How to load a GeoPDF and see your GPS position offline in VicMap
Field crews in Malaysia already have the maps: tasking sheets, estate plans and survey sheets exported as georeferenced PDFs. The problem is using them where there is no signal. VicMap opens those PDFs on your phone and shows your live GPS position on them, with no internet needed. This guide shows the steps.
What you need
- VicMap on Android or iOS (Google Play or App Store), with a licence key or a free 14-day trial key.
- A georeferenced PDF (GeoPDF) on your phone. It must carry embedded georeferencing, usually exported from GIS or CAD software.
- Location permission for VicMap. On iPhone, choose "While Using the App" and turn on Precise Location.
Step 1: Activate your key
- Open VicMap and tap the menu (☰).
- Tap License.
- Paste your licence code into the License code box and tap Activate.
No account is needed. To get a trial key, use the buttons in the download section of the VicMap website.
Step 2: Import the GeoPDF
- On the start screen tap Choose PDF File (inside the menu the same action is Import Map (PDF)).
- Pick the PDF from your phone storage.
- In the Map Import Resolution dialog, choose a resolution. Standard (1.5x) loads faster. High Definition (3.0x) is recommended and keeps small text and fine lines sharp. Ultra HD (4.0x) gives maximum zoom clarity but needs more memory.
- Tap Import & Render.
VicMap reads the georeferencing inside the file, then draws the map. The map is stored in your offline library on the phone, so the next time you open it, no import is needed. If the PDF has no geospatial metadata, VicMap warns you that it will load as an unreferenced normal image, and GPS position will not be placed on it.
If text looks blurry later, open the Details tab and re-render with the HD (3.0x) button under Render Quality.
Step 3: See your position
Tap the My Location button (the navigation arrow) on the floating controls on the right of the map. The status line reads "Locating…" and then shows GPS status, including accuracy in metres, for example "On Map (±5m)". Your position then follows you across the sheet.
The status changes with where you are: On Map when you are inside the sheet, Off Map when you are outside it, No Map when nothing is loaded. If you pan away, tap the button again to recentre.
Everything here runs on the phone's own GPS chip. Nothing is uploaded, and the app shows "100% Offline — No data leaves your device" in the Details tab.
Step 4: Read the coordinates
Open the Details tab and look at Cursor Position. It shows UTM (WGS84), latitude, longitude and the pixel position on the map. The same values appear in the bar along the map. The Coordinate System row in Details shows what the PDF declares.
Many Sarawak and Sabah survey sheets use the Timbalai (Everest) datum rather than WGS84. VicMap is datum-aware, so your GPS position is shifted onto the right place on those sheets. You do not need to convert anything by hand.
Tips for reliable offline use
- Import the map while you still have signal or at the office, then test that it opens.
- The optional satellite basemap fills the blank margin outside your sheet, but it needs internet. Offline it simply stays off. It never covers your own map.
- Phone GPS is accurate to a few metres in the open and worse under canopy. Use it as a working reference, not as a survey.
FAQ
Which PDFs work?
Georeferenced PDFs (GeoPDF), including large A0 sheets. The file must contain embedded georeferencing. A plain scanned PDF has none, so VicMap cannot place your position on it.
Does it need internet to show my location?
No. Location comes from the phone's GPS. Only the satellite basemap and licence activation need a connection.
Is there a free trial?
Yes, 14 days with the full app, no account and no card. Get a key on Telegram or WhatsApp from the website.
Next steps
- Read the next guide: Recording GPS tracks and placing markers in VicMap.
- Background reading: GeoPDF offline maps for land survey in Malaysia.
- Download VicMap and start the 14-day trial