Why I love QGIS🗺️🌍📍

QGIS has emerged as an invaluable open-source solution that helps councils streamline their asset management processes while keeping costs under control.

QGIS might not be a household name, but it's a powerful and user-friendly open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) software that's been quietly gaining a cult following in the geospatial community

Welcome to the Iamdata Solutions Asset Management Newsletter - March 2025

Jill Singleton

Director - Asset Management Specialist & Data Analyst

So, what is so great about QGIS, and why should you give it a try? Let's take a look!

What Is QGIS?

QGIS is a free and open-source desktop GIS software that allows you to create, edit, visualise, and analyse geospatial data. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, making it accessible to almost anyone.

The appeal of QGIS for local governments extends beyond its zero-cost licensing. The platform offers enterprise-grade capabilities that rival proprietary solutions, while providing the flexibility to customise workflows for specific council needs. Its open-source nature means councils aren't locked into vendor-specific formats and can freely share data with other government agencies and stakeholders.

User-Friendly Interface

One of the standout features of QGIS is its user-friendly interface. If you've ever been intimidated by GIS software that seems designed for rocket scientists, you'll appreciate QGIS's intuitive design. The menus, toolbars, and panels are organised logically, and there is a huge amount of documentation and tutorials available online to help you get started.

Support for all kinds of Data

QGIS supports all kinds of data formats. Whether you're working with shapefiles, GeoJSON, TAB, GPS data, or even csv's, QGIS has you covered. You can import, export, and manipulate data from a wide range of sources, which is a huge plus for data integration and analysis.

Map Design Capabilities

QGIS offers a variety of powerful tools for designing high-quality maps, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced cartographers. One of its standout features is the ability to apply custom styling and symbology to spatial data. Users can utilise different visualisation techniques such as graduated symbols to represent varying data ranges, categorised symbols for distinct classifications, and rule-based rendering to apply styles based on specific attribute conditions. For example, when mapping land cover types like forests, urban areas, and water bodies, each category can be assigned a unique colour and pattern, ensuring clarity and visual appeal.

Another key capability is the Print Composer, which allows users to create professional-quality maps suitable for print or presentations. With this tool, users can add essential map elements like legends, scale bars, north arrows, grid lines, and annotations to provide context and improve readability.

If, for example, you are designing a sports facilities map for a council area, you can arrange these elements in an aesthetically pleasing layout, using custom fonts and colours to make the map both informative and visually appealing.

QGIS also offers advanced labelling and annotation options to enhance map readability. Dynamic text placement, customisable fonts, and halo effects ensure that labels remain legible even on complex maps. Users can also apply rules to automatically position labels, preventing them from overlapping or cluttering the design. For example, in a city map, district names and major roads can be labelled in a way that prioritises visibility without obstructing other important features.

Beyond traditional cartography, QGIS includes blending modes and layer effects that add depth and realism to maps. Features like drop shadows, glow effects, and opacity adjustments allow for visually striking designs. A common use case is terrain mapping, where hillshade blending enhances elevation perception, making mountains and valleys stand out more prominently. These effects contribute to more engaging and informative map presentations.

For those interested in 3D visualisation, QGIS supports the rendering of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), extruded buildings, and realistic terrain features. This capability is particularly useful for urban planners, environmental analysts, and geospatial researchers. A practical example would be creating a 3D fly-through animation of a mountainous region, which can be used for presentations, educational purposes, or tourism planning.

Plugins Galore

QGIS has a fantastic plugin system that allows you to extend its functionality. There are thousands of plugins available, covering everything from geocoding to 3D visualisation. These plugins make QGIS a versatile tool for a wide range of applications.

 QGIS2Web Plugin

The QGIS2Web plugin enable users to export interactive web maps. For example, If you're designing an interactive web map showcasing historical sites, QGIS2Web can help you generate a fully functional online version with minimal effort.

QGIS TimeManager Plugin

The TimeManager plugin allows for the creation of time-lapse visualisations of spatial data changes.

Import Photos Plugin

This is a plugin I recently discovered, designed to help users efficiently import and georeference photos that contain embedded GPS metadata (EXIF data). It is particularly useful for field surveys, drone imagery, and other geotagged photography workflows.

How to Use the Import Photos Plugin

1. Install the plugin via Plugins > Manage and Install Plugins in QGIS.

2. Open the plugin from the Plugins menu or Processing Toolbox.

3. Select a folder containing geotagged images.

4. Configure import settings (e.g., projection, attributes).

5. Click Import, and a new point layer with geolocated images will be added to the QGIS

6. project.

QGIS Import Photos Plugin Use Cases

• Field Data Collection. Surveyors, environmental researchers, and archaeologists can use it to document findings with spatially referenced photos.

• Drone Mapping. UAV users can import geotagged images taken during flight missions.

• Infrastructure Inspections. Engineers can track and visualise maintenance photos.

• Real Estate and Tourism. Property photos can be mapped to locations for easy navigation.

  
  

Community and Support

QGIS is not just a powerful GIS tool, it also benefits from a strong, supportive, and active community. In my view, one of the biggest advantages of using QGIS is the accessibility of its user community, which consists of developers, GIS professionals, educators, and hobbyists who are always willing to help. Whether you are a beginner struggling with basic functionalities or an advanced user looking for specialized solutions, you can turn to QGIS forums, mailing lists, and online groups for guidance.

QGIS User Mailing List 

The QGIS User Mailing List allows users to ask questions, report issues, and share tips. If you encounter a problem while designing a map or working with spatial data, chances are someone in the community has faced a similar issue and can provide a solution.

The GIS Stack Exchange

The GIS Stack Exchange platform hosts numerous QGIS-related questions, making it a valuable resource for troubleshooting and learning advanced techniques.

QGIS Documentation Site and User Manual

Beyond forums and mailing lists, QGIS has a well-documented official user manual, as well as a growing number of tutorials and courses available online. The QGIS Documentation Site provides step-by-step guides covering everything from basic map-making to advanced spatial analysis.

You can find detailed tutorials that walk you through the entire process using real-world datasets.

The Benefits of Being Open Source

QGIS is open source in nature, which allows continuous development and improvement. Unlike proprietary GIS software that may require expensive licenses and slow feature rollouts, QGIS benefits from frequent updates and bug fixes contributed by its global developer community. This ensures that users always have access to the latest GIS innovations. Recent updates have introduced new geoprocessing tools, enhanced 3D visualisation capabilities, and improved performance when handling large datasets.

QGIS Conferences and Hackfests

The QGIS community also organises local and international events, like the QGIS User Conferences and Hackfests, where developers and users collaborate to improve the software. These events provide a great opportunity to learn from experts, network with other GIS professionals, and contribute to the future development of QGIS.

The annual FOSS4G (Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial) conference (https://2025.foss4g.org), where QGIS users and developers showcase new features, case studies, and best practices.

The QGIS community actively encourages user contributions. If you have coding skills, you can contribute to the development of new features. If you prefer documentation and education, you can help improve manuals, create tutorials, or even translate QGIS into different languages.

The QGIS Plugin Repository, where users develop and share plugins that enhance QGIS functionality, such as tools for real-time GPS tracking or advanced spatial modelling.

QGIS Pricing

Oh, and did I mention it's open-source and completely free? That's right, QGIS is not only a budget-friendly option, but it's also free. You can use it, modify it, and even contribute to its development if you're so inclined.

Top 5 QGIS Applications in Local Government

Urban Planning and Zoning

QGIS excels in urban planning applications by enabling planners to make informed decisions about land use and development. You can build detailed zoning maps created by overlaying property boundaries with existing land use data, environmental constraints, and infrastructure networks which can be of great benefit to Development Planners at the council. You can perform spatial queries to identify parcels that meet specific criteria for development or conservation. QGIS allows for the creation of buffer zones around sensitive areas and the analysis of proposed developments' impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods.

