ArcGIS
The Esri ArcGIS suite of products is available free of charge to current students, staff, and faculty at McMaster University. It provides users with a collection of products for analyzing and presenting a wide variety of spatial, demographic, and business information.
For more information on the available ArcGIS software, tools, and resources, see the ArcGIS Software at McMaster University Library guide.
To request copies of the software or training, complete the ArcGIS Software Request Form or contact GIS Services.
QGIS
QGIS is a free and open source GIS software program compatible with a variety of operating systems. The software can be downloaded from https://qgis.org/en/site/.
For a list of other open source GIS programs and libraries, see the GIS and Geospatial Data Guide.
There are several public-use PC workstations loaded with GIS and numeric data software such as QGIS, ArcGIS, SPSS and SAS located within the University Library. See the Computers and Software page for more information.
Individual and group consultations are available for help and assistance with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and geospatial data.
For example:
- Finding, processing, and analyzing geospatial data
- Learning, using, and troubleshooting GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth, etc.)
- ArcGIS account assistance (account registration, installation files, usage)
- Citing geospatial data and software
- Web mapping and using maps as digital storytelling tools
- And more...
Book a meeting with the GIS Specialist using the appointment booking form.
Class instruction sessions regarding GIS tools, resources, and geospatial data can also be requested by contacting libgis@mcmaster.ca.
Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship
Workshop content and online modules covering Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as well as digital scholarship tools, Research Data Management, data analysis and visualization is available through the Lewis and Ruth Sherman Centre for Digital Scholarship's online learning page, https://scds.ca/online-learning/.
Available GIS modules include:
- Introduction to GIS (QGIS)
- Introduction to GIS (ArcGIS Online)
- Introduction to Geospatial Data
- Introduction to the ArcGIS Business Analyst Web App (BAO)
- Introduction to ArcGIS StoryMaps
- How to Copy ArcGIS Content Between Accounts
- Making the Move from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro
Data Analysis Support Hub (DASH)
Additional online resources and documentation can be found through the Data Analysis Support Hub website.
Esri
Esri provides a great deal of instructional material for ArcGIS and other Esri products, including web courses, training seminars, videos and hands-on lessons. Some resources are freely available, while others require access credentials.
McMaster University, through our site license for Esri products, can provide access to many of the GIS e-learning resources offered. To inquire about resources requiring a subscription, contact libgis@mcmaster.ca.
These courses expire one year from the date of registration. If you do not have the necessary software at home, you may work through these resources using the software installed on any of the computers located within the University Library.
