GeoEducate: Introduction to GIS and Mapping with QGIS

Geographical information systems combine data collection, storage, processing, and presentation with a location component. They manage geo data in geo databases, enabling spatial and temporal analysis and map visualization.

See how gis supports humanitarian work through mapping, cartographic products, satellite analysis, data collection, and offline paper maps for rapid response and decision making.

Explore the shape of the earth, from ellipsoids to geoid, and grasp GIS basics—vector and raster data, shapefiles, and how to visualize geospatial information.

Explore how projections convert the earth from 3D to 2D for measurements in meters and miles, while noting no projection is perfect and Mercator exaggerates areas away from the equator.

Define a map and describe key map types—from general reference and topographic with contour lines to thematic, physical, climate, navigational, political, cadastral, and road maps.

Explore overlays and layers, base maps, raster and vector data features, geometry, attribute tables, shapefiles and geotiffs, and learn GIS terminology for building maps from multiple layers.

Explore the raster data type and its pixel-based grid, where each cell holds a numeric value. Rasters depict continuous data such as temperature, elevation, and precipitation.

Identify the two popular formats for GIS vector data: shapefile and geopackage, noting shapefile's four-file requirement and geopackage's single, lighter file design.

Explore how Geotiff extends tiff by embedding map projection and coordinate information to place raster data in gis software, and compare formats like png and jpeg.

Reflect on your progress with GIS and prepare for the practical part, where concepts will finally click together, and consider rewatching to reinforce concepts.

Identify point, line, and polygon features and distinguish vector data from raster data across three layers: airports, road network, and administrative boundaries in Nigeria, with a base raster layer.

Explore the QGIS interface, including the menu bar, toolbars, browser panel, layer panel, and the canvas, then load data and apply styles to prepare for hands-on exercises.

Load Malawi data in QGIS by dragging shapefiles from OpenStreetMap, then style layers in real time. Experiment with layer order, apply categorized road styles, and filter by f class values.

Cartographers balance compromise with purpose and audience. They create maps as art and science to communicate a clear message.

Explore key map elements and visual hierarchy, from main title and legend to scale, graticule, and insets, and learn how data sources, dates, and contact details inform interpretation.

Master map layout by applying visual hierarchy to prioritize elements like the inset map, title, legend, scale, and north arrow. Position and size guide readers intuitively.

Explore how map titles and subtitles instantly reveal the subject and area, using concise punctuation and news-like phrasing to guide readers.

Use the inset map and extent indicator to communicate map context, showing enlarged areas and broader regions. Add additional scale bars for inset and locator maps to emphasize scale differences.

Learn how generalization and specialization shape cartography, using data attributes to filter features and enable multi-scale cartography for different audiences and media.

Explore how Google Maps demonstrates specialization and generalization across zoom levels, from world boundaries to buildings, as information unfolds from lakes and roads to landmarks and street view.

Discover how fonts shape map personality and tone, selecting two complementary, legible typefaces for diverse audiences, including Universe, Open Sans, and Avenir Pro, while avoiding decorative fonts.

Explore how to improve maps by aligning legend, symbols, and layout; address missing scale and north arrow, readable labels, clear road and facility labeling, and color choices for better readability.

Explore three visual color schemes for maps: sequential, diverging, and qualitative, and learn how they represent ordered data with lightness variations, central values, or distinguish categorical values.

Match color to data logic, using orange and red for high temperatures and light blue for low, or red for closed and green for open crossings; limit to five colors.

Explore how visual variables map polygon features using color, shape, size, orientation, arrangement, and spacing, with examples showing density and building types.

Explore visual variables in map design and maps, and guide learners to locate reliable GIS data from trustworthy sources, because a map is only as good as its data.

Explore OpenStreetMap (OSM), a volunteer-maintained global database of populated places, boundaries, roads, land use, and points of interest like hospitals, pharmacies, and religious sites, with downloadable country data via GeoFabric.

Explore the humanitarian data exchange platform. Access admin boundaries and data on food insecurity, and download shapefile, csv, or geopackage formats for your gis.

Learn to use the humanitarian data exchange to locate, filter, download, and visualize datasets—such as boundaries, road networks, and vulnerability indicators—in QGIS, with country-focused examples like Jordan.

Explore the GeoNames database, a free data source that covers all countries and includes over 11 million place names, and download datasets from GeoNames using the link provided.

Explore data sources used in humanitarian mapping, including building footprints from Microsoft and Google Open Buildings. Access Worldpop and noclip data in QGIS for visualization and population density analysis.

Explore how to download and map security incident data from Arklet via a CSV export in QGIS, including latitude and longitude, event types, actors, and administrative levels for trend analysis.

Explore how QGis plugins extend core capabilities with advanced geospatial analysis tools and interoperability with databases and geo node. Install and use a plugin to enhance cartographic workflows.

Review GIS mapping as a core geospatial pillar alongside data collection, data management, GIS development, and GIS analysis. Share this course and leave a review to help improve future offerings.