Guide8 min read22 September 2026

QGIS Site Analysis for Thesis: Contours to Jury Sheet in One Evening

By ArchHive Team

📷1-meter SRTM contour vectors clipped and styled in QGIS for final thesis sheets.

QGIS Site Analysis for Thesis: Contours to Jury Sheet in One Evening

My site chapter took one evening in QGIS. Contours, landuse, watershed, 500m context map. The jury spent 4 minutes on that sheet alone.

The 4 layers every site sheet needs

Contours at 1m interval from SRTM 30m tiles. Clip to 1km x 1km around the plot.

Landuse: OSM polygons for roads, gardens, water, transit. Export as high-contrast figure-ground.

Watershed: run Fill > Flow Accumulation on the DEM, threshold at 500 cells for thesis scale.

Context: 500m radius with plot polyline + setback envelope drawn on top.

QGIS to ArchHive studio handoff

Export each layer as PNG at 300 DPI, transparent background.

Drop the same boundary into our Site Analysis Studio at /site-analysis-tool. The OSM context map is free, no key, and the sun path tool gives shadow + Export PNG for the climate sheet.

My file list: contours.png (2.1MB), figure-ground.png (1.4MB), watershed.png (900KB), context.png (1.8MB).

What the jury actually checks

North arrow + scale bar on every map. Missing scale kills credibility.

Source line: SRTM + OpenStreetMap contributors + survey date.

One inference per map. Contour map says slope drives entry. Landuse map says noise comes from the east road.

This is reference material for study, not work to submit as your own. Draw your own analysis from what you learn.

See finished site sheets at [archhive.design](https://archhive.design). Sellers keep 70%.

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The ArchHive team comprises experienced architects, educators, and designers committed to supporting architecture students worldwide. We share insights, resources, and guidance to help you excel in your thesis work.

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Guide8 min read22 September 2026

QGIS Site Analysis for Thesis: Contours to Jury Sheet in One Evening

By ArchHive Team

📷1-meter SRTM contour vectors clipped and styled in QGIS for final thesis sheets.

QGIS Site Analysis for Thesis: Contours to Jury Sheet in One Evening

My site chapter took one evening in QGIS. Contours, landuse, watershed, 500m context map. The jury spent 4 minutes on that sheet alone.

The 4 layers every site sheet needs

Contours at 1m interval from SRTM 30m tiles. Clip to 1km x 1km around the plot.

Landuse: OSM polygons for roads, gardens, water, transit. Export as high-contrast figure-ground.

Watershed: run Fill > Flow Accumulation on the DEM, threshold at 500 cells for thesis scale.

Context: 500m radius with plot polyline + setback envelope drawn on top.

QGIS to ArchHive studio handoff

Export each layer as PNG at 300 DPI, transparent background.

Drop the same boundary into our Site Analysis Studio at /site-analysis-tool. The OSM context map is free, no key, and the sun path tool gives shadow + Export PNG for the climate sheet.

My file list: contours.png (2.1MB), figure-ground.png (1.4MB), watershed.png (900KB), context.png (1.8MB).

What the jury actually checks

North arrow + scale bar on every map. Missing scale kills credibility.

Source line: SRTM + OpenStreetMap contributors + survey date.

One inference per map. Contour map says slope drives entry. Landuse map says noise comes from the east road.

This is reference material for study, not work to submit as your own. Draw your own analysis from what you learn.

See finished site sheets at [archhive.design](https://archhive.design). Sellers keep 70%.

Get QGIS Site Analysis for Thesis: Contours to Jury Sheet in One Evening Resources on ArchHive

Browse professional materials, templates, and expert guidance related to this topic.

Explore Resources

Found this useful? Share it

WhatsApp Twitter Telegram Email

About the Author

← Back to Blog