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Carleton University Open Source GIS Tutorials

Welcome to our database of tutorials for Open Source GIS software. This collection has grown mostly through the contributions of students in | GEOM 4008 at | Carleton University's Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, but additions or revisions from other members of the community are welcome.

In recent years, each GEOM 4008 student has chosen one tutorial already in the list to update/advance/improve, and has also written a new tutorial - the tutorial list includes dates of authorship and revision, which can be used to assess how current the content will be. The tutorials should be fairly platform-independent, but in some cases you may notice features that are specific to Windows, macOS, or Linux platforms. Usually this only pertains to file system layouts or the look and feel of user interfaces.

Ongoing Service Restrictions

Please note: the ability to create your own user account has been suspended, due to excessive abuse by spambots, etc. However, we warmly welcome legitimate contributors. If you would like an account to make contributions to the tutorials on this site, please contact Scott Mitchell directly (see https://carleton.ca/geography/people/mitchell-scott/).

Relevant help links for GEOM4008 Students

• Consult the User's Guide for information on using the wiki software.
• MediaWiki FAQ
• Students in GEOM 4008, please remember to create your own account in this system, and login to it when you write your wiki pages

Tutorials under development: GEOM 4008 students, you can use this Under Development Page to create new tutorials that aren't ready for consumption yet.

Tutorials (completed and under revision)

The following tutorials are from completed classes or workshops, and the authors have released control of the tutorial contents to the community. If you want to update/correct/improve any of these tutorials, please feel free to log in and help improve our tutorials. They are grouped first by software used, and then by thematic/application groups.

Tutorials organized by software used

CartoDB

• Spatial Pattern Analysis with CartoDB by Siefat Fatin (2013), revised by Daniel Nelson (2020)

Freely available extensions to proprietary software

• Automating the Calculation of USLE with GISus-M by Alex Bencke (2019)

GeoServer

• Developing a Web Map Server Using GeoServer by Benjamin Jarmyn (2012), revised by AJ Monfette (2025)

Google Earth Engine/Colab

• Supervised Classifications using Google Earth Engine by Loucas Diamant-Boustead (2020)
• Time Series Analysis using Google Earth Engine and Google Colab by Matthew Wierdsma (2021)
• Flood Mapping and Area Calculation of Flood Extent Using Sentinel-I SAR Data in Google Earth Engine: the case of Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) by Meshullemeth Daryll Notarte (2021), revised by Julien Belair (2022)
• Unsupervised Classification using Google Earth Engine by Julien Belair (2022)
• Land Cover Classification in Google Earth Engine using K-Means (Google Colab) by Muhammad Ba (2025)

GRASS

• Editing Vector Data in GRASS GIS by Shea Timmins (2022)
• Flood Risk Assessment using Grass GIS by RJ Mitchell (2018), revised by Collin Godsell (2023)
• Thematic Mapping using GrassGIS by Lucas Lambert revised by Eleni Latsis (2015) and Rajpal Dhaliwal (2021)
• Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) by Sunflower (2012), revised by Ian Shintani (2025)
• Intro to GRASS workshop General GRASS Introductory Tutorial by Scott Mitchell and collaborators (Used in workshop at Carleton, 17 October 2011) revised by Shenghao Shi (2019)
• Generating Wetness Indices for Watersheds in GRASS by Matt Giles (2010) revised by Ashley Ford (2017) and by Vincent Ribberink (2025)
• Landscape Structure Analysis Using the Landscape Patch Analysis Toolset in GRASS GIS by Samantha Schultz (2019)
• Landscape Change Assessment using Unsupervised Image Classification in GRASS GIS by Lindsay Trottier (2019)
• Supervised and Unsupervised Image Classification with GRASS GIS by Anna Brownlee (2024)
• Vancouver-Whistler race planning with GRASS and QGIS by Christian Bews (2008), revised by Nick Savasta (2020)
• Mapping The Carleton University Campus With “Grass GIS” by Neil-Rodney Misangumukini (2021) revised by Mahsa Shahbakhti (2024)
• Using FUTURES in GRASS for Modelling Urban Growth by Mabel Chua (2021)
• Glacier Change Detection in GRASS GIS by Owen Kirkham (2024)

ILWIS

• Exploring Hydrological Analyses using ILWIS by Alice Wilson (2014), revised by Lindsay Trottier (2019)
• Landfill Site Selection Using Spatial Multiple Criteria Evaluation in ILWIS by Oluwafemi Opaleye (2013)

ISCE

• Interferometry in ISCE with ALOS Imagery by Allison Plourde (2020)

