Workshop @ VizChitra 2025

Let’s get mapping with QGIS

Of all the data visualisation forms available, maps have always fascinated me the most - it deals with data that is about us, the space we inhabit, and they just look wow. While there are many mapping softwares available, the one we will be focussing on is Quantum GIS or QGIS. Why QGIS? Because it’s open source and a one-stop-solution for everything spatial.

Your Takeaways from this Workshop

• Rather than just making a map, this workshop will be a gentle introduction/nudge on getting started with spatial data
• You will be briefed on what is GIS and how GIS is used for real life troubleshooting (10 mins)
• To leverage GIS, we’ll dive into QGIS (10-15 mins along with installation)
• Participants would get familiarised with the QGIS interface – how browser and layer panels are going to be your best friends! (10 mins)
• We’ll deal with different spatial data formats – vector and raster (30 mins)
• And since we are data storytellers, using QGIS only for visualising map won’t do justice so we get into using basic calculation for further context (20 mins)
• We’ll talk about projections and how its a must for anyone interested in cartography (10 mins)
• Finally, we’ll export one of the multiple datasets we’ll be working on during the workshop — either a choropleth based on pre-curated data or data on vanishing lakes in Bengaluru — to round it off (20 mins)

By the end of the workshop, you probably won’t reach Tom Patterson-level cartography skills but hey, at least now you know where to start.

Audience for the Workshop

This session is for anyone who is interested in GIS-based stories/communication, specifically data journalists, visualisers, researchers

Pre-requisites

No prior experience with GIS or QGIS or mapping tools is required – just a curiosity for data visualization.

About the Instructor

The workshop will be conducted by Pulaha Roy, senior data journalist at Down to Earth, Centre for Science and Environment. Follow his work @
https://www.behance.net/proy02

This session is part of the Workshop Day on 28th June, 2025 for VizChitra 2025