This research paper proposes a new method for smoothing polylines on a map, using B-splines iteratively moving away from the vertices. Splines are a popular tool used to smooth data. Unfortunately, natural objects represented by polylines, usually have an irregular shape and unevenly spaced vertices. For such data, splines may have a distorted course. The presented method changes an approach to polylines on the map. The smoothed line is no longer just a line connecting a set of vertices on the map but becomes a path that a hypothetical hiker must follow. The hiker attempts to optimise (simplify) the route so that, it requires the least amount of effort. The hiker will therefore avoid the vertices at a certain distance, leaving dense and even traces. These traces constitute a data set for which the unfavourable properties of splines are eliminated. The vertices of the polyline will be smoothed (bypassed) by the B-spline control point function, which, spread over a dense set of tracks, will perform the first, slight smoothing. Subsequent smoothing iterations will be performed on a modified, increasingly sparse, but still uniform set of traces from the previous iterations. This will allow for even smoothing of any polyline.
The aim of this article is to present and verify a method of estimating population numbers based on an isopleth map that meets the volumetric condition. This boils down to a situation where the volume of a solid enclosed by a statistical surface corresponds to the number of people living in that area. To verify this method, an isopleth map of population density was created based on census data from the Central Statistical Office (in Polish: Główny Urząd Statystyczny, GUS) from 2021, referenced to a grid of 1×1 km squares. Population estimates were made for municipalities in the Lublin Province and then compared with the actual population recorded in these municipalities. The results of the comparison showed that the MPE (mean percentage error) was -2.69 and the MAPE (mean absolute percentage error) was 4.2%. As a result, the proposed method can be considered an effective tool for estimating the population in areas for which no systematic statistical surveys are conducted. These may be, for example, protected areas (national parks, landscape parks) or physiographic units. The method is so versatile that it allows working with official data and data contained in global grid models of population distribution.
In 2023, one hundred years had passed since the publication of the first issue of Polski Przegląd Kartograficzny (PPK) – the only Polish scientific journal devoted exclusively to cartography. This anniversary provided an opportunity to conduct an analytical and historical review of the journal’s achievements. The article aims to present a quantitative and qualitative analysis of PPK’s content over a century. The study examines changes in the number of publications of various types (articles, reviews, reports, etc.) as well as the evolution of the thematic scope of the articles.
This paper arguments that despite the historical and political contexts of the nineteenth century period and the military intentions of The Map of Old Poland’s [Karta Dawnej Polski] original creators, this source now represents not only the nationhood narrative but also a complex story of wetlands. Due to time constraints and limited resources, the authors did not index forests or other environments in this map, except from aquatic objects. Therefore, we received a rich source containing over 3,700 hydronyms in Polish, including rivers, swamps, bogs, marshes, lakes, and larger bodies of water, some of which no longer exist or are now known only by foreign names. After indexing them for a new digital edition prepared by the Spatial History Lab in the Department of Historical Atlas, this paper envisages how to study such rare cartographical data within the frame of environmental history and the renewed interest in wetland restoration across a drying Europe. Particularly, the eastern parts of the former Polish Kingdom preserved on The Map of Old Poland, stretching from north to south, offer several valuable examples that are case studied in this article.
Various editorial decisions made during the cartographic design process may lead to different interpretations of the same phenomena, potentially emphasizing one phenomenon at the expense of another. Such decisions occur at different stages of map development, including the selection of enumeration units, a form of data representation (map type), and map graphics, including color scales.
