Advanced mapping

In this workshop we will cover basic principles and good practice in mapmaking, and then apply those principles using a number of tools for making charts and maps, processing geodata, and performing geospatial analyses.

Schedule

• Day 1, am: Principles of mapping

  • Before we leap into maps, we will cover basic principles of mapping, including map projections and the various ways in which data can be displayed on maps.
  • We will also review geodata formats, geocode addresses to latitude and longitude coordinates, and retrieve geodata from an application programming interface (API).

• Day 1, pm: Making maps and processing geodata with QGIS

  • We will use QGIS, the leading open-source geographic information systems software, to make publication-quality static maps.
  • We will then see how QGIS can be used to process geodata, including for for use in making online maps.

• Day 2, am: Making online maps and processing geodata with CartoDB

  • We will use CartoDB, a cloud-based mapping application to make interactive online maps, including animations of geodata over time.
  • We will then use CartoDB as a spatially-aware database to process geodata and perform geospatial analyses.

• Day 2, pm: Making online maps with Leaflet

  • We will make interactive online maps with Leaflet, the leading JavaScript mapping library, and related libraries/plugins.