There are lots of digital tools to help you make a map today. For instance, if you create a new map in Google Maps, you’ll be directed to Google My Maps, which offers many easy mapmaking features. But if you need to do more advanced mapping and/or spatial analysis, you’ll need to use an advanced mapping application. Three mapping applications we recommend are ArcGIS, QGIS, and Google Earth (documented separately). To decide among all these mapping tools, see here.
ArcGIS and QGIS are advanced applications for spatial data analysis as well as mapping; here’s a “gentle introduction” to GIS. While ArcGIS is the industry standard and often found in computer labs and the workplace, QGIS is a free, open source alternative you can install on your own computer; see here for QGIS installation. The table below should help you find the main functions you’ll need on ArcGIS or QGIS; for more specific help, click the ArcMap help button (?) at the upper right of many windows, or refer to the QGIS documentation. The recommended settings at top help you avoid certain problems in Arc or Q.
Task |
ArcMap |
QGIS |
|---|---|---|
Settings |
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| Dynamically reproject | Automatically reprojects | QGIS > Preferences > CRS |
| Use relative paths | File -> Map Document Properties -> check box “Store relative pathnames…” | Project > Project Properties > General > General settings |
Get started |
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| Manage toolbars | Customize > Toolbars | View > Toolbars |
| Add a baselayer | Add data button (+) > Add basemap… | Plugins >QuickMapServices Plugin (to initially activate plugin) Web >QuickMapServices Plugin (to add baselayer) |
| Check map projection | Layers menu > Properties > Coordinate System | Project > Project Properties… > Coordinate Reference System |
Vector data |
||
| Add a shapefile | Add data button (+), Standard toolbar | Add Vector Layer button, Layer > Add Vector Layer… |
| Reproject vector data | ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Feature > Project | Right click on layer > Save as… > CRS > Selected CRS > Browse (more help) |
| Join data to a shapefile | Shapefile layer menu > Joins and Relates > Join… | Right click on layer > Properties > Joins |
| Add .csv spatial data | File > Add Data > Add XY Data… | Add Delimited Text Layer button (,), Layer > Add Delimited Text Layer… |
| Save xy data as a shapefile | Shapefile layer menu > Data > Export Data… | Right click on layer > Save As… |
| Add KML as a shapefile | ArcToolbox > Conversion Tools > From KML > KML to Layer | Add Vector Layer button, Layer > Add Vector Layer… (more help) |
| Geocode data | Shapefile layer menu > Geocode Addresses… | Install MMQGIS plugin; MMQGIS > Geocode |
| Inspect layer attributes | Shapefile layer menu > Open Attribute Table | Right click on layer > Open Attribute Table |
| Map layer attributes | Shapefile layer menu > Properties > Symbology | Right click on layer > Properties > Style |
| Clip vector data | ArcToolbox > Analysis > Extract > Clip | Vector > Geoprocessing Tools > Clip |
| Save/display subset of vector data | Shapefile layer menu > Selection > Create Layer From Selected Features | Right click on layer > Save Selection As… |
Raster data |
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| Add a raster | Add data button (+), Standard toolbar | Add Raster Layer button, Layer > Add Raster Layer… |
| Check raster projection | Properties > Source | Layer Properties > General > Coordinate Reference System |
| Reproject raster data | Toolbox > Data Management Tools > Projections and Transformations > Raster > Project Raster | Raster > Projections > Warp |
| Georeference an image | Customize > Toolbars > Georeferencing | Raster > Georeferencer |
| Clip raster data | ArcToolbox > Data Management Tools > Raster > Raster processing | Raster > Extraction > Clipper |
Complete your map |
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| Add a legend to your map | View > Layout View, then Insert > Legend… | Project > New Print Composer, then Add Legend button |
| Export an image of your map | In Layout View: File > Export Map… | In Print Composer: Export as Image button |