Map Academy: taking QGIS to the next level

Name: Map Academy: taking QGIS to the next level
Rating: 4.7 (592 reviews)

Take the next step in your QGIS journey, with: expressions, automated mapping, design tips, creating data + much more

Highest Rated

Created byAlasdair Rae

Last updated 7/2023

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

How to automate mapping with QGIS Atlas
How to write expressions in QGIS (e.g. to filter, style or select features)
How to find patterns in data using expressions
How to create data, using different methods
How to create and edit GIS data
How to use the Processing Toolbox
Map design techniques, with worked examples
How to process multiple files with Batch Processing
How to use the super-power of geometry generators
How to make beautiful maps with blend effects in QGIS
Loads of labelling, color and design tips
Use datasets from lots of different countries, and the whole world

Course content

8 sections • 96 lectures • 7h 21m total length

Welcome to Map Academy 20:30
This is just an intro to the section and to the course. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
Things you'll learn during this course4:21
My QGIS setup during this course3:12
New QGIS versions are released frequently but they are usually only minor changes. You may see slight differences between my screen and yours but it shouldn't cause any issues.
A little reminder: save your project + start a new project when necessary1:48

Writing expressions in QGIS0:26
Let's do some basic filtering3:18
Filter a layer using = or IN4:33
Filter a layer using NOT2:13
Filter a layer using LIKE4:59
Combining operators in an expression5:41
Filter a layer using an expression based on numeric data3:23
Filter a map layer with a numeric expression comparing 2020 and 2010 census populations to identify states with population loss or gain, and save or load query as a file.
The difference between LIKE and ILIKE5:11
Use an expression to make labels different sizes6:50
Set symbol size using an expression2:31
Set label style (e.g. Bold, Italic) using an expression2:57
Some REALLY useful label formatting expression tips!7:23
Learn to use QGIS labeling expressions to wrap long city names with the word wrap function, format populations in millions, and create two-line labels with string concatenation and newline.
Find and replace label text using REPLACE and ARRAY4:41
Calculate a new variable using an expression4:11
Select by expression3:25
Finding patterns in data: British roads6:08
Use your expression skills to make a map and share it with me

Create your own GIS data0:27
Create a points layer from an Excel file4:59
Import a csv file with lat/long in it4:46
Create a grid layer (in this case, a world grid)3:59
Create data via Vector > Research Tools4:47
Create a new GeoPackage layer (or Shapefile) - polygon, or point, or line type5:41
Learn to create a new geometry layer in QGIS, choosing a geo package or shapefile, and draw a polygon for Iceland. Add a country attribute and save the layer.
Edit the shape of a polygon layer using the Vertex Tool3:54
Use the vertex tool in edit mode to add and move vertices on the polygon, inserting new points at midpoints and then undoing or redoing changes before saving.
The Advanced Digitizing Toolbar3:27
Explore the advanced digitizing toolbar in QGIS to edit polygons, move, rotate, scale, simplify, add holes, and split or merge features via view toolbars.
Create a route in Google My Maps, then import it into QGIS3:04
The 'create' options in the Processing Toolbox1:48
Explore the QGIS processing toolbox to discover create options such as grid, points from table, and random points. Run a thousand random points as a temporary layer by typing create.
Make a simple route map

The QGIS Processing Toolbox0:31
Explore the QGIS processing toolbox panel, learn to access all tools with a click, and search for the right tool for any analysis.
Where to find the Processing Toolbox0:36
Open the processing toolbox with the gear button to reveal tools on the right, and browse through them to discover what’s available in QGIS.
Let's try the Processing Toolbox now5:27
Create a hillshade layer with the Processing Toolbox3:43
Create a hill shade layer from a terrain raster using the processing toolbox in QGIS, adjusting z factor, azimuth, and vertical angle to reveal terrain shadows.
A Processing Toolbox workflow example6:58
Explore a practical QGIS workflow using the processing toolbox to create an extent polygon, centroid, a 10-km buffer, and clip operations, culminating in a circular focal layer with hillshade.
More on the Processing Toolbox2:37
Process multiple files with with Batch Processing7:53
Repair invalid geometry with the Processing Toolbox3:38
Fix invalid geometry in the plates layer using the processing toolbox in QGIS, then rerun the polygons to lines tool to produce a line layer.
Use the Slope tool in the Processing Toolbox

