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The subject of the research in this paper was a review and identification of types of cartographic documentation used in crisis management in Poland. The analysis focused mainly on assessing the usefulness of cartographic data for visualising the scale of natural phenomena such as floods, landslides, droughts, wind, and others. The most important map that serves as a reference base for various types of industry-related works, especially derivative geodetic works, is the cadastral map stored in the resources of the Land and Building Register. In this study, the authors concentrate on the possibilities of using cartographic data, with a particular emphasis on cadastral maps, for crisis management purposes. The aim of this paper is to review and provide an expert assessment of the usefulness of cartographic data in emergency situations. The research shows that cartographic data are crucial for each of the mentioned hazards, especially the resources of the Land and Building Register, which allow the visualisation of the spatial and temporal scale of these hazards. The success of the measures taken to reduce the occurrence of floods or landslides, for instance, depends first and foremost on fast and seamless access to reliable and up-to-date information on the terrain. The cadastre is one of the publicly accessible registers providing this data, without which crisis management could not be fully effective. The study was conducted through an online survey using an interactive sheet, dedicated to experts (services dealing with different types of hazards). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of urban areas over the last several decades has significantly contributed to climate change. The modern approach to spatial planning and land management responds to the adaptation of cities to changing climate conditions and the need for a liveable environment. The land use of new green spaces and the upgrading of the existing ones should include adaptation to the present and future climate conditions. Cities can adjust to climate change in many different ways. Over the years, the expansion of urban areas has generated a trend towards higher average temperatures than in rural areas, especially in densely populated urban centres with scarce vegetation where temperatures tend to be higher. City growth is detrimental to the natural environment and water circulation. Insufficient vegetation contributes to high air temperature in cities and urban heat islands. In addition, poor water retention and water infrastructure exacerbate urban droughts and floods. Therefore, efforts should be interdisciplinary and multi-faceted to achieve the best results. Adaptation to climate change faces in Poland multiple and diversified barriers. Hence the question: what is happening at the social level? Are residents of cities conscious of the problem, and do they know how to respond to it? What are the barriers concerning climate change? The paper investigates the public awareness of climate change in Poland. The results demonstrate that there is insufficient awareness of climate change in Polish society and a broad remedial measures are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European Union support is often very important at the beginning of an investment, especially when own resources are insufficient. EU funds provide Poland with a range of development opportunities, and whether they are used appropriately depends mainly on their proper management. Lipnica Wielka is an example of the use of such funds, especially in the period 2007-2013, when the funds were primarily intended to improve the quality of life of residents. The investments in infrastructure should have a positive impact on tourism in the area. The municipality's main assets are its clean air and attractive location. Advanced organic farming together with a well-developed recreational and agrotourism base have been adopted as the main target of the Municipality's Local Development Plan. The material benefits of the development of tourism and agrotourism are expected to improve the standard of living of the municipality's residents. The aim of the paper is to analyse the use of grants received from the EU funds and to determine their impact on the development of the municipality. The largest investment included the extension of the sewerage system and the sewage treatment plant. Only 3% of the total funds were allocated to the development of tourism and agrotourism. The objectives of the Municipality's Local Development Plan were not achieved within the set time frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National power grid in Poland requires modernisation, therefore by 2030 numerous actions are scheduled regarding the expansion of the existing network and the construction of new electricity transmission lines (power lines). The planned activities will undoubtedly change the quality of landscape and result in fragmentation of forest habitats, some of which are characterised by high biodiversity and constitute a key element of ecological corridors. The aim of the present paper was to outline the issue of the impact of the power line corridors on forest habitat fragmentation, as well as to present the GuidosToolbox software (Graphical User Interface for the Description of image Objects and their Shapes) used, among other things, for the determination of the degree of fragmentation of forest habitats. The analysis concerned the Puszcza Bukowa forest, which is a part of the Natura 2000 network and is protected under the Szczecin