New to GIS? Ask questions, explore tools, and find beginner resources to get you started.

What is GIS?
Best free/low-cost GIS software
GIS training for beginners
QGIS vs. ArcGIS: What’s the difference?

Discuss specific software platforms, tools, and extensions used in GIS work. For example:

• QGIS support and plugins
• ArcGIS Pro tips and tricks
• Mobile GIS apps (Collector, Field Maps)
• Web mapping (StoryMaps, ArcGIS Online)

Share knowledge about where to find reliable GIS data, how to organize it, and best practices for storage and metadata. Discussion topic examples: 

• Sources for cadastral data or topographic maps
  Indigenous-owned or open-source datasets
  Managing large shapefiles
  Storing and backing up community data

Focused discussion on mapping parcels, reserves, land use, traditional territory, and land-based projects.

• Reserve boundary updates
  Custom parcel mapping
  Land Use Planning maps
  Traditional knowledge mapping

Explore the use of aerial photography, satellite imagery, and UAVs in land management. Discussion topics:

• Drone regulations and licensing
  Using Sentinel or Landsat imagery
  High-resolution base maps
  Vegetation and waterbody mapping

How GIS supports environmental monitoring, stewardship, and climate resilience projects. Discussion topics:

• Wetland and habitat mapping
  Environmental impact tracking
  GIS for emergency planning or wildfires
  Climate change and GIS overlays

Showcase area how communities are using GIS to enhance their lands work. Inspire and be inspired.

• Community-led GIS projects
  Youth engagement in mapping
  GIS and language preservation
  Before-and-after mapping results

Run into a technical problem? Post here to get help from your peers and the NALMA Survey Unit. Examples:

• "My map won't print"
  Georeferencing issues
  Projection problems
  How to fix broken layers

Help improve the GIS Forum! Let us know here what works, what doesn’t, and what you’d like to see  added. Share your ideas, questions, or category suggestions.