Summary and Setup

This is a new lesson built with The Carpentries Workbench.

Overview

Questions

What is QGIS and why is it useful?
How do I install QGIS on my system?
How do I load spatial data into QGIS?
How can I style and visualize data on a map?
How do I export a finished map?

Objectives

Install QGIS successfully
Understand the QGIS interface
Load and explore spatial datasets
Create and style a simple map
Export a publication-ready map

What is QGIS?

QGIS is a free, open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) used to: - Visualize spatial data - Analyze geographic patterns - Create professional-quality maps

Callout

Why QGIS?

QGIS is widely used in academia, industry, and government — and it’s completely free.

Installing QGIS

Step 1: Download QGIS

Go to the official QGIS website:
👉 https://qgis.org
Click Download Now
Choose the appropriate version:
- Windows → Use the Standalone Installer
- Mac → Download the macOS package
- Linux → Install via package manager (apt, yum, etc.)

Step 2: Install QGIS

Run the installer
Keep default settings (recommended for beginners)
Wait for installation to complete

Step 3: Launch QGIS

Open QGIS Desktop
You should see the main interface

Understanding the QGIS Interface

Key Components:

Map Canvas → where your map is displayed
Layers Panel → shows all loaded datasets
Browser Panel → access files on your system
Toolbar → tools for navigation and editing

Callout

Tip

If a panel is missing, enable it via:
View → Panels

Troubleshooting

Colab: Plots not showing? Add %matplotlib inline at the top (usually automatic).
Local: package not found: Open terminal or code cell in jupyter notebook and !pip install package.
Need help? Raise hand during workshop or check Carpentries Python setup guide.

You’re all set! Proceed to Modules below in Data Visualization and Create your first map!

Happy visualizing!