Introduction
Introduction to GIS and geospatial technology for BAS Operations staff.
This add-on module is aimed at Operations staff, to give them additional grounding on how GIS and geospatial technologies can enhance their work.
This course can be taught by a MAGIC member of staff either at BAS or at Rothera, or it is also available as a self-taught service for those who prefer to go through things in their own time.
If you get stuck at any point then just ask for help (on zoom when attending the training course, or via the MAGIC Helpdesk when teaching yourself).
N.b. this course builds on the BAS QGIS Tutorial - please take a look at the course for general familiarity with QGIS.
Learning Objectives:
Become familiar with the different GIS systems available at BAS
Understand some of the key data types and how to work with them in QGIS
Gain further understanding of QGIS
Become familiar with how to analyse and interpret height data
Gain understanding in how to use QGIS to interact with and create GPS data
Learn about useful QGIS Plug-ins for use in BAS Operations activities
Tools required
QGIS Desktop v3.x. We recommend using the Long Term Release version. Installation instructions are given below.
Datasets
We have created a set of datasets which will be used throughout the tutorial for different exercises. Please download this zip file, unzip it, and save it somewhere easy to access on your computer. This folder will be your main working folder for the whole tutorial.
You can access the data via the download link below:
Installing QGIS
(from BAS QGIS Tutorial)
QGIS is a completely free and open source software. It can be downloaded for free from the QGIS website, here.
Choose the relevant package for your platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
We recommend using the latest long term release.
For Windows, most users will require the 64bit version unless you are on a really old machine
Click on the logo to start the download, and then see further instructions below
Note: QGIS releases new versions fairly frequently but it is different to some other GIS software, in that you can run multiple versions on your machine at the same time. If you already have another version, you don't have to remove it.
Once you have downloaded the right version of QGIS for your computer, the next step is to install the software
Click on the installer file to bring up the install wizard
For most users, the default options in each step will be suitable, but do double check where the software is being installed (the default is usually fine though)
When it asks you to choose components, just stick with the default 'QGIS' - you can install the other components, but we will not need them
Click install and wait for the programme to do its thing, and then click finish
QGIS 3.x should now be installed on your computer!
The installer installs a few different programmes and the one that we want is called 'QGIS Desktop 3.x', as highlighted in the screenshot below.
You can find this by just searching for it in the start menu or by looking in a folder on your desktop
Note: these instructions and screenshots are for windows, but Mac should be very similar
Please open QGIS Desktop and check that it opens up before starting this course!
I usually then save a shortcut for the programme in my taskbar or desktop
Let us know if you have any trouble at all (by emailing magic@bas.ac.uk or by putting a request into our Helpdesk)
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