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Atlas layouts and repeated maps

Outcome: produce a repeatable series of map pages from a coverage layer.

Atlas is useful when the same map design must be produced for many features, for example:

  • one map per Māori land block in a research set
  • one restoration-area sheet
  • one monitoring-site sheet
  • one historical place-reference sheet

Prepare the coverage layer​

Use a stable ID and useful display name. Avoid an atlas driven by a field that changes frequently.

Configure Atlas​

Create/open a Print Layout, then enable Atlas and choose the coverage layer.

Set:

  • page name expression
  • sort order if useful
  • map item controlled by atlas
  • margin around each feature

Dynamic text​

Use expressions in labels such as:

'Block / area: ' || attribute(@atlas_feature, 'display_name')

Add source/date information that remains constant across the series separately.

Filter layers by atlas feature​

Where appropriate, use data-defined filters or relations so each sheet shows observations belonging to the current site/area.

Test carefully. A wrong filter repeated across 100 pages is worse than one wrong manual map.

Exercise​

Create an atlas from three synthetic candidate/restoration areas. Export a multi-page PDF and inspect page naming, extent, labels and legend consistency.

Check​

  • each page identifies its feature clearly
  • scale is appropriate/consistent where the purpose requires comparison
  • no labels from neighbouring features create false associations
  • PDF pages are ordered predictably

Next: Geometry repair and topology.

Official reference: QGIS Atlas.

Last reviewed: 26 August 2026

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