QGIS - Grids

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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.
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..."
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."
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.


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.