APPLICATION OF GIS FOR THE ESTIMATION
OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT HAZARDS
(ON THE EXAMPLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MAPS)

Damian Absalon, Andrzej T. Jankowski, Mieczysław Leśniok
University of Silesia
Faculty of Earth Sciences
Będzińska 60
41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

Environmental map (in Poland called sozologcal map) is a cartographic presentation in which a spatial expression of the natural environment state is shown as well as causes and results of the environment transformations (both negative and positive) and methods of the protection of the environment values (Absalon, Jankowski, 1998). It is a complex, analytical-synthetic map in which sozological problems are shown using 127 different conventional signs in 11 colours.

The sozological map is considerably important in case of intensively urbanised and industrialised areas. The most urbanised and industrialised area in Poland is the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The human impact has influenced the natural environment of this area since the 13th century. These transformations occurred as: ground surface transformations, changes of the surface water and underground water conditions, degradation of the atmospheric air and biotic values degradation.

The merits of sozological map contain 6 separated and overlapping sheets - informational horizons, exposed on the topographic background (Wytyczne techniczne, 1990). These are as follows:

  1. Protection of the natural environment and its resources

  1. Receptivity of the natural environment to degradation

  1. Degradation of the natural environment

  1. Counteraction to the natural environment degradation

  1. The natural environment reclamation

  1. Wasteland: natural and anthropogenic.

An integral part of the sozological map is a commentary, which is placed on the reverse of the sheet. It is produced by a scientific consultant and contains:

The sozological map is produced by groups of geographers and cartographers, specialists of the environmental management and protection, computer specialists and co-operated representatives of the state administration supervised by sozological and cartography specialists,

The individual elements of the thematic content of the map are elaborated basing on the obtained materials and results of field mapping. The numerical map has been produced in the following stages (fig. 1, 2).

The sozological map is produced in GIS system using Mapinfo for Windows software which complies with the following requirements:

The content of numerical map contains all the elements of the sozological map’s content and supplementary elements: roads, railways, hydrographic network, state boundaries.

A numeric version of the sozological map shows the following features:

The sozological map at the scale 1:50000 enables to make scientific, objective and correct evaluation of the present state of the natural environment in certain area, to determine trends of changes and transformations and the degree of permissible Man’s impact on the environment. This map is useful in planning location of economic and municipal objects (industrial plants, livestock farms, waste dumping sites, etc.) as well as housing estates and recreation centres.

The map, in the first place, is addressed to departments and institutions of administration and also to decidents and planning officers at regional, communal and local scale, especially these, who deal with problems of the environment management and protection.

The sozological map of Poland at the scale of 1 : 50 000 is produced by “Gepol” Company, Poznań on the order of the Main State Geodesist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 1.

 

 

 

 

 

Fig. 2.

REFERENCES

Absalon D., Jankowski A. T., 1998: Problems of waters protection in the Upper Oder basin in the light of the environmental maps elaborated (in the press).

Wytyczne techniczne K - 3.6. Mapa sozologiczna w skali 1:50000. Ministerstwo Gospodarki Przestrzennej i Budownictwa. Departament Geodezji, Kartografii i Gospodarki Gruntami. Warszawa, 1990.