This is the first part of a 3 session online training course on using QGIS to analyze Himalayan Geography and plan trans Himalayan journeys.
- Introduction
- Download and install QGIS
- Set up important base map layers
- Open Street Maps, Topography, Hiking Routes, Satellite, Survey Maps
Introduction
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allow us to view and analyze geographic data, combing different layers of geo-coded data – mountain geography, terrain, outdoor features (mountain passes, alpine lakes, hiking routes, settlements, campsites), topography, legacy maps allowing us to plan traverses across the Himalayas.
QGIS
Quantum GIS is a free and open source Geographic Information System. You ll require a laptop or desktop with sufficient space, CPU and memory to run QGIS. Download and install QGIS from here – https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.html.
Coordinate Reference System
A coordinate reference system ( CRS ) refers to the way in which spatial data that represent the earth’s surface (which is round / 3 dimensional) are flattened so that you can “Draw” them on a 2-dimensional surface.
We will be using the The World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) a globally defined datum developed and maintained by the United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). he World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) is a global datum, used for determining positions on the Earth’s surface. The WGS84 is a reference system used by the satellite navigation systems like GPS and is used in various mapping applications
Base Maps
First step is to configure some important base map layers in QGIS on which we wish to view and analyze outdoor features. Install the QuickMapServices plug-in which adds many useful base maps.
Open Street Maps
Open Street Maps (OSM) is a free, open geographic database updated and maintained by a community of volunteers via open collaboration. Contributors collect data from surveys, trace from aerial imagery and also import from other freely licensed geodata sources. OSM is the de-facto database for the outdoor community to map outdoor features like hiking routes, campsites, mountain passes, etc.
The Standard OSM map provides a comprehensive (2D) view of the Himalayan terrain. at higher scales and brings out outdoor features at lower scales:
Topography
Thunderforest Landscape (TF) is a map that shows the natural world in all its beauty and topographical detail? Landscape has been designed to be almost three-dimensional when you look at it. It is ideal for users who plan to navigate – and appreciate – wild places. You can create a free account over here.
You ll receive a URL to access a Map Tile Server to download map tiles in QGIS. X,Y represent the center coordinates and Z the zoom level of the tile.
https://tile.thunderforest.com/landscape/{z}/{x}/{y}.png?apikey=13a1166ab21c48b1a1fe90f8399cf89f
Add a new XYZ layer in QGIS:
Thunderforest Landscape provides a beautiful topographic view of the Himalayas both at higher scales (hill shades) and lower scales (contours, outdoor features). A great basemap to plan Himalayan traverses.
Hiking Routes
Yet another very useful base map is Waymarked Hiking Trails. It visualizes hiking routes at higher scales allowing us to plan longer distance traverses on top of other basemaps. Add a new XYZ layer with below URL:
https://tile.waymarkedtrails.org/hiking/{z}/{x}/{y}.png
Satellite View
Useful to analyze both large-scale terrain details (forest, meadows, rocks, glaciers…) and identify remote settlements and hiking trails at low-scale a high-resolution satellite map can provide an excellent basemap for planning a traverse. Add a Google Satellite Map layer from the QuickMapServices plugin Web menu.
Survey Maps
Some of the most detailed maps available of the Himalayas are the Survey of India maps. The Survey web site allows users to download individual 1:50K fixed scale toposheets covering 28x28km. More easy to use in QGIS is this Map Tile Server:
https://server.nikhilvj.co.in/soiredirect/{z}/{x}/{y}.webp
Add an XYZ Tiles layer with above URL to get the Survey Maps for the entire Indian subcontinent in QGIS showing amazing terrain details, remote settlements and trails viewable at a 1:50K scale:
Overlaying Map Layers
You can combine
Waymarked Hiking Trails can be overlaid with any of the above maps for planning traverses across the Himalayas via OSM mapping hiking routes:
