Exploring Geographic Insights with QGIS

 

As part of my ongoing journey with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), I recently explored QGIS to create visualizations that highlight geographic patterns and demographic insights across different regions. Here are three maps I produced using QGIS, each offering a unique perspective on environmental and social issues.

1. Top 10 Largest Earthquakes of 2024

This map captures the ten largest earthquakes of 2024 across the globe, marked by their magnitude and the number of reported fatalities. Using data sourced from Natural Earth, the GEMS Faults Database, and the NECI Earthquake Database, I visualized the geographical distribution and scale of these natural disasters. Each earthquake is annotated with its magnitude and total deaths, making the map not just a representation of tectonic activity but also a sombre reminder of the human impact.

 2. New York City Population Density (2010)

In this map, I mapped population density across New York City’s districts, using data from the NYC Open Data Portal. The map displays population density by district, ranging from sparsely populated areas to the highly dense neighbourhoods of Yorkville. The distinct colours provide a quick visual representation of population distribution across NYC’s diverse urban landscape, illustrating the variation in population concentrations across boroughs.

3. Population within 1 km of Each Metro Station in Kochi (2020)

In this map, I focused on Ernakulam, mapping the population within a 1 km radius of each metro station in Kochi. By calculating a 1 km isochrone around metro stations, the map reveals how population clusters align with transit accessibility. This spatial distribution, derived from population data from Open Street Map, offers insights into the reach of the Kochi Metro and potentially highlights areas where further public transport infrastructure could be beneficial.

Creating these maps has been an enlightening experience, deepening my understanding of spatial data analysis and visualization through QGIS. Each map presented unique challenges in terms of data preparation, layer management, and visualization design. As I continue to hone my GIS skills, I look forward to using these tools to inform and support insights into urban, and demographic studies.

As I advance in my understanding of both econometrics and GIS, I am increasingly interested in combining these disciplines to uncover deeper insights. GIS allows for intricate spatial analysis, while econometrics provides robust tools to quantify relationships and predict outcomes. By merging these approaches, I hope to explore data-driven urban design, assess environmental and social impacts, and inform decisions. My journey with QGIS and econometrics is just beginning, and I look forward to sharing more as these fields intersect.