[OSGeo-Discuss] Mapping advice

[Randal Hale]

Good Morning/Afternoon

If it were me - I would do everything in QGIS. It will be much easier to 
work with and you won't have any of the oddness of GRASS - I like GRASS 
- but it's not the easiest thing in the world to work with. QGIS also 
translates data over to mapinfo very well. You should be able to do 
everything in QGIS without programming.

There is a plugin to QGIS for Mapserver - so once the project is set up 
You could publish it there. I would try to keep it as simple and as well 
documented as possible.

Hope that helps some - yell if you need help

Randy


On 01/04/2013 08:12 AM, Rachel Forrest wrote:
> Hi everybody,
> I am starting a new project that will use mapping software and consist 
> of various components, I have been doing research about the best 
> programme to use, but some advice from someone who has an overview of 
> all of these programmes would be great.  I'm new to mapping, so if 
> explainations could be pretty straightforward that would be great.
> The project will basically involve mapping economic data from a 
> variety of UK sources in the area that I'm concerned with (the 
> Highlands and Islands of Scotland).  The goal of this project is to 
> have the maps (with various layers that can be available to all within 
> the organisation and user friendly) that they automatically update, or 
> are easy to update.  So I was thinking of a web-based application as 
> the end product, such as Open Layers or Map Server?  For the making of 
> the maps QGIS and getting the data through GRASS GIS.  Am I correct in 
> my thinking that GRASS GIS is the best for getting the data in, and 
> can access external files?  I want to draw together data from various 
> external sources and from the agency's own external COGNOS system, any 
> advice with that?
> Also, is there any existing data hub that draw together economic, 
> population data etc for the UK? I know where to go to download the 
> various bits and pieces I need but if there is any way 
> to automatically extract the data without manually downloading that 
> would be great.
> The organisation has MapInfo on one computer, I would prefer to use 
> open source software as skills gained will be more transferable, plus 
> the only computer is based in another office and is a bit of a pain to 
> get to.
> For me this all seems quite daunting and it doesn't help that I 
> haven't had any experience with programming languages or mapping about 
> from quick dabbles.  I have a training budget with my placement and 
> have already been approved to do QGIS training but if anyone can offer 
> training relating to all the problems and things I have to tie 
> together for my specific project that would be great and I'm sure we 
> could get something arranged.
> Rachel Forrest
> Economics Intelligence Officer
> Highlands and Islands Enterprise
> Cowan House
> Inverness Retail and Business Park
> Inverness IV2 7GF
> +44(0) 1463 244 433
> Email: rachel.forrest at hient.co.uk <mailto:rachel.forrest at hient.co.uk>
> www.hie.co.uk <http://www.hie.co.uk/>
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-- 
Randal Hale, GISP
North River Geographic Systems, Inc
http://www.northrivergeographic.com
423.653.3611 rjhale at northrivergeographic.com
twitter:rjhale
http://about.me/rjhale

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