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Convert GPX to GML Online — Free GIS Converter

Convert GPX tracks, routes, and waypoints to GML for WFS services, EU INSPIRE compliance, and government data submission portals.

Updated May 2026

Converting GPX to GML bridges the gap between consumer GPS data collection and the OGC-standards ecosystem used by government agencies, EU INSPIRE data portals, and enterprise WFS services that demand formal GML encoding.

Why convert GPX to GML?

GPX is a practical format for capturing GPS data in the field, but government and institutional data workflows often require GML (Geography Markup Language) as the interchange format. The EU INSPIRE directive mandates GML encoding for spatial datasets submitted to national and European spatial data infrastructures. WFS (Web Feature Service) endpoints publish and accept GML by default. If you have collected GPS survey data using a consumer device or mobile app and need to submit it to a government portal, integrate it with a WFS service, or conform to an INSPIRE application schema, converting to GML is the necessary step. GML also supports any coordinate reference system, which matters when the receiving system expects national or projected CRS rather than WGS 84.

Why use geodata.plus

  • Free tier includes 3 conversions per month with no account required
  • Automatic format and CRS detection on upload
  • Optional reprojection to any EPSG code — critical when submitting GML to systems that require national CRS
  • Entirely browser-based — no dedicated GML toolchain required
  • Encrypted upload (TLS); files stored in Cloudflare R2, automatically deleted after 2 days (free) or 7 days (Pro)
  • Outputs standard GML 3 encoding compatible with major WFS servers and INSPIRE validators

How it works

  1. Upload your .gpx file to geodata.plus
  2. geodata.plus detects the GPX format and confirms WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) as the source CRS
  3. Select GML as the output format; choose a target CRS if your submission requires a specific EPSG (e.g., ETRS89 / EPSG:4258 for INSPIRE)
  4. Download your .gml file for submission to the target portal or service

GPX format

GPX (GPS Exchange Format) is an XML standard designed for GPS data exchange across consumer devices, fitness platforms, and navigation apps. All coordinates are in WGS 84. The format supports three feature types: waypoints (<wpt>), routes (<rte>), and tracks (<trk>). Track segments can carry time, elevation, and sensor readings per point. GPX lacks support for polygon features, custom projections, or the complex feature schemas that GML and institutional data portals expect. It is a collection format rather than an exchange standard for institutional data.

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Extension | .gpx | | Type | Vector, single-file XML | | Coordinate system | WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) only | | Geometry types | Points (waypoints), LineStrings (routes/tracks) | | Common software | Garmin, Strava, AllTrails, Komoot, QGIS, ArcGIS |

GML format

GML (Geography Markup Language) is an OGC XML grammar for expressing geographical features. It is the formal interchange format of WFS services and the mandated encoding of the EU INSPIRE directive. GML supports any coordinate reference system (specified via srsName attributes), all geometry types including complex curve and surface geometries, and rich feature schemas defined through companion XML Schema (XSD) documents. GML files can be verbose and complex, but they are the foundation of interoperable spatial data exchange in institutional and government contexts. QGIS, ArcGIS, and all GDAL-based tools can read and write GML.

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Extension | .gml | | Type | Vector, single-file XML | | Coordinate system | Any CRS (declared via srsName) | | Geometry types | Point, LineString, Polygon, Multi- variants, complex curves/surfaces | | Common software | QGIS, ArcGIS, WFS services, EU INSPIRE portals, government systems |

Frequently asked questions

Which GML version does geodata.plus output? geodata.plus outputs GML 3.2, which is the version required by the EU INSPIRE directive and supported by all major WFS server implementations including GeoServer, MapServer, and Deegree. GML 3.2 is the current OGC standard and the version most institutional portals expect.

Do I need to reproject my GPX data before submitting GML to an INSPIRE portal? Most INSPIRE application schemas require ETRS89 (EPSG:4258) or a national CRS rather than WGS 84. During conversion on geodata.plus, you can select your target EPSG code and the output GML will contain the correctly reprojected coordinates with the appropriate srsName declaration — no separate reprojection step needed.

Can GML represent the track segments from my GPX file? Yes. GPX track segments are converted to GML LineString or MultiCurve geometries, with each segment's attributes (name, timestamp range, description) stored as GML feature properties. The hierarchical track/segment structure is preserved in the feature attribute schema of the output GML document.

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