Practical 1

Objective - To explore the functionalities of QGIS

The QGIS user interface is made to include a variety of functions and processes. It is displayed
as a menu bar with navigation between processes and a submenu with a toolbar that provides
quick access to the features found within that menu.

Overview of the general user interface:

Five components or component types make up the primary QGIS GUI:

1. The menu bar

2. Toolbars
3. Panels
4. View of Maps
5. The Status Bar
 Menu Bar
The Menu bar provides access to QGIS functions using standard hierarchical menus which
consist of :-

Project Menu
It acts as an access point for project files
It provides tools to:

1. Create a New project file from scratch or use another project file as a template
2. Open-a project from a file, a GeoPackage, PostgreSQL or Oracle database
3. Close -a project or revert it to its last saved state
4. Save a project in .qgs or .qgz file format, either as a file or within a GeoPackage,
PostgreSQL or Oracle database
5. Export the map canvas to different formats or use a print layout for more complex output
6. Set project properties and snapping options for geometry editing.

Edit menu
It provides most of the native tools needed to edit layer attributes or geometry. To enable
Edit menu options you need to switch to editing mode by clicking , it consists of the
following tools

View Menu
The map is rendered in map views. One can interact with these views using the View
tools. For example, you can:
1. Create new 2D or 3D map views next to the main map canvas
2. Zoom or pan to any place
3. Query the attributes or geometry of the displayed features
4. Enhance the map view with preview modes, annotations or decorations
5. Access any panel or toolbar, some of its tools include :-
Layer Menu
The Layer menu provides a large set of tools to create new data sources, add them to a
project or save modifications to them. Using the same data sources, you can also:
6. duplicate a layer to generate a copy where you can modify the name, style
(symbology, labels), joins,The copy uses the same data source as the original.
7. Copy and Paste layers or groups from one project to another as a new instance
whose properties can be modified independently. As for Duplicate, the layers are
still based on the same data source.
8. or Embed Layers and Groups… from another project, as read-only copies which
you cannot modify
9. Some of its tools include
Setting
A menu mostly dealing with user profiles, fonts, and ui customizations
10. Some of its tools include
Plugin Menu
Menu used to navigate to tools used to install additional connecting programs and
plugins from python and the console
11. Some of its tools are

Vector Menu
It provides a set of tools and operations specifically designed for working with vector
data. Vector data in GIS represents features like points, lines, and polygons, and the
Vector menu offers functionalities to manipulate, analyze, and manage such data
efficiently.
 12. Some of its tools include

Raster
It provides tools and operations for working with raster data. Raster data represents
spatial data in grid-based formats, such as satellite imagery, elevation models, and temperature
grids.
13. Some of its tools include
 14. Translate (Convert Format): Convert a raster layer to a different format (e.g.,
GeoTIFF, PNG).
 Rasterize (Vector to Raster): Convert vector data (e.g., polygons or points) into a raster
format.
 Polygonize (Raster to Vector): Convert raster data into vector polygons based on pixel
values.
 RGB to PCT: Convert an RGB raster to a paletted raster.
 PCT to RGB: Convert a paletted raster back to RGB.
 Clip Raster by Extent: Extract a portion of a raster using a specified extent.
 Clip Raster by Mask Layer: Extract a raster subset using a vector layer as a mask.
 Contour: Generate contour lines from elevation or other continuous raster data.
 Sample Raster Values: Extract raster values at specific points or along lines.
 Hillshade: Create a shaded relief from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM).
 Slope: Calculate slope from elevation data.

Database menu
It is used for managing and interacting with spatial and non-spatial data stored in
databases. It provides tools for creating, importing, exporting, and managing database
layers, as well as for connecting to popular spatial database systems like PostGIS,
SpatiaLite, Oracle Spatial, and others.
Mesh Menus
it provides tools for working with mesh datasets, which are structured or unstructured
grids often used to represent dynamic phenomena in 2D and 3D, such as weather
patterns, ocean currents, or hydrological models. Mesh layers consist of geometries
(vertices, edges, and faces) and datasets (values associated with the geometries, such
as temperature, elevation, or velocity).
Processing Menu
It serves as a central hub for accessing a wide variety of geoprocessing tools and
algorithms. These tools are used for spatial data analysis, data management, and other
GIS operations. The Processing menu integrates native QGIS algorithms, as well as
third-party providers like GRASS GIS, SAGA GIS, GDAL, and custom Python scripts.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical - 2

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical - 2
Aim:- Working with Shapefile and Digital Elevation Map in QGIS

Theory:-
A Shapefile is a popular geospatial vector data format used to represent geographic features such as
points, lines, and polygons (e.g., roads, boundaries, rivers).

A Digital Elevation Map (DEM) is a raster dataset that represents the Earth's surface elevation. Each
pixel in the DEM raster contains an elevation value. DEMs are used for terrain analysis, slope and aspect
generation, watershed delineation, and more.

Using QGIS, these two datasets can be visualized together to study the spatial relationships between
terrain and vector features.

Procedure:-
1. Launch QGIS and create a new project.
2. Load the Shapefile:
1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer.
2. Browse and load a shapefile (e.g., state_boundaries.shp).
3. Load the DEM:
1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Raster Layer.
2. Browse and select the DEM file
4. Change Raster Styling:
1. Right-click on the DEM layer > Properties.
2. Go to the Symbology tab.
3. Change the render type to Singleband pseudocolor.
4. Select an appropriate color ramp (e.g., “Elevation” or “Terrain”).
5. Click Classify > Apply > OK.
5. Perform Basic Analysis (Optional):
1. Use Raster > Analysis or Processing Toolbox > Terrain Analysis to
generate slope, aspect, hillshade, etc.
 Result:-
Both shapefile and DEM were
successfully loaded and visualized in
QGIS. The terrain variation was
clearly visible through the color
ramp, and vector features were overlaid accurately, providing a detailed geographic understanding of the
area.

.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical - 3

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical - 3
Aim:- Importing and working with attributes table in QGIS

Theory:-
In QGIS, vector data (such as shapefiles or CSV files with coordinates) comes with an attribute table
— a tabular dataset that contains non-spatial information (attributes) about each spatial feature (point,
line, or polygon).

The attribute table plays a crucial role in GIS, allowing users to:

6. View and filter feature properties

7. Sort and calculate field values
8. Join with external tables
9. Classify and symbolize features based on data
10. Perform queries and statistical analysis

For example, a layer of village polygons might have attributes like population, literacy rate, and area,
which can be analyzed and visualized.

Procedure:-
1. Launch QGIS and create a new project or open an existing one
2. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer or click the corresponding icon.
3. Load the state-level administrative boundary vector layer (ind_adm.shp)
4. To import external attributes:
1. Load the external CSV or Excel file. (Must have one common field/Column as in the attribute
table of the layer)
5. Layer > Add Layer > Add Delimited Text Layer>Add
1. Use Right Click > Properties > Joins > Add Join (+ Sign) > Select Join Field and Target
Field > Okay to link it with the existing layer using a common field (e.g. State).
6. Right Click > Properties > Open attribute table, The field from the external csv has been
added to the attribute table
7. Right Click > Properties > Symbology; Select a value that needs to be color graded and choose
the appropriate color ramp
8. Classify > Apply > Okay ; The map will now visually represent the imported attribute data
using color gradation, making spatial patterns easier to interpret.

Result:-
The vector layer was successfully loaded into QGIS, and its attribute table was accessed and modified.
New fields were added, values were computed using expressions, and joins were performed with external
tables. The attribute data can now be used for classification, analysis, or map visualization.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical -4

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical -4
Aim:- Calculating Line Lengths and Statistics in QGIS

Theory:-
In QGIS, line features represent linear geographic entities such as roads, rivers, railways, or pipelines.
Calculating their lengths is crucial for various spatial analyses such as:

1. Estimating total road length in a district,

2. Measuring river lengths,
3. Infrastructure planning, etc.

The length of each feature is computed using the layer’s coordinate reference system (CRS). QGIS
allows the addition of a new field to store these values and further provides tools to summarize total
length, mean, minimum, and maximum.

4. Field Calculator for deriving new attribute values (length).

5. Statistics Panel or Basic Statistics for Fields for analysis.

Procedure:-
1. Open QGIS and Load the line layer (e.g., [Link])

1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer (e.g., [Link])
2. Increase the thickness of lines if required
2. Load the Administrative Boundary Vector layer (ind_adm.shp)
3. Double-click on the layer and go to symbology and then change the project style to Outline
4. Open the Attribute Table of the line layer by right clicking in the layer

5. Click on the Field Calculator

6. Create a new field:
1. Field name: track_len
2. Output field type: Decimal number (real) [Precision :2]
3. choose geometry option and type $length/ 1000 (Converts meters to kilometers)
7. Click OK. The new field with lengths of each line feature (in km) will be added.

