Michał Stankiewicz Ph.D., Paweł Pędzich, Ph.D.,

Institute of Cartography, Faculty of Geodesy and Cartography,

Warsaw University of Technology

 

 

Hydrographic and Sozological Database as a source of information on geographic environment in Poland

 

            One of the tasks of the State Geodetic and Cartographic Services, which are subordinated to the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography, concerns production of official thematic maps, including the Hydrographic Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000 and the Sozological Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000. Since 2005 those maps, which are accessible in both, digital and analogue forms, have been made basing on the developed hydrographic and sozological databases.

            Whilst “hydrography” is a universal and commonly known term, the term „sozology”, which exists in the Polish science, geography and cartography, requires some more explanation. This term originates from the Greek language in which the word sozein means “to protect, to safe”. It was firstly introduced in Poland in 1965 by Professor Walery Goetel for the science related to protection of the nature and natural resources. Practically, the scope of sozology, as the science, is much wider and it also concerns research on investigations of natural transformations resulting from antropopression and prevention against their negative impacts.

 

1. Hydrographic and sozological maps – the historical approach

 

            The precursor of production of the hydrographic map in Poland was Professor M. Klimaszewski, who proposed – at the beginning of the fifties of the 20th century - to make and publish the hydrographic map of Poland basing on field surveys. In the period 1954 – 64 four successive issues of instructions concerning the development of the hydrographic map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000 were published under the auspices of the Institute of Geography of the Polish Academy of Science. Basing on those instructions, 45 map sheets were made and printed in the period 1958 – 69. Further works concerning the development of that map were discontinued in 1968.

            In 1980 the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography initiated efforts concerning the re-development and publication of the hydrographic map of Poland. In the period 1983 – 85 several successive versions of instructions and selected map sheets were elaborated. After the final version of the instruction was approved, the hydrographic map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000 was made after 1986 as the analogue product.

            In 1996 the content of the hydrographic map was the subject of a questionnaire, which was filled by interested institutions and organisations. Experiences gained in the course of making hydrographic maps of high diversification of water conditions and phenomena, as well as the access to information techniques, resulted in 1997 in development of modified Technical Guidelines K-3.4 “The Hydrographic Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000” with consideration of a new, digital form of the map. The main technological changes were related to formal regulations concerning rules of map making, preparation of transparencies in the digital form and application of the triad printing technology (Karpińska, 2005).

            In the period 2002 – 2004 technical guidelines were modified again. Changes introduced in that period referred both, to the substantial and technological parts of the map making process, as well as the name of the Guidelines. Due to the particular attention paid to development of thematic database, the name was changed into “The GIS Technical Guidelines – 3, The Hydrographic Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale, in the analogue and digital forms” (the final version in 2005).

            Map sheets have been made and published following the new GIS-3 Guidelines since 2004. It is estimated that currently about 50% of Poland is covered by the Hydrographic Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000.

            The first sozological maps in Poland, made at various scales, first of all within the Małopolska region, as cartographic approach of sozological research works, were made as early as the beginning of the seventies of the 20th century. Preparation and publication of the sozological map of the then existing Leszno Province, at the scale of 1:100 000, in the middle of the eighties, was of crucial importance. Authors of that map proposed to make regional sozological maps at the scale of 1:200 000. As a result of discussions performed during scientific conferences the idea to make and publish the Sozological Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000 was approved.

            In 1987 the outline of technical guidelines, which – together with a model map sheet – was distributed among scientific reviewers, as well as among institutions and voivodship (provincial) offices. In 1990 the final version of the guidelines was approved, as “The Technical Guidelines K-3.6 Sozological Map of Poland at the scale of 1: 50 000”. In 1996 the sozological map content was the subject of a questionnaire, the aim of which was to collect opinions concerning its usefulness and to gather conclusions and proposals related to its possible improvements.

            Experiences gained in the course of development of sozological maps of various areas, as well as the access to information techniques, resulted in 1997 in development of modified Technical Guidelines with consideration of a new, digital form of the map. The main technological changes were related to formal regulations concerning rules of map making, preparation of transparencies in the digital form and application of the triad printing technology (Karpińska, 2005).

            In 2002 works concerning the new modification of the Guidelines were started. Changes introduced in that period referred both, to the substantial and technological parts of the map making process, as well as the name of the Guidelines. Due to the particular attention paid to development of thematic database, the name was changed into “The GIS Technical Guidelines – 4, The Sozological Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale, in the analogue and digital forms” (the final version in 2005).

            Map sheets have been made and published following the new GIS-4 Guidelines since 2004. It is estimated that currently about 50% of Poland is covered by the Sozological Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000.

            Substantial modifications introduced into technical guidelines of the hydrographic and the sozological maps resulted mainly from harmonisation of the Polish law with the European Union standards. Patterns of conventional symbols, used for those maps, were also modified. 

            Technological modifications concerned:

-         modification and development of the structure of thematic layers,

-         introduction of a term „cartographic imagery” as a vector representation of an analogue map,

-         utilisation of the VMAP Level2 database as the reference topographic database,

-         development of a unified quality control system for data transferred to the data resources,

-         development of software tools, which support the map making process,

-         reorganisation of rules concerning development of external databases (TERYT, REGON),

-         maintenance of technological continuity with the existing version of the Guidelines, by means of automation of the process of archive data conversion to the new structure of thematic layers (www.gugik.gov.pl).

 

2. Thematic Database

 

2.1. Hydrographic Database

 

The Hydrographic Database is a thematic spatial database, which synthetically presents water circulation conditions in relation to the natural environment, the level of investments and transformations of the environment. It is developed basing on the reference database, into which results of field mapping of phenomena and water structures, as well as soil permeability and numerous information related to management of water resources, water quality evaluation and the hydrosphere network monitoring results are overlaid.

The Hydrographic Database is maintained in the GIS technology in MapInfo Professional environment. The VMAP Level2 database, of the geometric accuracy which corresponds to 1:50 000 scale maps, is used as the reference topographic database, to which layers of the Hydrographic Map are referenced. The Spatial Database is an important component of the Hydrographic Map, allowing to perform complex spatial analyses.

            The Hydrographic Database is not the product of research works only, which aim at registration of phenomena and water or water-and-economic structures. It also contains study materials to be used in the course of research works in the field of the natural environmental sciences. The importance of this maps grows in the conditions of growing degradation of the environment. It is addressed to offices and institutions dealing with water-and-economic issues, physical planning, as well as management and protection of the natural environment.

            The hydrographic database is useful for the needs of solution of such social-and-economic tasks, as: water supply, designing locations of new settlements, as well as industrial investments, investments in the water power engineering and water melioration sectors, flood protection, prevention against flood impacts and for other issues related to water management (www.gugik.gov.pl).

 

2.1. Sozological Database

            The Sozological Database is a thematic spatial database, which presents the conditions of the natural environment as well as reasons and effects of – negative and positive – changes which occur in the environment as a result of various processes, including – first of all – man-made activities; it also presents the ways how to protect natural values of the environment. The database is mainly addressed to institutions and offices dealing with the environmental protection issues and to decision makers and planners at regional, province (voivodship), district and municipal levels.

         The Sozological Database is maintained in the GIS technology in MapInfo Professional environment. The VMAP Level2 database, of the geometric accuracy which corresponds to 1:50 000 scale maps is used as the reference topographic database, to which layers of the Sozological Map are referenced. The Spatial Database is an important component of the Sozological Map, allowing to perform complex spatial analyses.

            The sozological database is useful as the source of information on the level of pollution, environmental hazards, as well as the tool for investigations and determination of the natural conditions with respect to qualitative, systematising and forecasting aspects. It may be used for determination of the synthetic index of the natural environmental conditions of various spatial units; the digital version of this database allows to acquire, store and visualise geographic data with permanent updating of the database (www.gugik.gov.pl).

 

3. Hydrographic Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale

 

            Map sheets of the Hydrographic Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000 are made and published in the digital and analogue forms, in the “1992” co-ordinate system, basing on the Hydrographic Database. Therefore it is useful for solutions of the same social-and-economic issues as the Database. Besides, this map creates the study material for specified research works concerning the natural environment; it is the document used for registration of changes of hydrological processes, which corresponds to topographic maps at the same scale. This map is also the source cartographic product for making hydrographic maps at smaller scales and for making related thematic maps.

            The thematic content of the map consists of the following groups of elements, ordered according to several information levels:

- topographic watersheds,

- surface waters,

- groundwater outflows,

- underground waters of the 1st level,

- soil permeability,

- phenomena and structures related to water management,

- hydrometric points of stationary measurements.

            Each of the above elements is represented by the group of water phenomena and structures, presented by conventional symbols on a map.

Fig. 1 Hydrographic Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale

            Comments are prepared for each map sheets, which are placed on the reverse side of the map; those comments contain important information concerning water circulation, as well as features of surface and groundwaters within the area covered by the particular map sheet.   The comments are prepared by the scientific consultant of the given map sheet.

