In this section, we will create data from field book notes, import it to GIS and learn more about vector data sets.
1. Creating data sets
During fieldwork, you will take notes. At each measurement site, you will note the coordinates, time and all other important information you need. QGIS can handle many different file types, but here we will use the simplest of them all: the text file. In Windows, navigate to your folder for this session. Then
- Right-click -> New -> Text Document
- Name it instument_coordiantes.txt
- Open it and add the data given in the table below. Separate the with a tab.
Lat |
Lon |
Comment |
78.222603 |
15.651325 |
UNIS |
2. Vector data
The second large group of data types in GIS regards
vector data.
These exist in
point, line and polygon.
form. They can have any shape and are not stored in a matrix (as is raster data). Compared to raster data, they are more accurate and don't rely on grid size. But that makes them also harder to work with: calculations take longer. It is possible to transform these two types. We will use vector data for our field notes, so let's first import some data and then we create some in QGIS.
QGIS
1) Open your QGIS project |
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2) Layer -> Add Layer -> Add Delimited Text Layer |
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3) Choose the text file and use the setting from the right. Important are the correct settings for the delimiter, header info and the correct attribution of columns. Click on "Add." |
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4) Now you can see the data point on your canvas.
The layer should show up in your layers section and be drawn on the canvas over the UNIS building. To have more functions to work with, we will change this layer now to a point vector layer. Right-click on the name and select "Export -> Save Feature as..." |
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5)
- As a format, select
ESRI shapefile.
This filetype is very popular and you will use it a lot when using GIS.
- As a CRS, select "EPSG:4326 - WGS 84"
- As a file name, choose the same
- Press "Ok"
- Remove the layer of the text file.
- Change the symbol in the Symbology to a larger and more visible one.
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6) Let's add labels. Right-click on the name of the layer and go to the properties option. Here, click on labels and select "Single label." Set "Comment" as a value. Press "Ok" and look at the map. Likely, the label is hard to read. |
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7) Thus, go back to the label option and add a background colour. You can also increase the font size. |
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The dot is very lonely, thus we want to add a little friend.
- Click on the layer (do not double-click).
- The click in the Editing-toolbar on "Toggle editing."
- Click on "Add point feature."
- Click on the Sysselmannen building and press ok without adding anything. That point should appear now without any description (label).
- Click again on "Toggle editing" and save your features.
Note: You can also edit the placement of your label. We will not do that now, it is just for your information. This function comes in handy if you have a lot of data points or many overlaying layers. |
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9) Right-click on the layer and click on "Open attribute table." This is a very important feature in GIS. You can do a lot of different calculations and edits for your data here. For now, we will just add something in the "Comment." |
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10) Click here on "Toggle editing" and write in the comment column of the new point "Sysselmannen." Click again on the toggle icon and save your features. Sysselmannen should appear now next to its point. |
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3. More Vector data
We just imported our own data and added a point to it, using GIS. Now we want to create a new shapefile with a polygon to mark the town of Longyearbyen. The same can be done with a line (e.g., for a river or a road).
1) From the top menu, select "Layer -> Create layer -> New Shapefile layer." |
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2)
- Select a path/filename using the three dots.
- As geometry, select polygon.
- Press "Ok"
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3)
- Click on the newly created file, then press again the toggle to edit.
- Now, press add polygon.
- Click your way around the buildings. When done, right-click and press ok.
- Deactivate the toggle and save your edits.
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4) Your problem now is that you only see the labels (not the points) and also the polygon itself overlays the city.
- First, drag the point layer above the polygon layer. The points should now appear.
- Double-click on the polygon layer and either
- Choose an outline that marks the border of your polygon, but keep the interior free.
- Or lower the opacity so that you can see the city through the layer.
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5) You map should look like this: |
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Another job well done. Let's reveal the secret of the next page.