Automation of map production is an important subject of work of many scientists. Particular attention should be paid to dot distribution maps, the editing of which is very time-consuming and complicated due to the lack of support in GIS programs. The aim of this research was to develop a method supporting automation of dot map creation. In the study, equal-size spectral clustering algorithm was used, which was modified with a function equalizing the number of points in clusters. Spatial data on residential buildings and statistical data on the population were integrated to calculate theoretical population distributions. These data were entered into the spectral clustering algorithm based on a predefined dot value. The output clusters were then visualized in ArcGIS Pro, where manual adjustments, such as the definition of the dot size and the dispersion of overlapping markers, completed the map editing process. The results showed that the algorithm successfully created clusters representing the population distribution with an acceptable margin of error of the dot map of less than 5% for the entire county (study area – County of Pszczyna, Poland). The adaptation of the equal-size spectral clustering algorithm for cartographic purposes shows its potential to support automation of the dot distribution map editing process. The study found that reducing the input dot value slightly below the target value improved clustering precision, resulting in more consistent clusters. Despite these successes, the method has limitations, including partial reliance on manual corrections in densely populated areas where overlapping dots could not be fully automatically resolved. These issues underscore the need for further refinement to achieve full automation.
This article focuses on mapping agricultural productivity, which can be assessed using vegetation and environmental satellite indices (e.g., NDVI, NDWI). It highlights the main agricultural risks in Poland, namely spring frosts and agricultural droughts. The significance of employing remote sensing indicators to create maps supporting agricultural management at national and voivodeship levels is emphasised. The article demonstrates how such maps can be developed using selected satellite-derived indices for agricultural monitoring across different administrative levels. Furthermore, it discusses access to satellite data from the European Copernicus Programme, including land cover, vegetation condition, and weather data (e.g., ERA5). The paper presents the results of a project undertaken by the Institute of Geodesy and Cartography in Poland (IGiK), which developed a geoportal designed for institutions involved in supporting agricultural development in Poland – KOWR (National Support Centre for Agriculture; in Polish: Krajowy Ośrodek Wsparcia Rolnictwa) and ARMA (Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture; in Polish: Agencja Restrukturyzacji i Modernizacji Rolnictwa).
The article talks about determination of centroids. The introduction outlines a number of definitions of centroids. Then, various methods of their determination and example applications are discussed. The paper also describes algorithms of calculation of centroid coordinates implemented in QGIS. Then, with the use of the model designer tool, an algorithm was developed to determine centroids on a reference surface, followed by calculations in QGIS. We calculated the coordinates of selected polygons on a surface in the systems PL-1992, PL-LAEA and PL-LCC, as well as on the GRS80 ellipsoid, Krasowski ellipsoid and on a sphere. The test area was Poland in its administrative borders, including territorial waters. The paper is concluded with an analysis and comparison of the obtained results.
This study aimed to design a cartographic visualization for mobile navigation applications around indoor spaces, including metro stations, with persons with special needs in mind. The visualization will be used in a dedicated application for mobile devices supporting the navigation of people around the Warsaw metro. The app was developed for any metro users and includes functions that help persons with special needs navigate the metro. It is not possible to meet the needs of persons with every type, degree, or complexity of disability, but the methodology has been developed based on the principles of designing cartographic presentations, accessibility guidelines and existing solutions, taking into account the needs of persons with special needs and the specifics of metro navigation. As a result, it differs significantly from the visualizations that currently exist in the Warsaw metro. The developed methodology was tested by designing a map of the Świętokrzyska metro station and subjected to user testing, including persons with special needs. The types of special needs included mobility disabilities, colour vision deficiency, and persons, who often travel with baby strollers. The results obtained allowed to improve the proposed solution.
The article assesses the condition of cartographic research in the context of young scientists. Based on an analysis of the 469 academic achievements of 77 young Polish cartographers in the 2016–2022 period, the authors highlight challenges in defining contemporary cartography and difficulties in classifying research due to its interdisciplinary nature, overlap with GIS, and the use of cartographic methods in studies from other fields. The study also examines thematic trends, mobility constraints, and patterns of scientific collaboration. The findings emphasise the need to support young researchers and foster interinstitutional cooperation.
The goal of the work was to find a method to determine the structure of the subsurface of the bottom of a water reservoir with relatively soft ooze-muddy sediments using the recorded parameters of the first and second sonar echoes. This would allow avoiding the use of expensive devices such as sub-bottom profilers.
