Reference Mapping

As a reminder, reference maps show the lay of the land, such as the geographic context surrounding your research location or area of interest. Reference maps can be as simple as a drop pin location, or more complex with data layers, labelling, and insets. Reference maps, like any map, should have at minimum an explanatory title, north arrow, scale, legend, map author and data source statement. If there are only one or two data layers which are intuitively symbolized and clearly marked, a legend is sometimes unnecessary.

Now that we’ve set up our QGIS project, let’s explore our data a bit. Reference mapping, while not (necessarily) involving spatial analysis, still requires skill for the final map to look neat and polished. Additionally, once data added to QGIS, need to be xyz xyz. maybe not interested in full dataset. In what follows, buided through managing layers, exploring their attributes, making selections and exporting data as needed, and making an aesthetic map beofre creating a print layout.

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Table of contents

• 1. Gathering Data
• 2. Project Set up
• 3. Layer Properties
• 4. Visual Hierarchy
• 5. Create a map