Professional implementation, scaling, and management of QGIS within organizations.
GIS - Open Source
The QGIS Application Management course focuses on the professional implementation, scaling, and management of QGIS within organizations. You’ll learn how to integrate QGIS into your existing IT architecture and how to centrally install, configure, secure, and maintain it. We’ll cover deployment, user profiles, plugins, data sources, authentication, updates, performance, and support. We also examine standardization, management processes, and the decisions required to deploy QGIS organization-wide in a manageable way. The course is practice-oriented and based on experiences with the implementation and management of QGIS within municipal and other professional environments.
Implementing and Managing QGIS Professionally Within the Organization
QGIS has evolved into a fully-fledged open-source GIS platform that is being used more and more widely by government agencies, businesses, and other organizations. Choosing QGIS can give organizations more freedom in their GIS architecture and reduce their dependence on a single software vendor. However, a successful implementation requires more than just installing QGIS on a few workstations.
QGIS must be properly integrated into the existing IT architecture. This includes databases, user permissions, authentication, network and cloud environments, plugins, user profiles, releases, security, and integrations with other systems. It is precisely during the implementation phase that decisions are made that determine whether QGIS can later be easily managed, supported, and scaled up.
The QGIS Application Management course therefore focuses on the professional implementation, standardization, scaling, and management of QGIS as an organization-wide application. In addition to the technical aspects, we focus on the management structure, governance, and the decisions required to deploy QGIS in a controlled and future-proof manner.
From Individual QGIS Installation to Organization-Wide Deployment
Within organizations, QGIS is often first used by a few GIS specialists. As soon as multiple departments and user groups begin working with it, the management task changes. An individual installation is then no longer sufficient, and there arises a need for centralized policies and standardization.
Which version of QGIS does the organization provide? How are new releases tested and rolled out? Which plugins are users allowed to install? Which settings and data sources are provided centrally? And how do you prevent every user from eventually setting up their own QGIS environment?
During the course, we will therefore first examine the organization and its use of QGIS. Which departments and user groups are there? What functionality do they need? Which applications, data sources, and integrations already exist? Based on this assessment, a manageable QGIS environment can be set up.
Integrating QGIS into the IT Architecture
A key premise of the course is that QGIS is not a standalone desktop program, but rather becomes part of the organization’s IT architecture.
Topics covered include centralized installation and deployment—such as OSGeo4W—the use of QGIS LTR versions, release and update policies, and working with development, test, acceptance, and production environments (OTAP). This allows new versions, plugins, and configurations to be thoroughly tested before they are made available to users.
We also examine integration with existing infrastructure, such as PostGIS, Oracle, network files, web services, and other data sources. Authentication, authorization, information security, and performance are integral parts of the setup.
User Profiles, Templates, and Standardization
Not every QGIS user requires the same functionality. A GIS specialist works differently than, for example, an employee in Public Space Management, Spatial Planning, or someone who occasionally consults geographic information.
With user profiles, templates, and centralized configurations, QGIS can be tailored to different user groups. During the course, you’ll learn how to standardize settings, connections, project structures, and functionality.
This creates a familiar and practical working environment for users, while application management maintains control over configurations, versions, and support. It also makes it easier to integrate new employees or departments into QGIS in a controlled manner.
Please note! A solid basic understanding of QGIS is required to fully benefit from this course. If you do not yet have this knowledge, we recommend taking the QGIS Basics training first.
Centralized Plugin Management and Control
Plugins are a key strength of QGIS, but they also present management and security challenges in a professional environment. When every user can independently install and update plugins, discrepancies can arise between workstations, and stability, support, and security can become more difficult to manage.
During the course, we will therefore cover centralized plugin management. We’ll explore centralized plugin repositories, the selection and deployment of approved plugins, and options for whitelisting. New or modified plugins can first be tested in a controlled environment before being made available organization-wide.
This preserves the flexibility of the open-source ecosystem while allowing the organization to maintain control over quality, continuity, and security.
Data Sources, Databases, and Integrations
A professional QGIS environment consists of more than just the desktop application. QGIS must be able to access geographic data from various internal and external sources.