With the development of the tourism sphere, its information support is also developing, in particular, represented with cartographic works. One of the forms of cartographic support for tourism is three-dimensional artistic maps (3D-maps, panoramic maps) and cartographic web applications. By our understanding the panoramic map of the city is a cartographic image of the urban environment, made with regard to linear and aerial perspectives on the principle of artistic painting and created an illusory sense of volumetricity. Such maps illustrated the historical parts of cities, park zones, museums-estates, individual architectural monuments become popular souvenirs, but their handwritten creation is rather labor-intensive and requires high artistic skills.
Initial cartographic materials were determined to create the topographic database of the “Main State Topographic Map”. They require preparation for creating (updating) digital topographic maps at the scale of 1:50,000. One of the stages of preparation of input cartographic materials is their transformation to the coordinate reference system UCS-2000. The goal of the article is to research the problem of transformation of points coordinates by the rigorous mathematical method for referencing cartographic materials from the coordinate systems CS-42/CS-63 to the State Geodetic Coordinate Reference System UCS-2000 (after this – UCS-2000) by geographic information systems (GIS) for creation (updating) digital topographic maps at the scale of 1:50,000 to create the seamless topographic database of the “Main State Topographic Map” on the territory of Ukraine. Authors propose a method of transformation orthophoto at the scale of 1:10,000 to UCS-2000 in Cartesian coordinates of Gauss-Krüger projection in the corresponding 6-degree zone in the adopted state interchart of topographic maps at the scale of 1:50,000. This method consists of cartographic materials transformation using a transformation field in the form of a GRID model based on the triangulation TIN model using the finite element method. The choice of the finite element method and the peculiarities of affine transformation are mathematically substantiated. Also, the authors determined the requirements for the method of coordinates transformation.
The presentation of landforms in two-dimensional graphics may not always be clear and understandable to every viewer. The presentation of landforms, as well as other types of characteristics and issues in three-dimensional space can bring many advantages in the process of better understanding of the surrounding reality. The primary purpose of this research is to put forward a simple scheme, accessible to any Geographic Information Systems user, for generating 3D physical terrain models for any area of the Earth. The presented scheme can be used anywhere in the world, however, for the purpose of illustrating its capabilities, a case study of a selected area – the Tatra Mountain range – was conducted in this paper. As part of the study, a 3D model was developed based on a Digital Elevation Model obtained from an open source, i.e. MapTiler. An indisputable advantage of the study is that the designed process flow in its structure takes into account only generally available tools and software (the model was prepared in the QGIS program). However, a certain limitation is the process of printing itself, which depends on the availability of specialized printing equipment. In this case study, FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) technology was used for printing, and the model itself was prepared on a Creality Ender 7 printer. The proposed flowchart, on the one hand, unifies and simplifies the process of creating physical 3D models, while on the other hand, it provides opportunities for GIS users and developers to develop the proposed solution.
The article presents a selected base of cartographic sources enabling analyses on Josephine settlements in the Austrian partition from the late 18 th century to 1939. The purpose of the article is to present the cartographic source base on Josephine colonization collected in Poland and Ukraine. The research covered all settlements created during the Josephine colonization (1781–1789). The text discusses cartographic source materials (available on-site and online) acquired through queries. The analyses included village plans, large--scale maps of Galicia, the Galician cadastre (Austrian land cadastre) and maps from the interwar period.
This update to the earlier paper on Schreiber’s Atlas selectus (Paprotny, 2020) presents new findings supplementing and specifying information about the Atlas, its editions, dating, and maps. Discussed are recently discovered prototype versions of the Atlas which preceded series of “canonical” editions, and status of post-1795 copies. An updated list of 32 Atlas editions known today has been compiled, together with catalogue of its maps, identifying their occurrence in the individual editions. Corrections to Jäger’s catalogue of maps from Schreiber’s workshop are proposed.
