← Introduction to GIS Software: QGIS

In-class Excercises

Part 1: Public Lab imagery

  1. Go to the Public Lab Archive.
  2. Find imagery in a part of the world you're interested in.
  3. Download the GeoTiff of that imagery.
  4. Open the GeoTiff in QGIS and compare it to satellite imagery available through the QuickMapServices plugin.

Part 2: Downloading OpenStreetMap Data: Metro Extracts

  1. Go to the Mapzen's Metro Extracts of OSM.
  2. Find a city you want to download data for.
  3. Download both the OSM2PGSQL SHP and IMPOSM SHP files for the city you picked.
  4. Open shapefiles from both files in QGIS and examine the geometries and attributes.

Part 3: Downloading OpenStreetMap Data: OSM Downloader

  1. In QGIS, optionally remove the layers from the previous part.
  2. Install or enable the OSMDownloader QGIS plugin.
  3. Use the QuickMapServices plugin to add a reference layer to QGIS.
  4. Zoom to an area you would like to download OSM data for. Zoom in far as the plugin will download all data for the area you are viewing.
  5. Go to Vector > OpenStreetMap > Download Data and pick a place to save the data. Ensure that your filename ends with .osm.
  6. Drag your resulting file into QGIS.
  7. In the Select vector layers to add dialog, select all of the layers and click OK.
  8. You should now have all of the OSM data for the area you were viewing.