Export QGIS Atlas frames showing ALL the features on a given date

Question

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, but I'm trying to generate a bunch of frames (to animate later with ffmpeg) using QGIS Atlas + NASA FIRMS data. I'm using the date column from the FIRMS data, in YYYY-MM-DD format. QGIS version is 3.10.1

Using this technique from this other post to show cumulative points.

And here are my Atlas settings before I export them as pngs.

Unfortunately this exports a separate png for each features from of the data, rather than grouping all the points under a given date and exporting a single image for that date.

What could I try to export all the points for each date?

Answer 1

Well the principle of the atlas is to create a single map for each features of your layer, so it's logical to have a single map by features.

In your case I suggest a modification / creation of your data. The point is to create a layer with a "row"/ features with multiples points, aggregated by date.

1. Dissolve your point layer, see there https://docs.qgis.org/3.4/en/docs/user_manual/processing_algs/gdal/vectorgeoprocessing.html?highlight=dissolve#dissolve
2. Use Dissolve field : ACQ_DATE -> creation of a new layer e.g. fire_dissolve_date
3. Then add this fire_dissolve_date layer for your atlas.

Like this you will have a series of map, with points of fire for a single date by map.

And let me know your animation if you publish it!