QGIS / ArcGIS
Turns location data into maps and insight — one free, one industry-standard commercial
What it is
About QGIS / ArcGIS
QGIS and ArcGIS both let users layer, analyse, and visualise spatial datasets — from flood modelling and drainage design to environmental noise mapping and biodiversity assessments. QGIS is a fully free, open-source alternative with a large plugin ecosystem, while ArcGIS is Esri's more polished, enterprise-standard commercial suite widely used in local government and larger engineering consultancies.
What you can do with it
Capabilities
Layer and analyse spatial/environmental datasets
Model hydrology, drainage, and flood risk
Map environmental noise or ecological data
Perform biodiversity net gain and habitat analysis
Produce publication-quality maps for planning applications
How to learn it
Learning Resources
QGIS's official documentation and QGIS Tutorials and Tips (blog/YouTube)
Esri's free ArcGIS learning resources and Esri Academy courses
Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) / environmental sector GIS training
Practise by mapping open UK government spatial datasets (Ordnance Survey, DEFRA)
Pro Tip
Learn to work with coordinate reference systems (CRS) properly before anything else — mismatched projections are the single most common cause of maps and analyses that look subtly wrong.
Skills that use this tool
Roles that use this tool