Learning QGIS - Third Edition

Book description

The latest guide to using QGIS 2.14 to create great maps and perform geoprocessing tasks with ease

About This Book

  • Learn how to work with various data and create beautiful maps using this easy-to-follow guide.
  • Give a touch of professionalism to your maps both for functionality and look and feel with the help of this practical guide.
  • A progressive hands-on guide that builds on a geo-spatial data and adds more reactive maps by using geometry tools.

Who This Book Is For

This book is great for users, developers, and consultants who know the basic functions and processes of GIS and want to learn to use QGIS to analyze geospatial data and create rich mapping applications. If you want to take advantage of the wide range of functionalities that QGIS offers, then this is the book for you.

What You Will Learn

  • Install QGIS and get familiar with the user interface
  • Load vector and raster data from files, databases, and web services
  • Create, visualize, and edit spatial data
  • Perform geoprocessing tasks and automate them
  • Create advanced cartographic outputs
  • Design great print maps
  • Expand QGIS using Python

In Detail

QGIS is a user-friendly open source geographic information system (GIS) that runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, and Windows. The popularity of open source geographic information systems and QGIS in particular has been growing rapidly over the last few years.

Learning QGIS Third Edition is a practical, hands-on guide updated for QGIS 2.14 that provides you with clear, step-by-step exercises to help you apply your GIS knowledge to QGIS. Through clear, practical exercises, this book will introduce you to working with QGIS quickly and painlessly.

This book takes you from installing and configuring QGIS to handling spatial data to creating great maps. You will learn how to load and visualize existing spatial data and create data from scratch. You will get to know important plugins, perform common geoprocessing and spatial analysis tasks and automate them with Processing.

We will cover how to achieve great cartographic output and print maps. Finally, you will learn how to extend QGIS using Python and even create your own plugin.

Style and approach

A step by step approach to explain concepts of Geospatial map with the help of real life examples

Table of contents

  1. Learning QGIS Third Edition
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Learning QGIS Third Edition
    3. Credits
    4. About the Author
    5. About the Reviewer
    6. www.PacktPub.com
      1. eBooks, discount offers, and more
        1. Why subscribe?
    7. Preface
      1. What this book covers
      2. What you need for this book
      3. Who this book is for
      4. Conventions
      5. Reader feedback
      6. Customer support
        1. Downloading the example code
        2. Downloading the color images of this book
        3. Errata
        4. Piracy
        5. Questions
    8. 1. Getting Started with QGIS
      1. Installing QGIS
        1. Installing QGIS on Windows
        2. Installing on Ubuntu
      2. Running QGIS for the first time
      3. Introducing the QGIS user interface
      4. Finding help and reporting issues
      5. Summary
    9. 2. Viewing Spatial Data
      1. Loading vector data from files
      2. Dealing with coordinate reference systems
      3. Loading raster files
        1. Georeferencing raster maps
      4. Loading data from databases
      5. Loading data from OGC web services
      6. Styling raster layers
      7. Styling vector layers
        1. Creating point styles – an example of an airport style
        2. Creating line styles – an example of river or road styles
        3. Creating polygon styles – an example of a landmass style
      8. Loading background maps
      9. Dealing with project files
      10. Summary
    10. 3. Data Creation and Editing
      1. Creating new vector layers
      2. Working with feature selection tools
        1. Selecting features with the mouse
        2. Selecting features with expressions
        3. Selecting features using spatial queries
      3. Editing vector geometries
        1. Using basic digitizing tools
        2. Using advanced digitizing tools
        3. Using snapping to enable topologically correct editing
      4. Using measuring tools
      5. Editing attributes
        1. Editing attributes in the attribute table
        2. Editing attributes in the feature form
          1. Creating a feature form using autogenerate
          2. Designing a feature form using drag and drop designer
          3. Designing a feature form using a .ui file
        3. Calculating new attribute values
      6. Reprojecting and converting vector and raster data
      7. Joining tabular data
        1. Setting up a join in Layer Properties
        2. Checking join results in the attribute table
      8. Using temporary scratch layers
      9. Checking for topological errors and fixing them
        1. Finding errors with the Topology Checker
        2. Fixing invalid geometry errors
      10. Adding data to spatial databases
      11. Summary
    11. 4. Spatial Analysis
      1. Analyzing raster data
        1. Clipping rasters
        2. Analyzing elevation/terrain data
        3. Using the raster calculator
      2. Combining raster and vector data
        1. Converting between rasters and vectors
        2. Accessing raster and vector layer statistics
        3. Computing zonal statistics
        4. Creating a heatmap from points
      3. Vector and raster analysis with Processing
        1. Finding nearest neighbors
        2. Converting between points, lines, and polygons
        3. Identifying features in the proximity of other features
        4. Sampling a raster at point locations
        5. Mapping density with hexagonal grids
        6. Calculating area shares within a region
        7. Batch-processing multiple datasets
        8. Automated geoprocessing with the graphical modeler
        9. Documenting and sharing models
      4. Leveraging the power of spatial databases
        1. Selecting by location in SpatiaLite
        2. Aggregating data in SpatiaLite
      5. Summary
    12. 5. Creating Great Maps
      1. Advanced vector styling
        1. Creating a graduated style
        2. Creating and using color ramps
        3. Using categorized styles for nominal data
        4. Creating a rule-based style for road layers
        5. Creating data-defined symbology
        6. Creating a dynamic heatmap style
        7. Creating a 2.5D style
        8. Adding live layer effects
        9. Working with different styles
      2. Labeling
        1. Customizing label text styles
        2. Controlling label formatting
        3. Configuring label buffers, background, and shadows
        4. Controlling label placement
          1. Configuring point labels
          2. Configuring line labels
          3. Configuring polygon labels
        5. Placing labels manually
        6. Controlling label rendering
      3. Designing print maps
        1. Creating a basic map
          1. Adding a scalebar
          2. Adding a North arrow image
        2. Adding a legend
        3. Adding explanatory text to the map
        4. Adding map grids and frames
        5. Creating overview maps
        6. Adding more details with attribute tables and HTML frames
        7. Creating a map series using the Atlas feature
      4. Presenting your maps online
        1. Exporting a web map
        2. Creating map tiles
        3. Exporting a 3D web map
      5. Summary
    13. 6. Extending QGIS with Python
      1. Adding functionality using actions
        1. Configuring your first Python action
        2. Opening files using actions
        3. Opening a web browser using actions
      2. Getting to know the Python Console
        1. Loading and exploring datasets
        2. Styling layers
        3. Filtering data
        4. Creating a memory layer
        5. Exporting map images
      3. Creating custom geoprocessing scripts using Python
        1. Writing your first Processing script
        2. Writing a script with vector layer output
        3. Visualizing the script progress
      4. Developing your first plugin
        1. Creating the plugin template with Plugin Builder
        2. Customizing the plugin GUI
        3. Implementing plugin functionality
        4. Creating a custom map tool
      5. Summary
    14. Index

Product information

  • Title: Learning QGIS - Third Edition
  • Author(s): Anita Graser
  • Release date: March 2016
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781785880339