Published in Journal of Young Scientist, Vol.I
Written by Gabriel Adrian KEREKES
The paper presents an easy method of creating small scale maps using an open source GIS program named “Quantum GIS” or “QGIS”, as well as open data freely available on the internet. The main focus is on transforming geographic information from a given coordinate reference system to an user defined one. This paper is concerned with both the application of projections defined automatically by the software, as well as the classic method of calculating the grid nodes using the map's equations. Both raster and vector data have been included in the process of producing this map. After transforming the necessary data, a brief layout design has been created in order to give the map an adequate form for plotting. The coordinates computed using the map equations have been overlaid on the coordinates given by QGIS in order to validate the results and verify the correctness of the map. All in all, the aim of this paper is to show the power of making high quality cartographic products and manipulating geographic data with the aid of open source GIS programs, given the precision achieved using such methods.
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