Delimitacja pól podstawowych mezoregionu Beskid Śląski na potrzeby badań przestrzennych infrastruktury turystycznej

The problem of determination of the basic fields during the landscape researches is often an important issue considered in the scientific literature. Artificial fields are easy to define and to compare (geometric fields), for administrative units also the advantage is the availability of data. In spatial research better solution is to use natural units, which include presented in the article basic fields based on catchment basins. Presented studies were conducted for the purposes of evaluation and development opportunities of tourism infrastructure. Dur-ing the studies the physicogeographical mezoregion of Silesian Beskid has been divided into microregions and spatial fields (basic fields). 7 microregions and 68 basic fields have been obtained. Based on the shape of the basin and land cover the typology of the basic fields were made, which is one of the elements of the tourist in-frastructure optimization

The analysis of aesthetic and scenic values in landscape audit and municipality valorisation. Case study of Jaworzno

The analysis of aesthetic and scenic values has been introduced to Polish legislation by the landscape audit. It is also used in other documents and, inter alia, in landscape valorisation of communes and municipalities. The following article presents a proposal for the methodology of aesthetic and scenic analysis of a selected viewpoint (Wielkanoc Hill) of the city of Jaworzno. The analysis was done for the purpose of an environmental valorisation of Jaworzno. In this methodology, study drawings and descriptions were used to present the land development, the number of landscape plans and the composition. On this basis, valorisation, threat assessment and general indications for landscape protection were carried out

Krajobrazy megalityczne. Próba zdefiniowania pojęcia i umiejscowienia w typologiach krajobrazu

Megalithic monuments are one of the oldest cultural elements in Europe. Through their monumental form, megaliths have been a distinctive element of the landscape for the millennia of their existence. The aim of this article is to prove that the particular material and non-material features of the space characterized by the presence of megaliths can determine the delimitation of the megalithic landscape type in the existing classifications. To define the concept of the „megalithic landscape”, a physiognomic-perceptual approach was adopted. The general characteristics in terms of cultural, natural, spatial and non-material values are presented. The megalithic landscape was located in selected landscape typologies and the author’s own definition of the megalithic landscape was proposed. The megalithic landscape was considered to be a subtype of archaeological (historical criterion), sacral (functional criterion) and natural-cultural landscape (in terms of anthropogenic transformations). It is characterized by a specific physiognomy with its own landscape form and unique non-material features and particular genius loci related to the historical (sepulchral, temple, social, astronomical, magical) and current (esoteric, tourist) function of monuments. The presentation of the characteristics of the megalithic landscape and the typological location given in the article provide a basis for further discussion and research on the importance, risk assessment and protection of current megalithic landscapes

The Influence of Tourist Infrastructure on the Mountain Landscape. Towards a Tourist Landscape. Case Study of the Silesian Beskid

The dynamic development of tourist infrastructure can damage the value of a landscape. Thus, the identification of the impact of tourist infrastructure on landscape is an important issue in the context of the limitation of further degradation of landscape. The purpose of this article is to assess the influence of tourist facilities in the mountain landscape of the Silesian Beskids in terms of both spatial and physiognomic aspects. The impact is assessed by using an index of landscape load with tourist infrastructure (landscape load index – LLI) developed by author. The index is based on calculation of the saturation of landscape with cubature, area and linear elements of tourist infrastructure corrected by a coefficient describing the degree of their impact on the landscape. The results indicate the spatial diversity of the landscape load and thus of the transformation of a landscape towards a tourist one. The presented method has an application value in the forecasting and programming of the tourist infrastructure with respect to landscape values.The influence of tourist infrastructure on the mountain landscape of the Silesian Beskids (Poland). Towards a tourist landscape. / Anna-Żemła-Siesicka. European countryside, no 12 no. 4 (2020), s. 527-55

A Landscape Persistence Assessment of Częstochowa Upland : a Case Study of Ogrodzieniec, Poland

Landscape permanence is understood as the temporal extent of the dominance of a given type of landscape, expressed by the temporal continuity of its use. This issue, already being the subject of much research, is important in proper landscape protection and management. In this paper, spatial landscape persistence and persistence of particular landscape types are presented for the Ogrodzieniec municipality, Cz˛estochowa Upland, Poland. In addition, a background of landscape types and their changes in the Cz˛estochowa Upland has been presented. Based on current and historical topographic maps, landscape types (forest, agriculture, settlement, fortified and industrial) were identified for the following studied periods: 1831, 1944, 1965, 2007, 2014 and 2020. After overlapping the maps, the persistence index was calculated, and isochrones of landscape persistence were determined. The term ‘landscape isochrones’ introduced in this paper is defined as theoretical lines of equal landscape time duration (iso-persistence line). The results show that the landscape of Ogrodzieniec can be considered to be persistent. The largest area of the municipality is occupied by the most permanent landscapes dating from before 1831. The most persistent is the fortified landscape. The method applied is important for planning sustainable development of the region, which is currently under intense tourist and economic pressure