8. To calculate statistics:
1. Vector > Analysis Tools > Basic Statistics for Fields from the top
menu.
9. Double click on the Layer, go to Labels and give labels to track_len
Result:-
The line features were successfully calculated for their lengths using the Field Calculator. A statistical
summary revealed the total length, average, and range of line features in the layer. This information can
now be used for decision-making in planning and resource management.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical - 5

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical - 5
Aim:- Understanding Basic Raster Styling in QGIS

Theory:-
Raster styling in QGIS involves changing the visual representation of raster datasets such as Digital
Elevation Models (DEMs), satellite images, or other gridded data. Raster layers represent continuous
data, and styling includes choosing appropriate color ramps, adjusting contrast and brightness, and
selecting rendering types (e.g., singleband gray, singleband pseudocolor, multiband RGB). Effective
raster styling enhances the interpretability of terrain, land cover, or other environmental features.

Procedure:-
1. Open QGIS and start a new or existing project.
2. Add a Raster Layer: Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Raster Layer.
3. Access Layer Properties:

4. Right-click on the raster layer in the Layers panel.

5. Select Properties and go to the Symbology tab.

6. Choose Rendering Type:

7. For elevation or continuous data: select Singleband pseudocolor.

8. For grayscale: choose Singleband gray.
9. For satellite imagery: select Multiband color (RGB).
10. Select Color Ramp:

11. Choose a color ramp (e.g., Spectral, Viridis, Terrain, etc.).

12. Adjust min/max values if necessary to enhance contrast.

13. Adjust Rendering Settings:

1. Use Contrast enhancement, Min/Max settings, and Transparency if needed.

2. Apply and Save:

1. Click Apply and then OK to visualize the styled raster on the map.

Result:-
The raster layer was successfully styled using appropriate color ramps and rendering settings.
This improved the visual clarity of the raster data, enabling better interpretation of elevation
patterns or land features in the spatial dataset.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical - 6

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical - 6
Aim:- Understanding Basic Vector Styling in QGIS

Theory:-
Vector styling in QGIS refers to the process of customizing the appearance of vector layers
(points, lines, and polygons) to enhance visual interpretation and thematic representation.
Styling includes setting colors, borders, size, transparency, and using categorized, graduated,
or rule-based symbology based on attribute data. Effective styling helps communicate spatial
patterns and relationships in map data more clearly.

Procedure:-
2. Launch QGIS and open a new or existing project.
3. Load Vector Data:
1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer.
2. Browse and add a shapefile (e.g., india_adm).
4. Open Layer Properties:
1. Right-click the layer in the Layers panel > Select Properties.
2. Go to the Symbology tab.
5. Select Symbology Type:
1. Choose from the following:
1. Single Symbol: Apply one color/style to all features.
2. Categorized: Style based on distinct categories in an attribute field.
3. Graduated: Style based on a numeric value range.
6. Customize Symbols:
1. Choose color, outline, size, and transparency as needed.
2. Choose Discrete/Continuous Gradient

7. Apply and Save:

1. Click Classify if using Categorized or Graduated symbology.
2. Click Apply > OK to view the updated map styling.
Result:-

The vector layer was successfully styled using different symbology options based on the layer’s
attributes. This enhanced the visual presentation of spatial data and improved map readability
and interpretation for further analysis.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical -7

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical -7
Aim:- To implement Raster Clipping in QGIS

Theory:-
Raster Clipping is a common geoprocessing operation used to extract a portion of a raster dataset by
using the boundaries of a vector file (usually a polygon shapefile). It helps in focusing analysis only on
the area of interest, improving processing speed and clarity.

In QGIS, clipping a raster means cutting out a shaped subset of the raster image based on a specific
mask (boundary). The raster values outside the clipping boundary are removed or set to "NoData."

8. Raster Layer: A pixel-based image, such as satellite imagery or elevation data.

9. Clipping Mask: Usually a vector layer (polygon) that defines the area to retain.
10. Output Raster: A new raster limited to the spatial extent of the clipping mask.

Procedure:-
11. Open QGIS and load your project.
12. Add Vector Layer (Clipping Mask):
1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Vector Layer
13. Add Raster Layer:
1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Raster Layer
2. Browse and select your raster file (e.g., .tif).
14. Open the Clip Tool:
1. Go to Raster > Extraction > Clip Raster by Mask Layer.

