Product Review

Learn GIS using free software.

The book is based off a 2 day seminar course that taught thousands of laymen to use GIS.

It covers the basics of GIS, gives examples, and then guides you through a working project of mapping out an area in Texas to allow you to understand and master the basics of GIS and cartography. Shows where to get free data and how to check that data for validity.

While this book teaches GIS via the open source program of Quantum GIS, it is applicable to any GIS program, whether it is ESRI ArcView, Microstation, or uDIG.

Chapters include:
Basic Background About Maps
What is GIS?
Coordinate Systems and Projections
An Overview of GIS and Open-Source Programs
Finding GIS Data
Using Quantum GIS
Adding Data Layers
Customizing a GIS Project
Working With The Attribute Table
Downsizing Data from a Layer
QGIS Plugins
Measurement Tools
Creating and Editing Layers
Print Composer: Exporting a Map
134 pages