GIS-curriculum

Module 5 - Making Maps

Author: Ketty

Pedagogical Introduction

This module will provide you with an overview of the common steps needed to complete a map in QGIS. At the end of the module, participants will know the following concepts;

In addition you’ll have learned the following skills;

Required tools and resources

Prerequisites

Additional resources

Thematic introduction

Let’s start with an example:

To make a map, you’ll need a topic you may want to understand better, for example ‘Spatial distribution of clinics across Ashanti region of Ghana. You’ll notice the topic provides both a theme to explore and the geographic location. Armed with this information and the relevant data that allows you explore the question further, you may proceed to make a map.

Breakdown of the concepts

This module will focus on the following key map making concepts; map canvas and related layers, the print layout and map elements and properties. First, here are short definitions on each;

Print layout

Figure 5.1: Print layout

Main content

Phase 1 title: Exporting the map canvas

In this tutorial, we’ll show two ways to ‘Export the map canvas’ to the QGIS print layout. The first method is straightforward while the second method explores the more advanced capabilities provided by the print layout.

First method: Export the map canvas without the print layout

  1. The data layers should already be added to the QGIS canvas. The layers can then be styled to communicate information in your data. Add map decorations by clicking View ‣ Decorations. Select your preferred map decoration. For example you may add the Title label, Scale bar and Copyright Label. For each decoration you’ll have to specify settings in a dialogue box.
  2. The final step is to export the map to either image or pdf format. To do this, Click Project ‣ Import/Export and then select your prefered export format. The export dialogue below should appear.

Exporting the map canvas as image

Exporting the map

Figure 5.2: Exporting the map

  1. Click Save. The map in the qgis canvas will be saved as a pdf or image document. Browse to the location where the file is saved and you’re now able to print or share the map.

Map canvas exported as image

Figure 5.3: Map canvas exported as image

Second method: Export the map canvas to the print layout

  1. In this tutorial, we’ll make a map showing the 1.) location of health centres and 2.) population density of Ashanti region in Ghana. The data layers should already be added to the QGIS canvas. The layers can then be styled to communicate information in your data.

Creating new Print Layout

Figure 5.4: Creating new Print Layout

  1. The map canvas can now be exported to the print Layout. Click the ‘new print layout layout button’ New Print Layout. This can be accessed via the tool bar. Alternatively, access using the ‘Projects’ menu bar. A title dialogue will open, prompting you to type the title of the Print Layout. Type ‘Asahnti Region’ and Click OK.

Naming the Print Layout

Figure 5.5: Naming the Print Layout

  1. The print layout will open

The Print Layout window

Figure 5.6: The Print Layout window

  1. You’ll notice the print layout canvas is empty. To add the styled map from the QGIS canvas, Click the ‘Add new map to layout button’ alt_text, left click your mouse and draw a rectangle in the white space at the center of the print layout. The map should be added. You’ve just exported a map to the print layout. It’s now possible to add all other map elements like the title, legend, grids etc.

Add map to Print Layout

Figure 5.7: Add map to Print Layout

Quiz questions

  1. What is the qgis map canvas? (check boxes)
  2. What is the use of the print layout? (check boxes)
  3. Which of the following is not a map element? (radio button)

Quiz answers

  1. a. shows the map composed from overlaid map layers b. allows interaction with the map and layers c. a widget for making maps

  2. a. provides growing layout and printing capabilities b. allows you to add map elements c. handle both exporting and printing of maps

  3. a. Title b. Scale c. Legend d. Colors and designs

Phase 2 title: Adding and editing map elements to the print layout

Content/Tutorial

Now that the styled map has been added to print layout, it’s now time to add the relevant map elements like the title, scale, legend, grid, metadata etc to the print layout. Most of the buttons are located to the left of the print layout.

  1. Click the ‘Add label’ alt_text button, hold down the left mouse button and draw a rectangle where you’d like to place the title of the map. Type the title under the ‘Main properties’ menu on the right side of the print layout. The font properties can be changed under the ‘Appearance’ menu item.

Add title of the map

Figure 5.8: Add title of the map

  1. Next, we’ll add the legend and scale. A data attribution statement can be added using the ‘Add label’ button Hover over the button on the left of the print layout and click the preferred button. Follow the same steps as in 1. Above to add the map element to the print layout. You can add other map elements but be careful that the map doesn’t get too cluttered.

