1. About this exercise
- GIS expertise: intermediate
- Duration: 3 hours
- GIS software:
- QGIS 3.34
- Consult this section to switch to English language interface.
- QField
- QGIS 3.34
- Last update:
- Requested tools or skills:
- Set project CRS
- Create a new Geopackage layer
- Create an attribute form
- Merge vector layer
2. Introduction
We can use GIS to answer many questions. Where is erosion hazard the strongest? What is the rate of urban sprawl? Where do we need to build infrastructure for pumas to cross the road? What is the fastest route to McDonald’s?
Many local and global databases provide spatial data on a variety of topics. Infrastucture, land use, soil, weather, administration… you name it!
However, sometimes the data does not exist. And we need to collect it ourselves.
With recent advances in technologies, collecting spatial data has been made very easy. Smartphones allow you to determine your position with a precision of a few meters. And your data can be saved directly to a data collection application.
In this practical, you are going to create a collaborative map of campus trees using QField, a free data collection application.
Getting started
The practical data can be downloaded here .
There are 20 areas (=tasks) to survey. Each group of students is in charge of surveying trees inside one area. Please fill in this spreadsheet to indicate which task you are going to map.
Step 1: Creating your data collection project
Because we are going to collaborate, it is important that you follow the directions precisely!
Step 2: Setting up QField
Step 3: Data collection
Identifying the trees in your area, using bark, leaves, flowers, and/or fruits. You can use this guide .
Map trees with a circumference of 25cm or more.