During the course, we will therefore focus on connections to, among others, PostGIS, Oracle, network files, and web services such as WMS and WFS. We will not only cover the technical aspects of establishing connections but also how to manage them centrally.
Topics such as authentication, authorization, permission structures, security, and performance will be covered. The goal is to create an environment where users can easily access the data sources they need, without each user having to configure connections and settings individually.
Maintenance, Logging, Performance, and Troubleshooting
Application management really begins once QGIS is put into production. Users encounter problems, plugins may cause errors, connections may slow down, and new releases or changes to the infrastructure can affect how QGIS operates.
That is why we cover logging, error analysis, performance, and troubleshooting. Participants learn to systematically investigate problems and distinguish between issues in QGIS itself, plugins, user profiles, data sources, network connections, or other parts of the infrastructure.
We’ll also examine maintenance processes, documentation, support, and the division of responsibilities among GIS, functional management, and IT.
From Vendor Lock-in to an Open GIS Environment
For organizations implementing QGIS as an alternative to or supplement for commercial GIS software, the technical migration is only one part of the change.
During the course, we therefore also examine vendor lock-in and the exit strategy. What dependencies exist within the current GIS environment? Which data, file formats, processes, scripts, integrations, and applications depend on them? And which components can be based on open standards and open-source components?
The goal is not simply to replace one GIS package with another, but to consider a GIS architecture in which data, software, and processes remain as manageable and interchangeable as possible.
Who is this course intended for?
This course is intended for professionals and organizations that already use QGIS, want to expand its use, or are preparing for an organization-wide implementation or migration to QGIS.
The course is particularly suitable for:
GIS and Geo-ICT application administrators;
functional administrators;
technical administrators and system administrators;
GIS coordinators and GIS architects;
information architects;
ICT professionals who need to integrate QGIS into the existing infrastructure;
project teams preparing to implement or migrate to QGIS.
The course is relevant for, among others, municipalities, provinces, water boards, implementing organizations, utility and infrastructure companies, engineering and consulting firms, and other organizations that wish to deploy QGIS professionally and organization-wide.
Why choose the QGIS Application Management course?
The course goes beyond simply installing and technically managing QGIS. You’ll learn to consider the entire environment in which QGIS must function within an organization.
From implementation to management: the course covers both the decisions made during implementation and day-to-day application management.
IT architecture: QGIS is viewed as part of databases, services, authentication, networks, and other systems.
Organization-wide standardization: control over user profiles, templates, settings, plugins, and data sources.
Controlled deployment: focus on OSGeo4W, QGIS LTR, OTAP, releases, and updates.
Security and continuity: focus on permissions, authentication, logging, performance, troubleshooting, and support.
Open-source strategy: understanding vendor lock-in, open standards, and building a future-proof GIS environment.
Practical focus: based on experience with the implementation and management of QGIS in municipal and other professional environments.
After completing this course, you will not only be able to manage QGIS but also make informed decisions about how QGIS should be configured within your organization. In doing so, you will lay a technical and organizational foundation for a manageable, scalable, and future-proof open-source GIS environment.
Day 1 – Implementing QGIS and Integrating It into the IT Architecture
On the first day, the focus will be on setting up QGIS as an organization-wide application. We won’t start with the installation, but with the organizational aspects: who will be using QGIS, for what purposes, and within which existing IT and GIS environment?
From the current situation to the target architecture—taking stock of the existing GIS environment, applications, data sources, integrations, and dependencies.
Open source and vendor lock-in—QGIS’s position within the GIS architecture and key considerations when migrating from commercial GIS software.
Users and user groups – distinguish between types of users, departments, tasks, and required functionality.
QGIS versions and LTR – determine which QGIS versions are suitable for professional and organization-wide use.
Installation and deployment with OSGeo4W – installing QGIS centrally and in a reproducible manner, and preparing it for a controlled rollout.
OTAP and sandbox – working with development, test, acceptance, and production environments for versions, plugins, and configurations.