Infrastructure Asset Management

Many councils are using QGIS to maintain comprehensive spatial databases of infrastructure assets. Engineering & Works Departments can map and track information about the infrastructure assets.

QGIS projects and maps showing infrastructure assets' locations, diameters, materials, and installation dates is a great help to asset mangers, enabling them to also analyse maintenance records to identify areas prone to breaks or requiring replacement. QGIS's ability to integrate with GPS data allows field crews to update infrastructure conditions in real-time.

Emergency Response Planning

QGIS provides essential tools for emergency management and response planning. Emergency services can map critical facilities, evacuation routes, and potential hazard zones.

For example, fire departments can analyse response times by creating drive-time isochrones from fire stations, helping optimise coverage areas. During natural disasters, emergency managers can use QGIS to map affected areas, track resource deployment, and plan evacuation routes based on current conditions.

Environmental Management

Environmental departments utilise QGIS for natural resource management and conservation planning. They can monitor changes in vegetation cover, track wildlife habitats, and assess environmental impacts.

This type information would also be useful to asset managers. For example, stormwater managers can analyse watershed characteristics, map drainage networks, and model potential flooding scenarios. QGIS's ability to process satellite imagery helps track changes in land cover over time and identify areas requiring environmental protection.

Community Engagement and Public Communications

QGIS is also useful in the Community Engagement and Public Communication area of the council. QGIS enables council to create compelling visual presentations for public engagement. From planning department's data, we can generate easy-to-understand maps showing proposed developments, park locations, or transportation improvements. The software's print composer allows for the creation of professional-quality maps for public meetings, websites, and reports. QGIS can also export data to web-based mapping platforms, enabling interactive online maps for public access to government information.

Technical Implementation Considerations

For successful organisational implementation you should consider:

• Data Management

Establishing proper data management protocols, including standardised filing systems and metadata documentation.

• Training Requirements

Providing staff training opportunities to ensure effective use of the software.

• Integration Capabilities

Ensuring compatibility with existing systems and databases used by different departments.

• Hardware Requirements

Meeting the necessary computing requirements for smooth operation, especially when handling large datasets.

Why I love QGIS

QGIS is like a well-kept secret in the world of geospatial technology. It's a versatile, powerful, and user-friendly tool for creating maps, analysing data, and exploring the world around you. So, if you're looking to dive into the exciting world of geospatial data, or if you're already a GIS pro looking for an open-source alternative, give QGIS a try.

You can download QGIS for free, explore its countless tutorials and resources, and join the welcoming community of fellow QGIS enthusiasts. Whether you're mapping out hiking trails, analysing urban sprawl, or just satisfying your curiosity about the world, QGIS is here to help you every step of the way.

Don't let the big names in GIS overshadow this hidden gem. Try out QGIS, and I promise you'll be happy with the results.

Happy mapping! 🗺️🌍📍

I have worked on many different projects with my Local Government clients, from designing and developing Power BI Reports, to building SQL Server databases for spatial data, to managing and maintaining GIS and the Asset Management systems. If you'd like to discuss how we might work together, then please email Jill at ➡️ jill.singleton@iamdata.solutions

If you would like to receive the latest Newsletter Blog straight to your inbox, please subscribe here: ➡️ https://www.iamdata.solutions/subscribe

You can read all our Newsletters and Blogs here:➡️ https://www.iamdata.solutions/blog

You may also be interested in our Projects Page:➡️ https://www.iamdata.solutions/past-projects

Check out what our clients say about us here:➡️ https://www.iamdata.solutions/reviews

If you would like to see a particular topic covered in these newsletters, then please let me know about it. The chances are other people will be interested and would like to hear about it too! Please email me at: ➡️ jill.singleton@iamdata.solutions with your suggestions.