GIS mapping tools
Turns raw location data into maps that drive planning decisions
What it is
About GIS mapping tools
GIS tools like Esri ArcGIS and the open-source QGIS let planners, environmental consultants and surveyors layer datasets — contamination surveys, flood zones, land use, ecology records — onto maps to analyse spatial relationships and support decision-making. They're core to contaminated land assessment, development plan appraisal and environmental impact work, where regulators expect spatial evidence rather than narrative reports. Outputs range from simple site plans to complex multi-layer risk maps used in planning applications.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Overlay environmental, ecological and land-use datasets on a single map
Analyse spatial relationships such as proximity to watercourses or protected sites
Produce maps and figures for planning applications and environmental reports
Digitise site boundaries and contamination sampling points
Model flood risk, viewsheds or habitat connectivity
How to learn it
Learning Resources
Review QGIS's official documentation and free training manual (qgis.org)
Work through Esri's free Learn ArcGIS tutorials and Esri Training courses
Watch YouTube channels covering QGIS and GIS mapping tutorials
Recreate a real site plan or public open dataset in QGIS for practice
Pro Tip
Learn QGIS first even if your employer uses ArcGIS — the underlying GIS concepts (layers, projections, attribute tables) transfer directly, and QGIS lets you practise for free.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool