QGIS GIS Course Applied to Environmental Management

QGIS AND GRASS GIS COURSE, APPLIED TO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

ONLINE TRAINING

START DATE: AVAILABLE SOON (140 hours)

PRICE: 400 € (Standard fee) | 360 € (Student / Unemployed fee)

The objective of this course is to initiate the student in the management of QGIS, for the preparation of studies related to environmental management.

The student will acquire the necessaries skills in the manipulation of QGIS tools that are recommended in environmental studies and analysis (EIA, environmental papers, fauna studies, etc.). The student will be trained in the development of quality thematic cartography, multi-criteria spatial analysis with applicability in environmental management and in alternative analysis.

Enrolled students in this online course will have access to our virtual e-learning platform (which is available 24 hours), where they will find the content of the course, practical exercises, forum discussion and additional content. One of the advantages of this online platform, is that students can benefit of real time support and assistance offered by the instructor (2 hours per week), whom they can contact via direct messages, regarding course related issues, at any moment. They can also contact the instructor via email.

GOALS

Highlight the importance and utility of a Geographic Information System (GIS), its integration and applicability in environmental management.
General overview about the basic skills needed in QGIS and GRASS GIS. Essential concepts used by a GIS system in environmental management projects elaboration.
Learn about GIS key tools in an appropriate and professional way, usage of vector and raster data information, develop high quality cartography products, elaborate complex spatial analysis.
Find about all possible difficulties which you may encounter in the execution of environmental GIS projects, and their solutions through practical exercises.
Gain experience in data preparation, layout development, map creation and high quality products delivery.
Skills acquired by the student during our course: management of field sampling spatial databases, fauna density maps, erosion studies, hydrological studies, environmental sensitivity maps.

TRAINING PROGRAM

1 - INTRODUCTION IN GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATIONAL SYSTEMS

Basic concepts and definitions
Capabilities and applications of Geographic Information Systems
Geographic information: vector data models, raster data models and other data models (CAD, TIN, etc.). Main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of each data model
QGIS graphic interface presentation

2 - ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS WITH VECTOR DATA

Add layers, edit properties and attribute tables
Add Web Services for Maps and Base Maps (OMS, Google Maps, Bing Maps)
Examine data: Search for data, apply queries and filters
Select by attributes, Select by location, data capture
Symbology layers: single symbol, by categories, by quantities, using graphs

3 - COORDINATE SYSTEMS, PROJECTIONS AND IMAGE GEOREFERENCING

Introduction to Coordinate Systems and Projections
Definition of Coordinate System
Coordinate Systems and Transformations
Image georeferencing, CAD files and layers

4 - VECTOR DATA MODELS. GENERATE AND EDIT VECTOR DATA

Create, edit and work with spatial data
– How to create spatial data, edit toolbar, digitization techniques
– Obtain new vector layers from OMS
– Convert CAD files to layers
– Edit existing layers
– Create layers from X, Y coordinates points
Working with attribute table, create and edit data
– Attribute table structure
– Types of data
– Edit table information
– Geometric calculations (surface, perimeter, length, etc.)
– Table statistics
– Table conversion, excel to other formats, reports and graphics generation

5 - VECTOR DATA MODELS. TABLE RELATIONS

Database design
Database connections, combine tables with UNION
Spatial joins, generate new statistics and new data using table and spatial data information

6 - INTRODUCTION IN RELATIONAL DATABASES SYSTEMS

Types of data that can be included in a database
About installing PostgreSQL
Create and manage data using PostGIS

7 - GEOPROCESSING TOOLS AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS USING VECTOR DATA

Vector geoprocessing tools, feature extraction, proximity and overlay analysis
Create sampling grids
Multi-Criteria Analysis, zonal statistics, optimal site location

Practical Exercise 1 (environmental monitoring): Generating sampling grids for the study of population evolution and density.

8 - SPATIAL ANALYSIS USING RASTER DATA

Conversion tools, raster, vector, ASCII, KML
Generate digital models of elevation using vector data, ASCII and TIN files.
Querying and masking raster data for obtaining new information
Merging raster files
Contour, slope, hillshade, aspect and visibility maps

Practical Exercise 2 (landscape): Landscape visibility mapping, viewshed analysis using high precision digital terrain models, define specific views.

