Get Hands-On with QGIS: Three Workshops You Won't Want to Miss at FOSS4G NA

Whether you're looking to get started with QGIS, refine your map design skills, or bring your projects into the field, Monday's FOSS4G NA pre-conference workshops have something for you — with three hands-on sessions to choose from.

Kick off the day with a beginner-friendly introduction to QGIS, then dive deeper in the afternoon with a focused session on either map design or mobile field data collection. No matter where you are on your QGIS journey — just starting out or already putting it to work — there's a workshop designed for you.

Start Here: Hitchhiker’s Guide to QGIS

Monday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

New to QGIS? Hitchhiker’s Guide to QGIS is a beginner-friendly workshop that takes a slightly different approach to getting started.

Led by Randal Hale, the workshop introduces participants to QGIS 3.44, the current Long-Term Release of the open-source GIS software. You’ll learn your way around QGIS, work with common vector and raster formats, display and symbolize data, and create a map of your own.

Participants will learn how to:

• Install and get started with QGIS.

• Navigate the QGIS interface and display spatial data.

• Work with commonly used vector and raster formats.

• Understand the basics of managing spatial data in QGIS.

• Create and symbolize a map.

• Build a foundation for continuing to explore QGIS on your own.

Learning new software with Randal is always an adventure — and true to form, expect a healthy sprinkling of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy references along the way.

This workshop is perfect for beginners and GIS users transitioning from other software who are looking to get started with QGIS.

Randal is the owner and operator of North River Geographic Systems, Inc. and has spent many years working in the geospatial industry and open-source community. He currently serves with organizations including TNGIC, OSGeo US, and QGIS US. When he isn’t working with GIS, you may find him canoeing, mapping something in OpenStreetMap, or going on increasingly long walks.

Make Better Maps: QGIS Map Design Fundamentals

Monday, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Knowing how to use GIS software is one thing. Knowing how to create a map that clearly communicates your message is another. The truth is, maps can be deceptive — a poor choice of colors, scales, or projections can completely distort reality and mislead your audience. Despite looking straightforward, making an accurate and effective map is a surprisingly complex skill that goes far beyond simply plotting points on a screen.

In QGIS Map Design Fundamentals, Michele Tobias explores the core principles and practical skills needed to create maps that are both visually compelling and effectively communicate their intended message.

The workshop is divided into two sections. The first introduces key concepts and approaches to map design, while the second offers participants practical, hands-on experience applying those ideas using QGIS.

Three ideas will guide the workshop:

• Minimize. Keep only what is necessary.

• Tell the story. What do you want someone to learn from your map?

• Communicate. Does the map actually convey that message clearly?

In this workshop, participants will develop the skills to produce professional-quality maps in QGIS, while building a design workflow that can be applied across other GIS software and graphical software. You are also welcome to bring examples from your own work to share and discuss with the group.

This workshop is open to all experience levels and is a great choice for anyone who wants to become more intentional about cartography, data visualization, and communicating with maps.

Michele is a geospatial data scientist at the UC Davis Library, where she has spent the past decade helping researchers with their geospatial data needs. She holds a PhD in Geography from UC Davis and has served on the boards of OSGeo and Technocation (OSGeo US). She is also a founding member and coordinator of #maptimeDavis.

Take QGIS into the Field: From QGIS to the Field and Back with Mergin Maps

Monday, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

Join the workshop, From QGIS to the Field and Back with Mergin Maps, and learn how to master a complete open-source field data collection workflow from start to finish.

The workshop begins in QGIS, where you'll set up a project ready for field use. This includes creating offline background maps, designing smart forms to streamline data entry, and configuring tools for tracking and sketching.

From there, you'll take your project into the field using Mergin Maps — an open-source platform built for sharing QGIS projects and collecting data via a mobile app. You'll discover how multiple team members can collect data at the same time, and how Mergin Maps manages syncing, version control, and edits across an entire field team.

Participants will learn how to:

• Prepare QGIS projects for mobile field collection.

• Build background maps for offline use.

• Design forms for field data entry.

• Configure tracking and sketching tools.

• Share projects across a field team.

• Sync and merge edits from multiple users.

• Bring collected data back into QGIS.

• Publish the finished project as an interactive web map.

This workshop is open to all experience levels and is especially useful for anyone collecting environmental, infrastructure, asset, survey, or other location-based information in the field.

The workshop is led by Vitor Vieira, a GIS Developer & Consultant at Lutra Consulting, where he works at the intersection of technology and business. His work includes software development as well as helping organizations streamline their GIS workflows and get more value from spatial data.

Register for Workshops Soon

Pre-conference workshops fill up fast, so make sure to secure your spot when you register for FOSS4GNA.

Ready to dive deeper? Check out the schedule, including these great QGIS talks:

• Connecting Everything to MapGuide Open Source - Tuesday, November 3, 10:30–10:55 a.m.

• From Shapefiles to Spatial Databases: PostgreSQL Basics - Tuesday, November 3, 2:00–2:25 p.m.

• Wither QField? Mapping Apps in the Age of AI - Tuesday, November 3, 2:00–2:25 p.m.

• Scientific data gathering with QField - Tuesday, November 3, 2:30–2:55 p.m.

• Small County use of PostGIS and QGIS for 911 databases - Tuesday, November 3, 2:30–2:55 p.m.

• Building a Regional Geospatial Community: Lessons from BayGeo - Tuesday, November 3, 3:30–3:55 p.m.

• From Geoportal to Platform: Introducing the BTAA Geospatial API - Wednesday, November 4, 11:00–11:25 a.m.

• Mergin Maps: an open-source platform for field data collection - Wednesday, November 4, 1:00–1:25 p.m.