Question 1

Who retains legal ownership of the digital map data and raw GIS files once a municipal cemetery mapping project is complete?

Accepted Answer

In a municipal cemetery mapping project with Sentry Mapping, the municipality keeps legal ownership of the cemetery's digital map data and raw GIS files. Sentry delivers the maps and may host a web map, but the data remains yours.

With Sentry Mapping cemetery mapping for a municipal cemetery, you retain legal ownership of the digital cemetery mapping dataset and the raw GIS files that describe your plots and burials. The project deliverables from burial plot mapping and grave locating become part of your records and your GIS.

At final delivery, you should receive the completed cemetery GIS mapping layers (grave points, plot polygons, sections, roads, and searchable fields) plus a printed master map and a web map link your staff and the public can use. Your records and map layers stay under your exclusive ownership even while they are hosted online. This makes it easier to integrate the data into your city GIS and avoid vendor lock-in.

Sentry Mapping retains only its proprietary equipment and workflows used to collect and process ground penetrating radar cemetery scans and GPS observations.

Question 2

What is cemetery mapping?

Accepted Answer

Cemetery mapping is the process of creating an accurate, searchable map of every grave and plot in a cemetery, including unmarked burials. Using tools like GPS, GIS, aerial imagery, and ground penetrating radar, Sentry Mapping documents exact locations so you can protect graves, avoid double-sold plots, and guide visitors quickly.

Cemetery mapping is the process of documenting where every burial and plot sits, then turning that into a map your staff and visitors can search. Done right, it combines surface features like rows, roads, and sections with what is below ground.

Sentry Mapping provides professional cemetery mapping across the 48 contiguous United States using survey-grade GPS, cemetery GIS mapping, drone or aerial imagery, and ground penetrating radar cemetery scans for unmarked grave detection. Depending on your needs, that may include:

– Burial Plot Mapping to mark each gravesite and redraw plot lines

– Grave Locating for a specific missing or unmarked burial

– Cemetery Survey and Drafting to build an accurate as-built map even when paper records are wrong or missing

– Web Maps for Cemeteries that are clickable and searchable with no annual fee

Your deliverables typically include a printed master map plus a digital cemetery map you can open online to search names, view plot details, and see where space is sold, reserved, or available. For ongoing record work, Sentry also offers Cemetery Management Software with Chronicle, with two years of free Chronicle Viewer access when you partner, so you can keep the map and records current over time.

Question 3

What file formats can you deliver (GIS layers, CAD exports, KML, PDFs, spreadsheets), and which are best for long-term archiving?

Accepted Answer

Sentry Mapping can deliver cemetery mapping data as GIS-ready shapefiles with attribute tables (easy to import into ArcGIS or QGIS) plus a printed master map and an interactive web map link. With our optional cemetery management software program, you can also export reports to PDF, XLS, or CSV for backups.

Sentry Mapping delivers digital cemetery mapping in the formats most cemetery managers and GIS teams need. For cemetery GIS mapping projects our core delivery is GIS layers as ESRI shapefiles with matching attribute tables so your staff can load graves, plot boundaries, sections, and paths directly into ArcGIS or QGIS.

You also receive a printed physical master map and a clickable, searchable web map (see Web Maps for Cemeteries) so staff and visitors can find a burial fast without special software.

With our optional cemetery management software program, you can generate office-friendly documents too — export reports as CSV or XLSX spreadsheets and as PDFs, and output certificates as DOCX or PDF.

For long-term archiving we recommend keeping at least three copies: the shapefiles plus attribute tables for future GIS use, a flat CSV export of key records for maximum portability, and a PDF copy of the master map or reports for human-readable reference.

Question 4

What are the hidden risks if a cemetery does not properly map its plots?

Accepted Answer

Cemetery mapping errors trigger big bills: you might sell an occupied plot, pay to move remains, lose revenue to unsold space, and waste staff hours hunting paper records. Professional ground-penetrating-radar mapping prevents these hidden costs and protects your reputation.

Without reliable cemetery mapping, money slips away. An inaccurate burial plot map can lead your team to re-sell a plot that already contains an unmarked grave. Correcting that mistake usually means a disinterment plus new vault, labor, and re-interment. Families may sue for emotional distress, adding legal fees and public embarrassment.

Fear of striking unknown burials forces crews to dig wider or avoid usable ground, leaving prime space unsold. Even ten “ghost” spaces equal tens of thousands in lost revenue. Staff also spend hours hunting ledgers for each request. Combined, all of these avoidable expenses easily exceed the cost of a professional survey.

Sentry Mapping removes those risks. Our ground penetrating radar cemetery survey detects every marked and unmarked grave, utility line, and obstacle. We deliver precise GPS burial plot mapping and targeted grave locating. You also receive a printed master map plus a searchable digital cemetery GIS map hosted free online. We include a read-only program that lets visitors walk straight to the grave on a phone, and it can be converted to a full cemetery management software program at most any time to keep your digitized cemetery records current. Professional cemetery mapping turns hidden costs into clear data so you can protect heritage, avoid liability, and unlock revenue.

Question 5

Is there software that works with cemetery maps to provide visitor search functionality?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sentry Mapping pairs its professional cemetery mapping and GPR services with our optional cemetery management software, delivering an interactive, online map that lets staff and visitors instantly search graves by name, lot, or date on any device.

After Sentry Mapping completes a ground penetrating radar cemetery survey, every burial plot is pinned with precise coordinates. That data can be fed straight into a cloud-based cemetery management software platform built for both staff and the public. This optional software turns the digital cemetery map into a searchable interface. You click or tap any lot and see the occupant, dates, photos, and documents.

You can also type a name in the search bar and the software will zoom to the exact grave in seconds, even if the headstone is missing. Behind the scenes, Sentry’s burial plot mapping and unmarked grave detection workflow digitizes cemetery records in one pass, turning scattered ledgers into searchable cemetery GIS mapping layers and a grave locating feature for staff. If you’re wondering how to find unmarked graves, the GPR-based survey detects them and pins them on the map.

For visitors, the map works on any smartphone. They scan a QR code at the gate, enter a name, and follow turn-by-turn directions to the plot. For staff, the software keeps the back-office tools simple. Explore lot status, attach deeds, and print grave location slips in one place.

In short, the combination of Sentry Mapping’s professional cemetery mapping and our cemetery management software delivers a visitor-friendly search tool plus robust record keeping, no extra data entry needed. You can request a cemetery mapping free estimate to see how the service scales to your site.

Question 6

Do you provide training materials or handoff documentation so staff can confidently use and maintain the digital records?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sentry Mapping includes a clear handoff so your team can run your digital cemetery mapping with confidence. You get a printed master map and a clickable web map for quick lookups. If you also choose Chronicle cemetery management software, your records are organized in a full management system with access to free Chronicle Learning Hub videos, templates, and ongoing support.

Sentry Mapping plans every cemetery mapping project with a practical handoff for day-to-day record keeping.

At Final Delivery, you receive a printed master map plus a searchable web map your staff can open from any device. This web map is a read-only cemetery GIS mapping tool in a user-friendly format, so staff can quickly find a name, lot, or section and answer visitor questions faster.

If you need full record-keeping capabilities beyond the web map, Chronicle cemetery management software is a separate option that lets you manage your burial plot mapping and records in one system where you can search, filter, and click a gravesite to see and edit details. This makes digitizing cemetery records much easier and helps reduce mistakes, especially when your project includes ground penetrating radar cemetery scanning for unmarked grave detection.

For training on Chronicle, your team can use the free Chronicle Learning Hub, which provides step-by-step videos and downloadable templates for topics like cemetery data audits, records management, and strategic mapping. Chronicle is designed so you do not need months of training and support is available when you need it.

Question 7

Can we upload photos of headstones/monuments and link them to each mapped record for staff and/or the public?

Accepted Answer

Yes. With Sentry Mapping's digital cemetery mapping and our optional cemetery management software program, you can attach headstone or monument photos to each mapped grave record. Staff with the right permissions can upload images, and you can also choose to display headstone photos on the public, read-only online map.

Sentry Mapping cemetery mapping can include headstone and monument photos linked to each mapped record for staff and for the public. After Sentry Mapping completes your GPR cemetery survey and burial plot mapping, your cemetery GIS mapping data is delivered in an interactive digital map where each grave is a clickable record.

With our optional cemetery management software program, authorized staff such as owners, administrators, and managers can upload images and attach them to the correct plot or burial record, while view-only users remain read-only.

For public access, you can enable online public access so families can search, view basic interment details, and see a headstone photo to confirm they have the right location. Public users cannot edit anything. You control what is visible, down to specific fields or even specific graves, so you can keep sensitive information staff-only.

Question 8

Can I Track and Locate Specific Burial Plots with a Web Map?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can. Our services provide you with a digital, searchable map of your cemetery, making it straightforward to track and locate specific burial plots. Whether you’re looking for a particular individual or need to show visitors to their loved one’s site, our maps make the process quick and stress-free. This digital tool is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring anyone can navigate it with ease, which greatly simplifies the management and visitation of your cemetery.

Deliverables, Data & Software