JavaScript

• Creating your own website using JavaScript HTML, hosted on GitHub by Graham Scott (2022)

Jupyter Notebooks

• Creating Maps in Jupyter Notebook using GeoPandas by Sabrina Ornawka and Erika Cizek (2020), revised by Leo Keenan (2024), revised by Harith Harison (2025)

Mapserver

• Creating Static Maps using MapServer and Quantum GIS by Emily Lindsay (2012)

Maputnik

• Creating Custom Basemaps with Vector Tile Servers by Derek Ellis (2021)

Mapwindow

• Terrain analysis for urban storm water modelling using Mapwindow in Surrey by Sorin Simniceanu (2013)

Open Data Cube

• Introduction to Vegetation Burn Mapping using Open Data Cube by Daniel Nelson (2020), revised by Ash Nassef (2022)

OpenJUMP

• Exploring the Thematic Capabilities of OpenJump by Stephen Plume (2015), revised by Hannah Anderson (2017) and Olivia Dale (2021)
• Highly Effective Construction of Thematic Maps by Thomas Brown (2013), revised by Didier Soeharjono (2019)

OpenLayers

• Using WMS with OpenLayers by Scott Page (2013), revised by Derek Ellis (2021)

OpenMapTiles

• Creating Custom Basemaps with Vector Tile Servers by Derek Ellis (2021)

Osmium

• Creating Custom Basemaps with Vector Tile Servers by Derek Ellis (2021)

PostGIS

• Spatial data management using PostGIS by Jean Bouffard (2010) revised by Alex Fortin (2024)

Python

• Areal Interpolation in Python Using Tobler by John Foster (2021)
• Beginner's Tutorial to GRASS GIS in Python by Collin Godsell (2023)

QGIS (Quantum GIS)

