Summary and Schedule
An introduction to the QGIS interface, finding and loading vector data from public repositories, and basic cartography, with additional reading on map design.
This module was taught as part of the Purdue-NSF GIS Cybertraining for the Social Sciences Workshop, a two-day workshop held at Purdue University in 2026 (Day 1, Session A QGIS track, part 1). See the Workshop 2026 page for the full program.
It is part of Enabling the Geospatial Turn in the Social Sciences, a set of training modules developed at Purdue University with support from the National Science Foundation.
| Setup Instructions | Download files required for the lesson | |
| Duration: 00h 00m | 1. Acquiring Vector Datasets from Data Repositories |
What kinds of vector data already exist online and where can I find
them? How do I evaluate whether a dataset is accurate, current, and appropriate for my needs? How do I download and bring external vector data into QGIS? |
| Duration: 00h 30m | 2. Exercise 1A: Acquiring Data and Making Your First Map in QGIS |
How do I load spatial data into QGIS? How can I add different types of vector data (shapefiles, CSV files, and live OSM data) to a map? How do I style and symbolize data to communicate clearly? How do I build and export a finished, publication-ready map layout? |
| Duration: 02h 00m | 3. Additional Reading |
What makes a visualization effective versus misleading? What are the essential elements of a well-designed map? How do color, scale, projection, and classification choices shape what a map communicates? What are the main thematic map types and when should each be used? |
| Duration: 03h 00m | Finish |
The actual schedule may vary slightly depending on the topics and exercises chosen by the instructor.
What You Need for Session A
Sessions 1A, 2A and 3A form Track A, Working with GIS Data in QGIS. Complete the items below before the first session begins. If you already finished the main workshop setup page, you are ready.
Software
QGIS Desktop (LTR): download and install from https://qgis.org/download/. Open QGIS once to confirm it launches. You can check out a quick guide to QGIS here.
Accounts
- USGS EarthExplorer: for downloading CORONA imagery and SRTM elevation data (Session 2A) → Register here
- Copernicus Data Space: for downloading Sentinel-2 satellite imagery (Session 2A) → Register here
Both accounts are free. Email verification can take a few minutes, so please register ahead of time.
Session A Schedule: Day 1
| Time | Session | Room | Topic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30 AM | Session 1A | WALC 2121 | Acquiring data and making your first map in QGIS |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch | WALC 2051 | |
| 1:15 PM | Session 2A | WALC 2121 | Acquiring raster data (historical maps, CORONA, Sentinel-2, SRTM) and DEM analysis |
| 2:45 PM | Coffee break | ||
| 3:00 PM | Session 3A | WALC 2121 | Satellite imagery analysis: NDVI and flood mapping with Sentinel-2 |
| 4:30 PM | Group discussion | WALC 2127 | Both tracks rejoin |