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QGIS

Introduction to QGIS​

QGIS is a free and open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) software that allows users to visualize, analyze, and manage geospatial data. It supports a wide range of raster and vector data formats and provides an extensive set of tools for spatial analysis, cartography, and geoprocessing. QGIS is widely used in research, urban planning, and environmental management.

QGIS features an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) and supports plugins for extending its functionality. It integrates seamlessly with other GIS tools and libraries, making it a versatile choice for geospatial professionals. For more details, visit the official QGIS documentation.

Using QGIS with Modules​

To use QGIS on the terrabyte HPC system, load the QGIS module with the following command:

# consider adding the module use line to your ~/.bashrc to always make terrabyte modules available 
module use /dss/dsstbyfs01/pn56su/pn56su-dss-0020/usr/share/modules/files/
module load qgis

Once loaded, you can start QGIS in command-line mode by typing:

qgis

Starting QGIS Graphically​

QGIS can also be started graphically via the remote desktop on the terrabyte portal. To do this:

  1. Log in to the terrabyte portal.
  2. Open the remote desktop environment.
  3. Launch QGIS by typing module load qgis; qgis in a terminal within the remote desktop.

Usage Examples​

Example 1: Open a Shapefile​

To open a Shapefile in QGIS, use the GUI to navigate to the file and load it into the map canvas. Alternatively, you can use the command line:

qgis input.shp

Example 2: Perform Buffer Analysis​

To create a buffer around vector features, use the GUI's geoprocessing tools or the command line with QGIS processing scripts.

Example 3: Export a Map​

To export a map to an image or PDF, use the "Print Layout" feature in the GUI. You can also automate this process using QGIS Python scripting (PyQGIS).

For additional usage instructions and configuration details, refer to the QGIS documentation.