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Creating a Grid in QGIS and Importing into NRDS

This tutorial outlines the steps to create a grid in QGIS and import it into the NRDS web application as a shapefile

Sam avatar
Written by Sam
Updated over a week ago

Creating a Grid in QGIS and Importing into NRDS

Objective

This SOP outlines the steps to create a grid in QGIS and import it into the NRDS web application.

Key Steps

1. Open QGIS and Access Processing Toolbox 0:11

  • Launch QGIS.

  • Open the Processing Toolbox.

2. Locate and Use the Create Grid Tool 0:16

3. Set the Grid Type 0:28

  • Choose the type of grid you want to create (e.g., hexagon, square, rectangle, diamond).

4. Define the Grid Extent 0:38

  • Set the grid extent by:

    • Selecting a layer or polygon.

    • Drawing directly on the map canvas.

5. Draw the Grid Extent 0:48

  • Click the button to draw on the map canvas.

  • Draw a box to define the area for the grid.

6. Set Grid Spacing and Projection 1:12

  • Set horizontal spacing to 5 meters.

  • Set vertical spacing to 5 meters.

  • Choose the desired projection for the grid.

7. Create the Grid Layer 1:35

  • Save the grid as a temporary layer.

  • Click 'Run' to create the grid.

8. Merge Grid Polygons 2:04

  • Search for the 'Collect Geometries' tool.

  • Select the grid you created and run the tool to merge polygons into a single layer.

9. Export the Grid as a Shapefile 2:36

  • Export the merged grid as a shapefile.

  • Save it to your desktop and name it 'grid'.

10. Zip the Shapefile 2:58

  • Locate the shapefile on your desktop.

  • Zip the folder containing the shapefile.

11. Open NRDS Web Application 3:13

  • Launch your web browser and open the NRDS application.

12. Import the Zipped Grid into NRDS 3:31

  • Navigate to the GPS import section.

  • Select 'generic polygons' for import.

  • Upload the zipped folder from your desktop and hit 'Save'.

13. Verify Imported Polygons 4:01

  • Check the application to ensure the grid has been successfully imported.

Cautionary Notes

  • Ensure that the grid extent is accurately defined to avoid errors in the grid creation.

  • Double-check the projection settings to ensure compatibility with NRDS.

Tips for Efficiency

  • Familiarize yourself with the QGIS interface to speed up the process.

  • Use keyboard shortcuts where possible to navigate through tools quickly.

  • Keep your workspace organized by saving files in clearly labeled folders.

Link to Loom

https://loom.com/share/5efdab9364904ba6b6c8f79d4025a242

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