• Network Analysis Plugins in QGIS, What (and How) to Use by Alex Hoferek (2023), revised by Samuel Galazka (2025)
• Creating a 3d Model for a Ski Hill in Aspen using QGIS by Ethan McLaughlin (2023), revised by Alex McDougall (2025)
• Analysing Traffic Accidents Using QGIS - Heatmaps, Hotspot Analysis, and the Time Controller Panel by Shaolin-Rose Gawat (2022)
• Data Extraction and Analysis Using Free and Available Software by Paul Lavoie (2018)
• Making Maps that Look Great Using QGIS and Inkscape by Jamie Carrick (2018), revised by Sabrina Ornawka (2020), revised by Ethan McLaughlin (2023) and Gwyn Jones (2025)
• Supervised classification in QGIS by Helena Back (2018), revised by Benjamin Colbourne (2021), and Oliver McMillan (2025)
• A Web Mapping Tutorial for Beginners Using QGIS by Jonathan Pierre (2018), revised by Melissa Labelle (2021), under revision by Muhammad Ba (2025)
• Beginner's Guide to TINs, DEMs and Contours Using QGIS by Zachary Roberts (2018)
• Hospital Site Suitability Selection using QGIS by Melinda MacDonald (2017), revised by Jamie Carrick (2018)
• Remote Sensing Analysis in QGIS by Samjardine (2017), revised by Helena Back (2018) and Gengwei Zhang (2019)
• Fire spread through cost path analysis in QGIS GRASS by Eleni Latsis & Colton Male (2017)
• Flood Risk Assessment in QGIS by Ashley Ford & Kayla Charette (2017), revised by Paul Lavoie (2018) and Oliver Farwell (2019)
• Digitizing in QGIS by Becky Trimble (2017), revised by Zachary Roberts (2018), Haochen Li (2019), Tyler Coade (2020) and Jacob Johnson (2021)
• Exploring the Hydrological Tools in QGIS by Sarah Richardson and Fernanda Amaral (2015), revised by RJ Mitchell (2018), and Morgan Bordillon (2020)
• Fire Risk Analysis using QGIS by Ante Cavar and Adrian Nicoll (2015), revised by Matthew Wierdsma (2021) and Alex Lourenco (2025)
• Analyzing Crime Data in Ottawa using QGIS by User:Selimerguden (2015), revised by Rafael Seyler (2017), revised by Alexandra Mullen (2020)
• Exploring Standard Statistics in QGIS by Alexandra Laudadio and Katie MacDonald (2015), revised by Edward Chu (2020)
• Determining Effects on Temperature Interpolations from Large Lakes using QGIS by Iain Burnett (2015), revised by Samantha Schultz (2019)
• Automating Vector and Raster Workflows using the Graphical Modeler in QGIS by Ryder Burt (2015)
• Terrain Analysis with GRASS tools in QGIS Original Seyoum (2015), modified by Kirk Henike (2017), revised by Graham Scott (2022)
• Creating IDW and Spline Interpolation Maps Using QGIS by Timothy Chadwick (2014), revised by Shaolin-Rose Gawat (2022)
• Network Analysis: Finding shortest path in QGIS by Besjana Osmenaj (2014), revised by Sam Jardine (2017), revised by Joshua Goutte (2021)
• Slope Analysis using Quantum GIS Processing Toolbox by Kent Jacobs (2014) revised by Calvin Gale (2017), revised by Anna Brownlee (2024)
• Hierarchical Cluster Analysis using QGIS and R by Tonia (2014) Under revision by Owen Kirkham (2024)
• Spatial Analysis of Different Types of Traffic Accidents with QGIS by Stephanie Yeung (2014), revised by Melinda MacDonald (2017), and Sabeeh Syed (2020)
• Comparison of QGIS to ArcMap by Kate Dalonzo (2014) revised by Kayla Charette (2017), and Kareem Brugmann(2020) Neil-Rodney Misangumukini (2021)
• Distance Matrix Analysis and Spatial, Non-Spatial and Temporal Querying with QGIS by Lauren Procunier (2013), revised by Samir Sellars (2020)
• Comparative Analysis of Cost Path Analysis In Grass GIS and ArcMap by Neil Thompson (2013)
• Georeferencing Raster Imagery in QGIS using Vector Data by Renee Bazinet revised by Lukasz Quinn(2013), and Cameron Fitzpatrick (2019), and Dylan Jones(2022)
• Interpolating a surface and determining overland flow distance via qGIS and SAGA GIS by Christopher Bot (2013)[revised by Hudson Cameron (2021)]
• Evaluating Landscape Permeability in Quantum by Rosalie Murton and Sarah St. Germain (2012)
• Exploring terrain analysis using Quantum and GRASS GIS by Graham Rathwell (2012) revised by Andre Killeen (2019)
• Creating Static Maps using MapServer and Quantum GIS by Emily Lindsay (2012)
• Emergency Shelter Allocation Evaluation by User katiefeltz, Revised by Becky Trimble (2012)
• Visualizing Multi-Temporal Data with Temporal Controller by Neptune (2012)|, revised by Yussuf Yassine (2020) and Zacharie Sauvé (2023)
• Off-Sea Evaluation of Unlicensed Mining Blocks in the North Sea by Matthew Judd and Brad Covell (2012) revised by Aaron Jutzi (2019)
• Wind turbine location suitability by Joe Rogers (2010), revised by Colton Male (2017), and RichardR (2019)
• Multiple Criteria Evaluation in Allocating Land for Waste Incineration by Ja'far Rogers (2010), revised by Amee Lunger(2019), revised by Samiz Sunesara (2021)
• Extracting Shoreline Polygons and Polylines from Sentinel-2 Imagery by Oliver Farwell (2019)
• Calculating historical agricultural land differences using QGIS by James Griffin (2019), revised by Owen Powell (2020)
• Path Analysis with Vector Data Using QGIS by Samuel Hem (2019), revised by Matt Misztal (2020)
• Cost Distance Analysis in QGIS - Ottawa Route Planer by Shenghao Shi (2019)
• Creating a QGIS Plugin by Michael (2019), revised by John Foster (2021)
• Hazardous Areas Around Linear Infrastructure by Richard Ryczanowski (2019)
• Extracting OpenStreetMap data using Overpass Turbo and managing the data in QGIS by Aaron Jutzi (2019)
• Generating Data for Small Operations in QGIS by André Killeen (2019)
• Using GPX for the novice geocacher by Pauline Pyke (2008), revised by Loucas Diamant-Boustead (2020)
• Database connection to QGIS using OpenGeo Explorer by Alexander Vetrov (2013) revised by James Griffin (2019)
• Vancouver-Whistler race planning with GRASS and QGIS by Christian Bews (2008), revised by Nick Savasta (2020), revised by Pierce Burch (2021)
• Using InaSAFE to Create Real-World Natural Hazard Impact Scenarios by Yussuf Yassine | Ahmad Elmuradi (2020)
• Creating a Heatmap using QGIS by Edward Chu (2020), revised by Kathleen Huynh (2021)
• Noise Modelling using OpeNoise in QGIS by Kareem Brugmann (2020) revised by Zacharie Sauve (2024)
• Using QGIS to conduct watershed analysis and 3D modeling by Omar Gaweesh (2020) revised by Nathan Byerley (2021)
• Habitat Analysis using QGIS 3.10 and QuickMapServices Plugin by Tyler Coade (2020)
• Geocoding and Reverse Geocoding Addresses in QGIS by Jacob Johnson (2021)
• Unsupervised Classification and Polygonization With QGis by Nathan Byerley (2021)
• Creating a Buffer Analysis in QGIS by Ben Colbourne (2021)
• Creating Service Areas in QGIS: Comparing QGIS network analyst and Valhalla plugin by Melissa Labelle (2021)
• IDW interpolation using QGIS by Pierce Burch (2021), revised by Alex Hoferek (2023)
• Creating a map using GeoNode and QGIS by Hudson Cameron (2021)
• Creating Custom Basemaps with Vector Tile Servers by Derek Ellis (2021)
• Exploring Clustering In QGIS by Joshua Goutte (2021)
• Calculating Street Intersection Density in QGIS by Kathleen Huynh (2021)
• Digitizing and Georeferencing in QGIS by Winaa Akabzaa (2021) revised by Nata Culhane (2023)
• Land Use Land Cover Change Detection with Supervised classification in QGIS by Winaa Akabzaa (2022)
• Cycling in Carleton University: Calculating Fastest & Shortest Route and Determining Cycling Accidents by Kenneth Batagon (2022)
• Coastal Flooding Assessment of Prince Edward Island using a 3D Model in QGIS by Philip Ishola (2023), Danick Poirier (2025)
• Creating a 3d Model for a Ski Hill in Aspen using QGIS by Ethan McLaughlin (2023), revised by Alex McDougall (2025)
• Creating an Interactive Web Map using QGIS and Folium by Gwyn Jones (2025)
• Creating as Site Suitability Map for Emergency Services using QGIS by Harith T Harison (2025)

