Find and Export Data

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  3. Add a raster layer into QGIS

Add a raster layer into QGIS

1. Download your chosen data layer

Use the ‘+ map’ button to add your chosen raster dataset to your collection, and click Export

Select your preferred file format, and download your dataset. You will notice that your raster download will include a number of image tiles. Together, these tiles cover the extent of the requested download area.

Your download archive also contains additional files that helps GIS packages correctly arrange the tiles.

2. Extract your download to a new folder

Your dataset will have been downloaded as a ZIP file, so you’ll first need to extract these files. Note that it’s important to keep all the files in the same folder.

3. Open Quantum GIS (QGIS)

4. Select Add Raster Layer

Navigate to the folder that contains the tile images and select all the images in the layer.

Once you have selected the images, select Open, and the selected image tiles will be added to your map.

5. Zoom to your data

Right click the tiles in the Layers window to the left of your screen and click Set Project CRS from Layer.

In the Layers sidebar, add a new group by right clicking and selecting Add New Group. Drag the image layers into this new group. Once all images are in this group, right click the group and select Zoom to Group.

Now you can use the "Zoom" and "Pan" tools to find the area you are interested in.

6. Save as Image

Open the file menu at the top of your screen and select Save as Image. This will save the current view of your data in QGIS as an image file.

Note that you can also use the Quantum GIS Print Compositing tools to add layout and map elements before printing.

In our example, our final image looks like this: