QGIS
Overview
Welcome to our three-day QGIS training intensive! This runs twice a year, and is planned for February and July in 2026.
By the end of the three days, you’ll have learnt the QGIS skills to:
- Import different kinds of spatial data into a project
- Find relevant data from a variety of sources
- Understand and handle projections
- Prepare, filter and process both vector and raster data
- Style and label data to communicate effectively
- Digitise your own data
- Manage styles, themes and templates
- Collect spatial data with a smartphone
- Compose a publication-ready map
As we set up, there’s a few things to do, if you haven’t already:
- Install the software
- Introduce yourself to your table
- Join our Teams channel
- Register your attendance
Software
QGIS is open source, free and cross-platform (Windows, macOS and Linux). This tutorial is designed for QGIS 3.40, the Long Term Release at the time of writing. Even if you already have QGIS installed, please update to the latest 3.40 release if you can, because:
- differences in major versions (e.g. 3.36 vs 3.40) make it more difficult to follow, and
- minor bugfix versions are released every month (e.g. 3.40.15 was released in January 2026)
There is no 3.40 installer for macOS. Please install version 3.44 instead, which is set to become the Long Term Release at the end of February 2026.
- If you use your own computer, go to the QGIS website and install version 3.40 (or 3.44 for macOS)
- If you use a UQ computer, install QGIS from Company Portal (Windows) or Self-Service (macOS)
- If you use a UQ Library laptop, install QGIS from ZENworks
Once installed, open QGIS to see if it starts without issues.
Workshops
Over these three days we’ll cover six sessions of content:
| Session | Description |
|---|---|
| The Fundamentals | The basics of QGIS: Projects, data import, data management, symbology, labelling |
| Vector Analysis | Importing from CSV, vector data processing, digitisation |
| Projections | Coordinate systems, why they are important, and how to handle them |
| Raster Analysis | Raster data processing and styling, QGIS plugins, georeferencing |
| Styling, Themes and Templates | Features for efficient and publication-ready layouts |
| Field Data | Tools for fieldwork and collaboration |
These content sessions are pretty packed, and while questions are encouraged, we won’t have too much time to deviate. That’s why we’ll also have five project sessions - see The Project. You’re welcome to ask trickier questions and experiment as you want during that time!