

How do I create sampling grids for environmental monitoring?

Define your study area, select appropriate cell size based on statistical requirements and logistical constraints, generate the grid, export as GeoJSON, import into GIS software, calculate cell centroid points, and use centroids as sampling locations. Export centroids as GPX for field navigation.

Can this replace professional GIS software for my projects?

For basic grid generation and export, yes. For complex spatial analysis, database integration, advanced cartography, or workflows requiring dozens of tools, desktop GIS remains superior. Consider this tool a complement to GIS software—use it for quick grid creation, then import results into QGIS or ArcGIS for advanced analysis.

Export and File Format Questions

Which export format should I use?

Use GeoJSON for maximum compatibility with modern GIS software and programming environments (QGIS, ArcGIS, Python, R). Use KML for Google Earth visualization and sharing with non-technical audiences. Use GPX for GPS devices and field navigation apps.

How do I open GeoJSON files in QGIS?

Drag and drop the GeoJSON file directly into QGIS map canvas, or use Layer menu > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer and browse to the file. Your grid imports immediately as a polygon layer.

Can I convert between different export formats?

Yes, GIS software can convert between formats. In QGIS: import your grid, right-click the layer > Export > Save Features As, choose your desired format. Most GIS platforms include format conversion tools.

Why are my export files so large?

File size depends on cell count and coordinate precision. GeoJSON uses full coordinate precision creating larger files. 10,000 cells typically generates 5-10 MB files. To reduce size, use larger cells, compress files with ZIP, or simplify geometries in GIS software if precision isn’t critical.

Data Privacy and Security Questions

Is my location data sent to any servers?

No. All processing occurs entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. The areas you draw and grids you generate never leave your device except when you explicitly download export files. This ensures complete privacy for sensitive project locations.

Can I use this tool for confidential or classified projects?

Yes, the client-side processing architecture means no data ever transmits to external servers. However, ensure your device security meets your organization’s requirements. For highly classified applications, consider running the tool on air-gapped computers if necessary.

Troubleshooting Questions

The generate button is disabled. Why?

The generate button only becomes active after drawing an area on the map. Use the polygon or rectangle drawing tools in the left toolbar to define your study area.

My grid didn’t generate any cells. What happened?

This usually occurs when cell dimensions are too large relative to your drawn area. Try significantly smaller cell sizes. If your drawn area is 200m × 200m, cells larger than 200m won’t generate any results. Start with cells 1/10th the size of your area’s smallest dimension.

The map won’t display or appears blank.

Check your internet connection—map tiles require internet access. Disable browser extensions that might block map tile servers. Try a different basemap from the layer control. Clear browser cache. Try a different browser (Chrome and Firefox work best).

Grid cells have unexpected shapes. Is this wrong?

Boundary cells along your polygon edges are clipped to match your exact drawn shape, creating irregular polygons. This is correct behavior ensuring complete coverage. Interior cells will have regular shapes. If all cells appear irregular, verify that your drawn polygon is valid with no self-intersecting lines.

Advanced Tips and Best Practices

Start with Larger Cells for Testing

When working with new study areas, begin with larger cell sizes to quickly preview the grid pattern and total cell count. Once satisfied with coverage, regenerate with final desired dimensions. This iterative approach saves time and prevents waiting for large grids that may need adjustment.

Use Cell Count Estimates to Optimize Dimensions

The real-time cell count display helps you balance resolution and manageability. For field surveys, consider crew capacity and time constraints—200 cells might be manageable in a week, while 2,000 cells requires months. Adjust dimensions to match practical constraints.

Combine Multiple Grids in GIS Software

For large or complex study areas, generate separate grids for different sections or strata, then merge them in QGIS or ArcGIS using Vector > Data Management Tools > Merge Layers. This approach works around browser limitations while providing flexibility in grid design.

Generate Centroid Points for Field Sampling

After exporting your grid as GeoJSON, import into QGIS, use Vector > Geometry Tools > Centroids to create point features at each cell center. Export these points as GPX waypoints for easier GPS navigation than polygon boundaries.

Create Hierarchical Multi-Scale Grids

Design nested sampling frameworks by generating coarse grids for initial reconnaissance (e.g., 1km cells), then fine grids (e.g., 100m cells) in areas requiring detailed study. Export each scale separately with clear naming conventions.

Export Multiple Formats for Different Uses

Generate all three export formats for different project needs—GeoJSON for analysis in GIS software, KML for field maps in Google Earth, GPX for GPS navigation. This comprehensive approach covers all project phases from planning through field work to analysis.

Verify Exports Before Field Deployment

Open exported files in your target software before field work. Verify coordinate systems are recognized correctly, cell IDs display properly, and geometries appear as expected. Test GPS file loading on actual devices before heading to remote locations.

Consider Hexagons for Statistical Analysis

If your project involves spatial statistics, interpolation, or density estimation, strongly consider hexagonal grids. The computational advantages of equidistant neighbors often outweigh the slightly higher complexity of hexagonal geometry.

Plan for Edge Effects in Analysis

Remember that boundary cells are partial and have fewer neighbors than interior cells. When conducting neighbor-based analyses, consider excluding boundary cells, weighting by number of neighbors, or creating a buffer zone extending beyond your true study area.