The delimitation of landscape units for the planning of protection – the example of the Forests by Upper Liswarta Landscape Park

The delimitation of landscape units can be helpful in the preparation of studies related to landscape protection and landscaping. The aim of this article is to propose the modification of the method of local landscape delimitation developed for the landscape audit for the needs of protected areas. The comparison of two methods of delimitation indicates that the same area can be assigned to different landscape types and subtypes. The proposed modification of the method of landscape unit delimitation allows a more detailed reflection of the landscape and its links to the administrative boundaries of administrative communities

Spatial diversity of tourist facilities in the Silesian Beskid mountains in Poland

This article proposes a method of the assessment of distribution of tourist facilities. The main aim of presented study is to assess a spatial density of tourist elements. The evaluation of the distribution of tourist facilities in the landscape allows to indicate overloaded areas. The second purpose is the proposition of an indicator measuring the landscape saturation of tourist facilities, i.e. density index developed by the authors. The index, referred to river basin, is based on the ratio of the area of the tourist facilities to the total area of the unit. For the purposes of calculation, the authors developed a framework for the classification of tourist facilities based on its spatial character. The method was examined in the Silesian Beskid mountain range and can be applied in similar mountain areas

Spatial analysis of tourist infrastructure in the Silesian Beskid

Cultural landscape of Silesian Beskids has been transformed significantly under the influence of the tourist infrastructure. Further tourism development planning should be based on an analysis of the existing infrastructure. The article gives a quantitative method of analysis of the existing tourism infrastructure in Silesian Beskids mesoregion. The indicators of density of tourism infrastructure and indicators of density of surface, points and linear elements has been specified for spatial units designated by the catchments. The indicators have been obtained by identifying the percentage of the area of each elements of infrastructure in relation to the surface of the spatial unit. The highest density has been obtained for the slopes of Skrzyczne and Dębowiec, and also for units covering valleys of the main rivers. The lowest density was obtained generally in units located in the South-East of Beskids

The role of landscape in the shaping of tourist reception areas’ attractiveness

The topic of competitiveness of tourist destinations is one of the most important ones, both from the local governments’ point of view and local tour operators’s perspective. A competitive destination, owing to a higher value offered to the customers in comparison with the competition, can attract a satisfactory number of desired visitors. The role of landscape in the shaping of destination’s competitiveness is complex, as the landscape comprises both, the elements that cannot intentionally be altered and such elements, that can intentionally be adjusted to the needs of destination’s competetive offer. The measurement of landscape-affected ‘competitiveness level’ is also complex, as it concerns both, elements of quantity and quality. The most important, however, is the fact that landscape is a complex value, which enables aggregation of multiple elements. Thus the analysis of landscape enables full description, not only a fragmentary description used hitherto to describe tourist area’s compete-tiveness. On the other hand, such terms as ‘landscape’ and ‘competetiveness’ are defined in different ways in different sources and different branches of science. This can cause a problem, as not all definitions can have an equal application in terms of destination’s competetiveness’ description. In this article, different measures of landscape attractiveness and their use if were shown and discussed

Methods and tools in landscape persistence imaging with the example of a stratigraphy model

Cultural landscape stratigraphy is a concept based on geological epoch imaging. It refers to a method of interpretation of the specific arrangement and relations between cultural layers visible in the landscape. The number of layers and their age carry information about the persistence of a given landscape type and structure. For a specific site (region, landscape unit) and scale, the layers can be illustrated in a graphical notation of a coordinate system, where the vertical axis (y) represents the time intervals and the x and z axes illustrate the spatial location in Cartesian coordinates of a given landscape unit. This paper aims to present the landscape stratigraphy model, taking into account the necessary differences depending on the landscape scales. Three levels of analysis are presented. On the mesoscale (level of geographical mesoregion), the landscape stratigraphy includes the biography and schematic imaging of the area. The microscale (level of landscape units and level of landscape interior) contains three types of imaging: cartographic, spatial digital (3D), and spatial graphic drawing. These two scales differ in their imaging detail. The landscape stratigraphy model is based on analysis of both literature and cartographic sources. The stratigraphy imaging includes two steps: the analysis of historical and contemporary maps performed in GIS, and the creation of an appropriate type of imaging, using 3D modelling software, vector graphic software, and a graphic tablet. The landscape stratigraphy model can be used in landscape persistence identification, and landscape protection and forecasting. Moreover, the attractive visualisation of landscape changes can be helpful in landscape education