General information

Course type AMUPIE
Module title Map making in GIS
Language English
Module lecturer dr Izabela Szuman-Kalita
Lecturer's email szuman@amu.edu.pl
Lecturer position assistant professor
Faculty Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
Semester 2025/2026 (winter)
Duration 30
ECTS 4
USOS code 07-QGIS-AMU-PIE

Timetable

30 h in total (in 4 h blocks per week)

 

Module aim (aims)

In this course students will learn how to make professional maps in GIS software. Free software is preferred (e.g. QGIS), however students can work also in different GIS (e.g. ArcGIS) if they have experience working in it. This is a computer based course. It will help to develop technical skills as well as conceptual design and artistic to some level.

In this course students will learn map making and GIS by preparing several digital maps ready to publish. The prepared map can be exported to mobile device and can be used e.g. as a tour guide or as a help in field. Students will choose the subject and area. For those who were not working in GIS before general frames to help students to start will be provided.

The course will cover preparing data for the maps. Depending on the availability this process may involve downloading trough scripts, processing, vectorisation, georeferencing. Students will learn to create style for both vector and raster data. This process is associated with basic technical as well as creative, artistic approach. The course will cover applying coordinate system that suits the map area well. Students will design map layout with main map contents but also additional elements (e.g. overview map, scale, legend, grid, graphics and other).

Knowing the map making process inside out will help in map reading and critical evaluation of maps.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

No previous experience in GIS is required, however those who were working in GIS before can develop advanced skills as the course bases on individual projects – adjusted to level of the student.

Syllabus

The class will comprise several individual projects that will finish with maps that are ready to publish. During the process depending on area of the map and data students will:

  1. Analyse and present a map from map journal (or other source)
  2. Prepare data (downloading, preprocessing vector and raster data)
  3. Choose coordinate system for the map
  4. Style vector and raster data
  5. Design map layout and export to digital format
  6. Export map to mobile device (e.g. from QGIS to QField)

 

Week 1:            Introduction to QGIS  

Week 2:            Working with Vector and Raster Data

Week 3:            QGIS application part 1         

Week 4:            QGIS application part 2         

Week 5:            Individual project       

Week 6:            Individual project       

Week 7:            Individual project       

Week 8:            Individual project       

 

Reading list

Will be given