From GIS Data Preparation to a Complete Municipal Web GIS

Technology Stack: QGIS + PostGIS + GeoServer + VistaBridge

Course Introduction

Government departments and municipal organizations manage large volumes of geospatial information related to properties, roads, utilities, administrative boundaries, public assets, infrastructure and other municipal resources.

An open-source Web GIS provides a practical approach for transforming these datasets into a centralized, accessible and interoperable GIS environment. It enables government organizations to prepare and manage spatial data, store it in a spatial database, publish it through standard geospatial services and make it available through web-based GIS applications.

This three-day practical training introduces participants to an open-source Web GIS workflow for government and municipal applications using:

• QGIS for GIS data preparation and analysis
• PostGIS for spatial database management
• GeoServer for publishing geospatial data and OGC services
• VistaBridge for connecting published geospatial services with web GIS applications

Participants will progressively build a municipal Web GIS environment starting from raw GIS datasets and ending with a functional web-based municipal GIS portal.

The training follows an end-to-end workflow:

Raw GIS Data → QGIS → PostGIS → GeoServer → OGC Services → VistaBridge → Web GIS Portal

What Will You Learn?

GIS Data Preparation

• Understanding government and municipal GIS datasets
• Preparing raw spatial data
• Vector and attribute data preparation
• Data cleaning and organization
• Coordinate reference systems
• Preparing datasets for database storage and web publication

Spatial Database

• Introduction to spatial databases
• PostGIS
• Creating spatial databases
• Importing GIS datasets
• Managing spatial layers
• Spatial data organization
• Dataset management

Data Publishing

• GeoServer
• Publishing spatial datasets
• Configuring data sources
• Configuring layers
• Layer metadata
• OGC services
• Understanding service-based GIS data access

OGC Services

• Web GIS service concepts
• OGC service architecture
• WMS
• WFS
• Service configuration
• Service capabilities
• Consuming published services

Web Map Configuration

• Connecting web maps to GIS services
• Configuring layers
• Layer visualization
• Map composition
• Dataset access through web GIS

Dataset Management

• Managing spatial datasets
• Organizing layers
• Updating datasets
• Managing published services
• Maintaining a municipal GIS data environment

User & Access Concepts

• Web GIS users
• Access concepts
• Role-based access considerations
• Dataset/service access
• Public and restricted GIS information

Municipal Web GIS

• Municipal GIS architecture
• Integrating GIS datasets
• Connecting spatial databases and services
• Configuring a web GIS
• Building a complete municipal GIS portal

Course Objectives

The training will provide participants with practical knowledge of:

• Open-source Web GIS architecture for government applications.
• GIS data preparation using QGIS.
• Spatial database management using PostGIS.
• Geospatial data publishing using GeoServer.
• OGC service configuration.
• Web map configuration.
• Dataset management.
• User and access concepts.
• VistaBridge-based integration.
• Municipal Web GIS architecture.
• End-to-end development of a municipal GIS portal.

The primary objective is to enable participants to understand and implement the complete workflow:

Prepare → Store → Publish → Configure → Integrate → Manage → Access

Course Modules

Module 1: Government GIS & Open-Source Web GIS Fundamentals

Topics Covered

• Government and municipal GIS requirements
• Web GIS concepts
• Open-source Web GIS architecture
• Components of an open-source Web GIS
• QGIS
• PostGIS
• GeoServer
• VistaBridge
• GIS data workflow
• Spatial database and web services
• Web GIS architecture
• Municipal GIS use cases

Learning Outcome

Participants will understand the architecture and components of an open-source Web GIS environment for government and municipal applications.

Module 2: GIS Data Preparation with QGIS

Topics Covered

• Understanding raw GIS datasets
• GIS data preparation
• Vector datasets
• Attribute data
• Coordinate Reference Systems
• Data cleaning
• Data organization
• Dataset consistency
• Preparing datasets for spatial database storage
• Preparing datasets for web publication

Practical Session

Participants will work with representative municipal datasets and:

• Examine raw datasets.
• Identify spatial and attribute information.
• Clean and organize datasets.
• Check coordinate reference systems.
• Prepare datasets for database import.

Learning Outcome

Participants will be able to prepare and organize GIS datasets for use within a Web GIS environment.

Module 3: Spatial Database Management with PostGIS

Topics Covered

• Spatial database concepts
• Introduction to PostgreSQL/PostGIS
• Creating a spatial database
• Spatial tables
• Spatial columns
• Importing GIS datasets
• Managing spatial layers
• Attribute data management
• Dataset organization
• Accessing spatial data from GIS applications

Practical Session

Participants will:

• Create a PostGIS database.
• Create/import spatial datasets.
• Examine spatial and attribute information.
• Organize municipal layers.
• Manage datasets within the spatial database.

Learning Outcome

Participants will be able to store and manage municipal GIS datasets within a PostGIS spatial database.

Module 4: Geospatial Data Publishing with GeoServer

Topics Covered

• Web GIS data publishing concepts
• Introduction to GeoServer
• GeoServer architecture
• Connecting GeoServer to PostGIS
• Data stores
• Workspaces
• Layers
• Layer configuration
• Layer metadata
• Publishing spatial datasets
• Service configuration
• OGC service concepts

Practical Session

Participants will:

• Connect GeoServer to PostGIS.
• Create/configure a workspace.
• Configure data stores.
• Publish PostGIS layers.
• Configure published layers.
• Examine service capabilities.

Learning Outcome

Participants will be able to publish spatial datasets from PostGIS through GeoServer for use by Web GIS applications.

Module 5: OGC Services & Web Map Configuration

Topics Covered

• OGC services
• Web-based geospatial data access
• WMS
• WFS
• Service requests
• Service responses
• Capabilities
• Connecting GIS clients to services
• Web map layers
• Layer visualization
• Map configuration

Practical Session

Participants will:

• Configure OGC services.
• Access published layers.
• Test service capabilities.
• Connect services to a web map.
• Configure map layers.
• Configure basic visualization.

Learning Outcome

Participants will understand how OGC services connect published GIS datasets with Web GIS applications and other GIS clients.

Module 6: VistaBridge Integration & Dataset Management

Topics Covered

• VistaBridge concepts
• Connecting GeoServer services to Web GIS applications
• Service-based GIS integration
• Connecting published layers
• Web map configuration
• Dataset management
• Layer organization
• Updating datasets
• Managing published GIS resources
• Maintaining a Web GIS data environment

Practical Session

Participants will:

• Connect GeoServer services through VistaBridge.
• Configure GIS layers.
• Add datasets to a web map.
• Organize municipal datasets.
• Update and manage published datasets.

Learning Outcome

Participants will be able to integrate published GIS services into a web GIS environment and manage municipal datasets through the Web GIS workflow.

Module 7: User, Access & Municipal Web GIS

Topics Covered

• Web GIS user concepts
• User access
• Dataset access
• Service access
• Public and restricted GIS information
• Role and access considerations
• Municipal GIS architecture
• Municipal datasets
• Web GIS portal
• Integration of GIS data, database, services and web maps
• Complete municipal Web GIS workflow

Final Practical Exercise

Participants will build a complete municipal GIS portal from raw datasets.

The exercise will integrate:

QGIS → PostGIS → GeoServer → OGC Services → VistaBridge → Web GIS

Learning Outcome

Participants will understand how to integrate the complete open-source Web GIS stack and build a functional municipal GIS portal.

Learn by Building: Hands-on Exercises

The practical component progressively develops a municipal Web GIS from raw GIS data.

Exercise 1: Prepare Municipal GIS Data

Participants will:

• Examine raw datasets.
• Clean and organize spatial data.
• Check coordinate reference systems.
• Prepare attribute information.
• Prepare datasets for database storage.

Workflow:

Raw Data → QGIS → Prepared GIS Data

Exercise 2: Create a Spatial Database

Participants will:

• Create a PostGIS database.
• Import GIS datasets.
• Create/manage spatial layers.
• Organize municipal datasets.

Workflow:

Prepared GIS Data → PostGIS → Spatial Database

Exercise 3: Publish GIS Data

Participants will:

• Connect GeoServer to PostGIS.
• Configure workspace/data store.
• Publish layers.
• Configure published datasets.

Workflow:

PostGIS → GeoServer → Published Layers

Exercise 4: Configure OGC Services

Participants will:

• Configure WMS/WFS services.
• Examine capabilities.
• Test published services.
• Access services from GIS clients.

Workflow:

GeoServer → OGC Services → GIS Clients

Exercise 5: Build a Web Map

Participants will:

• Connect published GIS services.
• Add layers.
• Configure layer visualization.
• Organize municipal datasets.
• Configure the web map.

Workflow:

OGC Services → Web Map → Municipal GIS Layers

Exercise 6: Integrate VistaBridge

Participants will:

• Connect GeoServer services through VistaBridge.
• Configure published layers.
• Integrate GIS services with the Web GIS.
• Manage datasets.

Workflow:

GeoServer → VistaBridge → Web GIS

Exercise 7: Build a Municipal GIS Portal

The final practical exercise will combine all components.

Participants will build a municipal GIS portal starting from raw datasets.

