2. Museum of Natural History, Curator of Archaeology, Katie
Robins
Geology Professor at Saint Mary’s University, Dr. Jacob
Hanley and a graduate student
They are combining data from copper samples and
matching them against natural geological copper sources
in Nova Scotia
Where did it come from? Was it taken from Natural
Sources in Nova Scotia? Was it traded? What was it used
for?
Mapping The Use of Copper in Pre-
historic Aboriginal Archaeology Sites
3. A single shapefile of 950 records encompassing all the
Archaeology Sites of Nova Scotia
Created 12 shapefiles as more data was provided
Used Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
geological data for base maps
Created Mi’kmaq boundary shapefile by
georeferencing a raster
Data
4.
5. Open(free) mapping software
Used for creating maps and performing analysis
Comparable to Esri’s ArcMap & MapInfo
Available for download at qgis.org
What is QGIS?
6. Esri’s ArcMap can be costly
QGIS offers what is necessary to create a
supplementary product
The researchers are be able to change the data and
maps as research progresses
Why QGIS?
10. Pros & Cons of using QGIS
PROS
Available for Windows, Mac
and Linux operation systems
Free
Opens quickly
Supports many file formats
Functionality can be extended
with plug-ins
Tested by users like you!
CONS
Not a “one-click” download
Limited built-in tech support
Scripting is difficult
Limited cartographic design
elements
11.
12.
13. Mango provides tutorials at : http://qgis-
tutorials.mangomap.com/post/79334660226/qgis-
video-tutorials-module-1-the-interface#
Youtube page by Vermont Center for Geographic
Information
http://www.youtube.com/user/VTgeospatial
Online Tutorials
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
I’d like to personally welcome you to the first day of final project presentations and to my presentation “Using QGIS for Mapping, A free software for all of us!”
After I am finished today there will be a brief question period, so lets get started.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Jennifer Marche. I am in the Advanced Geographic Sciences Diploma program here at COGS.
I did the month of may project with the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. This was an exciting opportunity for me because I have a background in Archaeology and I got to see how GIS applications are being used within the discipline.
For my project I mapped THE USE OF COPPER IN PRE HISTORIC ABORIGINAL ARCHAEOLOGY SITES. My project sponsor was Katie Robins, her along with Dr. Jacob Hanley, a geology professor at Saint Mary’s University and a grad student are studying the use of copper found in pre historic aboriginal archaeology sites in Nova Scotia. They are combining data from copper samples found at these archaeology sites and natural geological sources of copper from Nova Scotia.
They are trying to answer questions such as where did the copper come from? Was it taken from Natural sources here in Nova Scotia or was it traded from Europe? And what was it used for?
This is where I come in: I created maps to supplement their research with visuals for pattern analysis and distribution.
This is where I come in…Data
I was given a single shapefile of all the archaeolgy sites in Nova Scotia.
As more data was provided in the form of lists I combined the site data with the research data to create 12 shapefiles along with 11 maps to give the museum to build upon.
For base maps, I used geology data from Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resouces
And for some of my data, I created shapefiles based off of georeferenced rasters
A major part of my project was to learn how to create these maps and shapefiles using the open software QGIS.
A show of hands,
Who here has heard of the software?
Who here has downloaded it?
Oh good. Im glad to see a lot of people are taking advantage of open source software
Oh, not many of you.. Well your lucky you’re here today!
For those of you who haven’t heard of QGIS pay close attention to this next part.
What is QGIS?
QGIS is a free mapping software that allows you to import data to create maps and to perform analysis.
The program is similar to Esri;s ArcMap and MapInfo, which we can all relate to.
One can say its functionality is somewhere in the middle.
QGIS is available for download at qgis.org and when you download try not to get overwhelmed by the amount of plug ins that are needed. Once the software is downloaded,
You can open it up by just clicking on the icon.
Why did my sponsors want me to use QGIS?
Well, first of all Esris ArcMap can be costly. They were introduced to the QGIS software by a COGS student last year and were already becoming familiar with the software and they knew Q had all the functionality they needed to supplement their research.
