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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.

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 and 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.

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:

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 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

GIS Tutorial: QGIS et Utilisation de ATLAS

A useful beginner video 

Guidance


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