User profiles – centrally configure profiles and tailor them to different user groups.
Templates and default settings – making uniform project templates, settings, connections, and workspaces available.
Data Sources and Services – Connect QGIS to PostGIS, Oracle, network data, and WMS/WFS services, among others.
Designing the QGIS Environment – bringing the various components together into a manageable setup for your organization.
By the end of Day 1, participants will have an understanding of the key technical and organizational decisions required to implement and scale QGIS in a controlled manner within an organization.
Day 2 – Making QGIS Manageable, Secure, and Scalable
On the second day, the focus shifts from setup to management and continuity. How do you maintain control over QGIS when dozens or hundreds of employees are using it and the environment is constantly changing?
Centralized plugin management—selecting, testing, and making plugins available in a controlled manner via central repositories.
Plugin whitelisting—determining which plugins are permitted within the organization and how new plugins are evaluated.
Authentication and authorization – organizing secure access to databases, services, and other data sources.
Security – managing risks related to plugins, configurations, credentials, data sources, and external connections.
Release and update policy – testing and rolling out new QGIS versions, patches, plugins, and changes in a controlled manner.
Logging and error analysis – collecting information to systematically investigate problems.
Performance – identifying and investigating the causes of a slow QGIS environment.
Troubleshooting – Pinpointing issues related to QGIS, profiles, plugins, databases, the network, or other components of the infrastructure.
Support and Documentation – Support users and document knowledge, configurations, and management agreements.
Management Organization and Governance – allocating roles and responsibilities among users, key users, GIS, application management, and IT.
Roadmap for QGIS – determine which next steps are needed to further implement, standardize, and scale up QGIS.
By the end of Day 2, participants will be able to organize the key management processes related to QGIS and will have the tools to deploy QGIS securely, manageably, and scalably within their organization.
Learning Objectives for the QGIS Application Management Course
Position and integrate QGIS within an organization’s existing GIS and IT architecture;
Identify users, user groups, and their functional needs, and translate these into a manageable QGIS configuration;
Selecting an appropriate QGIS version and LTR strategy and establishing a release and update policy;
Install QGIS centrally and roll it out in a controlled manner, using tools such as OSGeo4W;
Set up an OTAP or test environment for testing versions, plugins, and configurations;
centrally manage user profiles, templates, and default settings and tailor them to different user groups;
Centrally manage, test, and make plugins available in a controlled manner via repositories and whitelisting;
Connect QGIS to data sources and services such as PostGIS, Oracle, network data, and WMS/WFS;
organizing authentication, authorization, and security for QGIS and data sources;
Systematically analyze issues with QGIS using logging, performance analysis, and troubleshooting;
Organize support, documentation, roles, and responsibilities within the QGIS management organization;
Identify dependencies and vendor lock-in within the existing GIS environment and incorporate them into a migration or exit strategy;
develop a roadmap for the professional implementation, standardization, and further scaling of QGIS within your own organization.
Want to know more?
Do you have questions about the course content? Or are you unsure whether the course aligns with your learning goals or preferences? Would you prefer an in-house or private course? We’d be happy to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About QGIS Application Management
Yes. The course is specifically designed for organizations that want to implement QGIS, expand its use, or prepare for a migration from another GIS environment. We cover both the technical setup and user groups, standardization, IT architecture, management, and governance.
A solid basic understanding of QGIS is recommended. This course does not cover the day-to-day use of QGIS, but rather its professional installation, configuration, security, standardization, and management. If you have little experience with QGIS, we recommend taking the QGIS Basics course first.
During the course, you will learn how to use user profiles, templates, central settings, and plugin management to provide different QGIS environments. This allows, for example, GIS specialists and staff from various departments to work in a suitable, standardized environment, while application management maintains centralized control.
Yes. We are examining QGIS’s role within the broader GIS and IT architecture. In doing so, we discuss dependencies on existing software, data, file formats, plugins, and integrations, and how to incorporate these into a migration and exit strategy. The goal is a manageable and future-proof GIS environment in which the organization is less dependent on a single vendor.
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