QGIS

QGIS example using a zip code tile service and WMS to add a zip code layers

This example goes through the steps to create a new project in QGIS and then add a basemap, a vector tile layer, and a WMS layer.

This example will be using services listed on the Geoplatform Series Information for 2020 Census 5-Digit ZIP Code Tabulation Area metadata page.

• Vector Tile Service: https://tileservice.geoplatform.gov/vector/edd18cd7_7adc_4428_a6d9_81072155427e/{z}/{x}/{y}.mvt

• Web Map Service: https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/services/TIGERweb/tigerWMS_Current/MapServer/WMSServer

Example Steps

1. Follow the instructions in QGIS Getting Started to install and get started with QGIS
2. Open QGIS and start a new project.
3. First add OpenStreetMap under XYZ or add the plugin and add a different basemap using the QuickMapServices Plugin
4. Add the Vector Tile Sevice by right-clicking the Vector Tiles and adding a New Generic Connection. Enter the tile service url from above.
5. Change the Vector Tile properties by right-clicking on the layer and selecting properties. Uncheck the polygons with the fill and click apply
6. Add the WMS to QGIS by right-clicking WMS/WMTS and adding a new connection using the WMS url from above.
7. Next add the 2010 Census Zip Code Tabulation Areas Labels by right-clicking to add the layer to your project.
8. Now you should see zip code labels for each of the zip code areas.

Tools

QGIS

QGIS is a user friendly Open Source Geographic Information System (GIS) licensed under the GNU General Public License. QGIS is an official project of the Open Source Geospatial Foundation (OSGeo). It runs on Linux, Unix, Mac OSX, Windows and Android and supports numerous vector, raster, and database formats and functionalities.

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