Exercises Open Source Software for Preprocessing GIS Data for Hydrological Models

Preface 

A Geographic Information System (GIS) can be a useful tool for preparing the input of models and tools. Furthermore, in this era of Open Data ample open access data is available that can easily be retrieved from the internet and integrated in open source desktop GIS software, such as QGIS. These exercises will guide you through different steps that are needed to preprocess data to be used in models and tools. In the first exercise you will learn how to register a scanned topographic map and use it as a backdrop for digitizing vector data. 

In the second exercise you will learn how to import data from spreadsheets into a GIS and to use it to join tables, manipulate the attribute table and interpolating the data to a continuous raster layer. In the third exercise you will download open access data from Open Street Map and use it for further analysis and conversion. The geodatabase will also be introduced in this exercise. In the fourth exercise you will use map algebra for spatial planning. 

Finally, you will learn how to delineate catchments and streams form digital elevation models and to present them in maps or in an interactive web page. The exercises have been developed for different MSc programmes at IHE Delft and tailor made training in Uganda, financed by the Vitens Evides International (VEI) fund. 

Learning objectives 

After following this step-by-step tutorial you will be able to: 

 Use QGIS in its main functionalities, also in conjunction with plugins 

Digitize features from a scanned map or satellite image 

Import tabular data in a GIS 

Do simple vector analysis 

Interpolate point data 

Convert vector and raster data 

Reproject vector and raster data 

Use map algebra 

Use online data 

Perform catchment and stream delineation

Software requirements 

During the next exercises we will make use of the following software: 

QGIS ver 2.18.11 (Las Palmas) or higher, 

Google Earth, 

Firefox Mozilla 

MS Excel or OpenOffice Calc

Preparation 

The exercises have been tested for QGIS 2.18.11. 

1) Download QGIS from http://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html 

2) Install QGIS 

3) Install the exercise data from http://ocw.unesco-ihe.org

Download Link

http://bit.ly/2SJm2vn