R

• R Studio’s Spatial Capabilities going 3D! by RafSey (2017), revised by Timothy Kebbel (2018)
• Introducing Geoprocessing Capabilities of SAGA in R Environment using RSAGA (Saga + Rstudio) by Uzayr Siddiqui (2015)
• R Studio's Spatial Capabilities by Julia Riddick (2014), revised by Mike (2019)
• Creating Hexbin Maps in R by Olivia Dale (2021)
• Utilizing Rstudio as an alternative GIS by Razz Routly (2023)
• RQGIS, Utilizing Rstudio as an alternative GIS by Timothy Kebbel (2018) revision by Razz Routly (2023)

SAGA

• An Introduction to Unsupervised Image Classification in SAGA GIS by Brett Bechamp (2018)
• An Introduction to Image Sharpening Tools in SAGA GIS by Patrick Gosztonyi (2018), revised by Philip Ishola (2023)
• Cost Path Analysis of Mars using SAGA by Shah Khosraviani (2014), revised by Patrick Gosztonyi (2018)
• Georeferencing Raster Imagery in SAGA GIS by Alexander Oestreicher (2017), revised by Jonathan Pierre (2018)
• Introducing Geoprocessing Capabilities of SAGA in R Environment using RSAGA (Saga + Rstudio) by Uzayr Siddiqui (2015)
• Exploring a subset of SAGA's Terrain Analysis tools by Taylor McWade and Alexander Oestreicher (2015), revised by Haley Nicholson (2022)
• Automating SAGA Workflows Using Command Line Scripting by Sara Mannseichner (2015) revised by Erin Turnbull (2020)
• Enhanced Wetness Modelling in SAGA GIS by Malek Singer (2015)
• Random Forest (ViGrA) Classification in SAGA by Cameron Samson (2014)
• Exploring Hydrological Analyses using SAGA GIS by Sohail Dham and Colin Doucette (2013)
• Optimizing Ideal Locations to Implement Solar Panels in SAGA by Didier Soeharjono (2019)
• Land Use Change Assessment in SAGA GIS by Morgan Bordillon (2020)
• Demonstrating tools in SAGA GIS to analyze Burned areas from Forest Fires by Haley Nicholson (2022)
• Kriging Interpolation Comparison on Alberta Weather Station Elevation Data using System for Automated Geoscientific Analysis (SAGA GIS) by Alex Fortin & Leo Keenan(2024)

