GIS Data Collection, Analysis, Visualization and Mapping Course

Introduction

This course comprises 10 modules, each with their own learning objectives and target deliverable. This training introduces students to both the social and technical aspects of digital mapping. Students will learn fundamental concepts and techniques in cartography and GIS, including file types, data classification, projections and coordinate systems and elementary analytical techniques in a range of desktop and web-based mapping platforms.

In addition to providing the fundamental technical competencies necessary to create maps, students will develop the critical awareness required to effectively communicate complex social processes through maps. Modules consist of an applied “hands-on” lesson.

No of Days

10 Days

Course Objectives

Integrate desktop GIS procedures with web-based mapping platforms

Define and differentiate between variety of spatial data models and formats

Manipulate geospatial datasets (e.g. cleaning, joining, querying, extracting)

Apply appropriate thematic map symbology to represent geographic phenomena

Explain and apply the basics of representation in GIS, including using vector and raster data formats, determining appropriate geographic coordinate system for a given spatial data file and applying the appropriate geographic projection to a map type and spatial scale

Produce static map products that integrate multiple data types and analytical methods

Obtain geospatial data from a variety of online sources and integrate into mapping processes

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to new maps plus, cartography and GIS, and creating maps in QGIS

Gain a basic conceptual understanding of cartography, GIS, and mapping

Gain familiarity with geographic data and information, and how it’s encoded within computer files

Download and install a free and open-source GIS application (QGIS)

Gain a basic familiarity with the QGIS interface

Gain awareness of spatial reference and projection issues

Practice opening a variety of geographic data with QGIS and viewing their attributes within QGIS

Perform basic map styling

Create and export a basic map as a static image file

Module 2: Thematic data mapping with table joins

Load shape files and CSV data into QGIS

Reproject the map into an equal-area projection

Create classed choropleth map

Adjust the legend to help the map tell a more clear story

Load tabular CSV data into QGIS and performing a tabular join

Module 03: Geocoding and point in polygon analysis

Obtaining and working with US Census data

Understand and perform geocoding of tabular data

Learn about some of the geocoding tools available online

Understand and perform a point in polygon analysis

Module 04: Hexbin and heat mapping

Map point data

Create new polygon shapefiles of hexagon shapes and raster heatmaps

Determine the number of different good types within each polygon

Play with various classification schemes for representing the data

Create a ‘heat map’ representation of the data

Module 05: Creating and editing vector Geometries

Georeferencing

Using the GDAL Georeferencer

Digitizing data

Digitizing data with Open Street Map in QGIS

Module 06: Openstreetmap data and Introduction to Geoprocessing tools

A deeper look at Open Street Map

Importing OpenStreetMap data: QuickOSM

Importing OpenStreetMap data: SpatialLite Database

Data filtering and extraction

Exporting layers to a local CRS

Introduction to Geoprocessing

Geoprocessing with a buffer analysis

Module 07: Geoprocessing in QGIS and automating workflows

Extracting and preparing thematic OSM data

Filtering OSM data to create desired features

Managing CRSs in a Geoprocessing Workflow

Extracting attribute types of interest

Creating a buffer around a Polyline feature

Clipping features within a buffer

Geoprocessing functions

Using the Graphical Processing Modeler to automate workflows

Module 08: Integrating QGIS with cartodb

Creating a CartoDB account and exploring the documentation and interface

Loading data into CartoDB

Using the QGIS CartoDB plugin

Pulling data down into QGIS for processing

Pushing data backup to CartoDB

Making a thematic map in CartoDB

Module 09: Advanced mapping techniques with QGIS and cartodb

Using SQL in CartoDB

Symbolizing point data and “Bubble Maps” in CartoDB

Creating an unclassed proportional symbol map in CartoDB

What is PostGIS?

Using SQL and PostGIS to perform Geoprocessing tasks in the browser

Module 10: Bringing it all together (course project)

Each student will select from suggested datasets to create a final course project

Students can use CartoDB or Mapbox Studio