Raw Municipal Datasets
↓
QGIS Data Preparation
↓
PostGIS Spatial Database
↓
GeoServer Data Publishing
↓
OGC Services
↓
VistaBridge Integration
↓
Web Map Configuration
↓
Dataset Management
↓
User/Access Concepts
↓
Municipal GIS Portal

Real-World Applications

Municipal GIS

• Municipal spatial data management
• Property-related GIS datasets
• Roads and transportation
• Municipal infrastructure
• Public assets
• Administrative boundaries
• Ward-level GIS

Urban Governance

• Urban planning
• Infrastructure management
• Municipal asset management
• Development planning
• Spatial decision support

Government Departments

• Departmental GIS
• Government spatial data repositories
• Inter-departmental data sharing
• GIS data publication
• Web-based GIS access

Utilities & Infrastructure

• Water infrastructure
• Roads
• Public facilities
• Utility networks
• Infrastructure inventory

Public GIS Portals

• Public spatial information
• Municipal information portals
• Map-based information access
• Open geospatial data publication

Who Is This Training For?

This training is designed for:

• Government GIS Professionals
• Municipal GIS Officers
• GIS Managers
• GIS Analysts
• GIS Administrators
• Spatial Data Managers
• GIS Developers
• Web GIS Developers
• Database Administrators
• Geospatial Data Professionals
• Urban Planners
• Surveying and Mapping Professionals
• Government Technical Officers
• Municipal IT Professionals
• Researchers and Academics

The course is particularly suitable for organizations looking to establish or strengthen an open-source Web GIS infrastructure for municipal and government applications.

Prerequisites

Participants should preferably have:

• Basic understanding of GIS and geospatial data.
• Familiarity with raster and vector datasets.
• Basic understanding of coordinate reference systems.
• Basic experience with GIS software.
• Basic understanding of databases is desirable.
• Basic understanding of Web GIS is desirable but not mandatory.

No prior experience with PostGIS, GeoServer or VistaBridge is required.

For the practical component, participants should have access to the agreed software environment and representative municipal datasets.

Software / Technical Environment

Core Technology Stack

QGIS

Used for:

• GIS data preparation
• Data cleaning
• Dataset organization
• Spatial data examination

PostGIS

Used for:

• Spatial database
• Spatial data storage
• Dataset management
• Municipal GIS data organization

GeoServer

Used for:

• GIS data publishing
• Layer configuration
• OGC services
• Web-based geospatial data access

VistaBridge

Used for:

• GeoServer integration
• Connecting published GIS services to Web GIS applications
• Web map configuration
• Dataset integration and management

Supporting Environment

• Web browser
• Representative municipal datasets
• Appropriate database and Web GIS environment

The final software versions, datasets and technical environment will be confirmed during technical scoping.

Duration

3 Days — 24 Hours

Daily Training Structure

8 Hours per Day

• 4 Hours Pre-Lunch
• 4 Hours Post-Lunch

Maximum Participants: 20

Training Modes

The training can be delivered through:

• Onsite classroom training
• Online instructor-led training
• Hybrid training
• Customized institutional training

The practical environment and datasets can be configured around the requirements of the participating government department or municipality.

What You Will Be Able to Do

After completing this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand open-source Web GIS architecture.
• Understand the role of QGIS, PostGIS, GeoServer and VistaBridge.
• Prepare and organize GIS datasets using QGIS.
• Clean and prepare raw municipal datasets.
• Create and manage a PostGIS spatial database.
• Import GIS datasets into PostGIS.
• Organize municipal spatial datasets.
• Connect GeoServer with PostGIS.
• Publish spatial datasets through GeoServer.
• Configure GIS layers.
• Configure OGC services.
• Understand WMS and WFS.
• Access published GIS services.
• Configure Web GIS maps.
• Integrate GeoServer services using VistaBridge.
• Manage Web GIS datasets.
• Understand user and access concepts.
• Understand public and restricted GIS information.
• Integrate the complete Web GIS stack.
• Build a municipal Web GIS portal from raw datasets.
• Understand the complete government Web GIS workflow.

End-to-End Training Workflow

The complete training follows the government Web GIS implementation workflow:

Raw Municipal GIS Data

↓

QGIS — Data Preparation

↓

PostGIS — Spatial Database

↓

GeoServer — Data Publishing

↓

OGC Services

↓

VistaBridge — Service Integration

↓

Web Map Configuration

↓

Dataset Management

↓

User & Access Concepts

↓

Municipal Web GIS Portal

Complete Practical Outcome

By the end of the training, participants will have worked through a complete open-source municipal Web GIS implementation, starting with raw GIS datasets and progressing through data preparation, spatial database management, geospatial service publishing, Web GIS integration and portal configuration.

QGIS + PostGIS + GeoServer + VistaBridge

From Raw GIS Data to a Municipal Web GIS Portal