SNAP

• Basic Processing of Radarsat-1 data in Snap ESA by Cameron Fitzpatrick (2019) revised by Taji Hamilton (2021)
• Unsupervised Landcover Classification In SNAP Using Sentinel 1 Imagery by Amee-Jean Lunger (2019), under revision by Ru (2025)
• Creating Interferogram for Mapping Earthquake Deformation by using Sentinel-1 Data in SNAP by Haochen Li (2019), revised by Allison Plourde (2020)
• Albedo Data and Surface Reflectance Data Visualizations in SNAP using MODIS Imagery by Gengwei Zhang (2019)
• Random Forest Supervised Classification Using Sentinel-2 Data by Samiz Sunesara (2021)
• Downloading, Visualizing and Preprocessing Sentinel-2 Data in SNAP by Taji Hamilton (2021) revised by Catherine L. Lissouck (2025)
• Creating A Digital Elevation Model using Sentinel-1 Data by Alex Fortin, Alex Hoferek, and Leo Keenan (2025)

Whitebox

• Hydrological Analysis Using Whitebox Geospatial Analysis Tools by Calvin Gale (2017)
• Change Detection using Whitebox by Daniel Miller (2014 ?)
• Geomorphometric Analysis using Whitebox Tool by Catherine Lissouck (2025)

Other special purpose software

• Social Spatial Network (SSN) Creation and Analysis using SNoMaN Web App by Razz Routly (2023)
• Noise Modelling using WPS Modelling to determine noise emissions by Zacharie Sauvé (2024)
• An Easy Guide to Dialectometric Analysis with Gabmap by Mahsa Shahbakhti (2024)

_______________________________________________

Tutorials organized by application area

Cartography

• Making Maps that Look Great Using QGIS and Inkscape by Jamie Carrick (2018) revised by Sabrina Ornawka (2020), revised by Ethan McLaughlin(2023) and Gwyn Jones (2025)
• Exploring the Thematic Capabilities of OpenJump by Stephen Plume (2015), revised by Hannah Anderson (2017) and Olivia Dale (2021)
• Highly Effective Construction of Thematic Maps by Thomas Brown (2013) revised by Erika Cizek (2020)
• Creating Static Maps using MapServer and Quantum GIS by Emily Lindsay (2012) revised by Ahmad Elmuradi (2020)
• Thematic Mapping using GrassGIS by Lucas Lambert revised by Eleni Latsis (2015)
• Visualizing Multi-Temporal Data with Temporal Controller by Neptune (2012)|, revised by Yussuf Yassine (2020) and Zacharie Sauvé (2023)
• Creating Thematic Maps Using the Cartographic Composer in GRASS GIS by Alexandra Mullen (2020)
• Creating Hexbin Maps in R by Olivia Dale (2021)
• Creating Custom Basemaps with Vector Tile Servers by Derek Ellis (2021)
• Digitizing and Georeferencing in QGIS by Winaa Akabzaa (2021) revised by Nata Culhane (2023)
• Creating a 3d Model for a Ski Hill in Aspen using QGIS by Ethan McLaughlin (2023), revised by Alex McDougall (2025)
• Creating Maps in Jupyter Notebook using GeoPandas and CartoPy by Sabrina Ornawka and Erika Cizek (2020), revised by Leo Keenan (2024)
• An Easy Guide to Dialectometric Analysis with Gabmap by Mahsa Shahbakhti (2024)

Data Collection, GPS, and Digitizing

• Digitizing in QGIS by Becky Trimble (2017), revised by Zachary Roberts (2018) and Haochen Li (2019), revised by Ethan Gauthier (2025)
• Extracting OpenStreetMap data using Overpass Turbo and managing the data in QGIS by Aaron Jutzi (2019)
• Generating Data for Small Operations in QGIS by André Killeen (2019), reviewed by Omar Gaweesh (2020)
• Using GPX for the novice geocacher by Pauline Pyke (2008) under revision by Loucas Diamant-Boustead (2020)
• Editing Vector Data in GRASS GIS by Shea Timmins (2022)

