QGIS configuration

QGIS is a geographic information system software that supports the viewing, editing, and analysis of geospatial data in a range of data formats. It is critical to our data labeling process.

1. Download QGIS

Download · QGIS Web Site

MacOS users: Note the "Tips for first launch" Section

1. Install Plugin(s)

   1. Open QGIS.

   2. Select Plugins -> Manage and Install Plugins from the menu bar at the top.

   3. Type and select QuickMapServices on the All page.

   4. Select Install Plugin at the bottom.

   5. Select Web -> QuickMapServices -> Settings from the menu bar at the top.

   6. Select the More services tab.

   7. Click Get contributed pack.

   You can now select Web -> QuickMapServices -> Bing -> Bing Satellite from the menu bar at the top and have a world map, a useful resource for labeling.

2. Set up Toolbars/Panels

   1. Open QGIS.

   2. Select View -> Panels -> Layer Styling from the menu bar at the top to modify layer visibility features and settings.

   3. Select View -> Toolbars -> Digitizing Toolbar and View -> Toolbars -> Advanced Digitizing Toolbar from the menu bar at the top to access key shape file modification features.

   4. Select View -> Toolbars -> Data Source Manager Toolbar from the menu bar at the top to access layer creation features.

   5. Select View -> Panels -> Layers from the menu bar at the top to see various layers (e.g. the data being labeled, various shape files, etc.)

   Note: if there's already a check mark next to the tool/panel, no need to select it again.

These are just some tools we have found to be useful for labeling, but feel free to select whichever tools or panels best suit your purposes. Further documentation can be found here and in the next few GitBook pages.