Thematic Mapping with QGIS

This intermediate-level workshop will demonstrate how to create thematic maps using QGIS, a free and open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) for analyzing, modifying, and visualizing spatial data. While previous workshops on GIS 101 and Reference Mapping with QGIS have honed the fundamental skills and knowledge to begin using GIS, this workshop will focus on data visualization.

By the end of this workshop, you will have the confidence to

  • Explore a dataset’s attribute table;
  • Build queries to run selections on your dataset;
  • Evaluate the advantages of various thematic mapping techniques; and
  • Apply this knowledge to create both a choropleth map and a proportional symbol map to visualize the number of douglas fir street trees in each Vancouver neighbourhood.

The final map you will create will look something like this:

Before the Workshop!!

  1. Review our Introduction to Mapmaking with QGIS Please note that the fundamental skills and concepts pertaining to spatial data, map types, and the QGIS interface will not be covered during this workshop. Therefore, prior to the workshop date, please review our Introduction to Mapmaking with QGIS. Review of this resources is required prior to workshop attendance.

  2. Make sure you’ve downloaded QGIS QGIS can be downloaded from qgis.org’s Downloads page. In most cases, you’ll want to download and install the Long term release instead of the latest release. This will give you most of the functionality you’ll need without encountering the software bugs of newly released versions. See here for further guidance on installing QGIS.

  3. Download and unzip the workshop data folder below. Download it to a location on your physical computer, such as Desktop or Downloads, not OneDrive.

Download Workshop Data


GIS Resources at UBC:

This workshop was authored by Lily Demet and reviewed by Alex Alisauskas.

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