Hydrology/Glaciology/Geomorphology/Physical Modelling

• Flood Risk Assessment using Grass GIS by RJ Mitchell (2018)
• Exploring Hydrological Analyses using ILWIS by Alice Wilson (2014), revised by Lindsay Trottier (2019)
• Terrain analysis for urban storm water modelling using Mapwindow in Surrey by Sorin Simniceanu (2013), revised by Teo Kwindt (2025)
• Hydrological Analysis Using Whitebox Geospatial Analysis Tools by Calvin Gale (2017)
• Enhanced Wetness Modelling in SAGA GIS by Malek Singer (2015)
• Exploring Hydrological Analyses using SAGA GIS by Sohail Dham and Colin Doucette (2013)
• Flood Risk Assessment in QGIS by Ashley Ford & Kayla Charette (2017), revised by Paul Lavoie (2018) and Oliver Farwell (2019)
• Exploring the Hydrological Tools in QGIS by Sarah Richardson and Fernanda Amaral (2015), revised by RJ Mitchell (2018)
• Generating Wetness Indices for Watersheds in GRASS by Matt Giles (2010) revised by Ashley Ford (2017) and by Vincent Ribberink (2025)
• Automating the Calculation of USLE with GISus-M by Alex Bencke (2019)
• Hazardous Areas Around Linear Infrastructure by Richard Ryczanowski (2019)
• Creating Interferogram for Mapping Earthquake Deformation by using Sentinel-1 Data in SNAP by Haochen Li (2019)
• Using QGIS to conduct watershed analysis and 3D modeling by Omar Gaweesh (2020)
• Glacier Change Detection in GRASS GIS by Owen Kirkham (2024)
• Noise Modelling using WPS Modelling to determine noise emissions by Zacharie Sauvé (20
• Dam flood risk assessment in Moncton, NB using ArcGeek Calculator in QGIS by Alex Lourenco | Danick Poirier (2025)

Remote Sensing

• An Introduction to Unsupervised Image Classification in SAGA GIS by Brett Bechamp (2018)
• An Introduction to Image Sharpening Tools in SAGA GIS by Patrick Gosztonyi (2018)
• Supervised classification in QGIS by Helena Back (2018), revised by Oliver McMillan (2025)
• Random Forest (ViGrA) Classification in SAGA by Cameron Samson (2014)
• Georeferencing Raster Imagery in SAGA GIS by Alexander Oestreicher (2017), revised by Jonathan Pierre (2018)
• Remote Sensing Analysis in QGIS by Samjardine (2017), revised by Helena Back (2018) and Gengwei Zhang (2019)
• Georeferencing Raster Imagery in QGIS using Vector Data by Renee Bazinet revised by Lukasz Quinn (2013) revised by Cameron Fitzpatrick (2019), and Dylan Jones(2022)
• Extracting Shoreline Polygons and Polylines from Sentinel-2 Imagery by Oliver Farwell (2019)
• Basic Processing of Radarsat-1 data in Snap ESA by Cameron Fitzpatrick (2019)
• Landscape Change Assessment using Unsupervised Image Classification in GRASS GIS by Lindsay Trottier (2019)
• Unsupervised Landcover Classification In SNAP Using Sentinel 1 Imagery by Amee-Jean Lunger (2019), under revision by Ru (2025)
• Creating Interferogram for Mapping Earthquake Deformation by using Sentinel-1 Data in SNAP by Haochen Li (2019)
• Albedo Data and Surface Reflectance Data Visualizations in SNAP using MODIS Imagery by Gengwei Zhang (2019)
• Introduction to Vegetation Burn Mapping using Open Data Cube by Daniel Nelson (2020)
• Supervised Classifications using Google Earth Engine by Loucas Diamant-Boustead (2020)
• Interferometry in ISCE with ALOS Imagery by Allison Plourde (2020)
• Time Series Analysis using Google Earth Engine and Google Colab by Matthew Wierdsma (2021)
• Flood Mapping and Area Calculation of Flood Extent Using Sentinel-I SAR Data in Google Earth Engine: the case of Super Typhoon Odette (Rai) by Meshullemeth Daryll Notarte (2021)
• Unsupervised Classification using Google Earth Engine by Julien Belair (2022)
• Supervised and Unsupervised Image Classification with GRASS GIS by Anna Brownlee (2024)

Scripting/automation

• Automating SAGA Workflows Using Command Line Scripting by Sara Mannseichner (2015) revised by Erin Turnbull (2020)
• Automating Vector and Raster Workflows using the Graphical Modeler in QGIS by Ryder Burt (2015)
• Creating a QGIS Plugin by Michael (2019), revised by John Foster (2021)
• Geopandas and Matplotlib to automate data processing and mapping by Samir Sellars (2020)
• Creating Maps in Jupyter Notebook using GeoPandas and CartoPy by Sabrina Ornawka and Erika Cizek (2020) revised by Leo Keenan (2024), revised by Harith Harison (2025)
• Creating your own website using JavaScript HTML, hosted on GitHub by Graham Scott (2022)
• RQGIS, Utilizing Rstudio as an alternative GIS by Timothy Kebbel (2018) revision by Razz Routly (2023)