The article reinstates an understanding of cartography far beyond that of a strictly geographical discipline, primarily concerned with the depiction of space in various aspects of societies. Using the example of several manuscript maps preserved in Polish documents left over from the Paris Conference, depicting the area of the Finnish state that was being established, the author illustrates the role of the map as a tool helping to shape the political entities of European societies and bringing to light various premises related to their threats or security, but also indicating development opportunities for these new state organisms. The author’s subject is Finland, aspiring to be a state at the beginning of the twentieth century, seeking alliances and the support of closer and further neighbours. By discussing surviving (and lost) maps, the author adds to the knowledge of the involvement of Polish diplomats in Paris in Finnish affairs.
The paper discusses the activities involved in the process of creating a digital thematic repository focusing on historical cartographic and textual sources. On the basis of the thematic repository created as part of the project “Shaping the borders of Independent Poland in the light of cartographic documents”, the author presents proposals for solutions aimed at effective management of the various materials, as well as allowing users easy access to specific information. It provides an overview of the issues identified in the context of identifying, selecting, digitising and sharing digital copies of sources of relevance to humanities and social sciences research. With regard to the digitisation of cartographic sources, the article examines the challenges of adapting the technology to meet the diverse needs of information retrieval. In addition, it addresses issues related to the development of metadata and the integration of different types of sources. The article also addresses issues related to maintaining and updating the digital repository, with a particular focus on ensuring the sustainability of the project. The conclusions of the completed project allow us to identify best practices in the process of creating and managing a digital thematic repository, which can be a valuable tool for researchers, students, and cultural heritage institutions.
The historical Polegli1939 geoportal is probably the first thematic portal using spatial-temporal databases to present information on people killed during the World War II. In this study, we address the problem of capturing, processing and sharing historical information by supplementing it with a spatial attributes. The aim of the study is to determine the role of crowdsourcing data and the use of web-GIS applications in the process of obtaining and verifying historical information. The study was carried out as part of the implementation of the “Spatial database of soldiers killed in warfare” project, which is also known as Polegli1939. In order to achieve this goal, we acquired information using three methods: manual, automated and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI). Making spatial data available through the Polegli1939 geoportal enables users to popularize and verify it. The method includes a geospatial web platform (GeoWeb) as well as a VGI application with an integrated process for verifying submitted information. As a result of the project, nearly 35,000 records were obtained. Making the project available to a wider audience opens up the possibility of extending the presented research or replicating it in other countries, taking into account a wider chronological range than just World War II.
The article discusses the possible use of GIS tools in detailed spatial analysis of materials and old maps showing the activities of Polish soldiers during World War II. The research was based on information regarding the military operations of the “Silent and Unseen” paratroopers (in Polish: cichociemni) in the General Government (GG), available in the archives of the Polish Underground Movement Study Trust (in Polish: Studium Polski Podziemnej) in London, as well as on prewar maps of the Polish Military Geographical Institute (in Polish: Wojskowy Instytut Geograficzny – WIG). The authors present the historical background to, and important details of the cichociemni airdrops. They also describe how these operations were organised and suitable airdrop sites selected. The main part of the article is devoted to an analysis and assessment of the extent to which selected drop sites of the cichociemni complied with the criteria contained in the instructions of the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief in London (in Polish: Sztab Naczelnego Wodza w Londynie). The article presents a case study of the “Mewa 1” drop zone located in the GG. The authors used calibrated WIG maps, which they then converted into vector versions. They also made use of modern DTM and a slope map created on its basis. All the criteria for selecting drop zones included in the historical instructions were analysed. Based on the example of the drop zone in question, as well as on the authors’ own spatial analyses, it was concluded that this particular drop zone met some of the criteria formulated in the guidelines of the Commander-in-Chief’s Staff, but only partially met others or failed to meet them at all. In addition, the authors noted a number of limitations regarding these criteria. For example, they did not take into account the locations of the occupiers’ garrisons or anti-aircraft positions, which are particularly important for the success of airdrop operations. The analyses and the results thereof constitute the first study of the armed operations of the cichociemni in GG areas using digital maps and spatial analyses based on GIS.
