QGIS

One computer program that will be helpful with our project is an open source geographic information system called QGIS for short. QGIS allows us to download or create professional-looking vector maps, which we can use to display complex information when location is a significant component. I have been learning QGIS via their very helpful training manual. I am actually very impressed by how easy to follow it is, although it does take some time and concentration to work through. This way, when we get the data from the IMU or from the scraping of websites, we are prepared to create graphics that display this information in a useful manner.

There are lots of incredible QGIS projects online, but I decided that it would be interesting to track out progress learning to use it, so with that in mind, I will post the first ever QGIS image I created using the training manual. There are some features hidden because it is a static image, and more than a few things that don't quite look like a professional map, but everybody starts somewhere.

The QGIS training data isn't for Venice, which is why the map isn't of Venice. That will happen later (but soon!)

On another note, Venice is an incredibly unique city. I get the feeling I'm going to spend a fair amount of time lost though - hopefully I'll pick up the directions quickly!