An estimation of potential flood losses in the context of floodplain development changes using GIS

Author(s): Ewa Glosinska,Lukasz Lechowski / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2013

This paper aims to define the amount of changes in potential flood losses on the basisof spatial distribution patterns of floodplain development using GIS tools. A procedurefor potential flood loss estimation has been developed in which GIS tools have beenapplied. A procedure for calculating flood losses applied in Polish legislation has beenused. According to this survey, in Gryfino, which is situated on the Odra river in years1996–2007 potential hazard of flood loss grew as a result of grow of floodplain areasdevelopment

Analiza zmian pokrycia terenu wokół autostrad za pomocą metod GIS

Author(s): Lukasz Lechowski / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2013

This article aims to develop a method of acquiring land cover changes data on the basis of high resolution orthophotography derived from Polish cartographic resources. The assessment of information sources was also examined in terms of its utility in such analysis. Simultaneously, using selected example, it was outlined, how the surrounding the A2 motorway area in the Stryków community had changed between the years 1996 and 2009. Some methods and tools applied in geoprocessing and spatial analyses were also presented. Many scientific publications describe data acquiring methods based on aerial photography and ortophotomaps that can be used in land cover and land use analyses. These methods may be divided into manual (visual), semi-automatic and automatic interpretation methods (e.g. raster, hybrid, object methods). In this survey the manual interpretation method was applied due to the input data accessibility e.g. ortophotomaps that were made only in the visible light spectrum with different tone colors and contrasts for each year (1996, 2004, 2009). This research involved following steps: (1) projecting of geodatabase structure, (2) visual interpretation of ortophotomaps in order to create land cover maps for 1996, 2004 and 2009, (3) delimitation of land cover changes, (4) survey results analysis with kernel density tool in order to present the density and direction of land cover changes in the neighbourhood of A2 motorway. The research indicated the straight majority of area surveyed in the years 1997–2009, was covered by gramineous vegetation and crops. However, the percentage of this class was decreasing systematically during those years. There was also remarkable increase for industrial and built-up areas. In the neighbourhood of A2 motorway in Stryków community, the growth of woodlands, wooded and shrubs area class was also noticed. For the building A2 motorway purposes there were created new gravel-pits and excavations of sand nearby the road. That is why for the area surveyed the percentage of greenfields was larger in 2009 than in 1996.

Analysis of the relationships between the spatial arrangement of palaeovalleys and contemporary valleys of Central Poland in the light of GIS methods

Author(s): Aleksander Szmidt / Language(s): English / Issue: 15/2016

W artykule przedstawiono przykład zastosowania wybranych metod GIS w celu wykazania związków pomiędzy przebiegiem dolin kopalnych oraz współczesnych na obszarze Polski Środkowej. Analizowany obszar w warunkach lądowych kształtowany był już w paleogenie i neogenie, natomiast największy wpływ na obecną rzeźbę powierzchni odcisnęły procesy morfogenetyczne w czwartorzędzie. W opracowaniach paleogeograficznych dla analizowanego obszaru często wskazuje się na możliwe zależności pomiędzy wykształceniem rzeźby współczesnej a jej podłożem, w szczególności zaś sieci dolinnej. W celu weryfikacji tej hipotezy, na podstawie archiwalnych materiałów kartograficznych oraz Cyfrowego Modelu Wysokościowego rzeźby współczesnej, zaproponowano schemat przeprowadzenia analizy z wykorzystaniem zestawu ogólnodostępnych narzędzi GIS. Z wyników przeprowadzonej analizy można stwierdzić, że główne doli- ny rzeczne Polski Środkowej w dużej części nawiązują swoim przebiegiem do kopalnej sieci dolinnej, gdzie związki te najlepiej są widoczne w przypadku dolin największych.

Around the Bloc: Ancient Monuments Mapped on Kazakh Steppe

Author(s): TOL TOL / Language(s): English / Issue: 11/10/2015

Giant designs traced out by earth mounds could be thousands of years old.

