BinGPX

Minimal binary representation for GPS data focused on file size while still maintaining precision (0.67cm lat and 1.34cm long at the Equator)

File Structure

• All values are Big Endian

• Files should use the .bgpx file extension

• Floats are IEEE 754 Singles

• Fixed-Point sign uses Q-Format

• No byte-padding, values are the exact size as stated

Example:

Q8.24 = 8 bits for signed integer, 24 bits for fractional part

UQ9.23 = 9 bits for unsigned integer, 23 bits for fractional part

Both of these examples use 32 bits in total

Header

Field	Type	Size	Description
File Header	Magic	32 bits	Always 0x42 0x47 0x50 0x58
Version	Unsigned Integer	32 bits	Currently 1094

For each track

Field	Type	Size	Description
Start of Track	Magic	32 bits	Always 0x54 0x52 0x4B 0x53
TLS	Unsigned Integer	2 bits	Track List Size in bits = (Value+1)*8
Track Type	Unsigned Integer	2 bits	0 = Ordered Track, 1 = Unordered Track, 2 = Ordered Area, automatically connects the first and last waypoint
Track Color	Unsigned Integer	4 bits	Color Index [0 ≤ 15]
Waypoint Count	Unsigned Integer	TLS bits	Number of total waypoints
Waypoint Data		32 bytes each waypoint

If Track type is "Unordered" then additional info is added, "Ordered" Track Types don't include this:

Field	Type	Size	Description
Connection Count	Unsigned Integer	TLS bits	Number of total connections between waypoints
Connection Data		TLS*2 each connection

Connection data (1 for each connection)

Field	Type	Size	Description
Point A Index	Unsigned Integer	TLS bits
Point B Index	Unsigned Integer	TLS bits

Waypoint data (1 for each waypoint)

Field	Type	Size	Description
Latitude*	Fixed-Point Q8.24	32 bits	Degrees [-90 ≤ 90] WGS84 datum
Longitude*	Fixed-Point Q9.23	32 bits	Degrees [-180 ≤ 180] WGS84 datum
Altitude	Floating-Point IEEE 754	32 bits	Meters
Heading	Fixed-Point UQ9.23	32 bits	Degrees [0 ≤ 360]
H. Accuracy	Floating-Point IEEE 754	32 bits	Meters
V. Accuracy	Floating-Point IEEE 754	32 bits	Meters
Timestamp*	Unsigned Integer	64 bits	Milliseconds since 00:00:00 01/01/1970 UTC Time

"*" = Required

Optional Fixed-Point fields are omitted when equal to 0xFFFFFFFF's

Optional Floating-Point fields are omitted when NaN

Color index

Index	Name	Hex	Preview
0	White	#FFFFFF
1	Yellow	#FCF404
2	Orange	#FF6404
3	Red	#DC0808
4	Pink	#F00884
5	Purple	#4800A4
6	Blue	#0000D4
7	Light Blue	#00ACE8
8	Green	#20B814
9	Dark Green	#006410
10	Brown	#582C04
11	Metallic Sunburst	#907038
12	Light Gray	#C0C0C0
13	Gray	#808080
14	Dark Gray	#404040
15	Black	#000000

Examples

Header + Ordered Track with one waypoint

42 47 50 58 00 00 04 46
54 52 4B 53 93 00 00 01
20 EE E5 1A CF 81 F6 8D
42 FA 99 9A FF FF FF FF
40 79 99 9A 7F C0 00 00
00 00 01 99 2C 23 83 88

• 42 47 50 58 00 00 04 46

Hex	Description
42 47 50 58	Header Magic Number
00 00 04 46	Version (1094)

• 54 52 4B 53 93 00 00 01

Hex	Description
54 52 4B 53	Track Start Magic Number
93	Track Flags
> 0b10	Track List Size (24 bits)
> 0b01	Track Type ("Ordered")
> 0b0011	Track Color ("Red")
00 00 01	Waypoint Count (1)

• 20 EE E5 1A CF 81 F6 8D 42 FA 99 9A FF FF FF FF 40 79 99 9A 7F C0 00 00 00 00 01 99 2C 23 83 88

Hex	Description
20 EE E5 1A	Latitude (32.93318331241608 degrees)
CF 81 F6 8D	Longitude (-96.98466336727142 degrees)
42 FA 99 9A	Altitude (125.3 meters)
FF FF FF FF	Heading (Omitted)
40 79 99 9A	Horizontal Accuracy (3.9 meters)
7F C0 00 00	Vertical Accuracy (Omitted)
00 00 01 99 2C 23 83 88	64-bit UNIX Timestamp (1757382149000 milliseconds) (Tue Sep 09 2025 01:42:29 UTC+0000)