Geographers, cartographers, environmental activists, urban planners, data visualizers, health policy researchers: whether you are looking for a way to access GIS software to map climate change or traffic patterns, supplement expensive proprietary software or use it in the field, or enable your constituents to test various choices from different data sets, GIS is a great addition to your skill set. Using open source software loaded on your own laptop, you will build knowledge, skills and a portfolio of mapping projects to enhance your career, advance your cause or communicate your research. In demand in a world increasingly focussed on visual representation of data to explain, persuade and project, a foundation in GIS principles and hands-on, practical experience with open source freely available software gives you a technological advantage with employers. And a powerful tool for making effective use of Open Data. For course details, go to www.langara.ca/geographic-iinformation-systems To Register, call 604.323.522 today.

1. QGIS for GIS
The time is now
Mapping Your Data
January 12, 2016
Jim O’Leary

2. Outline
• What is QGIS?
• Why is QGIS Important?
• QGIS Demos
• How Can I Learn QGIS?

3. What is QGIS
• Open Source GIS software
– Aka Free
• High quality
• Many developers
– 4 month release cycle
• I own it

4. What is QGIS?
Made quantum leap
in Sept 2013
– Version 2.0
• New vector API
• New symbology
• New labeling
Image source: Kurt A. Menke https://www.flickr.com/groups/qgis/pool/

5. What is QGIS?
• Interest growing rapidly
– Google Trends indicators
Date QGIS ArcGIS Percentage
Sep-13 22 93 24
Sep-14 28 91 31
Sep-15 33 82 40

6. • You’ve heard of the printing press?
– Revolutionized information sharing
– Only the rich could print
• You’ve heard of the Xerox?
– Everyone can print
Why is QGIS Important?

7. • Study by NRCan, 2013
– 2,500 firms
– $2.3 billion to economy
Why is QGIS Important?

8. • Charities
Why is QGIS Important?
Who is using GIS?

9. • Marketing
Why is QGIS Important?
Who is using GIS?

10. • Visual Analytics
Why is QGIS Important?
Who is using GIS?

11. • Politics
• Journalism
Why is QGIS Important?
Who is using GIS?

12. • Community centre patrons
– Custom icon
– Size by number of patrons
QGIS Demos
Theme by Attribute

13. • Start with drinking fountains
QGIS Demos
Distance Analysis

14. • Turn them into raster
QGIS Demos
Distance Analysis

15. • Theme the raster
QGIS Demos
Distance Analysis

16. • Fire truck can get to areas in:
– Green = 4 minutes
– Yellow = 6 minutes
– Blue = 8 minutes
– Red = 10 minutes
• South Vancouver well
covered by five fire halls
QGIS Demos
Firehall Response Times

17. • Exclude fire hall 17
• Yellow patch in East Van
divides green
QGIS Demos
Firehall Response Times

18. • Exclude fire hall 22
• Yellow patch in Marpole
QGIS Demos
Firehall Response Times

19. • Heatmap shows concentration
of girls’ addresses
• Focus on areas where there
are no addresses
QGIS Demos
Girls’ Softball League

20. • US Dept. Labor
• 2,000 GIS professionals
• Geospatial Technology
Competency Model
• 5 courses
How Can I Learn QGIS?

21. • Geographic Information
Systems program
– Open Source software
– First of its kind in Western Canada
– Localized to Vancouver and BC
– Starts January 19, 2016
• That is next Tuesday!
How Can I Learn QGIS?

22. ??Questions??