Specify a dataset’s CRS in QGIS

To understand better how QGIS deals with data collected using a different SRS, let’s add another new file to our QGIS project

The team leader of the gibbon surveys, Phuong, has received new data from her colleague Binh from a second gibbon survey in the westernmost edge of the nature reserve. Binh has provided data as a .csv. Let’s look at the raw data before we add it to our GIS project

1. Download GibbonSightings_Survey2.csv
2. Open up GibbonSightings_Survey2.csv in Excel or your text editor
3. Examine the columns and identify those which contain the location information. Compare them to the coordinate columns in Threats_Evidence.csv
4. Do you think the sighting locations are in Latitude-Longitude, or a different SRS?

You’re right! Binh’s observations were collected in a different SRS, known as NSIDC EASE-Grid Global, EPSG code 3410

Now we know a little more about the dataset, we can add it to our project. The process is similar to adding Threats_Evidence.csv, but this time we need to tell QGIS which map projection the dataset uses

1. Layer > Add Layer > Add Delimited Text Layer...
2. Choose source file - click the ... button and find GibbonSightings_Survey2.csv
3. Ensure Point coordinates is selected under Geometry Definition
4. QGIS will automatically recognise which columns contain the X and Y coordinates from the column names, but we need to specify the CRS. Under Geometry Definition, click on the tiny Select CRS button on the right-hand edge of the window - see screenshot below
5. Search for NSIDC in the Coordinate Reference System Selector window - select it and click OK
6. Click Add and Close
7. Check that the new sightings have appeared in the correct place on your map

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