In-person delivery: B24 Computer Cluster, 52 Pritchatts Road, University of Birmingham

Aimed at: All Years

Duration: 2-4 days

CENTA Training Credits: 4

Training Area(s): Theme Science and Technical Skills

COURSE OUTLINE

This course introduces the underlying principles and methods of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). It examines the processes involved in the capture, storage, manipulation, analysis, presentation and output of digital geographical data in a GIS and provides opportunities for the development of practical skills in processing data using a leading Open Source GIS software package, QGIS.

The course comprises a series of presentations, demos and practical sessions using QGIS software with example data sets taken from a variety of fields. The main elements of the QGIS user interface are introduced and topics covered include: data management, data visualisation, analysis, data presentation and reporting.

This course is intended for those who have little or no GIS knowledge and who wish to use FREE software developed by the Open Source community as opposed to a proprietary commercial package.

ANTICIPATED COURSE OUTCOMES / ACHIEVEMENTS

Aims and objectives

• To provide delegates with an appreciation of the fundamental concepts of GIS including its strengths and limitations.

• To introduce the core functionality of QGIS software package.

• To teach the fundamental skills needed to obtain, import, manipulate, analyse, interpret, manage and

output spatial data in order to investigate topics in the delegate’s area of interest.

• To demonstrate real-world uses of GIS.

• To support the mapping of your own data in a QGIS project.

Learning outcomes - by the end of the course, delegates will have a knowledge and understanding of:

• what GIS is; what spatial data is; raster and vector data models

• the core tasks involved in a GIS analysis e.g. data acquisition and input; data storage and management;

data manipulation and analysis; and data presentation and output

• the core functionality of QGIS

• importing data from various sources

• handling tables including selections and queries

• creating and editing spatial data

• the steps required to produce paper maps from base data

• basic geoprocessing tasks e.g. buffering and clipping

By attending training with GeoData you can accrue CPD points towards the Chartered Geographer accreditation. All of our courses are validated under the Association for Geographic Information CPD scheme and the GIS Certification Institute GIS Professional (GISP) Award

GeoData

Introduction to QGIS Classroom based

For further information please contact: GeoData, University of Southampton, Southampton

SO17 1BJ. Tel. +44 (0)23 8059 2719

gis-train@geodata.soton.ac.uk

www.gis-train.com

Description

Session 1:

1 - The What, Why, How of GIS

What is GIS?

What does it mean?

Questions I can answer using GIS

Presenting data using GIS

What data can I use in a GIS?

GIS Applications

2 - Introduction to QGIS

OpenSource

GIS

Data Formats

Map Layers

Working with Tables

Map Production

Plugins

Geoprocessing

Finding Help

Exercise 2 – Getting Started

3 - Using QGIS

Identifying Features

Layer Properties

(Thematic Mapping, Labelling, Actions)

Project files

Project Properties

Exercise 3a – QGIS

Basics

Exercise 3b – Symbolising data

4 - Data Management and Using Tables

Data Management

QGIS Browser

Metadata

Exercise 4 – Metadata

5 - Using Tables

Adding/Editing fields and records

Field Calculator

Generating field statistics

Joining tables

Exercise 5 – Working with Tables

6 – Selections and Queries

Identifying features

Select features interactively

Selection by criteria – query builder

Location based selections

Exporting selected data

Exercise 6 – Selections and Queries

7 - Creating and Editing Layers

Creating new data

Shapefiles

Geodatabases

Editing and Snapping

Editing Attribute data

Saving data

Undo and Redo

Exercise 7 - Creating & Editing GIS Data

8 - Producing Maps

Cartographic Design

What is a Layout?

Print Layouts

Adding Maps

Map Elements

Graphic Elements

Composer Templates

Printing or Exporting

Exercise 8 – Producing a Map

9 - Geoprocessing & Other Tools / Extensions

GeoProcessing

Spatial Joins

Advanced Geoprocessing

Exercise 9 – Analysis and Geoprocessing

CENTA GIS Workshop - QGIS