Mastering QGIS

Module 1:

Objectives:

This module explains fundamental GIS concepts and the difference between GIS and cartography (drawing). It introduces QGIS architecture and optimal working practices, particularly personal libraries. The second part focuses on using QGIS Browser to manage and search for data.

Topics covered:

• GIS concepts: representing the real world through geographic objects; geometry and attributes; scale, data and symbology.
• QGIS overview: the QGIS project's architecture and operation.
• QGIS data models: shapefiles and database formats including SpatiaLite and PostgreSQL/PostGIS.
• Using personal libraries to optimise recurring work.
• Accessing and searching a data catalogue.

Module 2

Objectives:

This module provides the essentials for understanding coordinate systems and working with data created in different systems. It explains theoretical geodesy concepts essential to using coordinate systems in QGIS. Participants explore how geodetic concepts are implemented in QGIS, including geodetic systems, ellipsoids and projections, and how to manage the different systems they use.

Topics covered:

• General geodesy concepts: geodetic system, ellipsoid and projection.
• Coordinate systems: Cartesian, geographic and projected.
• Systems commonly used by participants.
• Projection systems in QGIS: defining and changing the system.

Module 3:

Objectives:

This module enables participants to display any type of data in QGIS and apply appropriate, professional symbology. It also teaches how to query data to create subsets, extract data or update it.

Topics covered:

• Displaying a layer in QGIS.
• Changing layer symbology.
• Creating custom symbols.
• Selecting features on screen.
• Selecting features by attributes.
• Selecting features by location using spatial queries.

Module 4:

Objectives:

This module explains relational data management tools: spatially enabling non-geographic data through joins, creating new layers through spatial analysis, and using databases for data storage and management. It also covers importing files from other software, including Excel, AutoCAD and MapInfo.

Topics covered:

• Viewing tables and connecting to an external database with QGIS.
• Displaying tabular data in QGIS.
• Creating a join between a layer and a table.
• Spatial joins between two layers.
• Creating and loading SQLite databases in QGIS.
• Geoprocessing in QGIS: processing tools.
• Using data import tools (ogr2ogr).

Module 5:

Objective:

This module enables participants to create professional-quality cartographic documents. It explains layout in QGIS, ways to save and reuse layouts, and how to use templates provided by other users.

Topics covered:

• Designing a map from layer files with the map composer.
• Defining a reference scale.
• Defining a clipping extent for a data frame.
• Positioning layout elements.
• Creating a locator map.
• Rotating a data frame.
• Using layout templates.

Module 6:

Objective:

This module explores 3D and video representations as GIS data communication tools. Participants learn to use the QGis2threeJS plugin to display 3D data and the QGIS Time Manager plugin to animate chronological data and export animations to video formats.

Topics covered:

• 3D concepts.
• QGis2ThreeJS: principles of use.
• Creating 3D views.
• Managing time for chronological layers.
• Using the time slider to create an animation.