Thinking about map design0:30
Explore essential map design techniques in QGIS, from labeling and line width to color choices, inverted polygons to highlight areas, and using gradients, print layout, and fonts.
Different line width (stroke width) methods5:28
Some basic color and label tips7:02
Learn how to improve map readability by adjusting land and city colors, stroke widths, and label formatting in QGIS, including font, shadow, and exporting at 300 dpi.
Blend effects and much more!13:39
Combine cartographic techniques in QGIS to create a moody map of Scotland from Thurso to Edinburgh, using hill shade, inverted polygons, and outer glow on the route.
Style maps using the color picker4:17
Learn to style maps in QGIS by matching colors to an organizational scheme, using the built-in color picker, project properties, and simple fill adjustments to reflect the United Nations palette.
Use an inverted polygon to highlight an area7:16
Population density in Belgium9:11
Map inspiration: #30DayMapChallenge1:49
Explore map design inspiration from the 30 day map challenge, with worldwide examples, diverse styles, and tools, plus ideas from the 30daymapchallenge.com and Twitter hashtag.
US county choropleth 1: create a new color ramp6:29
Create a US county choropleth of 2019 household income using QGIS, customizing a gradient color ramp from light to dark blue, applying quantile classification, and saving the new ramp.
US county choropleth 2: add states and labels4:34
US county choropleth 3: set up a Print Layout (US page size)8:29
Create a print layout in QGIS, set page to US letter, add the map at 1:18,000,000, apply a gradient backdrop, and add median household income title and USDA 2019 source.
US county choropleth 4: add Alaska and Hawaii insets6:42
US county choropleth 5: finalise print layout and add legend6:45
US county choropleth 6: export map and examine final output5:14
Explore creating and exporting a US county choropleth of median household income, adjusting county and state borders, and validating readability at full resolution across image, SVG, and PDF outputs.
Thinking about fonts6:09
Further labelling and design tips15:07
Colors: don't forget cpt-city or ColorBrewer4:50
Learn to select and create color ramps in QGIS using CPT City and ColorBrewer palettes, applying single-color palettes for income data and options to invert.
Create your own version of the US county choropleth map

Automated mapping - QGIS Atlas0:27
Unlock the ability to automate your mapping with QGIS Atlas, creating tens, hundreds, or thousands of maps. Dive straight in and master this fantastic tool for efficient map production.
The QGIS Atlas is amazing!0:52
Let's look at a simple Atlas output3:07
Data source for the US states information: https://github.com/CivilServiceUSA/us-states
Let's set up a simple QGIS Atlas10:29
Create a QGIS atlas map book using two layers (US states and capitals) in a print layout, using the US states layer as the atlas coverage and adding dynamic labels.
Adding rules to QGIS Atlas layers8:54
Learn to add rules to QGIS atlas layers using rule-based symbology and atlas feature id matching. Use intersects expressions to show only capitals that intersect the current atlas feature.
How to export a QGIS Atlas to PDF and PNG10:12
Don't worry, your QGIS Atlas isn't broken!1:55
Filter out a feature from your QGIS Atlas1:41
Exclude District of Columbia from a QGIS atlas by using an atlas filter expression not name equals District of Columbia, yielding a total of 50 states.
Add an inset locator map to your QGIS Atlas8:03
A challenge: watch this, then create your own Atlas!14:32
Create a dynamic QGIS atlas by combining state data, population figures from census, and images to produce a one-page-per-state map with flags, seals, and customized layouts.
Help, my QGIS Atlas is broken AGAIN! (no it's not)1:04
Why use a dot for a locator symbol?3:35
Explain why a locator dot is used for U.S. states in the atlas. Show how a fill obscures small states and discuss when a centroid fill or dot is preferable.
NOT controlled by Atlas3:01
Bring me sunshine! Another QGIS Atlas example7:09
Demonstrate a slightly more complex QGIS atlas using sunshine contours for the UK, with animation-ready frames, atlas name formatting, contour-based visualization, and export options.
A tip on coverage layer rules in QGIS Atlas1:48
Learn to apply coverage layer rules in QGIS atlas to show current and prior atlas features cumulatively, using a greater than or equal to rule on the sunshine contours layer.
Further information: turn your Atlas frames into an animation with ffmpeg2:30
Turn QGIS atlas frames into an animation using FFmpeg, a command line tool; learn to install and verify FFmpeg on Windows, Mac, or Linux, and create MP4 or GIF animations.
Create an Atlas and share some of the outputs with me

