Basic GIS using QGIS

This course introduces participants to Free and Open Source Geospatial tools. We will explore Quantum GIS as an easy to use FOSS-Geo application. The materials focus on the basic interface and data exploration of QGIS.

Quantum GIS (QGIS) is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) that runs on several operating systems (Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, and Windows). QGIS supports vector, raster, and database formats. QGIS is licensed under the GNU Public License.

What you will learn

At the end of the training/workshop, participants should be able to:

• install QGIS,
• navigate the basic interface of QGIS,
• transform and create geospatial data from field reports and other non-map based information,
• perform basic vector data processing and,
• prepare paper-based maps.

• 1. QGIS Installation for MS Windows, Mac OSX and Ubuntu Linux
  • 1.1. MS Windows
  • 1.2. Mac OSX
  • 1.3. GNU/Linux Ubuntu
• 2. The QGIS Interface
  • 2.1. Creating a new project
  • 2.2. Opening Vector data
  • 2.3. Changing the look of your data layer
  • 2.4. Navigating around your map
  • 2.5. Saving your first project
  • 2.6. Other tips
• 3. Using Custom Symbology
  • 3.1. Importing custom symbols
  • 3.2. Using custom styles
• 4. Managing Data Attributes
  • 4.1. Viewing Data Attributes
  • 4.2. Creating and editing attributes
  • 4.3. Subset displayed data using table queries
• 5. QGIS Plugins
  • 5.1. Add new plugins using Python Plugin Installer
• 6. Digitizing Vector Layers
  • 6.1. Creating a new project
  • 6.2. Loading raster data
  • 6.3. Loading Vector data
  • 6.4. Creating a new vector layer
  • 6.5. Setting options for digitizing
  • 6.6. Digitizing vectors
• 7. Map Design with Print Composer
  • 7.1. Print Composer Interface
  • 7.2. Adding a map
  • 7.3. Adding a Legend
  • 7.4. Adding a Scale Bar
  • 7.5. Title and other text boxes
  • 7.6. Other options
  • 7.7. Exporting your final map