Scale bar

Figure 5.9: Add scale bar to the map

Legend

Figure 5.9: Add legend to the map

Attribution

Figure 5.10: Add attribution to the map

  1. If the map layout is satisfactory, the map can be exported as a pdf, png, jpeg or svg, ready for printing otherwise save the layout. All saving functionality can be accessed via the ‘layout’ menu.

  2. Save the map as an image using via Layout ‣ Export as Image… or by clicking the Export as Image button Export map to image. QGIS will ask you what file to save the map to as well as the image parameters.

Image parameters

Figure 5.10: Add attribution to the map

Exported map as imgage

Figure 5.11: Exported map as imgage

Quiz questions

  1. Under which of the following tabs can you change the properties of map elements? (radio button)
  2. What’s the difference between the print layout and print layout
  3. How can you add attribution text to the map layout

Quiz answers

  1. a. Composition b. Item properties c. Atlas generation
  2. Print layout allows you to add maps from the map canvas while the print layout allows you to compose your map
  3. Add a title box, then type the attribution text. Note that the title box allows you to add all forms of text to your map.

Phase 3 title : Automating map creation using Atlas capabilities

Content/Tutorial

If your organization publishes printed or online maps, you often would need to create many maps with the same template - usually one for each administrative unit or a region of interest. Creating these maps manually can take a long time and if you want to update these on a regular basis, it can turn into a chore. QGIS has a tool called Atlas that can help you create a map template and easily publish a large number of maps for different geographic regions. We’ll take the different regions of Ghana as an example, here’s Administrative Boundaries for the 16 regions;

Coverage layer

Figure 5.12: Coverage layer

Attribute table

Figure 5.13: Attribute table

  1. This layer will serve as out coverage layer which means that the QGIS Atlas will 1 map for each of the features in this coverage layer. All in all, 16 maps will be generated.

  2. Open or create a new Print Layout and add a map.

Atlas Print Layout

Figure 5.14: Atlas Print Layout

  1. In the right pane of the Print Layout, make sure to select the Atlas menu and check the Generate an atlas box. You can also open the Atlas Settings using the Atlas Settings button Atlas Settings on the Atlas toolbar.

Atlas Generation

Figure 5.15: Atlas Generation

  1. The next step is to choose the coverage layer; The coverage layer is the index layer used to create each page. One map/page for the Atlas will be generated for each feature in the coverage layer. In our case, using the Ghana_ coverage layer will create a map for each of the 16 regions. QGIS Atlas dynamically changes the view-extent to each feature in the coverage layer. You can opt to make the coverage layer hidden in the maps that you create (i.e. the coverage layer will not be visible in the Print Layout) and select what to name each page of your Atlas. You can also perform some filtering and sorting of the coverage layer if you need to. For the Output, you can opt to have a single file as an output by checking the Singe file export when possible checkbox. If unchecked, you will generate 1 file per map.

Select Coverage Layer

Figure 5.16: Select Coverage Layer

  1. Now that we’ve set the coverage layer, we should tell the Print Layout to use the atlas to control the extent of the maps (area visible on the printable map) that we will generate. In the Item Properties tab, check the box for Controlled By Atlas

Controlled by Atlas

Figure 5.17: Make sure that the map extent is controlled by the Atlas

  1. To preview your Atlas, click on the Preview Atlas button Preview Atlas button on the Atlas Toolbar. This will show you the 16 maps that you generated. Use the Atlas toolbar Atlas toolbar to navigate the Atlas maps.

Atlas Preview

Figure 5.18: Atlas Preview

  1. You can export the Atlas maps via the Export Atlas button Export Atlas button either as images or PDFs. Select Export Atlas as Image. You should have 16 maps generated wher each map shows the extent of the region.

Atlas Outputs

Figure 5.18: Atlas Outputs

  1. TIP: For this example we only mapped the coverage layer. The power of the Atlas is when we map several layers. For example, we have the clinics, road network, and population density data for the entire country loaded as layers in QGIS. We would then want to create one map for each of the provinces showing these same layers. Using the Atlas would require us to only create one layout template and let the Atlas handle the generation of the other maps based on the coverage layer that we use.

  2. TIP: You can use QGIS Expressions and Data Defined overrides for setting the other map elements in your Atlas so that they also dynamically change depending on the coverage layer feature being mapped. For example, you can use a QGIS expression calling the value of the NAME_1 field on your label so that it dynamically changes into the value of NAME_1 for the current feature being mapped.

For more information about the QGIS Atlas, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnMJBUvEjY.

Quiz questions

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Quiz answers

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