9 - ADVANCED SPATIAL ANALYSIS USING RASTER DATA

Reclassify rasters, euclidean distances, boolean operations on layers, raster aggregation and data conversion
Map algebra (Raster calculator), mathematical operations between rasters, cell statistics
Practical Exercise 3 (geomorphology/erosion): Assessment of soil erosion risk based on variables such as slope, soil type, presence of vegetation, etc.
Data interpolation techniques (IDW, kriging, natural neighbor)

Guided Exercise 4 (fauna and vegetation): Creating density and distribution maps of vegetation and fauna using interpolation data techniques and data taken from the field or from literature.

10 - HYDROLOGICAL AND MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS

Hydrological study: drainage networks, flow direction, watershed basins, catchment areas

Practical Exercise 5 (hydrology): Determination of a drainage network in digital elevation models, predominant flow direction and flow accumulation, identification of drainage basins (sub and micro basin delineation).

Performing Multicriteria raster analysis, basic concepts and weights (the most important component of the MCDA model), weighted layers’ combination, non-compensatory analysis, least cost path analysis

Practical Exercise 6 (analysis of alternatives): Multicriteria analysis for environmental sensitivity projects and impact studies (select best spatial variables and see the potential environmental impacts, select the option with the least environmental impact).

Practical Exercise 7 (analysis of alternatives 2): Select the best route (corridor) with minimum environmental impact using multicriteria analysis.

11 - INFORMATION SOURCES AND RESOURCES FOUND ON WEB

Download digital maps (IGN), take advantages of WMS cartographic servers.
IDEE (Infrastructura de Datos Espaciales de Espana) Portal for regional, european and international data

11 - INFORMATION SOURCES AND RESOURCES FOUND ON WEB

Download digital maps (IGN), take advantages of WMS cartographic servers.
IDEE (Infrastructura de Datos Espaciales de Espana) Portal for regional, european and international data

12 - MAP PRODUCTS

Layout proprieties
Insert map elements (legend, scale, north arrow, coordinate grid), Excel tables, data frames, images, graphs
Export and print options

Practical Exercise 8 (map creation): Elaboration of quality thematic cartography products focused on environmental impact studies in concordance with INSPIRE Directive.

INSTRUCTOR

Alfonso Noriega Díaz

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why should we learn to use QGIS?

Geographic Informational Systems (GIS) are rapidly spreading and becoming an essential tool in many work fields including, engineering, environment, geography, geology and mining, emerging sciences, geomarketing. From all open source GIS software products, QGIS is the best due to, its large online support community, which always favor up to date status, continuous development of new capabilities, easy integration with other open source packages, improved performance with each release.

Do I need previous QGIS training?

No, the training course starts from the very beginning. You do not need any previous QGIS knowledge.

I do not have the software QGIS, what are my options?

QGIS it is a free, open source software that can be downloaded from the official website (http://www.qgis.org/en/site/). It is very simple to get and install it on your computer. However, in each course we have included a help manual that is come in handy if you want to download and install QGIS on your local machine.

METHODOLOGY

Our online courses, are distributed via Moodle, the world’s most popular learning platform. It is a highly flexible Learning Management System that can be used to conduct and access courses, accomplish tasks of practical exercises, interact face-to-face to the teaching staff or benefit of support and resources at any time.

The online platform can be accessed 24 hours a day, in which the student will be able to ask for help at any given moment. The instructors will act as supervisors during all the training process, offering support for any possible difficulty encountered by the students along the course.

The course is structured in different modules, making it easy for the student to search for training material, download information, complete practical exercises and take assessments in order to verify their new gained abilities. The instructors will assist the students throughout all the course period, offering progressive help and information according to their evolution.

PRICE

400 € (Standard fee) / 360 € (Student / Unemployed fee)*

*To enjoy this discount, you must include a copy of a document that proves your situation along with the registration form.

** If you want to know the price in other currencies, you can consult the following online converter: The Money Converter

REGISTRATION PROCESS

Step 1. Request your registration to the training course completing the pre-registration document (Registration Form) and send it via email to training@tycgis.com.

REGISTRATION FORM

Step 2. As soon as we receive it, we will send you an enrolment guide with the complete information to enroll in the course: dates, schedule, software needed for the course and the installation guide. The payment methods are included in this document.