[Qgis-user] Importing SVG + Designing maps from scratch

[.]

Inkscape does have a "Save to DXF" option. From there the dxf2shape 
converter plugin(dxf file to shape file), then shape file into QGIS gets 
your data into QGIS. You would need to use one of the translation tools 
to then scale the data. It seems technically possible. I think in the 
transfer you will loose much of the pretty formatting that was developed 
in Inkscape.

An issue would be scaling the vector data to the GIS coordinate 
reference system (CRS). One method that does not involve DXF or 
translation tools would be to export a map from Inkscape to a bitmap 
(ie. raster) file and use the tools in QGIS to trace over the bitmap 
with vectors. Use Google Earth as the first step in scaling or what is 
known as "georefrencing" the raster image.
     Place reference marks on the top and bottom edges of the raster, 
three along the top - one in each corner     and one in the middle. Put 
two along the bottom at the 1/3 and 2/3 positions. Import into Google 
Earth, then     scale the map so that the units work out in both x and y 
dimensions (QGIS won't do this step automatically     yet). Then draw a 
vector "W" connecting the dots at the top and bottom of the raster. 
Export the W vector to .kml. Import the kml into QGIS. Wherever  the W 
was drawn in Google Earth, thats where it will         appear in QGIS 
with some Coordinate Reference System (WGS 84:EPSG 4326).

Using QGIS's georeferencing tool and the W vector import the raster 
image, scaled to real world units. Then digitize your map.

I've never used the DXF/translate method. I can't say how easy or hard 
it is. I have used the georeferencing feature.

Keep in mind QGIS hasn't a completely WYSIWYG interface, allowing you to 
merely point and click your way through entering the data. At times some 
forethought and calculation is necessary.

I would develop my base map in QGIS. When I was ready to publish a 
finished map I would either use QGIS's built-in map composer or then 
re-export to SVG and do final composition in Inkscape. This also opens 
the possibility of using one of the many GIS web server applications 
that would allow you to make your world available online. There is even 
an animation plugin. Using QGIS opens up many new possibilities.

To do a proper GIS then I would use a database like PostGIS to hold the 
data in the form of tables. Separate tables for vectors and point data. 
QGIS allows use of many types of data sources, PostGIS being one of them.

This would necessitate the understanding of SQL databases (ie. PostGIS) 
and GIS systems (QGIS). These are free versions of expensive commercial 
software that are used world-wide.

You'll need QGIS, PostGIS, GoogleEarth and some patience. Your hobby 
could lead you to a career.

Just take your time. Read the manuals. It should work.

On 10/4/2013 10:22 AM, Robbie Smith wrote:
> Hello everyone
>
> I’m very new to GIS, and I’ve been reading a lot of manuals and 
> information, but I thought I’d ask a couple of questions here.
>
> One of my major hobbies is drawing maps of a completely imaginary 
> country; it’s part of a massive project of mine. I’m getting to the 
> point where I’m reaching practical limitations in the way I’m drawing 
> the maps. The first is that to extend in any direction I need to 
> either make the canvas size bigger or create a new image and line up 
> elements exactly, which is quite error-prone and time consuming. The 
> other major problem is different zoom levels: if I want to draw, say, 
> a more detailed map of a town, again I’d have to draw a completely new 
> image and try to copy and/or scale elements of an existing drawing, 
> which is also time-consuming and error prone.
>
> As I’m trying to make my maps (and everything else) as realistic as 
> possible, I’ve been starting to think that maybe moving to using some 
> sort of GIS application might be the way to go. With GIS, I could 
> store all the geographical information in a database, and then just 
> generate maps that cover the area and scale that I want. And if I 
> wanted to create different types of maps, such as topographical or a 
> road map, I could easily select which layers I want to export. The 
> possibilities are pretty-much endless.
>
> However, I’ve already done quite a lot of work on these SVG maps in 
> Inkscape, and I really would prefer not to start completely from 
> scratch. Can I import an existing SVG map into QGIS and use it as a 
> starting point, preserving the existing paths and shapes? Can I define 
> an arbritary grid to align things to? Learning and adapting to GIS is 
> going to be challenging enough without having to redo years of work.
>
> Any links, books, manuals or whatever that you could recommend for 
> this kind of project would be great, as I honestly have no idea where 
> to start.
>
> TLDR: Is it possible to import completely fictional maps into (Q)GIS 
> and design them from scratch, and if so, where to begin?
>
> regards
> Robbie
> _______________________________________________
> Qgis-user mailing list
> Qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
> http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/qgis-user
>


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