In this section, we will add grids to a map. This is separate, as it is not always necessary to add grids and it gets a bit messy quickly. And if you set it wrong, you can easily crash your GIS. Thus: if you haven't done so, save your project. Let's go to the "Layout manager" and create a new layout called "Grids". We will only focus on the grids, not in creating a full map.
1) Add a map with space on all borders. |
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2) Click on the map and find the "Grids" menu in the "Item properties."
- Click on the green plus and call the grid "UTM."
- Click on "Modify Grid..."
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3)
- Deactivate "Use map CRS"
- Click on the globe near the CRS entry and use grid "EPSG:25833."
- Use a black colour and a spacing of 1000 for "X" and "Y."
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4)
- Activate "Draw Coordinates."
- For left, choose vertical ascending.
- For right, choose vertical descending.
- Set coordinate precision to 0.
- If you add a grid to a map, you should note in the map description the grid information.
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Now you have grid information available. With the UTM grid, it is now quite easy to estimate distances, especially if you choose a smaller interval between the grid lines. If you draw too many, the map gets too crowded. Also your computer might not like it as it needs to draw a lot of lines. Occasionally, you want to show more than one grid, so let's add a grid with the GCS notation.
- Similarly to the UTM grid, add another grid with the green plus icon and call it WGS84 (EPSG:4326). Click on modify grid.
- For "X," choose 0.05.
- For "Y," choose 0.005.
- Choose a turquoise colour, but reduce the opacity to 50%.
- Draw coordinates, choose the same colour, but change all to "Inside Frame." For "Left" and "Right," choose ascending/descending as before.
- Set the coordinate precision to 2.
Now you have a second grid. As you can see, it gets quickly crowed with the map content, proper (readable) colour schemes and so forth. Setting everything right and producing a good map take a long time.
Congratulations, you have completed the introduction to GIS and cartography.
Something to practice:
1) Make a map of Comfortlessbreen. Mark the best location where we can hide Langlois stash of Ardbeg.
Toposvalbard will help you locate Comfortlessbreen.
2) Make a map of your research area. Find datasets online.
Geogratis is great for free data of Le Canada.