Session 1 introduces GIS and Earth Observation fundamentals using QGIS software, covering data types, file formats, and practical exercises with Philippine datasets for sub-national stakeholders.Hands-on GIS basics (Section 4) form the practical heart of the manual and are built around QGIS 3.40 LTR. The section opens with GIS definitions and principles, before walking participants through installing QGIS via either the offline installer or a direct download. Exercise 1A then takes you through running QGIS, navigating the interface, and adding and symbolizing vector data — shapefiles for provinces, national parks, and roads — followed by adding a raster satellite background and bringing in basemaps through XYZ Tiles and the QuickMapServices plugin. From there the manual covers GIS data types, file formats, and project files, along with data-file management, and closes with Exercise 1B on data types and formats and an exploration of the map view, including how to set favourite coordinate reference systems.
Teacher: Alvin Baloloy