Landscape Park 'Puszcza Bukowa'. Despite abundant natural assets of the Puszcza Bukowa forest, it was necessary to run many power lines through its area due to location of the forest in the vicinity of the Szczecin agglomeration. The course of power lines contributed to the fragmentation of the discussed forest complex and to the depletion of its interior classified with the GuidosToolbox software as 'Intact'. The software discussed in the present paper may prove useful in the identification of the degree of forest area fragmentation, connected with the course of high-voltage power transmission lines, and in the assessment of the impact of the planned investment projects on biocenoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utility networks provide transport for various types of raw materials. They comprise a network of pipes, cables and ducts running on, under and above the surface of either ground or water. They connect individual customers with distributors within water supply, sewage, heating, telecommunications, electricity, as well as oil, gas and chemical networks. They serve an extremely important role in today's urbanised world. However, utility networks require specialised treatment not only in legal, technical or social terms, but also geodetic and cartographic. It is necessary to conduct a precise and accurate inventory to prepare and implement projects of utility networks, as well as all kinds of other construction works. Mapping is another task required, along with the preparation of databases on networks that provide comprehensive (graphic and descriptive) information on objects. In each country, the execution of surveying and cartographic works observes internal laws and technical standards and norms. This paper presents the issues of surveying and cartographic works in relation to utility networks, as well as their implementation in Slovakia (Bratislava) and Poland (Kraków). The rules for the presentation of networks on maps, as well as technical standards for collecting, processing and sharing network databases based on legal provisions that are valid for both countries, were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research was to determine the needs with regard to land consolidation works and land exchange in the villages of the Haczów municipality. The analysis of the spatial structure was based on the calculated factors, and the following paper follows the applied statistical method to determine the necessary sequence of works in the studied area. It includes seven cadastral districts of the Haczów municipality, i.e. Jabłonica Polska, Wzdów, Jasionów, Buków, Haczów, Malinówka and Trześniów, located in the Brzozów district, in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The study had to take into account the structure of land ownership, land use, fragmentation of cadastral plots, and plots with no direct access to a public road. It also includes the calculation of the productivity index of arable land and grassland, as well as specific sizes of the occurrence of the external chessboard of land, i.e. differentials of local and nonlocal land. The analyses allowed us to determine, first, the factors characterising individual localities, and then to present the hierarchy of consolidation works and land exchange in the form of a ranking. The study applies the common method of zero unitarisation. This method consists in normalising diagnostic variables using feature range control. The obtained measures are included in the range [0.1]. The results represent the average optimal value of the measures obtained by each of the individual objects. The position in the ranking of urgency of the land consolidation works and land exchange depends on the size of the synthetic measure obtained. The analysis was based on data obtained from the Land and Building Register of the District Office in Brzozów. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many real 3D objects have complex geometric shapes in various types of analyses. Image of these objects is recorded in the form of a 2D map. In the analysis, a simplification of this image to basic 2D figures with defined geometry is often needed. The paper presents an analysis of the geometry of a flat image (an image of a 3D object) using regular polygons. Geometry properties (F form, C centroid, S size) were determined to describe the object. Various criteria of selection of the 'best ' regular n-sided polygon for a given 2D object (solved theoretically) were put forward. In the paper, criteria for describing a 2D object by regular n-sided polygons were defined on the basis of determining the measure of object shape elongation (e). In the 'blind ' theoretical example, it was tested whether the individual shape measures listed in the paper allow for correct identification of the shapes of given 2D objects. The practical application of measures is illustrated by two actual examples. While in the first example the shape of the Canary Islands is analysed, the second example describes the shape of Poland 's borders. Actual examples deliver different results for different measures. In effect, there is no clear objective criterion for selecting a polygon shape. The simplifications of the shape of an object presented in the paper should not be equated with the object 's generalization. Such simplifications are used in GIS to visualize geographic analyses based on the data available in the primary database, because the object will retain the character of the shape in the simplest possible geometry and neighborhood, and does not lose any of the scope and accuracy of the attributes assigned to a given object in the database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Poland, manor complexes are a reminder of the country’s history, identity and culture. Their activation is necessary to save them from being forgotten. The aim of the conceptual design presented in this paper is to determine the adaptability of the area at the former manor granary in the village of Pisary, located in the municipality of Zabierzów in the Małopolskie Voivodeship. The planned activities are meant to transform the area for agritourism purposes and make it available to both visitors and residents of the municipality. The changes in the selected area over the centuries were traced with analytical methods involving field research. Based on the opportunities offered by the surrounding landscape parks, potential uses of the area were also identified. In addition, efforts were made to symbolically merge the manor estate, the structure of which had been upset by the land parcelling. As a result of the analyses, three main zones were delineated, namely the recreation, educational and service zones. The project includes an adaptation of historic buildings for agritourism purposes together with accompanying services. In the conceptual design, the picturesque courtyard was developed into a multifunctional centre at a historic site with accompanying infrastructure. The terrain and natural conditions were utilised to create tourist attractions, providing active recreation. The centuries-old park, for example, has been made more suitable for walking and admiring the local fauna and flora. These interventions have enhanced the high landscape values of the site, ensuring that it meets the needs of contemporary visitors. This project shows how an attractive and welcoming facility can be created with little interference and in respect of the history of the site. This project is an example of how to use natural, geological, landscape and historical values to design an interesting point on the tourist map of the municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The silting process of reservoirs limits their use. Predicting this process is important for economic reasons. The paper assesses the possibility of using the methods of forecasting the silting process developed in studies of small Polish reservoirs to determine this process in reservoirs in other geographical regions. This analysis covers the Dachwig and Ohra reservoirs, located in Thuringia, Germany. The forecast of silting was developed using the Gončarov formula according to the guidelines in force in Poland and following the empirical formula used to calculate the average annual silting. It allowed determining the rate of silting. Based on the results of calculations using the Gončarov formula, it was found that the degree of silting after 100 years of operation of the Dachwig and Ohra reservoirs will be 2.45% and 0.001%, respectively. The average annual silting rate calculated from these data was found to be lower than that calculated using the empirical formula. The limitation of the empirical formula is also the reason for obtaining higher values of the average annual silting degree, which was developed in studies of reservoirs with capacities smaller than 3.86 million m3. Thus, for the 2.1 million m3 Dachwig reservoir, a difference of 43% in results was obtained, while for the much larger 17.5 million m3 Ohra reservoir, results differing by as much as three times were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the ever-better accessibility of the digital terrain model (DTM), it is enjoying growing popularity as a source of information about the surrounding world. It became even more approachable when DTM data covering the whole of Poland was made available free of charge on the Geoportal website. The GRID with a resolution of 1 meter per 1 meter covers virtually the entire country. The data on the Geoportal does not only refer to the measurements processed into a grid of squares, but also includes measurement data. They can be accessed through a systematic division into section sheets in the 1992 system. The paper presents research on assessing the accuracy of these publicly available data, compared to measurements obtained with the GNSS observations. The analysis involved data directly from the measurement device, not yet processed into a grid of squares. As part of the research, the height of 3 objects was compared. It was decided to measure the terrain profiles. To get as close as possible to the source data provided at the Geoportal website, the selected points of profiles previously identified in the point cloud were measured. This approach freed the final results from the need for height interpolation for the data selected for analysis. As result, the potential source of errors in such an approach was eliminated. Although during a classical profile measurement with this technology the selection of points would certainly be different, for research purposes this approach seems optimal. For this reason, in addition to the expected deviations resulting from the height differences of the tested points, deviations from the data from the point cloud of the XY coordinates, related to the adopted technology, are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas are influenced by many natural, social and economic factors. The historical conditions of social development, such as the rate of population growth, low yields and chronic food shortages, leading to the development of less useful areas with low production potential for agricultural purposes, have had an impact on the current state of rural areas. In addition, there is considerable fragmentation of agricultural land in these areas and a focus on production to meet farmers' own needs. Scientific literature comprises many proposals to define agriculturally unsuitable land in relation to the marginal, problem or abandoned land. This depends mainly on the research discipline, the authors and the approach to the issue under discussion. This paper aims to review the terminology and characterisation of land unsuitable for agriculture in Poland and selected European and Asian countries. Moreover, studies have been conducted into the reasons for the expansion of these areas and the ways of their development (e.g., performing forestry functions, growing crops for energy purposes, promoting tourism and recreation as well as pedestrian or hippie bicycle routes, creating ecological areas, terracing the slopes), which in the result is the main priority of agricultural development and improvement of the spatial structure of farms. Realising the specific functions the presented land is intended for should determine the direction of changes in their alternative development. All solutions for the development of these areas should be managed with a necessary consideration of social, economic and environmental aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas in Poland have a diversified spatial structure. The spatial structure of rural areas is improved by the procedures of land consolidation and exchange, aimed at creating more favourable management conditions in agriculture and forestry by developing the area structure of agricultural holdings, forests and forest lands, as well as rational shaping of land layouts and adjusting real estate boundaries to a system of land reclamation devices, roads and terrain. The Leżajsk district covers an area of 58,372 ha, including 40 cadastral precincts. So far, land consolidation has been performed in 29 villages, covering 46 113 ha, which is 79.0% of the total area of the district. Land consolidation in the Leżajsk district was carried out at various periods due to the changing legal regulations. The paper aims to present a chronological analysis of the land consolidation works conducted in the villages of the Leżajsk district, located in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship in 1945-2013, along with anticipated and implemented land consolidation works in the years 2014-2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visualization of objects on interactive maps usually completes a design process which is preceded by collecting and processing of data. The same applies to the list of monuments (objects of cultural heritage), as its compilation requires both field and office works. The aim of the paper was to evaluate if registers monuments maintained by Polish communes (gminas) can be presented with Google Fusion Tables and Leaflet software, the tools that are specifically used to provide and visualize data. Successive stages of creating a communal register of monuments in Poland - from surveying the objects of heritage in the field to preparing their address cards and creating electronic map application - were presented in the paper. In conclusion, it was proved that a web mapping service, in which text description and photographic documentation of presented objects are complemented with data about their location, can perfectly supplement the communal list of objects of cultural heritage compiled as a standard paper address cards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the analysis of the accuracy and repeatability of determining the position of the point by the Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK) technique using the Flächenkorrekturparameter (FKP) concept. The measurement was based on the Active Geodetic Network -- European Position Determination System (ASG-EUPOS). The FKP together with Virtual Reference Station (VRS) and Master-Auxiliary Concept (MAC) is the currently available method of generating corrections in NRTK technique in NAWGEO sub-service of ASG-EUPOS. NRTK positioning using FKP was analysed based on Global Positioning System (GPS) and Globalnaya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) signals, because the combination of these satellite systems is currently a common standard. The subject of the study was a 24-hour coordinate time series with a sampling interval of 30 seconds. The collected data was compared with the precise coordinates of the measuring point by calculating the linear deviations and the mean values of X, Y and Z coordinates' errors and mean position errors for one-hour periods. Selected measures of positioning accuracy were determined, both for three-dimensional and horizontal coordinates. An analysis of selected dilution of precision (DOP) factors was also carried out. The analyses were also carried out for coordinates expressed in the horizontal coordinate system and normal heights in force in Poland due to the assessment of the suitability of FKP for geodetic measurements. The experiment showed the expediency of NRTK measurements using FKP corrections generated based on observations from the ASG-EUPOS network for determining real-time position within the territory of Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VRSNET is a commercial active geodetic network of reference stations deployed on Polish territory and in neighbouring countries. The paper presents a spatial analysis of locations of VRSNET permanent stations whose antennas and satellite receivers continuously record signals transmitted by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The study focused on delimiting the potential average range of individual stations in Poland. Spatial analyses, including Voronoi/Thiessen diagram (Dirichlet tessellations) and spatial buffers were used in the research. The study evaluated the geometry of the VRSNET network for the Real Time Kinematic (RTK) measurements that use base vectors solely from the analysed stations. Possible development of the VRSNET network through launching new reference stations was elaborated, too. The spatial analyses indicated the localisation and range of areas with an insufficient density of the VRSNET network. The locations of 16 new reference stations have been delimited on Polish territory. The VRSNET network with newly designed stations was reassessed for validation using the Voronoi/Thiessen diagram and spatial buffers. The results were compared with the parameters for the Active Geodetic Network - European Position Determination System (ASG-EUPOS). Improved RTK measurement geometric parameters resulting from the proposed scenario of the VRSNET network development have been demonstrated. Network density can also have a positive impact on the measurement results of the Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each developed area in which there are various objects is characterized by specific structures that together form a broadly understood spatial structure. It covers spatial and natural objects as well as those resulting from human activities. Unfortunately, the spatial structure of the Polish countryside seems to be increasingly unfavourable. Rural areas in different regions of Poland are characterized by different spatial parameters. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out detailed research and analysis enabling the selection of appropriate factors describing the area under study in terms of determining the urgency of undertaking comprehensive land consolidation and exchange works, as rural areas in Poland need deep structural changes related to agricultural production, farm size, shaping land layout, demographic, spatial and institutional structure. The selection of factors describing the examined villages was made on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of the natural, social and economic conditions of the villages on the basis of data obtained from the Land and Property Register of the County Office in Opoczno and data from the Żarnów commune. The research results will allow the selection of the most important factors characterizing the spatial structure of the research area. The purpose of the paper is to identify the spatial and technical parameters of agricultural lands in the villages of Central Poland on the example of the Żarnów commune, which will be the starting point for determining the needs of land consolidation works in 41 villages of the Żarnów commune, located in the Opoczno poviat, the Łódź voivodship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Poland, the land and building records (EGiB) function as real estate cadastre, and are subject to periodic and on-going updating in accordance with applicable regulations. In addition to upgrades aimed at bringing the field status in line with the registration status, land and building records' modernizations are also being carried out. The purpose of modernization is to improve the quality of collected data as well as their standardization and harmonization. Modernization works can be carried out through field measurements or the use of photogrammetric technology. The purpose of this publication is to clarify the problems associated with determining the boundaries of registration plots in the context of modernization works performed using the photogrammetric method. The paper includes an assessment of technical and legal aspects related to the above-mentioned tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present work is to analyse the environmental impact assessment of the project consisting in the construction of the Tuchów bypass (Tarnów district of the Małopolska Region, Poland) as well as to verify the correctness of the report on the impact of the said project on the environment. The paper presents issues related to environmental impact assessment and a detailed analysis of the impact of the planned project on particular elements of the natural environment, including soil and water conditions, land surface, surface and underground water, atmospheric air, acoustic climate, as well as waste management. The conclusions are based on the results of the research and descriptive analysis. It has been demonstrated that the report on the impact of the Tuchów bypass road construction project on the environment has been prepared correctly, and the investment project in question will not have a negative impact on the environment or human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper compares the results of automatic calibration of Clark's synthetic unit hydrographs. Optimal values of model parameters were determined by the objective functions: percentage error in peak flow (PEPF), percentage error in volume (PEV), peak-weighted root mean square error (PWRMSE), sum of absolute residuals (SAR) and sum of squared residuals (SSR). The last part of the analysis assesses the flexibility of studied model. The research was performed in the upland watershed of Grabinka -- left tributary of the Wisłoka river located in Southern Poland. The analysis reveals that the smallest differences between the maximum flow in the observed and calculated flood culmination were obtained when applying PWRMSE function. This paper also indicates, that Clark's model was efficient for describing the analyzed floods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction of the disproportions between municipal infrastructure between rural and urban areas is one of crucial aspects of equalization of standards of life in mountainous area. Paper describes specific problems related to construction and operation of water supply and sewage systems in Polish Carpathian region, where on the one hand, the infrastructure expenses per capita, especially in case of water supply and sewage, are much higher in rural areas than in cities, and on the other hand the infrastructure investments in mountain areas prove to be much more effective than in the case of lowland regions of the same voivodeship. Similar investigations were made with respect to the energy infrastructure. The energy infrastructure problems identified in Carpathian area cannot be solved without strong restrictions in terms of air protection. Paper presents special solutions, dedicated to these specific regions, for hot water heating, district heating systems and ventilation with lower demand for primary energy (fossil fuels). The general idea assumes that the system would consist of a local heating network conveying heat to the buildings which would not have to be equipped with heating boilers. Such a concept could be a model solution for a large part of the Polish Carpathians, considering the large potential of available biomass as well as the mastered technologies of biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research presented in this paper was to determine the precise location of drop zones that were used for parachute jumps of the 'Silent and Unseen' paratroops (Polish: Cichociemni) and for delivering military equipment during World War II. The studies were based on historical research containing information about the locations of the jumps and their schematic arrangement, Ordnance Survey Maps of the pre-war period, and a GIS system with contemporary geographic digital maps. Within the work, the available information about the drop zone locations of the period from February 1941 to December 1944 is summarized. Moreover, the calibration of available schematic maps is presented, based on contemporary digital data. The final part of the study contains an estimation of drop zone location errors compared against military tactical maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diverse visualizations of environmental data, infographics, maps and Internet services can be information sources not only for their recipients, but also for their creators. That information can come from the monitoring of users' activity, which can be carried out in an automated way by means of Internet applications. Results for the monitoring of the Internet application presenting the local plan of spatial development of Tomice municipality are presented in the paper. From measuring their users' activity, it can be concluded that despite the increased number of visits from outside Poland's borders, the service remains of greatest interest to local communities. The vast majority of recorded visits came from the adjacent areas or these located near the municipality itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green areas, increasingly often designed among buildings, play an important role in any agglomeration. Parks can performvarious functions. Most often, they serve as greenery, which seems to be in an acute shortage in urbanised areas. In addition, parks inscribe themselves into transportation networks, including footpaths, bikeways and streets. They can be used as venues for cultural or artistic events, but also as recreational and educational areas. The influence of adopted solutions can have a broader or narrower scope. When making a decision to implement a particular solution, it is advisable to analyse various aspects of a planned investment project. This paper presents an approach to the evaluation of the role of parks in urban settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New means and forms of media develop dynamically in the contemporary world. Field researches results do not have to be popularized only in text or tabular static elaborations forms. Widely available computer techniques and tools can be used to their presentation equally well. They enable creating internet applications which make interaction with a user possible through various components. The aim of the paper is to present topic internet conception of a map which shows mountain river's hydromorphological diversity on the example of Wieprzówka stream. Project assumes spatial relation of objects observed in the field by means of geographic coordinates plotted on the interactive globe's map. Its informative and multimedia character was presumed in the map's project. Field tests the results of which were presented on the map were performed within the frames of initiative to create given watercourses base proposed by the international ecological organization called in short WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and Poznań University of Life Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the development of water supply networks and sewage systems in rural areas of Małopolskie and Podkarpackie Voivodeships in the Polish context. The scope of the thesis includes the analyses of length of water supply networks and sewage systems, number of people using them, number of water and sewage connections and volume of used water and volume of discharged sewage. The results of the study were presented in the graphs. The research material was taken from the reports on municipal infrastructure published by The Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS) for 2002-2012 and Local Data Bank (BDL) for 1995-2001. Though there has been a significant improvement in water supply and sewage systems, Poland will have great difficulty in meeting the requirements concerning their development in rural areas by 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

environment. The principal goal of these works is the improvement and development of the structure of rural areas. The paper indicates priority areas for planning of rural management works and especially for land consolidation works. The research was based on The programme of rural management works in the Kozłów commune [Program prac urządzeniowo-rolnych... 2011] and on geodesic and planning materials. Combination of various kinds of data obtained at District and Voivodeship offices of geodesy and cartography and their appropriate analysis have proved effective in identification of areas in the Kozłów commune most urgently requiring the improvement of the use and ownership structure of lands and in defining the areas where the current land use structure should be transformed. The condition of reasonable planning of rural management works, leading to an indication of priority areas for this kind of activities are -- on the level of voivodeships -- the consistent and synchronized spatial databases founded on the land and property register. The analysis of geographic, natural, environmental, socio-economic, demographic conditions and of cartographic documents with the use of GIS tools led to the identification of three precincts: Przybysławice, Bryzdzyn and Wierzbica, urgently requiring rural management works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents some insights into the topic of foreign tourists visiting Polish mountains, especially for hiking tours. The author used a method of combining the data gathered from the questionnaire sent to all operators of Polish mountain huts with the analysis of statistical data of PTTK Wisła and a short survey conducted among Czech and Slovak tourists. The result of the study confirmed that the number of foreign tourists participating in hiking in Poland is small and that they are generally unknown as a group. Also, the structure of this group is a bit surprising, as the number of German tourists is comparable or even higher than those from Slovakia and the Czech Republic sharing the same mountain ranges with Poland. Managers of mountain huts do not make much of an effort to attract tourists from abroad. Their main advertising is conducted through their web pages in English. As a result, Slovak and Czech tourists do not perceive the Polish mountains as a good place to hike. There is little consensus as to the reasons for this situation. The responses from the mountain huts managers were inconsistent and inconclusive. Generally, they agree that Polish mountains are attractive site of tourist activity. However, it turns out that the tourists prefer hiking in their own countries where they can find even more attractive and developed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an attempt to assess the development of agricultural, rural and mountain areas in Poland from 1918 to 2012 with regard to structural policy conceived as a part of the agricultural policy. The paper describes the methodology and organizational requirements for modernizing or creating new investment process that would shape and develop rural areas. Under Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) implemented in Poland mountain and hilly areas were designated for development. However, financial support for these regions is minimal. Rural and especially mountain areas of Małopolska have very disadvantageous agrarian structure. The economical size of about 86% of farms does not exceed 2 on the ESU scale. The agricultural and forest production areas have marginal significance in spatial development plans of the communes. This is the reason why these areas require new land management programs, which should be preceded by a thorough analysis of the status quo. Engagement of citizens, village councils and community authorities united under the banner of "Family + Tradition + Education + Innovation" is required in the elaboration process of these programs. These engineering projects should be financed through the CAP and cohesion policy funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the paper the evaluation of influence of changes in water catchment area land use on the size of peak outflow was conducted. The investigations were conducted in Winna Góra catchment area located in Mściwojów, Lower Silesian voivodeship. The catchment area is 11.78 hectares. At present, the catchment is used as arable land, forest and meadows. In the future the area of sealed surfaces such as: roofs, roads and car parks will increase. This can contribute to the change of water balance components. Analyses has shown, that changes in the use of a catchment area lead to reduction of surface flow time from the catchment (less resistance to motion) -- in effect it causes increase of the outflow volume at about 28%. The increase of the water outflow volume may have significant influence on the Winna Góra development. To counteract the results of adverse changes caused by the catchment sealing -- it is recommended for the investigated area to apply a balanced approach. This would consist of retaining precipitation water in its place of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]