Tips and tricks in QGIS0:43
Remove annoying duplicate street name labels5:08
Learn to remove duplicate street name labels in QGIS by applying the roads QML style to Westminster roads, using scale-dependent rendering and merging connected lines to prevent clutter.
Turn layers on/off as you zoom in (scale dependent visibility)2:28
Explore how to control label visibility in QGIS with scale dependent visibility as you zoom. Set the minimum scale in rendering to show labels only at closer zoom, reducing clutter.
Copy/paste a layer and then dim features2:09
Duplicate the roads layer in QGIS to highlight major streets, then dim the background by reducing opacity for quick, clear cartographic contrast.
Label only the highest values in a layer10:52
Learn to label only the highest earthquakes in a QGIS project by applying rule-based labeling for magnitude nine or greater, with styled land and earthquake layers and callout leader lines.
Add comments to your expressions in QGIS2:50
Learn to add comments to QGIS expressions to document what a rule does, using dash comments or multi-line comments without affecting the expression.
Copy/paste a map quickly to Word, etc2:22
Use an expression to scale symbols5:05
Use an expression to set feature opacity4:51
Turn labels off with a dash1:09
A QGIS Plugin for quick OSM locator maps5:01
Discover how to install and use the OSM Place Search plugin in QGIS to create quick locator maps with an OpenStreetMap backdrop by selecting regions and generating masked layers.
The Label Toolbar in QGIS0:35
The Label Toolbar can be so useful!3:33
Explore how the label toolbar in QGIS improves map labeling, moving labels such as Florida and New Hampshire for better placement, and using callouts, curved lines, and background color tweaks.
Right-click, get coordinates!2:05
Geometry generator 1: a simple example7:02
Geometry generator 2: rotate the States!4:35
Explore the geometry generator to rotate the lower 48 states, using 180 degrees and random values from -5 to 5 or -10 to 10 degrees with rand and round.
Geometry generator 3: bounding geometries5:26
Geometry generator 4: simplify and smooth a coastline6:53
Geometry generator 5: population spike map8:04
Geometry generator 6: hello Texas!9:04
Practice geometry generator techniques on the Texas and Texas Geometry layers, applying buffer, simplify, rotate, and wave effects, then compare results and experiment with multiple expressions to shape cartography.
Some more examples from geometry generator3:17
HELP! macOS color picker is broken2:29
Fix macOS color picker in QGIS by granting screen recording permission and using a hold and drag color pick from the symbology panel.
Applying a rule to multiple categories (as in sunshine QGIS Atlas)4:15

Requirements

Before taking this course you should already know how to make maps with QGIS - including adding and styling data, filtering layers and exporting maps from the Print Layout
No programming experience is necessary
No paid software is required: QGIS is all we use in this course
Love maps? Love data? Know the basics of QGIS? That's all you really need

Description

Update: I now have over 16,000 people learning with me, in 180 different countries - thanks so much! I also try to reply to all comments and reviews so you should always be able to get in touch with me.

Welcome to this intermediate-level Map Academy course! This course is for existing QGIS users who already have a good basic understanding of the software and are now ready to take their skills to the next level. If you've already done my Map Academy: get mapping quickly, with QGIS course on here, this is the natural next step. There are more than 90 videos in this next level course, split into the following 8 sections:

Introduction
Writing expressions in QGIS (e.g. to filter layers, style data, or select features + more)
Creating data in QGIS (e.g. using the Research Tools in QGIS, by creating new data, or through advanced digitizing)
The QGIS Processing Toolbox (how it works, what tools there are, how to use Batch Processing + more)
Map design in QGIS (more in-depth instruction on cartographic approaches and design elements)
Automated mapping with QGIS Atlas (this is an absolutely amazing part of QGIS - so powerful, and quick!)
Tips and tricks in QGIS (e.g. tips for working more efficiently, and we'll also learn geometry generator expressions)
Final words (want to see something else on the course? got a specific request? just let me know!)

You can choose which order to do things in, or you can follow each section through in order - it's 100% up to you and designed so that you can dip and and out to get what you need, in short, clear videos with all data provided for you.

I'll take you step-by-step through all of the above, and all data is provided for you. My Udemy courses have learners in 180 countries across the world and I'm delighted to be able to bring you this next level QGIS course. With this second Map Academy course, I'm on a mission to help people take a big leap forward with what they can do with QGIS and give them the confidence to use these skills at work in a professional setting, or perhaps in a course of study at university.

By the end of the course, you will be well on your way to becoming a QGIS expert.

I look forward to seeing you on the course!

Who this course is for:

It's for people who already know how to use QGIS but are not experts
Data scientists who want to learn more about mapping with open source tools
Students (from undergraduate to PhD)
Data journalists
Anyone with an interest in data and maps
Analysts (e.g. transport, economic development)
Researchers
Academics
Scientists

Map Academy: taking QGIS to the next level

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to the course4 lectures • 10min

Writing expressions in QGIS16 lectures • 1hr 8min

Creating data in QGIS10 lectures • 37min

The QGIS Processing Toolbox8 lectures • 31min

Map design in QGIS17 lectures • 1hr 54min

Automated mapping with QGIS Atlas! (be amazed)16 lectures • 1hr 19min

Tips and tricks in QGIS23 lectures • 1hr 40min

Final words (got a video request? ask here!)2 lectures • 3min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: