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Map Location Questions

The Map Location question type allows you to capture geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) from survey respondents. Users can either allow automatic location detection or manually search and select a location on an interactive map.

Features​

  • Automatic location detection — Use browser geolocation API
  • Search functionality — Find locations by address or place name
  • Interactive map — Click to select precise location
  • Draggable marker — Fine-tune the selected position
  • Coordinate capture — Store latitude and longitude
  • Clustered reports — View response locations on aggregate map

Prerequisites​

Before using Map Location questions, you need to set up Google Maps API credentials.

Step 1: Create Google Cloud Project​

  1. Go to Google Cloud Console
  2. Create a new project or select an existing one
  3. Enable billing for the project (required for Maps APIs)

Step 2: Enable Required APIs​

Navigate to APIs & Services → Library and enable:

APIPurpose
Maps JavaScript APIDisplay interactive map
Geocoding APIConvert addresses to coordinates
Places APILocation search and autocomplete

Step 3: Create API Key​

  1. Go to APIs & Services → Credentials
  2. Click Create Credentials → API Key
  3. Copy your new API key
  1. Click on your API key to edit it
  2. Under Application restrictions, select HTTP referrers
  3. Add your website domains: 
    https://yoursite.com/*
    https://www.yoursite.com/*
  4. Under API restrictions, select Restrict key
  5. Select only the three APIs you enabled above
  6. Click Save
Security Notice

Always restrict your API key to prevent unauthorized usage and unexpected charges. Unrestricted keys can be abused if exposed.

Step 5: Configure Community Surveys​

  1. Go to Components → Community Surveys
  2. Click Options in the toolbar
  3. Navigate to the Shared tab
  4. Enter your Google Maps API Key
  5. Click Save & Close

Adding a Location Question​

Basic Setup​

  1. Edit your survey questions
  2. Drag Location from the question toolbar
  3. Configure the question:
FieldDescription
Question TitleThe question text (e.g., "Where are you located?")
DescriptionHelp text for respondents
MandatoryRequire a location to continue

Question Options​

OptionDescriptionDefault
Default ZoomInitial map zoom level (1-20)10
Default CenterStarting map positionAuto-detect
Allow SearchEnable location search boxYes
Allow GeolocationEnable "Use My Location" buttonYes

User Experience​

When respondents encounter a Location question, they can:

Option 1: Automatic Detection​

  1. Click "Use My Location" button
  2. Browser prompts for permission
  3. Current location is marked on map
  4. User can adjust marker if needed
  1. Type an address or place name in the search box
  2. Select from autocomplete suggestions
  3. Map centers on selected location
  4. Marker is placed at the location

Option 3: Manual Selection​

  1. Navigate the map using pan and zoom
  2. Click on the desired location
  3. Marker is placed at click position
  4. Drag marker to fine-tune

Response Data​

Location responses capture:

FieldDescriptionExample
LatitudeDecimal degrees40.7128
LongitudeDecimal degrees-74.0060
AddressReverse geocoded address (if available)"New York, NY, USA"

Viewing Individual Responses​

Location responses display:

  • Interactive map showing the marked location
  • Coordinates (lat/lng)
  • Formatted address

Consolidated Reports​

Clustered Map View​

The consolidated report shows all response locations on a single map:

  • Clustering — Nearby responses grouped into clusters
  • Cluster counts — Number of responses in each cluster
  • Click to expand — Zoom into clusters to see individual points
  • Up to 1,000 points — For performance, limited to recent responses

Geographic Distribution​

The report also shows:

  • Country breakdown
  • City distribution
  • Heat map visualization (if enabled)

Use Cases​

Event Planning​

"Where would you prefer the next conference to be held?"

Respondents select cities, and the aggregate map shows geographic preferences.

Service Area Analysis​

"Where is your business located?"

Collect customer locations to plan service coverage or delivery zones.

Research Studies​

"Mark your home location on the map."

Geographic research with privacy-conscious coordinate collection.

Store Locator Feedback​

"Which of our locations do you visit most often?"

Understand customer travel patterns and store preferences.

Privacy Considerations​

Respondent Privacy​

  • Anonymous surveys — Location data is collected but not tied to identity
  • Precision control — Consider whether exact coordinates are needed
  • Clear disclosure — Explain why location is being collected

Data Storage​

Location data is stored as:

  • Latitude/longitude coordinates
  • Optional reverse-geocoded address
  • Standard response metadata

GDPR Compliance​

If collecting data from EU residents:

  • Include location collection in your privacy notice
  • Ensure proper consent mechanisms
  • Allow data deletion upon request

Troubleshooting​

Map Not Displaying​

  1. Check API Key — Verify it's entered in component options
  2. Check Console — Look for JavaScript errors in browser console
  3. API Restrictions — Ensure your domain is allowed
  4. Billing Status — Verify Google Cloud billing is active

"Google Maps API error"​

Common error messages:

ErrorSolution
ApiNotActivatedMapErrorEnable Maps JavaScript API
InvalidKeyMapErrorCheck API key is correct
RefererNotAllowedMapErrorAdd your domain to allowed referrers
OverQuotaMapErrorCheck billing and quota limits

Geolocation Not Working​

  • HTTPS required — Browser geolocation only works on secure sites
  • Permission denied — User must allow location access
  • Browser support — Ensure browser supports Geolocation API

Search Not Working​

  • Enable Places API in Google Cloud Console
  • Verify API key has access to Places API
  • Check for JavaScript errors

API Usage & Costs​

Google Maps Platform uses pay-as-you-go pricing:

APIFree TierCost After
Maps JavaScript28,000 loads/month$7 per 1,000
Geocoding40,000 requests/month$5 per 1,000
Places10,000 requests/month$17 per 1,000
Cost Management
  • Check Google pricing page for latest pricing details
  • Set budget alerts in Google Cloud Console
  • Use API restrictions to prevent abuse
  • Monitor usage regularly