But most importantly, the software allows the researchers to take my maps and make changes as the research continues.
For anyone who has used other mapping software programs such as ArcMap or MapInfo, You’ll notice some similarities here with the QGIS User Interface.
Across the Top we have save, pan, zoom icons
Down the side is where you will click to add data
On the right hand size is the tool box, all the tools are organized by plug in and further by the type of tool.
Down on the bottom will show you where you are with the pointer, the scale your in and the datum and projection you are using.
If you have good eyes and can see the small paper looking icon under the settings tab, one click here
Will take you to the QGIS Composer.
Here is where you will design your map.
Again, along the top bar there are icons to click for saving and exporting your map
Tools along the left side allow you to add feature boxes to your map and when a feature is selected
The Properties appear to your right.
I find this one of the most handy options because the properties are always open and accessible.
Moving on to QGIS TOOLS
QGIS tools look a lot like using tools in ArcGIS.
The toolbox has a search bar where you can search for the tool you want. For my project I needed to use the buffer tool, I typed it in and got these results. I experimented with them all. They all produce the same output except where the buffer is actually different like fixed vs variable. I chose the QGIS Geoalgorithms fix distance buffer tool and ran it.
I also georeferenced a raster image to derive Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq boundaries and I imported CSV files to create shapefiles.
and all the data was projected to our local datum.
There are also analysis tools available with QGIS but for my project I did not have to analysis. The maps I created were for the researchers to continue their analysis.
This is also the reason why I haven’t included any digitial maps in my presentation. There is original research being done on this topic and I wouldn’t want to compromise that in any way.
That being said I did provide a paper poster for anyone who would like to see the maps I created.
Moving on…Lets go into the PROS and CONS of using QGIS
I don’t know any other mapping software that it is available for Windows, Mac and Linus Operating systems and they are currently working on a version for andriod as well.
QGIS is free! The code for this program is available online and will never cost you any money. You just need a computer and maybe some internet.
QGIS opens quickly compared to some other programs out there, and it didn’t crash a lot either!
The software supports many formats, online I read that it can open up to 69 different formats and there are many different formats you can save data as too’k
The functionality of QGIS can be expanded with plug-ins. For example, if you were doing 3d work and need 3d analyst tools you could do a quick search and download that plug in, and start using it.
CONS
Not a one click download- by that I mean, you do have to spend a fair amount of time downloading the program and its plug ins one after another.
There is limited built in tech support. There is no one “help page” but if you search online you will find an answer to your question
Scripting in qgis is difficult- as ive mentioned there are several plug ins and tools and when scripting these have to be called upon individually. A classmate will talk about this indepth on Friday.
There are limited cartographic design elements- beause this is a free program it is bulked up with capabilities and not necessarily aesthics.
Personally, I think the pros out weigh the cons and my favourite pro is that the program is tested by users like us!
And here’s your proof.
Right now, if you go to the QGIS.org wepage you will find this:
QGIS is getting ready to release version 2.4 and
is asking its users to download and use the software to help discover any issues before the final release.
This is a great opportunity for mappers like us to contribute to this free software.
QGIS is not a hard program to use but if you don’t know where to start it can be scary. New software is sometimes difficult to deal with and we tend to be more comfortable with our old software even it costs an arm and a leg.
Because my project is focused on mapping in QGIS for the museum and for non-gis users I created a manual I called a basic users guide. I included topics such as
Adding vector layers
Creating shapefiles
Projecting data
Desigining a map
And something we all could get a little more familiar with… saving your work.
For anyone who would like to learn how to use QGIS there are a number of tutorials online.
Both the Mango and Vermont Center for Geographic Information have useful tutorials and webinars that are easy to follow along.
I did an hour long webinar by the vermont center and I almost felt like an expert aftwards.
If anyone would like to explore these options I can provide the URLS listed here or a copy of the manual to get you started…
BECAUSE WE SHOULD ALL MAP.