Aspecte privind conceptele şi practicile de planificare urbană integrată în Franţa

Author(s): Lilian Cîrnu / Language(s): Romanian / Publication Year: 0

Assessing accuracy of forest cover information on historical maps

Author(s): Urs Gimmi,Christian Ginzler,Matthias Müller,Achilleas Psomas / Language(s): English / Issue: 146/2016

Assessing the uncertainty of historical map information is a prerequisite for using this source type for land cover reconstructions. We assessed the accuracy of forest cover information from 1930 / 1940 Swiss topographic maps (Siegfried maps) by comparing them with forest cover gained from orthophotos and terrestrial photos from the same period. Orthophotos were considered to contain the true forest cover information and consequently inconsistencies between historical maps and orthophotos were considered as true errors (over or underestimation of the forest cover on the map ). Terrestrial photos reflect the surveyors perspective in the field and we therefore used this source type to develop hypotheses on potential reasons for inaccuracy of map information. Generalized linear models were used to test the hypotheses. The results confirmed our expectation that disagreement between maps is more likely to occur near forest edges, at higher altitudes and in less accessible and visible areas. Contrary to our expectations terrain slope did not play a significant role to explain surprisingly high rates of inaccuracy occurred in forest core areas.

Atlas Fontium

Author(s): Marek Slon / Language(s): English,Polish,German / Issue: 5/2017

Budowa i wiek wyższej terasy Kamionki na odcinku Suchedniów–Rejów

Author(s): Tomasz Kalicki,Pawel Przepióra,Lukasz Podrzycki / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 106/2017

The structure, texture and age of the sediments of the higher (5–12 m) terrace of the Kamionka river between Suchedniów and Rejów are presented. These horizontal and cross-bedded sandy-gravel channel alluvia were accumulated by a braided river during the end of the Wartanian stadial (TL datings: 127–119 ka). Their grain size and structure differ in the wide and narrow sections of the valley, which was caused by changes of flow energy and differentiation of sedimentological fluvial subenvironments. Alluvia were covered by very coarse colluvia in the gap section. Dunes formed on top of the terrace in the Vistulian (climatic factor) and the last centuries (anthropogenic factor).

Concept of Spatial Coordinate Systems, Their Defining and Implementation as a Precondition in Geospatial Applications

Author(s): Aleksandar Sekulic,Zoran Nedeljkovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

There are many users of spatial information, and quite large interest about the nature and genesis of such information. Different users found spatial information in the form of maps, plans or alphanumerical tables. Recently, there are more often in the form of spatial databases, and in the form of geographic information systems. What is behind these spatial data? On what foundation are they designed? In this article we look at the basic aspects of space, dimensionality and global coordinate systems in applications of global geospatial research. Here is explained the definition of the coordinate system as an abstract entity and, consequently, its implementation or establishment in the form of a geodetic reference frame, as real geodetic reference network. The applicative aspect of coordinate systems in this article is emphasized through recommendations and considerations during usage of their different implementations.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE COGNIZANCE OF RAW MATERIALS AND RAW MATERIAL REGIONS OF THE TRANSCARPATHIAN PALAEOLITHIC

Author(s): Béla Rácz,György Szakmány,Katalin T. Biró / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2016

On the territory Transcarpathian Ukraine, about 100 Palaeolithic localities are known up to our days. Most of them are surface finds. In spite of the rich archaeological heritage, the elaboration of the material, especially its petroarchaeological evaluation supported by professional scientific analytical methods, is in the initial phase as yet. The aim of the present study is to supply information on the lithic raw materials of the Palaeolithic settlements in Transcarpathian Ukraine, the detailed survey and description of the primary raw materials, their identification, description and terminology, as well as the outlining of the local raw material provinces and study of the distribution of the raw materials on archaeological sites. In the archaeological literature of Transcarpathian Ukraine, lithic raw materials are still described under incorrect petrographical terms. For example, for the raw material of Korolevo Palaeolithic site is, correctly speaking, hyaline dacite, and the “flints” of Beregovo region are indeed rocks of volcanic origin which have undergone metasomatic processes. Field survey for collecting geological samples localized 19 different raw material sources all of which yielded hard rocks with conchoidal fracture that are suitable for tool making with knapping. Out of the 19 raw material types 11 were actually found in archaeological assemblages of the studied area. The most popular raw materials of Transcarpathian Ukraine are the Korolevo hyaline dacite, Rokosovo obsidian, (Carpathian 3 type) and siliceous rhyolite tuff varieties (type I and II), siliceous tuffite (type I and II), siliceous and opalised rhyolite (type I and II) from the Beregovo Hills area, as well as silicified sandstone (type II) and the siliceous argillite. Certain types of potential raw materials were found in archaeological assemblages as yet. These are the Kriva limno-chalcedonite and limnoopalite, radiolarite of Svalyava type I, II and III, the siliceous limestone of Svalyava and Priborzhavske, and the hornfels of Suskovo. The paper also points out patterns in lithic raw material circulation in the prehistoric period of Transcarpathia. In the Palaeolithic, the settlement system and location of sites was largely dependent on the lithic sources. Altogether 9 types of rocks played important role: Korolevo hyaline dacite, the Carpathian 3 type obsidian from Rokosovo, 6 types of metasomatites of Beregovo Hills, and the silicified sandstone (type II). Upper Palaeolithic communities settled close to the outcrops of primary and secondary geological positions and this phenomenon is observable at each important Palaeolithic settlement. On the basis of the principal raw material circulation of the Palaeolithic three territorial groups have been formulated. These are named after the most abundant and used rock types of the given region. Three raw material regions are recognized in Transcarpathia: volcanic, metasomatic, and sedimentary. Furthermore, sub-regions were also established in the volcanic region (Rokosovo-Maliy Rakovets and Korolevo-Veryatsa sub-regions) and in the metasomatic region (Beregovo, Muzhiyevo and BeneKvasovo sub-regions).

