APPI Virtual Workshop - QGIS for Planning and Local Government

Description

This workshop is a hands-on, tutorial-based training workshop designed to help municipal and regional staff harness the full potential of QGIS, a free, and open-source desktop GIS application used by local governments around the world. Through a combination of guided instruction and practical exercises, participants will learn how to perform common spatial analysis tasks, create and manage data, and produce high-quality maps and reports tailored to municipal needs. This workshop emphasizes real-world applications—such as mapping demographics, analyzing urban walkability, identifying suitable sites for development, and assessing environmental hazards—to demonstrate how QGIS can support data-driven decision-making across.

Key Takeaways

1. Understand the main tools and features of QGIS.
2. Gain hands-on experience solving real-world spatial problems.
3. Build the confidence to independently use QGIS for mapping and spatial analysis tasks in their own organizations.

Workshop Format 

The workshop is delivered through eight instructor-led modules, each combining short lectures, demonstrations, and step-by-step tutorials. The facilitator introduces each topic, explains relevant GIS concepts, and then guides participants through applied exercises using municipal datasets.

Workshop Outline

Part 1: June 16, 2026

Module 1: QGIS Application Overview
Module 2: Mapping Urban Demographics
Module 3: Map Production and Reporting
Module 4: Create and Edit Spatial and Attribute Data

Part 2: June 17, 2026

Module 5: Multi-criteria Site Suitability Analysis
Module 6: Hazard Mapping
Module 7: Walkability Analysis
Module 8: Green Space and Tree Canopy Analysis

Facilitator(s): Cliff Patterson, PhD.

CEO, Luna Geospatial, Inc.
Cliff Patterson holds a PhD from the University of Otago’s National School of Surveying (2017) and has over 15 years of experience working with open source GIS. He specializes in spatial database development, remote sensing, and 2D/3D spatial data analysis using spatial SQL. He is an expert with QGIS, GDAL/OGR, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Geoserver, and other open source GIS software. After working in the Ontario conservation sector for several years, he transitioned to software development and then co-founded Luna Geospatial, Inc. in 2021. Since then, he has helped dozens of companies and organizations around the world migrate to open source GIS.

Fees:

APPI Member: $200 + GST

APPI Non-Member: $225 + GST

Limited to 15 participants.

CPL: 7 Structured Learning Units

Registration in this workshop is intended for one person only. Virtual and AI recording is not permitted.

Registration is non refundable, but is transferrable. 

By registering for this workshop, the registrant authorizes APPI to share their name and preferred email address with the session facilitator solely for the purpose of communication related to the June 16 & 17, 2026 workshop. This information will not be used for any other purpose, including marketing.

To register click HERE