Distance Matrix Analysis and Spatial, Non-Spatial and Temporal Querying with QGIS

Purpose

The objectives of this tutorial are to demonstrate how to convert CSV files to shapefiles, how to complete a Natural Neighbour Analysis using the Distance matrix tool, and how to query using Quantum GIS 2.0.1. This is done by comparing open source data. This tutorial compares Significant Earthquakes from 1990 - 2013 in North America and their relation to Populated Places around the globe. The earthquake data was retrieved from the Significant Earthquake Database on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Website [1], and the Populated Places data was retrieved from the Natural Earth Website [2].

The Purpose of this tutorial is to fulfill the partial requirements of the GEOM 4008 - Advanced Topics in Geographic Information Systems class' final exam project at Carleton University. The purpose of this project was to explore the advantages and disadvantages of different open source geographic information systems (GIS) programs.

Introduction to Quantum GIS 2.0.1

Quantum GIS 2.0.1 is a free Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) program that is used to create, edit, visualize, analyze and publish geospatial information (CITE). The program is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, and BSD. This user friendly Open Source GIS program is licensed under the GNU General Public License and is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation. [3]

QGIS has many different features including QGIS Desktop, where you can create, edit, visualize, analyze and publish geospatial information; QGIS Browser, where you can browse and preview your data and metadata as well as more around your stored data; QGIS Server, where you can publish your QGIS projects as OGC compatible WMS and WFS services; and QGIS Web Client, where you can publish your QGIS projects.[4]

Acquiring Data

Going along with the theme of open source, the data for this tutorial was retrieved from the Natural Earth