Site Selection

• Landfill Site Selection Using Spatial Multiple Criteria Evaluation in ILWIS by Oluwafemi Opaleye (2013)
• Hospital Site Suitability Selection using QGIS by Melinda MacDonald (2017), revised by Jamie Carrick (2018), and Samuel Hem (2019)
• Emergency Shelter Allocation Evaluation by User katiefeltz, Revised by Becky Trimble (2012)
• Off-Sea Evaluation of Unlicensed Mining Blocks in the North Sea by Matthew Judd and Brad Covell (2012), revised by Aaron Jutzi (2019)
• Wind turbine location suitability by Joe Rogers (2010), revised by Colton Male (2017), and RichardR (2019)
• Multiple Criteria Evaluation in Allocating Land for Waste Incineration by Ja'far Rogers (2010), Revised by Amee Lunger(2019)
• Optimizing Ideal Locations to Implement Solar Panels in SAGA by Didier Soeharjono (2019)
• Conducting a Viewshed Analysis in QGIS by Matt Misztal and Nick Savasta (2020)
• Site suitability using SAGA GIS by Sabeeh Syed (2020)
• Habitat Analysis using QGIS 3.22 and QuickMapServices Plugin by Tyler Coade (2020), revised by Christine Bolle (2022)

Spatial Analysis

• Data Extraction and Analysis Using Free and Available Software by Paul Lavoie (2018)
• Beginner's Guide to TINs, DEMs and Contours Using QGIS by Zachary Roberts (2018)
• Spatial Pattern Analysis with CartoDB by Siefat Fatin (2013), revised by Daniel Nelson (2020)
• Change Detection using Whitebox by Daniel Miller (2014 ?)
• R Studio’s Spatial Capabilities going 3D! by RafSey (2017), revised by Timothy Kebbel (2018)
• Introducing Geoprocessing Capabilities of SAGA in R Environment using RSAGA (Saga + Rstudio) by Uzayr Siddiqui (2015)
• R Studio's Spatial Capabilities by Julia Riddick (2014)
• Cost Path Analysis of Mars using SAGA by Shah Khosraviani (2014), revised by Patrick Gosztonyi (2018)
• Introducing Geoprocessing Capabilities of SAGA in R Environment using RSAGA (Saga + Rstudio) by Uzayr Siddiqui (2015)
• Exploring a subset of SAGA's Terrain Analysis tools by Taylor McWade and Alexander Oestreicher (2015)
• Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) by Sunflower (2012), revised by Ian Shintani (2025)
• Fire spread through cost path analysis in QGIS GRASS by Eleni Latsis & Colton Male (2017)
• Fire Risk Analysis using QGIS by Ante Cavar and Adrian Nicoll (2015), revised by YazanAbouGhalwa(2022) and Alex Lourenco(2025)
• Watershed Analysis to determine the ancient/contemporary pathways of water flows to understand trend of floods by user:YazanAbouGhalwa (2022)
• Analysing Traffic Accidents Using QGIS - Heatmaps, Hotspot Analysis, and the Time Controller Panel by Shaolin-Rose Gawat (2022)
• Analyzing Crime Data in Ottawa using QGIS by User:Selimerguden (2015), revised by Rafael Seyler (2017), revised by Alexandra Mullen (2020)
• Exploring Standard Statistics in QGIS by Alexandra Laudadio and Katie MacDonald (2015)
• Determining Effects on Temperature Interpolations from Large Lakes using QGIS by Iain Burnett (2015), revised by Samantha Schultz (2019)
• Terrain Analysis with GRASS tools in QGIS Original Seyoum (2015), modified by Kirk Henike (2017)
• Creating IDW and Spline Interpolation Maps Using QGIS by Timothy Chadwick
• Network Analysis: Finding shortest path in QGIS by Besjana Osmenaj (2014), revised by Sam Jardine (2017)
• Slope Analysis using Quantum GIS Processing Toolbox by Kent Jacobs revised by Calvin Gale
• Hierarchical Cluster Analysis using QGIS and R by Tonia
• Spatial Analysis of Different Types of Traffic Accidents with QGIS by Stephanie Yeung (2014), revised by Melinda MacDonald (2017)
• Distance Matrix Analysis and Spatial, Non-spatial and Temporal Querying using QGIS by Lauren Procunier (2013)
• Comparative Analysis of Cost Path Analysis In Grass GIS and ArcMap by Neil Thompson (2013)
• Interpolating a surface and determining overland flow distance via qGIS and SAGA GIS by Christopher Bot (2013)
• Evaluating Landscape Permeability in Quantum by Rosalie Murton and Sarah St. Germain (2012)
• Exploring terrain analysis using Quantum and GRASS GIS by Graham Rathwell (2012), revised by Andree Killeen (2019)
• Calculating historical agricultural land differences using QGIS by James Griffin (2019)
• Path Analysis with Vector Data Using QGIS by Samuel Hem (2019)
• Cost Distance Analysis in QGIS - Ottawa Route Planer by Shenghao Shi (2019)
• Landscape Structure Analysis Using the Landscape Patch Analysis Toolset in GRASS GIS by Samantha Schultz (2019)
• Landscape Change Assessment using Unsupervised Image Classification in GRASS GIS by Lindsay Trottier (2019)
• Vancouver-Whistler race planning with GRASS and QGIS by Christian Bews (2008) Revised by Nick Savasta (2020)
• Noise Modelling using OpeNoise in QGIS by Kareem Brugmann (2020) revised by Zacharie Sauve (2024)
• Conducting a Viewshed Analysis in QGIS by Matt Misztal and Nick Savasta (2020)
• Using map algebra in GRASS by Owen Powell (2020) under revision by Mabel Chua (2021)
• IDW interpolation using QGIS by Pierce Burch (2021), revised by Alex Hoferek (2023)
• Areal Interpolation in Python using Tobler by John Foster (2021)
• Demonstrating Tools in SAGA GIS to Analyze Burned Areas from Forest Fires by Haley Nicholson (2022)
• Network Analysis Plugins in QGIS, What (and How) to Use by Alex Hoferek (2023), revised by Samuel Galazka (2025)
• Social Spatial Network (SSN) Creation and Analysis using SNoMaN Web App by Razz Routly (2023)
• Kriging Interpolation Comparison on Alberta Weather Station Elevation Data using System for Automated Geoscientific Analysis (SAGA GIS) by Alex Fortin & Leo Keenan(2024)

