Course description

This step-by-step video course focuses on the process of creating a professional map in QGIS after the required data has already been analysed and prepared within a project. Participants will learn how to set up a print layout, add essential map elements such as a scale bar and north arrow, and create a clear and informative legend that represents all relevant data. The course also demonstrates how to include an overview map to provide additional spatial context. In addition, participants will learn how to apply final design adjustments to improve the overall appearance and readability of their maps. By the end of the course, learners will be able to transform a basic map into a professional-looking cartographic product.

Course curriculum

  1. 01

    • Introduction - why are we mapping?
  2. 02

    • Agenda

    • Introduction to QGIS and Project Setup

    • Q. 1.1

    • Loading and Managing Geospatial Data

    • Q. 1.2

    • Adding Online Map Service (WMS)

    • Q. 1.3

    • Creating and Designing the Map Layout

    • Q. 1.4

    • Finishing Touches and Exporting the Map

    • Q 1.5
  3. 03

    • Setting up Print Layout of Map

    • Q. 2.1

    • Item Properties, Scale Bar und North Arrow

    • Q. 2.2

    • Overview Map and Title

    • Q. 2.3

    • Legend

    • Q. 2.4

    • Sources, Final Touches and Export

    • Q. 2.5

Who Is This Course For?

  • QGIS users who want to learn how to create high-quality maps for reports, publications, and presentations.

  • Students, researchers, and GIS professionals seeking practical cartographic skills.

  • Anyone aiming for professional results and wanting to elevate their maps beyond basic layouts.

What You Will Learn

  • Master the QGIS print layout workflow

    Master the QGIS print layout workflow to transform prepared data into professional maps.

  • Essential Map Elements

    Add and customise essential map elements, including legends, scale bars, north arrows, and overview maps.

  • Professional Design techniques

    Apply professional design techniques to improve map clarity, appearance, and overall impact.

Instructor(s)

Instructor Bio:

Josi Bregulla holds a Bachelor's degree in Geography from the University of Bonn and is currently pursuing the Master's programme in Geography of Environmental Risks and Human Security at the United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security. Her academic focus lies in Disaster Risk Management and the application of GIS and Remote Sensing. In the past, Josi worked as a GIS and Remote Sensing tutor. Josi has worked together with UN-SPIDER as an intern, where she gained practical experience in the use of space-based information for disaster management and international cooperation. Building on this experience, she now contributes to the Spaceborne Earth Observation Applications for Emergency Response and Disaster Risk Reduction (SPEAR II) project, a collaborative initiative between the University of Bonn and UN-SPIDER. SPEAR II aims to understand needs, develop solutions, and strengthen national capacities for the use of space-based information in disaster monitoring and prevention across Africa, in line with international and regional frameworks. Within the project, Josi is particularly interested in the application of digital elevation models and digital twins to support disaster risk reduction and evidence-based decision-making.

Josi Bregulla

SPEAR Project

Instructor(s)

Instructor Bio:

Michael Schmidt is a remote sensing scientist specialising in Earth observation and geospatial data processing. He completed his PhD at the University of Bonn, focusing on remote sensing. He subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher at CSIRO in Canberra, Australia, where he contributed to improving data accuracy, calibration methods, and the development of web-based services for operational data processing. He later joined a research team in Brisbane, Queensland, working on environmental applications of remote sensing, with a focus on vegetation cover and analysis. After returning to Germany, he worked at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), where he managed a cloud computing project. Since 2023, he has been serving as the scientific coordinator of the Center for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces (ZFL) at the University of Bonn.

Michael Schmidt

Dr.

Use of AI tools

Transparency notice regarding the course content creation

The academic concepts and slides for this course were developed by our lecturers. The narration was co-authored using AI tools and subsequently edited. The narration is provided partly by a synthetic AI voice.