Czasowo-przestrzenne bazy danych jako narzędzie w geografii historycznej

Author(s): Bogumil Szady / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 2/2013

The present article deals with problems of the practical application of spatio-temporal databases in geo-historical studies. Research practice – besides the indisputable advantages of applying database tools for analysis of historical data – also includes the significant problems of uncertainty, incompleteness and lack of precision of historical sources. These features, as well as the subjectivism (interpretability) of should be taken into account while building historical geographical information systems. Existing solutions consider to only a small extent the properties of the research process appropriate to historical geography. One of the solutions suggested in the present article is a division of a database structure into two interrelated schemes: a source scheme and a critical scheme. Historical information thus gathered becomes easily accessible for secondary interpretation (the source scheme). The critical scheme of the database, which is collectively constructed by historians, engineering ontologists and specialists in database modelling, should consider both the event and the process character of historical phenomena as well as the complex characteristics of spatio-temporal objects (the dispute between endurantists and perdurantists).

Digital elevation model and satellite images an assessment of soil erosion potential in the Pcinja catchment

Author(s): Ivica Milevski,Slavoljub Dragicevic,Stanimir Kostadinov / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2007

Pcinja is large left tributary of Vardar River (135 km long, 2877,3 km2 catchment’s area), which drainages surface waters from northeastern Macedonia, and small part of southeastern Serbia. Because of suitable physical-geographic factors (geology, terrain morphology, climate, hydrology, vegetation coverage, soil composition, and high human impact), some parts of the catchment’s suffer significant erosion process. For this reason, it is necessary to research properly spatial distribution of erosion, then influence of physical and anthropogenic factors for the intensity of soil erosion, related erosion landforms (with morphology, genesis, evolution, soil erosion protection etc.). Earlier researches in the area have been performed generally with combination of cartographic and classic field analysis. But in last decades, there are new possibilities available like satellite images and digital elevation models. In this work has been presented the methodology of utilization of satellite images and DEM for erosion research, with analysis and comparisons of outcome data.

Doktor habilitowany Kazimierz Szczygielski. Geograf, demograf, polityk społeczny i regionalny

Author(s): Robert Rauzinski,Brygida Solga / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 80/2017

Evaluation of Normal Heights by the Means of Global Navigation Satellite Systems and Global Geopotential Model

Author(s): Jovan Popovic,Miljana Todorovic-Drakul,Sanja Grekulovic,Danilo Joksimovic,Oleg Odalovic / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

This paper presents geometrically and physically defined height systems, along with their evaluation by the means of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and Global Geopotential Models (GGM). The paper defines ellipsoid heights as an instance of geometrically defined heights; with physically defined heights being represented by definitions of orthometric and normal heights. Methods of normal heights calculation by the means of ellipsoid heights are presented in detail, as determined using the GNSS and height anomalies calculated from the GGM application. Apart from the above, numerical part of the paper evaluates normal height values and compares them to their conditionally accurate values at 1073 points with relatively uniform distribution over the entire territory of Serbia. Conditionally accurate values had been determined by the means of classical geodetic terrestrial methods. Under the procedure of evaluating normal height values, GGM – GGM05C was used, as created in 2016 by the Center for Space Research, University of Texas at Austin. In order to evaluate the quality of applying the model above, data on normal heights evaluation were also presented, using the GGM EGM96, created in 1996 by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC – NASA) and Ohio State University, presently being the most commonly used model. The comparison above indicates that application of the GGM05C model provides 50 % greater quality of normal heights evaluations against the ones obtained using the EGM96 model.

