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Overview
QGIS is a free and open source geographic information system. QGIS 3 has been ported to support Python 3.
QGIS runs on all operating systems and offers you a choice between different releases. We recommend installing the long term release (LTR).
You can download QGIS from here : https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html
QGIS Documentation
Make sure to check out the User Guide and work through the Training Manual.
Desktop User Guide/Manual https://docs.qgis.org/3.16/en/docs/user_manual/index.html
Training Manual https://docs.qgis.org/3.16/en/docs/training_manual/
QGIS tutorials - Free Training Material https://qgis.org/en/site/forusers/trainingmaterial/index.html
Connect with QGIS community/ Finding help
The QGIS community offers a variety of different community-based support options.
GIS StackExchange: One of the most popular support channels is http://gis.stackexchange.com/ . This is a general-purpose GIS question-and-answer site. If you use the tag qgis, you will see all QGIS-related questions and answers at http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/tagged/qgis .
Mailing lists: https://qgis.org/en/site/getinvolved/mailinglists.html#qgis-mailinglists The most important mailing list for user questions is QGIS User. It is used for discussion of QGIS in general, as well as specific questions regarding its installation and use. Suscribe to Qgis-user here https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
Plugins
Plugins are a unique feature of QGIS. QGIS has been designed with a plugin architecuture. This allows many new features and functions to be easily added to the application. Plugins are available to be installed as you need them to enable further analysis. If what you want to do is not available within your current QGIS setup, search in the plugins as someone may have developed a tool to help you reach your solution.
For a list of all the available Plugins, including the latest and most popular, navigate to https://plugins.qgis.org/ Check out the most voted plugins: https://plugins.qgis.org/plugins/most_voted/
GeoPackage (.gpkg)
QGIS 3 has chosen GeoPackage as its default format. This is an open format, unlike the Shapefile, which is proprietary. GeoPackage also supports rasters. It is built on a SpatiaLite database, has no file size limitations, and works as one file. The format was developed by the Open Geospatial Consortium, you can find an exerpt of their definition below or the complete defintion of a GeoPackage here :
A GeoPackage is an open, standards-based, platform-independent, portable, self-describing, compact format for transferring geospatial information. The GeoPackage standard describes a set of conventions for storing the following within a SQLite database:
vector features
tile matrix sets of imagery and raster maps at various scales
extensions
To put it clearly, a GeoPackage is the SQLite container and the encodingstandard, GeoPackage governs the rules and requirements of the content stored in a GeoPackage container. The GeoPackage standard defines the diagram of a GeoPackage including table definitions, assertions of integrity, format limitations and content constraints. Thecontent required and taken in charge of a GeoPackage is entirely defined in thestandard. These features are reframed on a common basis and the extension mechanism provides to the developers a way to include additional features in their GeoPackages.
Explore the GeoPackage by watching a quick YouTube video.
ESRI vs QGIS
QGIS compatibility with ArcGIS: both can handle the most common spatial data formats however QGIS consumes almost all types of data formats. In terms of functions extensibility, both QGIS and ArcGIS functionality can be extended through plugins and extensions respectively. Each software has support system through user community and ArcGIS has technical support system for its products. Read more>>
Comparison of GIS functions and which software is best suited
For a more detailed comparison follow the links below:
ArcGIS vs QGIS: Which is the best in 2020? (32 minute video.)
Comparing ArcGIS Desktop and QGIS provides a detailed comparison in terms of software functionality with some basic examples
If you are an ArcGIS user you might find this article comparing the 27 Differences Between ArcGIS and QGIS the following articles useful: “27 Differences Between ArcGIS and QGIS – The Most Epic GIS Software Battle in GIS History“ “ and “35 Differences Between ArcGIS Pro and QGIS3”.
Advanced functions that can be done with QGIS rather than ESRI Advanced Licence: in the absence of the right extensions or advanced license of ESRI, below are some of the functionalities that can be done with QGIS:.
Functions | QGIS | ArcMap |
Erase: creates a feature class by overlaying the Input Features with the polygons of the Erase Features.
| Use the geoprocessing tool Difference. You can access it through Vector>Geoprocessing Tools> Difference | Erase tool is only available only with advanced ESRI license |
Zonal Statistics: calculates statistics on values of a raster within the zones of another dataset. The most common function IMOs use this tool is to extract population density from WorldPop image by COD-AB | In QGIS, the Zonal statistics tool which is located under the Raster Analysis toolbox does a similar function just like the ArcMap See the link for steps | In ArcMap, Spatial Analyst extension is needed to carry out zonal statistics functions. See the link for steps: |
Hill shading of Digital Elevation Models (DEM) Most used to enhance three-dimensional appearance of reference maps. | QGIS allows to visualize elevation data as hill shade without the user needing to create a separate hill shade raster. See tutorial | 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst extension is needed to make hill shade raster. Users need to calculate hill shade raster using the Hillshade tool. |
Outputs/Resources
QGIS Training Manual offered on the QGIS site. With 21 modules, this manual provides a comprehensive introduction to QGIS from the basics of loading and styling data to performing analyses with vector and raster data.
LinkedIn Learning: Learning QGIS by Gordon Luckett
QGIS Tutorials and Tipsby Ujaval Gandhi, to teach you about how to work with GIS data, perform a range of basic to advanced GIS operations, python scripting, and web mapping.
OpenCourseWare offers a range of courses. Course materials are shared freely and under an open license suitable for self-study. The same courses are also offered as online instructor-led classes where materials are covered much more in-depth.
A useful beginner video
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