15. Configure the Clipping Tool:

1. Input Layer: Select the raster layer that needs to be clipped.
2. Mask Layer: Select the polygon shapefile.
16. Set Output File:
1. Choose the output file path and name (e.g., clipped_raster.tif).
17. Click Run:
1. Wait for the process to finish. The clipped raster will appear in the QGIS canvas.

Result:-
A new raster was successfully created containing only the region defined by the polygon shapefile. The
output raster preserves the spatial resolution of the original file and excludes all data outside the
boundary. This clipped raster is now ready for specific regional analysis and visualization.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical - 8

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical - 8
Aim:- Working with Digital Elevation Model (Terrain data) in QGIS

Theory:-
A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a raster representation of the Earth's surface elevations. Each pixel
in a DEM has a value corresponding to ground elevation. DEMs are widely used in hydrology, landform
analysis, 3D modeling, slope/aspect studies, and infrastructure planning.

QGIS allows users to visualize, style, and analyze DEM data using its built-in raster and terrain analysis
tools. Common visualizations include hillshade, slope, and aspect maps.

Hillshade simulates sunlight over terrain to highlight elevation changes, making the map easier
to interpret visually.
Contour lines connect points of equal elevation and help understand terrain slope, shape, and
elevation levels.

Procedure:-
18. Launch QGIS and create a new project.
19. Add DEM Data:
1. Go to Layer > Add Layer > Add Raster Layer.
2. Browse and select DEM file (e.g., .tif).
20. Visualize DEM:
1. Right-click the DEM layer > Properties > Symbology.
2. Set the render type to "Singleband pseudocolor" for better visualization.
3. Choose a color ramp such as “Terrain” or “Spectral”.
4. Click Classify and Apply to visualize
elevation variations.
21. Generate Hillshade:
1. Go to Right Click on layer > symbology> Render Type > Hill Shade
2. The hillshade layer will appear showing shaded relief.
22. Generate Contours:
1. Go to Right Click on layer > symbology> Render Type > Contour
2. The contour layer will appear showing shaded relief.
Result:-

The DEM data was successfully imported and visualized in QGIS. Terrain features such as
hillshade, slope, and aspect maps were generated. This provided insights into elevation
variation and topography of the selected area.
 DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
(Formerly Delhi College of Engineering)
Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Road, Delhi-110042

Remote Sensing and GIS

Practical - 9

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

Mr. Anunay Gour Ritvik Mohan Sinha

23/EN/055
 GIS Practical - 9
Aim:- Creating Heatmaps in QGIS

Theory:-
A heatmap is a type of raster map used to visualize the density or intensity of point features over an
area. In QGIS, heatmaps are commonly used to show hotspots—areas with high concentrations of points
(e.g., crime locations, disease outbreaks, traffic accidents, Wi-Fi usage, etc.).

QGIS provides a built-in heatmap renderer and heatmap creation tool under the Processing Toolbox. It
uses kernel density estimation to generate a smooth gradient surface that visually represents point
density.

Procedure:-
23. Open QGIS and create or open a project.
24. Gather Data such as a location shapefile and csv data on a selected topic
25. Import the shapefile into the project as a vector layer
Layer >Add Layer > Add Vector Layer
26. Import csv data file as a vector layer
27. Select the necessary features and save as a separate layer

28. Click on csv data layer to open layer options

29. Navigate to layer symbology and styling and from there select heatmaps
30. Click the Color ramp dropdown menu and select a color ramp of your choice

31. Next choose radius and select appropriate unit for the same
32. Here we have at first selected a radius of 300 meters and rendered at an opacity of 65.5% , the
layer now appears as shown below

33. Next, we adjust the radius to 1000m, and the map changes considerably as shown below
34. To add weight to certain values we must first classify a column of the attribute table to have
certain values for this we first open the attribute table of our csv data layer, then go to the field
calculator, there we input an expression to determine weight value, in this case the expression is
 based off of signal types and written as shown below, result is that an additional weight column is
added to the attribute table.
35. We once again
open heatmap
menu from layer
styling and now
select the option
to classify
according to
weight points by
and select the
weight column
from our attribute
table
Result:-
The heatmap was successfully generated in QGIS, displaying density variations of the point dataset.
Areas with a higher concentration of features appeared in darker shades (e.g., red), clearly identifying
hotspots for further spatial analysis.