Web Mapping and Database Applications

• A Web Mapping Tutorial for Beginners Using QGIS by Jonathan Pierre (2018), revised by Melissa Labelle (2021), under revision by Muhammad Ba (2025)
• Using WMS with OpenLayers by Scott Page (2013), revised by Derek Ellis (2021)
• Developing a Web Map Server Using GeoServer by Benjamin Jarmyn (2012), revised by AJ Monfette (2025)
• Database connection to QGIS using OpenGeo Explorer by Alexander Vetrov (2013) revised by James Griffin (2019)
• Creating a map using GeoNode and QGIS by Hudson Cameron (2021)
• Creating Custom Basemaps with Vector Tile Servers by Derek Ellis (2021)
• Creating a Geo Story using GeoNode and GeoStory by Nata Culhane (2023)
• Social Spatial Network (SSN) Creation and Analysis using SNoMaN Web App by Razz Routly (2023)
• Spatial data management using PostGIS by Jean Bouffard (2010) revised by Alex Fortin (2024)
• Social Spatial Network (SSN) Creation and Analysis using SNoMaN Web App by Razz Routly (2023)
• Creating an Interactive Web Map using QGIS and Folium by Gwyn Jones (2025)

Deprecated tutorials

The tutorials from here down are quite old and are not included in the categorized lists above. Most are from 2010; a couple of tutorials from the 2008 class have been ported, but importing the remainder is hampered by version differences in the wiki software used to build them that year. Some tutorials that were worked on more recently have been moved down here because there are now problems using them on modern versions of the relevant software.

If future students decide to update any of these, they are more than welcome to, and at that time they can be moved into the categorized lists above.

Unless otherwise noted in the individual tutorial, all of these were originally developed on/for a Windows environment. Specifically, most students were using classroom computers running Windows XP, with QGIS 1.5 (including GRASS Tools), and FWTools. Please note that this environment imposed a 32 bit Windows XP constraint that prevented the system from using all the RAM in the computers, which is likely the culprit in those cases where the tutorial authors complained that the tools could not work with larger datasets.

• Image Classification Tutorial using Orfeo Toolbox by Philippe Gratton (2010)
• Using GIS for Decision Support in Emergency Medical Services by Matt Leyenaar (2010)
• Oil Platform Location Suitability using WMS by Kurtis Boyce (2010)
• Displaying Mineral Deposit Locations Across Canada using Web Services by Abuzar Popal (2010)
• Suitable Locations for the Reintroduction of the Black Tailed Prairie Dog by Jesse van den Berg (2010)