Open source GIS & remote sensing for conservation (Beginner)

Course Curriculum

Chapter 1: Course introduction

Lecture 1: 1.1. Welcome to the course!

Lecture 2: 1.2. What is GIS?

Lecture 3: 1.3. Components of a GIS

Lecture 4: 1.4. Installing QGIS

Lecture 5: 1.5. Applications of GIS and remote sensing in Conservation

Lecture 6: 1.6. Why open source?

Lecture 7: 1.7. Getting Started with QGIS

Lecture 8: 1.9. Section 1 review

Chapter 2: Basic principles of GIS

Lecture 1: 2.1. Introduction to section 2

Lecture 2: 2.2. Spatial data types

Lecture 3: 2.3. Coordinate reference systems

Lecture 4: 2.4. Projected coordinate reference systems

Lecture 5: 2.5. Which CRS?

Lecture 6: 2.6. Sources of Spatial Data for Conservation

Lecture 7: 2.8. Section 2 review

Chapter 3: Getting started with GIS

Lecture 1: 3.1. Introduction to Section 3

Lecture 2: 3.2. Sourcing data online for conservation applications

Lecture 3: 3.2.x. Extra: OpenStreetMap

Lecture 4: 3.3. Adding spatial data to QGIS

Lecture 5: 3.3.x. Extra: Reprojecting Vector Data

Lecture 6: 3.4. Extracting data

Lecture 7: 3.5. Vector Styles and Labels

Lecture 8: 3.6. Downloading a digital elevation model (DEM)

Lecture 9: 3.7. Raster and DEM Styles

Lecture 10: 3.8. Introduction to mapping and cartography

Lecture 11: 3.9. Creating a publication-quality map in QGIS

Lecture 12: 3.11. Section 3 review

Chapter 4: Working with Vector Data

Lecture 1: 4.1. Introduction to section 4

Lecture 2: 4.2. Georeferencing

Lecture 3: 4.3. Creating new vector data and digitising

Lecture 4: 4.4. Field calculations + calculating feature geometry [e.g. calculate PA areas]

Lecture 5: 4.5. Summarising + analysing attribute table data [% country area protected]

Lecture 6: 4.6. Choropleth Mapping

Lecture 7: 4.7. Complex labelling

Lecture 8: 4.9. Section 4 review

Chapter 5: Survey design and data collection

Lecture 1: 5.1. Introduction to section 5

Lecture 2: 5.2. Ecological survey design

Lecture 3: 5.3. Creating survey grids and transects in QGIS

Lecture 4: 5.4. Ecological survey data collection tools

Lecture 5: 5.4.x. Extra: Preparing an ODK survey

Lecture 6: 5.5. Loading sampling points onto a GPS device or Maps.Me on your mobile

Lecture 7: 5.6. Collecting data in the field on your mobile

Lecture 8: 5.7. Downloading and cleaning data

Lecture 9: 5.9. Section 5 review

Chapter 6: Management and visualisation of Survey Data

Lecture 1: 6.1. Introduction to section 6

Lecture 2: 6.2. Importing and visualising data in Google Earth

Lecture 3: 6.3. Importing and joining CSV data [join camera trap locations with trap rates]

Lecture 4: 6.4. Merging and appending features

Lecture 5: 6.5. Visualising Survey Data

Lecture 6: 6.6. Interpolation and hotspot mapping

Lecture 7: 6.8. Section 6 review

Chapter 7: Vector Spatial Analysis

Lecture 1: 7.1. Introduction to section 7

Lecture 2: 7.2. Buffering [create buffer zone around protected area]

Lecture 3: 7.3. Overlay tools – intersect, union, erase

Lecture 4: 7.4. Spatial join

Lecture 5: 7.5. Nearest Neighbour [details + distance to protected area boundary]

Lecture 6: 7.6. Boolean overlay and suitability analysis [habitat suitability]

Lecture 7: 7.7. Boolean overlay to enhance survey design

Lecture 8: 7.9. Section 7 Review

Chapter 8: Final assessment

Lecture 1: Final session: congrats on completing the Beginner course!