GAURAV SINGH PARMAR

CE21607

GIS Lab Experiment Number 2

AIM: Digitization of points, lines and polygon and prepare a map

SOFTWARE: QGIS (Version 3.16- Hannover)

DATA REQUIRED: Georeferenced Toposheet of Dehradun (Sheet No. H44G03)

THEORY:

Digitization is the process of converting analog data into digital data sets. In GIS context
digitization refers to creating vector datasets viz., point, line or polygon from raster datasets. It
is a way of tracing/recording geographic features in vector format from georeferenced images
or maps. With the help of digitization, we can create different set of layers Viz. Rivers, roads,
schools, ward boundaries and building blocks from a single map; this process is known as
Vectorization. Vector data is easy to edit, update and is more accurate as compared to raster
data. Vector data is more efficient for GIS analysis. Due to these reasons Vectorization is the
first step in many GIS projects. However, it is a time-consuming process and needs a lot of
attention to prevent introduction of errors in the datasets. Vector data is mainly of three types
- Point: It consists of single points having (X, Y) coordinates, for example lamp posts, bus
stops and postbox positions etc.
- Line: It consists a series of (X, Y) coordinates in a sequence (from start node to end node
with a number of vertices joining these two nodes). For example, roads, power lines, ward
boundaries and contours etc.
- Polygon: It is a series of (X, Y) coordinates in a sequence closing a figure where first and
last points are the same. For example, lakes, building blocks, village blocks, ward areas and
forests etc.

Using georeferenced toposheet as an input

1. Prepare different thematic layers (Points, Lines, Polygons)
2. Assign different symbols, colors for the features.
3. Calculate some attributes values using raster calculator.
4. Export these thematic layers as a map in .jpeg or .png or .pdf format.
PROCEDURE
1. POINT LAYER CREATION
1. To create new point layer, go to main menu bar in QGIS interface and select ‘Layer’
‘New’ ‘New Shapefile Layer’.

2. Now the ‘New vector Layer’ window will popup. Select ‘Type’ as ‘Point’ as we are
interested in creating a point layer.
3. Specify CRS same as original layer, i.e., as ‘EPSG:32644 - WGS 84’. To do this click on
‘Specify CRS’ Select the ‘WGS 84’ under Coordinate reference system of the world
Click on ‘OK.
4. We can add new required attribute fields to the vector layer that we have created. For
example, if we are creating point vector layer of villages we can add ‘Name’ of the village
as new field and ‘population’, ‘area’ and ‘elevation’ etc. as other fields.
5. For Each New attribute added, an appropriate name, type of the variable (like text, whole
number, decimal number and date) and width must be selected. Click on ‘Add to attribute
List’ and the attribute will be added to the list. Now add the attributes details shown in the
below figure.

*Note: If you want to remove the added attribute from the list, select the attribute you want to
delete and click on ‘Remove attribute’ in ‘New Vector Layer’ window.

6. Once the required attributes are added, click on ‘OK’.

7. Now you will be presented with ‘Save As’ window, save the file in appropriate drive with
appropriate name for example: VILLAGES.shp. Once the layer is saved it opens up as point
data layer under map legend.
8. To start digitization, we have to enable the editing mode of the corresponding vector layer.
Right click on ‘VILLAGES.shp’ point layer and click on ‘Toggle Editing’ or select the layer
and click on icon from ‘Digitizing1’ toolbar. Select the layer and click on icon from
‘Digitizing1’ toolbar.
9. You will notice a pencil symbol on left side of the layer name. This tells you that the layer
is ready for editing.

10. Zoom into the toposheet where villages are present, the symbol of villages in the given
toposheet is.
Click on Add feature icon from digitizing toolbar.
11. Place the pointer at the center of the feature of interest and click.

12. You will be presented with an ‘Attributes’ window. Fill the required attribute information
like ‘id’, ‘Name’ and ‘population’, ‘area’ ‘elevation’. Click ‘OK’.
13. After filling the data one can calculate population density by using raster calculator. First
add a field of population density and Click on open field calculator and select update existing
field. Use Expression : POPULATION / AREA to calculate population density of all the
fields.
13. The point will be created with the specified attributes at the specified location. Now open
the attribute table of ‘VILLAGE.shp’ by right clicking on the village layer and selecting
‘Open Attribute Table’. If you want to change any details, then simply select the attribute by
double click and edit it. For example, change the population of Balawala from 1000 to 1200.

14. Go to attribute table of ‘VILLAGES.shp’ to check if the attributes are added properly or
not. If not properly added, edit them as described in step 13.

2. LINE LAYER CREATION

Line is basically used to represent any linear network such as road, railways and drainage etc.

1. To create line layer, go to ‘Layer ‘New’ ‘New Shapefile Layer’. The ‘New vector
Layer’ window will open up. Select ‘Type’ as ‘Line’ as we are interested in creating Line layer
of roads and Specify CRS as ‘EPSG: 32466 – WGS 84’.
2. Add required attributes, for example ‘Name’ as shown in above figure and click ‘OK’. ‘Save
As’ window will open up. Browse to an appropriate location and give an appropriate name for
example ‘Road Network’ click on ‘Save’.

3. The layer is created and will be listed in Map legend. Right click on layer, click on ‘Toggle
Editing’ or click on icon from ‘Digitizing’ toolbar.
4. Zoom into the toposheet where roads are seen. Click on ‘Add feature’ icon from ‘Digitizing’
toolbar.
5. Now trace cursor along the middle of the road by using left mouse button to insert vertices
when you think the road changes its profile, this means you have to insert more vertices while
digitizing bends to get smooth curve.
When you reach a junction or at the end of the road click on the right mouse button to stop.
Now ‘Attributes’ window will open, fill in the appropriate attributes for example Name is
‘Balawala- Raipur Road’ and click ‘OK’.
6. Once you finish digitizing all roads in the toposheet save the edits and stop editing by
clicking on ‘Toggle editing’ button. Now the road network along with its attributes will be
saved.
6. After saving road network calculate length of each road using the same steps as in point
layer case by raster calculator using $length.
3. POLYGON LAYER CREATION

Polygon is basically used to demarcate areas such as administrative parcels, forests, buildup
areas and water bodies etc.
1. To create Polygon layer, go to ‘Layer’ ‘New’ ‘New Shapefile Layer’. The ‘New
vector Layer’ window will open up. Select ‘Type’ as ‘Polygon’ and Specify CRS as
‘EPSG: 4326 – WGS 84’.
2. Add required attributes for example ‘Name’ and click ‘OK’. ‘Save As’ window will open
up, save the file at appropriate location, for example ‘RESERVED FORESTshp’.

3. The layer will be created and listed under Map Legend. Right click on layer click on
‘Toggle Editing’.
4. Zoom into the toposheet where Reserve forests (RF) are located. Click on ‘Add feature’ icon
from digitizing toolbar.

5. Make sure that the snapping option for RF layer and also other required layers consisting of
the features that are following RF boundary is also enabled.

6. Start digitizing the reserve forest polygons by using left mouse button to insert vertices and
right mouse button to finish. Once you finish digitizing all reserve forest areas, save edits
and de-select the ‘Toggle editing’ button.

7. Now digitize the other features to prepare a Map. The Toposheet given to you in the
supplied data set was prepared by using QGIS.

8. Calculate the area of the reserved forest.

4. MAP CREATION

1. Go to Project Print New Composer, then fill the Composer Title Box with a name
eg. MAPS

2. Composer layer will open then go to layout drop down menu and click on add map then
draw a box in the space to get selected layer layout.
3. Add north arrow to the box with help of layout drop down menu and put it in suitable
location in the box.

4. Now add legend with help of layout drop down menu and give a frame to it by checking
in frames in item properties.
5. Remove the toposheet from the map by using remove icon from the item properties.

6. Add a scale to the map from layout menu.

7. Export the map created in different formats like .jpeg, .png or .pdf and save them.
RESULTS
1. The population density of villages are as follows
Balawala – 1038.85 Person /sq. km.
Clement Town – 3043.52 Person/ sq. km.
Dobhalwala – 9404.81 Person/ sq. km.
Harrawala – 1808.22 Person/ sq. km.

2. The length of road network is 32.25 km

3. Are of the reserved forest in map is 12.76 sq. km