Mastering QGIS - Second Edition

Go beyond the basics and unleash the full power of QGIS with practical, step-by-step examples

Key Features

• This book is your one-stop solution to all of your GIS needs using the open source QGIS
• Master QGIS by learning about database integration, geoprocessing tools, Python scripts, advanced cartography, and custom plugins
• This example-rich, practical guide will help you create sophisticated analyses and maps

Book Description

QGIS is an open source solution to GIS. It is widely used by GIS professionals all over the world. It is the leading alternative to the proprietary GIS software. Although QGIS is described as intuitive, it is also by default complex. Knowing which tools to use and how to apply them is essential to producing valuable deliverables on time.

Starting with a refresher on the QGIS basics, this book will take you all the way through to creating your first custom QGIS plugin. From the refresher, we will recap how to create, populate, and manage a spatial database. You’ll also walk through styling GIS data, from creating custom symbols and color ramps to using blending modes. In the next section, you will discover how to prepare vector, heat maps, and create live layer effects, labeling, and raster data for processing. You’ll also discover advanced data creation and editing techniques.

The last third of the book covers the more technical aspects of QGIS such as using LAStools and GRASS GIS’s integration with the Processing Toolbox, how to automate workflows with batch processing, and how to create graphical models. Finally, you will see how to create and run Python data processing scripts and write your own QGIS plugin with pyqgis.

By the end of the book, you will understand how to work with all the aspects of QGIS, and will be ready to use it for any type of GIS work.

What you will learn

• Create and manage a spatial database
• Get to know advanced techniques to style GIS data
• Prepare both vector and raster data for processing
• Add heat maps, live layer effects, and labels to your maps
• Master LAStools and GRASS integration with the Processing Toolbox
• Edit and repair topological data errors
• Automate workflows with batch processing and the QGIS Graphical Modeler
• Integrate Python scripting into your data processing workflows
• Develop your own QGIS plugin

Who this book is for

If you are a GIS professional, a consultant, a student, or perhaps a fast learner who wants to go beyond the basics of QGIS, then this book is for you. It will prepare you to realize the full potential of QGIS.

Kurt Menke, GISP, a former Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA-based archaeologist, holds a masters in geography from the University of New Mexico. He is founded Bird's Eye View. He also focuses on public health and education. He is an avid GIS proponent since he began writing MapServer applications and has authored Discover QGIS. In 2015, Kurt was voted as an OSGeo Charter Member. He is a FOSS4G educator and co-authors the GeoAcademy. In 2015, he was awarded the Global Educator of the Year by GeoForAll as part of the GeoAcademy team. He authors an award-winning blog on FOSS4G technologies and their use in community health mapping.

Richard Smith Jr., GISP, is an asst. professor of geographic information science in the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. He has a Ph.D. in geography from the University of Georgia, MSc in computer science, and BSc in geographic information science from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi. He researches in cartography, systems integration, and the use of geospatial technology for disaster response. He is an advocate for FOSS4G and building a FOSS4G curriculum. He is a co-author of the FOSS4G Academy.

Luigi Pirelli is a QGIS developer and software analyst with a degree in computer science from Bari University. He has worked in the Satellite Ground Segment and Direct Ingestion for the European Space Agency. He is involved in GFOSS world, contributing in QGIS, GRASS, & MapServer core, and developing QGIS plugins. Luigi is the founder of the OSGEO Italian local GFOSS chapter. He has taught PyQGIS, delivered training from basic to advanced levels, and supported companies to develop their own QGIS plugins. He founded a local hackerspace group-Bricolabs.cc. He likes training groups on conflict resolution. He contributed to the Lonely Planet guide Cycling Italy.