> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://bcds.gitbook.io/learn/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://bcds.gitbook.io/learn/digital-scholarship-incubator/topics/mapping-and-gis/workshop-a-brief-introduction-to-qgis.md).

# Workshop: A Brief Introduction to QGIS

QGIS is a powerful open-source Geographic Information System platform with a bit of a learning curve...

![Welcome to the Wild World of Desktop GIS tools](https://4055173823-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LgXtIWpHMikxGQHLU5T%2Fuploads%2FNjxQLEMO5f3eJwWW86XY%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=2e286ba2-563d-49fd-adba-05578fc0356d)

QGIS (and its assoicate ArcGIS Pro/Desktop) are powerful tools used for a wide variety of purposes across many fields. And GIS in general is a huge subject, with entire degrees/certificate programs devoted to it. As such, we will barely scratch the surface in this workshop, but by the end you will be able to:

1. [Understand a bit about the QGIS interface;](https://docs.qgis.org/3.22/en/docs/training_manual/basic_map/overview.html)
2. Search for and add pre-created basemaps;
3. Add your own georeferenced raster data;
4. Import basic vector datasets from csvs, shapefiles, and geojsons; 
5. Create a new vector dataset from scratch;
6. Perform some basic styling of data;
7. Prepare your data for export.

That's a lot....lets get started!

For those interested in diving deeper, I highly reccomend reading the thorough [QGIS Handbook](https://docs.qgis.org/3.22/en/docs/user_manual/index.html); much of the below is taken from there and the step-by-step [Training Manual.](https://docs.qgis.org/3.22/en/docs/training_manual/index.html#qgis-training-manual-index-reference) Links to specific parts of the handbook are referenced above.