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Tutorial: Georeferencing Topo Sheets, Topo Maps, Satellite Image or Scanned Maps in QGIS
Most GIS projects require georef erencing some raster data. In this tutorial I will discuss the concepts, strategies and tools within QGIS to achieve a high accuracy georef erencing.
Georef erencing is the process of assigning real-world coordinates to each pixel of the raster. Many times these coordinates are obtained by doing f ield surveys - collecting coordinates with a GPS device f or f ew easily identif iable f eatures in the image or map. In some cases, where you are looking to digitize scanned maps, you can obtain the coordinates f rom the markings on the map image itself . Using these sample coordinates or GCPs ( Ground Control Points ), the image is warped and made to f it within the chosen coordinate system. For advanced georef erencing using another georef erenced image or OpenStreetMap data, see this tutorial. T he data we will use f or this tutorial comes f rom the excellent Hipkisss Scanned Old Maps. T here is a vast collection of out-of -copyright scanned maps that one can use f or research. For this tutorial, we will use a 1870 map of southen India and geo-ref erence it using Quantum GIS. Download this JPG image and save it on your hard-drive. Georef erencing in QGIS is done via the Georef erencer plugin. If you do not already have it, see this tutorial f or f inding and loading plugins in QGIS.
Open the plugin f rom Plugins Georef erencer Georef erencer. A new plugin window like below will pop-up. T he plugin window is divided into 2 sections. T he top section where the raster will be
displayed and the bottom section where a table showing your GCPs will appear. If you wish, you may drag the GCP window and separate it f rom the top section. Now click on the Open Raster button on top-lef t corner. Browse to the JPG image of the scanned map and click Open. In the next screen, you will asked to choose the rasters coordinate ref erence system (CRS). T his is the projection of your control points. If you have collected the data using a GPS device, you would have the WGS84 CRS. If you are geo-ref erencing a scanned map like this, you can obtain the CRS inf ormation f rom the map itself .
Looking at our map image, the coordinates are in Lat/Long. T here is no datum inf ormation given, so we have to assume an appropriate one. Since it is India and the map is quite old, we can bet the Everest 1830 datum would give us good results. Click OK.
You will see the image will be loaded on the top section. You can use the zoom/pan controls in the toolbar to learn more about the map.
To assign coordinates, we need to use the map grid on the image. If you zoom to bottom-lef t corner, you will see markings f or 70 longitude and 5 latitude. So we can determine that the real-world coordinate at the intersection of these grid lines will be (70,5). Remember that X=longitude and Y=latitude. Now click on Add Point button to add these coordinates. Once selected, click at the intersection of the 70 and 5 grid line.
In the pop-up window, enter the coordinates. Click OK.
You will notice the GCP table now has a row with details of your f irst GCP.
Similarly, take GCPs at all 4 corners of the image where you have grid intersections. T he more GCPs you have the better. Once you are done, click on Settings Transf ormation Settings.
In the Transf ormation settings dialog, you will have to choose multiple parameters. To keep things simple, choose f ollowing parameters. We are setting out Target SRS as WGS84, so the resulting geotif f f ile will have a CRS of WGS84. Make sure you check the Load in QGIS when done button at the bottom. Click OK.
Now click the Start georef erencing button f rom the toolbar.
Once the process is complete, you will see the georef erenced geotif f image loaded in your QGIS canvas.
T he georef erencing is now complete. But as always, I encourage you to always verif y your work. How do we check if our georef erencing is accurate? In this case, load the country boundaries shapef ile f rom the Natural Earth dataset and compare them. You will notice they match up pretty nicely. T here is some error and it can be f urther imprived by taking more control points, changing transf ormation parameters and trying a dif f erent datum.Hope you are able to learn this and achieve a good georef erencing with your own data. Let me know in the comments how did it go.. Check out the new tutorial Advanced Georef erencing in QGIS using a Ref erence Layer
