Intro to QGIS: Make a Map

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QGIS
What is QGIS?

Free and Open Source GIS Software

rahber.net

Official Project of OSGEO
Runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, Windows, and Android(!)
Fully capable, supports vector (points, lines, polygons) and raster

Licensed under the
GNU General Public License

Who is OSGEO?
Open Source Geospatial Foundation
Community of Developers
QGIS, Grass, OpenLayers, etc.

History of QGIS:
Started in 2002 by Gary Sherman Version 1.0 in 2009

Gary Sherman - History of QGIS Committers (2011)

Components of QGIS

QGIS Desktop

Create, edit, visualise, analyse and publish geospatial information. For Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD and Android.

QGIS Browser

Browse and preview your data and metadata. Drag and drop your data from one datastore into the other one.

QGIS Server

Publish your QGIS projects and layers as OGC compatible WMS and WFS services. Control which layers, attributes, layouts and coordinate systems are exported.

QGIS Web Client

Publish your QGIS projects on the web with ease. Benefit from the powerful symbology, labeling and blending features to impress with your maps.

QGIS for Android (beta)
Mobile! Try if you dare!

Work is being done to use QGIS on Android devices. Current builds are very experimental, and not for the faint of heart.

Lets make maps! Download:
QGIS 2.8
Chugiak

Today's Task: RAT MAP!
#ratmap

But First...
a little to get you started.

Get familiar with the UI

Map Navigation Toolbar

File Toolbar

Manage Layers

Attribute Toolbar

Layers Panel

Browser Panel

Others
View -> Toolbars

We're going to run through the process of adding data real quick, then you'll be set loose to make your #ratmap

Adding Data - What is supported?
OGR Vector Formats
GDAL Raster Formats
PostGIS, OracleSpatial, SpatialLite
Tabular (csv, tsv, etc.)

Add Data
1. Chicago Neighborhoods
2. Rodent Complaints (CSV)
Data Package

Chicago Data Portal

Add Data

See that nifty little comma button???

Projections
Will default to the projection set in your project, if none WGS84
Layers -> Individual basis
Project -> Project Properties

Reprojecting a Dataset:
Right Click on Layer -> Save As

Enable 'on the fly'

Project - Project Properties - CRS

Let's Symbolize

Layer Properties

Symbolize in Style Tab

Explore the Other Properties

Labels
Fields
Display
Actions
Joins
Diagrams
Metadata

Editing
We won't really do this today.
but you can!

Note on editing: QGIS is really best for editing shapefiles. There are plugins for other formats, but keep this in mind when you're out there in the wild.

Geoprocessing

Vector Menu
Raster Menu

Try Points in Polygon
Calculate the Neighborhoods with the most Rat Violations

Vector > Analysis > Points in Polygon. !Be sure your layers are using the same CRS!

If you have problems, take a look at your layers' CRS. For best results, make sure all of the layers you're processing have the same CRS!

Exporting Datasets
Right click -> Save as...
Preserve your transformations.

To the Print Composer

Maps are composed in QGIS using the Print Composer

Add the map element.

Layout your map presentation in Print Composer.
Maps, Legend, Scale, North Arrow, etc.
You can save it and return to it, and update it!

The Layout Process

When satisfied:
Export Image
Export PDF
Export SVG

Other QGIS Features:
Map Services
QGIS Server
Web Publishing
Python
Database Connections

Plugins!
One of the neatest features of QGIS
Tons of Open Source Plugins
Plugins -> Plug In Manager

More QGIS in the Future
This is only the beginning.
But for now...

Make a RAT MAP!
Have at it, and have fun!
Download the Data ZIP

Chicago Data Portal