Wikipedia:Graphics Lab/Resources/QGIS/Get ready: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:59, 10 June 2011

Revision as of 03:06, 10 June 2011

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'''QGis''' (full name: '''[[Quantum GIS]]''') is a GPL license, cross platform (Window, Linux, Mac), and rather friendly cartographic software making use of the [[Geographic Information Systems]] (GIS). Basically, the GIS is the concept to associate to each geographic coordinate (dot) on the Earth a specific value from some survey. The best know example is altitude, the associate GIS file is a map of the Earth in which each pixel also carry information about its altitude. Reversely, an object can be placed on the Earth, and associated with specific coordinates, commonly roads, parks' shapes, lakes and rivers, states, provinces, urban areas, etc, and are georeferenced layers matching precisely.<br />This approach radically change the way of mapmaking. The mapmaker/graphist formerly had to draw himself from A to Z each layer of the map and combine them. It work's reliability was limited and precision was limited by the mapmakers resources and knowledge. Now, these precise GIS data/files can be collected by the mapmaker who have to load his selection of GIS files into a GIS software such QGis, with objects automatically placed to their exact coordinates, apply custom styles, and output a basemap which may be the end product, or a background to host the last layers of custom works (icons, labels, legend, etc.).<br />

For Wikipedia, the advantage of GIS maps are precision, reliability, and upgrade in visual elegance for our maps. It will be mainly '''useful to generate topographic background (png, svg), shaded reliefs (png), and politicaladministrative backgroundsregions or borders (png, svg), and apply style to them'''. While [[GRASS GIS]] seems still to be the most common GIS software, it'sits usage is quite rude (lot ofmainly [[console line]]). Also, beginners will prefer [[QGis]], which is quite powerful, human friendly, integrate GRASS GIS and [[GDAL]], is used as a graphical user interface of GRASS GIS, and still have a lot of space to improve your GIS mapmaking skills.<br />

This tutorial series focus on '''how to use QGis to generate reliable maps for wikipedia'''. Accordingly, it is Wikipedia centered : outputting general public encyclopedic maps ; and follow the [[Wikipedia:WikiProject_Maps/Conventions|Wikipedia map conventions]].

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=== The tools ===

;QGis

QGis is the rather friendly GIS mapmaking software we are willing to use. It's a powerful graphical user interface supporting GRASS functions, an allowing to open GIS files, mainly .tiff raster topographic GIS files, and .shp (shapefiles) vector GIS files.

* Install : [http://www.qgis.org/wiki/Download#Windows Windows] ([http://www.qgis.org/wiki/DownloadFr fr]; [http://vimeo.com/9476971 Install video])

* Install : [http://www.qgis.org/wiki/Download#Ubuntu Linux] ([http://www.qgis.org/wiki/DownloadFr fr]). Ubuntu, in Konsole:

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sudo apt-get install qgis

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* Files: Allow to open many GIS files, for us mainly .tiff raster topographic GIS files, and .shp (shapefiles) vector GIS files.

* Forum : http://forum.qgis.org ({{green|very active, answer in ~ 6 hours}})