Open Source Hands-on GIS workshop for Disaster Management using QGIS and GRASS

Waterloo Institute for Disaster Management (WIDM) and Dewey College in Mississauga
International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), the International Cartographic Association (ICA), International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and the International Association of Geo-information & Communication Technology (AGeoICT)
Tue, 8 Oct 2013

The Waterloo Institute for Disaster Management (WIDM) and Dewey College in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada jointly organize one day workshop during the 5th GiT4NDM on 8 October 2013. The workshop is co-sponsored by the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS), the International Cartographic Association (ICA), International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and the International Association of Geo-information & Communication Technology (AGeoICT).

Workshop Overview

This workshop will introduce the use of Free and Open Source GIS software for disaster planning and response applications. Both Quantum GIS (QGIS) and the Geographical Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) will be used. There are no prerequisites, and no previous GIS experience is required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own computers to load the software and data.

Objectives

The goal is to have each participant capable of downloading the current version of the software, locating relevant data, and mastering the basics of using QGIS and GRASS for their own disaster work.

Workshop Content

The workshop will present an overview of several applications of GIS, satellite remote sensing and GPS for disaster management, and will provide a basic introduction to QGIS and its GRASS plug-in and how they can be used effectively in disaster planning, response and recovery. Participants will learn how to download the software (Windows, Mac or Linux), where to find help and various online resources for disaster GIS, and will be provided with specific examples of the use of these for disaster applications. The hands-on activities will center on learning the basic use and capabilities of QGIS for the display, analysis, printing and sharing of spatial data. A brief introduction to how these technologies fit together, where this is all going. The new and emerging area of ‘citizen science’ and ‘remote disaster support’, including the emerging use of social media tools, will be presented. An example of running the same software from a thumb drive will be demonstrated.

Dewey College
Mississauga
English
Attachment Size
Brochure Pre-workshop GiT4NDM 2013.pdf (427.82 KB) 427.82 KB