L02_Accessing_Data_F23

GEOG 181-Lab 2 (16 Marks Total) Due Sept 28 @ 4PM Part 1: QGIS Tutorial Videos During your time as a student here at UW, there will almost certainly be occasions when you will want to access geospatial data to undertake a spatial analysis exercise, or to produce a map. This lab takes you through the exercise of accessing data through the Scholars Geoportal, and producing a map from that data. Watch the series of short instructional videos that introduce you to the software and techniques required to complete the following exercise. Please Note: The 'Add Default Servers' button shown at 0:16 of video 2.3 has been removed from the latest versions of QGIS software https://github.com/qgis/QGIS/pull/35838 . Not to worry, just watch that part of the video. You can add a WMS service of your choice as described later in the video (starting at 1:30). Part 2: Exploring data with QGIS Tasks: 1. Create an 8.5”x11” (Letter) map in Landscape orientation of a city that you are familiar with in Ontario (e.g. Waterloo, your hometown, or some other city of interest). On your map, include: • A basemap provided by a web mapping service. You could use a WMS (using the Add WMS/WMTS dialog) or one of the basemaps available via the QuickMapServices plugin. • Three datasets that you have downloaded from Scholars Geoportal. For example, you could choose “Environment and conservation”- related datasets provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources or “Cultural, society, and demographic”- related datasets provided by DMTI Spatial Inc. Download these datasets (using a rectangle that you define as the area of interest). Choose appropriate symbology so that the three datasets are shown effectively on your map. Be sure to include all the necessary map elements. Export your map to a 96 DPI .png file (this will ensure that the basemap exports with the approximately same level of detail that you see in your QGIS Print Layout) and insert it in your assignment 2 document. (10 marks). 2. Review https://subjectguides.uwaterloo.ca/c.php?g=717503&p=5121128 specifically the example for citing Geospatial Data. Provide citations for the three datasets that you downloaded from Scholars Geoportal. (3 marks) - DMTI Spatial Inc. Community Centres Point . Shapefile. September 15, 2021. Scholars GeoPortal https://geo1.scholarsportal.info/#r/details/_uri@=32088267$DMTI_2021_CMCS_CommunityCentresPo int - DMTI Spatial Inc. Police Services Point . Shapefile. September 15, 2021. Scholars GeoPortal https://geo1.scholarsportal.info/#r/details/_uri@=10408616 - DMTI Spatial Inc. Education Point . Shapefile. September 15, 2021. Scholars GeoPortal https://geo1.scholarsportal.info/#r/details/_uri@=67588684 Your citations should include: Name of Data Producer or Author. Title of Geospatial Product . format. Date of data, if known.; Name of the Website. URL.

3. How does your choice of WMS/basemap help convey the message you are trying to say with the map? (3 marks) The basemap provides a nice, neutral background that while doesn’t take away from the message of the map, still allows for the map to avoid having areas that are too plain. Even worse than plain, it avoids areas that are blank, which make the finished product appear incomplete to the final viewer. All in all, it allows for areas that are not the main focus of the map to retain some level of detail, even if they aren’t covered by the given dataset.