Welcome 👋 ​
Interactive Learner GIS is a resource for both new and experienced GIS professionals. Each page contains a brief crash course on a specific topic, providing critical knowledge and skills. Lessons are ordered in a way that builds on previous knowledge, so it is recommended that you follow the sequence for the best learning experience.
Background on GIS and mapping ​
Maps help us make sense of the world. They show us where things are, how they are connected, and allow us to investigate patterns in our environment. Geographic information systems (GIS) are effective for creating, analyzing, and sharing maps.
Marks and channels are fundamental concepts in data visualization that help to visually represent data. These concepts are used in mapping to effectively convey spatial information.
- Marks like points, lines, and areas show locations, routes, and boundaries.
- Color, size, and shape are examples of channels that aid in the recognition of differences and patterns.
There are different types of maps, each serving a specific purpose:
- Reference maps show general locations, like road maps.
- Thematic maps focus on specific topics, like population.
To represent our round world on paper or screens, we can use projections that flatten the globe. Every projection comes with its own set of trade-offs and introduces some form of distortion.
The scale of a map indicates how much detail it shows. For example, a map of a city block provides more detail than a map of the entire country.
Finally, we classify data into categories to make patterns easier to see, such as grouping cities by population size.
Discuss ​
Each page has comment sections where you can ask questions, share your thoughts, or engage in discussions with others. To comment, you must log in with a GitHub account.
Motivation for this site ​
Originally developed by Omar Kawach as a capstone project for the University of Victoria's Geomatics program, this site aims to promote map literacy.
People who read maps have different levels of map literacy. The site's goal is to help people become better map readers and map makers by providing them with a self-paced learning environment where they can improve their abilities in spatial inquiry.
In addition, Interactive Learner GIS is designed to serve as a knowledge base of information that contributors can build upon.
Contribute ​
This site is open source, and we welcome contributions. If you find a mistake, have a suggestion for improvement, or want to add a new topic, please feel free to submit a pull request or open an issue on GitHub.