Adding Multiple Grids/Graticles Labels on a Map in QGIS

 Most likely you have come accross a map (similar to the two below) that has more that one Grids/Graticles labelled lines and you are wondering what they are and why they have to include multiple Grids/Graticles labels.

The first map has Grids (UTM) labels inside the frame and Graticles (WGS 84) labels outside the frame. While the second map has Grids (UTM) labels on top and right-hand sides of the frame, and Graticles (WGS 84) labels on the bottom and left-hand side of the frame.

Before we learn how to add multiple Grids/Graticles to a map in QGIS, let understand the difference between Grids/Graticles and why it is necessary to sometime have multiple Grids/Graticles labels on a map.

The fundamental difference between a grid and a graticule is the shape of the surface they represent: a graticule maps a curved, 3D spherical surface (the Earth), while a grid maps a flat, 2D projected surface (a piece of paper or computer screen).

Summary Comparison Table

Maps display two or more different grids (a projected grid and a geographic graticule) simultaneously to serve different navigation, measurement, and reference needs on a single sheet.

1. Cross-Agency and Multi-User Compatibility

Different organizations, military branches, and emergency services use different reference systems.

a)    Search and Rescue: Ground teams might use local UTM meters for precise land navigation, while helicopter pilots require WGS84 Latitude/Longitude degrees for aviation GPS.

b)    Civilian vs. Military: Civilian map users generally rely on standard national grids, while international or defense groups require the Military Grid Reference System (MGRS).

 

2. Balancing Local Distance with Global Position

No single coordinate system does everything perfectly on a flat piece of paper.

a)    The Projected Grid (UTM/State Plane): Uses a flat XY grid measured in meters or feet. It allows users to quickly calculate real-world distances, areas, and angles using simple math.

b)    The Geographic Graticule (Lat/Long): Uses a curved grid measured in degrees. It tells the user exactly where they are on the global sphere, making it easy to cross-reference with international maps or global tracking systems.

 

3. Historical Data and Map Archiving

When updating older maps or combining historical surveys with modern data, dual grids preserve accuracy.

a)    Legacy Systems: Older physical maps often retain their original historical grid system (like the UK OSGB36) on the boundary.

b)    Modern Overlays: Cartographers print a modern global grid (WGS84) over the old map so modern GPS coordinates can still be used accurately.

 

4. Transition Zones and Border Mapping

When a mapped region sits right on the edge of a coordinate boundary, a secondary grid maintains continuity.

a)    UTM Zone Boundaries: If a park sits on the border of UTM Zone 15 and UTM Zone 16, using one zone distorts the other half. Adding both grids lets users work seamlessly across the border.

How to add a Grid and Graticles to a map in QGIS

To add two separate grids to a map in QGIS, open your Print Layout, select your map item, and navigate to the Item Properties panel. Scroll down to the Grids section, click the green plus (+) button twice to create two individual grid entries, and configure each one with its own distinct styling, interval, or coordinate system (CRS).

 

Setting Up the First Grid

a)    Select your map item in the layout canvas.

b)    Find the Grids dropdown in Item Properties and click the + button.

c)    Double-click the newly created grid (e.g., Grid 1) to rename it (e.g., UTM Grid or Projected).

d)    Click Modify Grid... to set your preferred CRS (such as your project's local projected coordinate system), line style (solid, cross, or markers), and X/Y intervals.

e)    Enable Draw Coordinates if you want annotations displayed for this primary grid.

 

Adding and Configuring the Second Grid

a)    Click the green plus (+) button again in the Grids menu to create Grid 2.

b)    Rename it to avoid confusion (e.g., Geographic Grid or Lat-Long).

c)    Click Modify Grid... to adjust its properties independently.

d)    Change the CRS to a different system if needed (e.g., EPSG:4326 for latitude/longitude degrees).

e)    Adjust the interval values, select a different appearance (like using subtle crosses instead of solid lines), or disable line rendering entirely while keeping frame ticks and coordinates active to prevent visual clutter.

Thank you for reading.

How to Create ArcGIS Pro project packages (.ppkx files)

 An ArcGIS Pro project is saved as a .aprx file, along with a dedicated system folder containing a default geodatabase and toolbox. You can save ongoing changes by clicking the Save button on the Quick Access Toolbar, pressing Ctrl+S, or going to the Project tab and selecting Save Project.

The .aprx file is not the same as .ppkx file. The core difference is that an .aprx is a project file that contains links to data, while a .ppkx is a compressed package that contains the actual data.

a)  .aprx (ArcGIS Pro Project File): This file stores your map configurations, layouts, symbology, and connections. It does not store your geographic data (like shapefiles or geodatabases); it only points to where they live on your computer or network. If you move the data files, the .aprx will show broken links.

b)     .ppkx (Project Package): This is a single, compressed file used for sharing. It bundles the .aprx file and copies all the referenced datasets into one package. Anyone can open it on another computer, and all maps and data will display perfectly without broken links.

You need a .ppkx because an .aprx only works on your computer. If you send just the .aprx file to a colleague, they will see empty maps with red exclamation marks because they do not have your local data files.

To create an ArcGIS Pro project package (.ppkx), go to the Share tab on the top ribbon, click Project in the Package group, select Save package to file, fill out the required summary and tags, run Analyze to check for errors, and click Package.

Steps to Create a .ppkx File

a)     Open your project in ArcGIS Pro.

b)     Click the Share tab on the top menu ribbon.

c)     Find the Package group and click Project.

d)     Select Save package to file in the project package pane.

e)     Browse and select the destination folder location on your device.

f)      Enter a file name for your package.

g)     Add a Summary and Tags (both are required fields).

h)     Click Analyze at the bottom to check for any data errors or warnings.

i)      Fix any listed errors, then click Package to generate the file.

When You Must Use a .ppkx

a)    Sharing with Others: Send one file to a coworker or client, and they instantly get your maps and your data.

b)    Working Remotely: Use it to move your entire project from your office desktop to a home laptop.

c)    Project Archiving: Freeze a project in time so all data remains bundled together in storage, safe from accidental deletion.

d)    Submitting Assignments: Easily hand in complete, working GIS projects to instructors or managers.

That is it!

10 Examples of Susceptibility and Suitability Mapping

Core Definition

Susceptibility: The propensity or predisposition to be affected by a negative factor, risk, or harm (e.g., landslide susceptibility, disease vulnerability).

Suitability: The degree of appropriateness or fitness of a given site or subject for a specific, intended positive purpose (e.g., agricultural land suitability, habitat allocation).

Susceptibility and suitability are distinct analytical concepts: susceptibility measures the likelihood of experiencing a negative event (like a hazard or disease), while suitability measures how well an area or option fulfills positive requirements (like a land use or habitat).

The process of creating susceptibility and suitability maps in GIS is conceptually identical but differs significantly in how criteria are defined, weighted, and interpreted. Both workflows rely on Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE), but susceptibility maps model negative risks, while suitability maps model positive potential.

The Shared GIS Workflow

Both maps follow the exact same technical steps in software like ArcGIS or QGIS:

1. Data Acquisition: Gathering spatial layers (raster or vector) like slope, soil, and land cover.
2. Reclassification: Converting different data scales into a common standardized scale (e.g., 1 to 5).
3. Weighting: Assigning importance to each layer using methods like the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).
4. Overlay Analysis: Combining layers using tools like Weighted Overlay or Weighted Sum.
5. Final Categorization: Slicing the output into final classes (e.g., Low, Medium, High).

10 Examples of Susceptibility Mapping

Susceptibility maps predict where a hazard or negative event is likely to occur based on the physical characteristics of the environment.

• Landslide Susceptibility Mapping: Models slope, soil type, and rainfall to identify hillsides prone to collapsing.
• Flood Susceptibility Mapping: Uses elevation, proximity to rivers, and drainage density to locate areas naturally vulnerable to water accumulation.
• Wildfire Susceptibility Mapping: Combines vegetation density (fuel), aspect, wind patterns, and dryness to map zones prone to catching fire.
• Groundwater Contamination Susceptibility Mapping: Assesses soil permeability, water table depth, and rock type to find aquifers vulnerable to pollution from the surface.
• Soil Erosion Susceptibility Mapping: Evaluates rainfall erosivity, slope length, and lack of vegetation to pinpoint land at risk of losing topsoil.
• Sinkhole/Karst Susceptibility Mapping: Tracks underground limestone features, drainage, and bedrock stability to forecast where the ground might collapse.
• Coastal Erosion Susceptibility Mapping: Analyzes wave energy, shoreline geology, and sea-level rise data to identify beaches and cliffs at risk of washing away.
• Urban Heat Island (UHI) Susceptibility Mapping: Uses concrete density, lack of tree canopy, and wind blocks to map urban neighborhoods prone to extreme heat retention.
• Disease Vector Susceptibility Mapping: Models humidity, standing water, and temperature to map environments where malaria-carrying mosquitoes or ticks are highly likely to breed.
• Liquefaction Susceptibility Mapping: Uses seismic data, loose sandy soils, and high groundwater tables to identify areas where the ground will turn to quicksand during an earthquake.

Source: Kohno, M., & Higuchi, Y. (2023). Landslide susceptibility assessment in the Japanese archipelago based on a landslide distribution map. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 12(2), 37.

10 Examples of Suitability Mapping

Suitability maps identify the best or most optimal locations for a specific human activity or ecological need based on positive criteria and constraints.

• Agricultural Crop Suitability Mapping: Evaluates soil pH, temperature, and rainfall to find the best land for growing a specific crop like wheat or coffee.
• Solar Farm Suitability Mapping: Combines solar radiation levels, flat terrain, and proximity to power grids to find ideal spots for solar panels.
• Habitat Suitability Mapping (Species Distribution): Models forest cover, climate, and distance from human threats to identify areas where an endangered animal can survive.
• Landfill Site Suitability Mapping: Uses geology, distance from rivers, and distance from residential zones to find safe places to build a city dump.
• Wind Farm Suitability Mapping: Maps consistent high wind speeds, high elevations, and areas outside of bird migratory routes to place wind turbines.
• Urban Residential Development Suitability Mapping: Finds ideal land for housing by looking for stable ground, proximity to utilities, schools, and existing roads.
• Rainwater Harvesting Suitability Mapping: Identifies rooftops, terrains, or community zones best shaped to capture and store rainwater efficiently.
• Ecotourism Suitability Mapping: Looks for scenic landscapes, proximity to cultural sites, and low-impact transport options to plan sustainable tourism zones.
• Aquaculture (Fish Farming) Suitability Mapping: Analyzes water temperature, current speeds, and water quality to select optimal coastal or lake zones for fish cages.
• Logistics and Distribution Center Suitability Mapping: Evaluates proximity to major highways, railways, airports, and large consumer populations to place shipping warehouses.

Thank you for reading.

Downloading Sentinel-2 10m Land Use/Land Cover dataset

 Sentinel-2 10m Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) is a high-resolution, global thematic dataset that maps the Earth's surface across nine distinct environmental categories. It is a collaborative data product developed by Esri, Microsoft, and Impact Observatory, delivering a multi-year time series from 2017 to the present with a 10-meter spatial resolution.

The nine distinct environmental categories are;-

The integers skipping values (like 3 and 6) is a result of the updated 9-class system combining the original "Grass" (formerly 3) and "Scrub" (formerly 6) categories into a single Rangeland category assigned to Value 11.

To download the Sentinel-2 10m Land Use/Land Cover dataset from the Esri Land Cover Explorer, follow these exact visual and technical steps.

Step 1: Access the Interface

• Open your web browser.
• Navigate to the Esri Land Cover Explorer.
• Wait for the interactive global map to fully load.

Step 2: Select Your Target Year

• Locate the Year Timeline slider at the bottom center of the screen.
• Click on your desired year (available from 2017 to the present).
• The map visualization will automatically refresh to display that year's data.

Step 3: Find Your Region

• Use your mouse wheel to zoom into your specific area of interest.
• Click and drag the map to pan to your exact target coordinates.
• Ensure your entire study area is visible on the screen.

Step 4: Open the Download Panel

• Look at the left-hand side of the screen for the main tool menu.
• Click on the Download icon (represented by a downward-pointing arrow over a tray).
• A side panel will slide open on the left, and a grid overlay will appear on the map.

Step 5: Select and Download the Tile

• Look at the grid cells overlaying your chosen map area.
• Click directly on the grid square that covers your project area.
• Check the left side panel, which will refresh to show details for that specific tile.
• Click the blue Download GeoTIFF button in the panel to start the file transfer.

Thank you for reading.