Tutorials - Advanced GIS
Sciences Po Urban School
- GETEC Masters - Spring Semester 2021
- GETEC Masters - Spring Semester 2022
- GLM Masters - Fall Semester 2022
- GETEC Masters - Spring Semester 2023
This course is open sourced under an MIT license. I hope you enjoy learning GIS and exploring the QGIS software! You are also more than welcome to use this material for teaching; however if you do so, please make sure to credit my work :)
Overview
In this course, students will build upon the Introduction to GIS course and explore more advanced techniques for analysing spatial data in QGIS. The course will cover:
- Raster analysis
- Digitization
- Georeferencing
- Bivariate choropleth
- Cartograms
- Weighted overlay / Multi criteria decision analysis
The course aims to provide practical tools and methods, allowing students to use GIS independently in their future research and professional projects.
Pre-requisites
This course requires basic mastering of map production in QGIS, including data gathering, symbology, basic geoprocessing, map layout production and export. This was covered in the Introduction to GIS course.
6 sessions of 2 hours. This course is mostly focused on mastering the open-source software QGIS, and more broadly learning the GIS workflow. Each 2-hour session introduces a new concept and is followed by a tutorial. Students may need to work an additional 30 to 60 minutes between sessions to complete the tutorial.
Coursework
Working in groups of 2 or 3, students will use one or more advanced GIS technique to explore a policy question in one European city. They will produce a policy brief detailing the methodology they adopted and the insights they can draw from this data.
Sessions
Class Content:
- Course overview and objectives
- Raster data in GIS
Tutorial:
- Sourcing satellite data
- Calculating the vegetation index (NDVI) from satellite data
Class Content:
- Digitization
- Georeferencing
Tutorial:
- Polygonizing dense vegetation from NDVI
- Georeferencing a satellite image
- Digitizing new features from the georeferenced layer
Class Content:
- Analysing relative trends using bivariate choropleths
Tutorial:
- Refactoring fields from a large attribute table
- Creating a bivariate choropleth using census data
- Practice: creating a map export
Class Content:
- Bivariate choropleths - continued
- Coursework update
- Cartograms: what are they, why use them?
- Isochrones: use cases
Tutorial:
- Building an isochrone map
- (Building a cartogram - pending updates from the cartogram3 plugin)
Class Content:
- Environmental Justice and GIS
- Building a multi criteria analysis using GIS
- Weighting criteria and working with scores
Tutorial:
- Using the QGIS Graphical Modeler to build a replicable model
- Using the high resolution Population density HDRxFacebook dataset
- Defining Selection Criteria
- Reclassifying data
- Assigning weights to the criteria
- Determining final score
Class Content:
- Building a multi criteria analysis using GIS
- Weighting criteria and working with scores
- Advanced attribute table operations
Tutorial:
- Using the QGIS Graphical Modeler to build a replicable model
- Using the high resolution Population density HDRxFacebook dataset
- Defining Selection Criteria
- Reclassifying data
- Assigning weights to the criteria
- Determining final score
Resources and suggested readings
- Longley, P.A., Goodchild, M.F., Maguire, D.J. and Rhind, D.W., 2005. Geographic information systems and science. John Wiley & Sons.
- QGIS training guide: https://docs.qgis.org/3.10/en/docs/gentle_gis_introduction/
- Robin Wilson’s data sources listing: https://freegisdata.rtwilson.com/
- Cheshire, J. and Uberti, O., 2016. Where the animals go: tracking wildlife with technology in 50 maps and graphics. London: Particular Books.
- Cresswell, T., 2013. Geographic thought: a critical introduction (Vol. 8). John Wiley & Sons.
- Peterson, G., 2020. GIS cartography: a guide to effective map design. CRC Press