Expansiunea urbană în zonele metropolitane

Author(s): Radu-Matei COCHECI / Language(s): Romanian / Publication Year: 0

Faune cavernicole de la Grece

Author(s): Petar Beron / Language(s): French / Publication Year: 2016

Petar Beron Sc.D worked at the Institute of Zoology and the National Museum of Natural History at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as a biologist from 1963 to 2010. Specializing in acarology and Biospeleology, he began exploring caves and cave fauna since 1955. He went on expeditions in New Guinea, Indonesia, Mexico, Cuba, China, Vietnam, on the Balkan Peninsula, in Corsica and South America. In his journeys, he discovered many new species of caves and animals. Author and co-author of many books and articles on speleology, zoogeography, and acarology. The second monograph of the series, devoted to the cave fauna of the Balkan Peninsula, treats Greece, a country full of caves (more than 10 miles) and only 240 caves have been the subject of biospeleological research. The 630 species of cavernicolous animals, published until 2015, are listed with their localities and notes on their biology. The caves of some animals are briefly described, and some observations have been made of the zoogeography of this fauna. The Greek fauna is compared with the cave faunas of neighboring countries. The bibliography contains more than 300 titles of works regarding the Greek fauna inhabiting the caves. This fauna is very different from the fauna of neighboring countries. During the author's field surveys (since 1968) he has found several new species such as Speleodentorcula, Telsonius, Titanophyllum, Thassoblaniulus, Alistratia, Maroniela, Jason and others.

Geografia historyczna w Polsce – rozwój i perspektywy

Author(s): Bogumil Szady / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 1/2013

The present article deals with the main currents that have been developing in the Polish historical geography since the end of the 19th century till now. A discussion on methodological and terminological matters has been left aside. Only the Introduction contains a short reference to those issues. Th e development of geographical-historical research is presented from two perspectives: institutional and thematic ones. A separate sub-chapter was devoted to cartography, both in the context of historical-cartographical studies and historical cartography. The review of the main institutions and research subjects considers the two major currents which developed in the Polish historical geography, especially since the middle of the 20th century, namely the geographical and the historical ones. Despite the common subject of research, they often remained side by side, which was due to different methods applied and the different source basis. The Conclusion, which closes the article, indicates the contemporary tendencies in historical geography related to new subjects such as studies on the cultural landscape or landscape ecology. In addition, a question was set about the influence of technological changes, especially the introduction of systems of spatial information and spatiotemporal databases, on the development of historical geography and on changes in this field of research.

Geographical modelling based on spatial differentiation of fire brigade actions: A case study of Brno, Czech Republic

Author(s): Jan Popelínský,Jan Vachuda,Ondrej Veselý / Language(s): English / Issue: 35/2017

The paper analyzes crisis situations solved by The Fire Rescue Service of the South Moravian Region (FRS) in the city of Brno during 24 weeks between 7th April 2013 and 20th September 2013. The article deals briefly with all FRS actions and then focuses on fires. The open-access database of FRS is used for analysis. It is accessed from a database of the innovative web application StreetAlert, which allows users to learn about current fire brigade actions in the specified distance from the mobile phone. The data are processed in PostgreSQL and then spatial analysis is performed using the most detailed administrative division of the city - basic settlement units. As this division of urban space is used also in the most recent Czech census (2011), it is possible to use sociodemographic statistical data for comparison. The article identifies spatial regularities in the distribution of fires, describes the structure of the fires in terms of the type of event (fires of waste, fires of grass and forest, fires of buildings), discovers their possible dependence on the specific characteristics of urban space, finds potentially dangerous places (kernel density analysis), draws valid conclusions applicable to similar settlements, and shows the possible use of the data for local government. The main benefit of the research lies in revealing the spatial distribution of the examined phenomena.

Geologia regionalna Polski

Author(s): Ewa Stupnicka,Marzena Stempien-Salek / Language(s): Polish / Publication Year: 2016

The fourth edition of the popular handbook discussing the geological units of Poland with regard to stratigraphy, sedimentology, petrography and tectonics. It presents the geological units in order from the oldest (the East European platform) to the youngest (the Carpathian Mountains, Paleogene and Neogene basins of central Poland). The valuable additions to this handbook are numerous illustrations (maps, cross-sections, and charts), two folded geological maps of Poland and a stratigraphic table. The handbook for students of universities where geology and related sciences are taught.