Summary and Schedule
This is a new lesson built with The Carpentries Workbench.
| Setup Instructions | Download files required for the lesson | |
| Duration: 00h 00m | 1. Data Platforms |
Where does geospatial and demographic data come from? Why do these platforms require accounts? How do these data sources connect to social science research? |
| Duration: 00h 15m | 2. Quantum GIS Guide |
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? |
| Duration: 01h 00m | 3. Python Notebook Refresher |
Can I write and run Python code in a Jupyter Notebook? Do I understand how variables persist across cells? Can I create a basic plot? |
| Duration: 01h 30m | Finish |
The actual schedule may vary slightly depending on the topics and exercises chosen by the instructor.
Please complete the following steps before the workshop begins. This should take about 15–20 minutes. If you run into trouble, we will have helpers available on the morning of Day 1.
Workshop Schedule
Day 1
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Breakfast (WALC 2124) |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome and introductions (WALC 2127) |
| 9:45 AM | Geospatial concepts and GIS ecosystems |
| 10:15 AM | Coffee break (WALC 2124) |
| 10:30 AM | Breakout 1a: Working with QGIS (WALC 2121) |
| Breakout 1b: Intro to Python Notebooks (WALC 2127) | |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch (WALC 2051) |
| 1:15 PM | Breakout 2a: Raster data and remote sensing (WALC 2121) |
| Breakout 2b: Census data access and cleaning (WALC 2127) | |
| 2:45 PM | Coffee break (WALC 2124) |
| 3:00 PM | Breakout 3a: Satellite imagery analysis (WALC 2121) |
| Breakout 3b: Analyzing Census data (WALC 2127) | |
| 4:30 PM | Group discussion (WALC 2127) |
| 6:00 PM | Group dinner — Walt’s Pub & Grill, 1050 Kalberer Rd, West Lafayette |
Day 2
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM | Breakfast (WALC 2051) |
| 9:00 AM | Day 2 introduction (WALC 2127) |
| 9:15 AM | Teaching with Geospatial Brainstorming Session |
| 10:15 AM | Coffee Break (WALC 2124) |
| 10:45 AM | Customizing Carpentries modules for classroom use |
| 12:00 PM | Closing Discussion; Preview 2027 modules development workshop |
| 12:30 PM | Box lunch (WALC 2124) |
Data Files
Make sure you have access to this shared google drive folder which contains the data files that we will be using for the workshop.
Send in a request for access, preferably, before showing up to the workshop.
Accounts to Create
You will need accounts on the following platforms (all free):
- Google Account — for Google Colab (Python notebooks)
- GitHub Account — for accessing and sharing workshop materials → Sign up here
- USGS EarthExplorer Account — for downloading satellite imagery and elevation data → Register here
- Copernicus Data Space Account — for accessing Sentinel satellite data → Register here
- Census API - for accessing census data through python workflows → Get One here
Tip
Some accounts (especially USGS and Copernicus) may take a few minutes to verify by email. Please do this ahead of time so you are not waiting during the workshop.
Software to Install
QGIS (Required)
QGIS is the GIS software we will use on Day 1 for mapping, raster analysis, and visualization.
- Go to https://qgis.org/download/
- Under Windows, download the Long Term Release (LTR) Standalone Installer
- Run the installer and keep the default settings
- Go to https://qgis.org/download/
- Download the macOS package for the Long Term Release (LTR)
- Open the
.dmgfile and drag QGIS to your Applications folder
After installing, open QGIS Desktop to confirm it launches correctly.
Google Colab (No Installation Needed)
We will use Google Colab for all Python notebook activities. Colab runs in your browser — there is nothing to install. Just make sure you can sign in with your Google account and open a new notebook.
The Python libraries we will use (pandas, NumPy, matplotlib, GeoPandas) are pre-installed in Colab.
Checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you are ready: