Mapping for Academic Publication (Reference Maps)

In this beginner-friendly workshop, you will learn to create simple, static maps to accompany academic publications. You will be introduced to a variety of maps as well as best practices in cartography. This workshop is suited for anyone who wants to make a map of their research area, or whose project involves data with a spatial component. To make our maps, we will use QGIS, a free and open-source Geographic Information System (GIS) for analyzing, modifying, and visualizing spatial data.

By the end of this workshop, you will have the confidence to:

• Decide what kind of map best conveys your research or contextualizes your study area;
• Find and download relevant spatial data;
• Load datasets into QGIS and style them as data layers;
• Compose a map that includes a title, scale bar, legend, and north arrow; and
• Export this map into formats compatible with print and digital publication.

NOTE: The fundamental skills and concepts pertaining to spatial data, map types, and the QGIS interface will not be covered during this workshop. Therefore, prior to the workshop date, please review our Introduction to Mapmaking with QGIS (https://ubc-library-rc.github.io/gis-mapping-intro/)

This workshop is designed for those with no experience using GIS. It is taught by a graduate student in Geography with expertise in GIS and cartographic methods.