            Comments contain the characteristics of the following elements:

- natural conditions of the area,

- geological and lithological structures,

- topographic watersheds,

- rainfalls,

- surface waters,

- hydrological conditions,

- groundwaters,

- hydro-climatic conditions in the course of hydrographic surveys,

- surface water pollution levels,

- transformation of water conditions,

- other information important for evaluation of hydrological conditions of the selected area (GIS – 3 Technical Guidelines).

 

4. Sozological Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale

 

            Map sheets of the Sozological Map of Poland at the scale of 1:50 000 are made and published in the digital and analogue forms, in the “1992” co-ordinate system, basing on the Sozological Database. Therefore it is useful for solutions of the same social-and-economic issues as the Database. The sozological map  is particularly useful in physical planning activities for locating new industrial and municipal objects (including dwelling houses) as well as recreation centres etc.    

 

This map, made at the scale of 1:50 000, is also the source cartographic product for making sozological maps at smaller scales and for making related thematic maps.

         The thematic content of the map consists of the following groups of elements, ordered according to several information levels:

- forms of protection of the natural environment,

- degradation of components of the natural environment,

- counteractions against degradation of the natural environment,

- re-cultivation of the natural environment,

- wastelands,

- auxiliary symbols and markings.

            Each of the above elements is represented by the group of water phenomena and objects presented by means of conventional symbols on the map.

 

            Comments are prepared for each map sheets, which are placed on the reverse side of the map; those comments contain important information in the form of tables, diagrams and descriptions which simplify the perception and amends the map content. The comments are prepared by the scientific consultant of the given map sheet.

Fig.2 Sozological Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale

Comments contain:

- characteristics of the basic components of the natural environment and their selected features, according to the following sub-sections: physical-and-geographical locations, geological structure, terrain relief, geo-morphology, surface waters, groundwaters, soils, vegetation cover, fauna, climate,

- wider information for particular information levels of the map, according information levels, specified in the map content (text, tables, additional maps),

- general characteristics of the natural environmental conditions and levels of their degradation,

- guidelines concerning management and protection of the environment,

- other important information and results of evaluation, e.g. wind rose, information on location of natural resources, data concerning the subject of control in monitoring sites and address information of those sites (GIS – 4 Technical Guidelines).



5. Hydrographic and Sozological Maps in a digital form

            Maps in the digital form are characterised by the following features:

- the multi-layer structure,

- each layer contains vector objects from a selected thematic range,

- a descriptive part is assigned to each layer – it is the database of a specified structure,

- databases combined with particular vector objects, which characterise those data with respect to quantitative and qualitative features,

- compatibility of particular map sheets with the analogue map,

- the possibility to combine adjacent map sheets in bigger vector objects (e.g. provinces, districts and municipalities). This requires the settlement of object identifiers in particular thematic layers. (www.gugik.gov.pl).

 

Final remarks

            The Hydrographic and Sozological Databases and maps generated from those databases at the scale of 1:50 000 contain a lot of information which originates from numerous sources, such as: field surveys, photointerpretation of aerial and satellite images, as well as from research works in the field of hydrography, ecology and environmental protection. Information contained in those databases presents the complex conditions of the geographic environment in Poland. Those works are used for the needs of research works, for analyses related to physical planning, designing of new investments etc.

Information included in those databases quickly becomes out-of-date, therefore some information does not always correspond to the reality. The best solution would be to develop a system allowing for permanent updating of the database content. Due to mutual covering of some information in both databases, works concerning the idea of creating one, uniform database on conditions of the geographic environment, have been continued. Such a database would cover the thematic content of the Hydrographic and Sozological Databases, enriched by other issues related to management of the geographic environment.     

 

    References

1. The General Surveyor of Poland, 2005 – “The GIS Technical Guidelines – 3, The Hydrographic Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale in the analogue and digital forms”., The Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (GUGiK), Główny Geodeta Kraju, 2005 – Wytyczne techniczne GIS – 3, Mapa Hydrograficzna Polski skala 1:50 000 w formie analogowej i numerycznej, Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii, Warszawa,

2. The General Surveyor of Poland, 2005 – The GIS Technical Guidelines – 4, The Sozological Map of Poland, 1:50 000 scale in the analogue and digital forms, The Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (GUGiK), Główny Geodeta Kraju, 2005 – Wytyczne techniczne GIS – 4, Mapa Sozologiczna Polski skala 1:50 000 w formie analogowej i numerycznej, Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii, Warszawa,

3. Karpińska J., 2005 – Poland at various scales, in: 60th Anniversary of the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (GUGiK), Polska w różnych skalach, w: 60 lat Głównego Urzędu Geodezji i Kartografii, GUGiK, Warszawa.

4. www.gugik.gov.pl – the Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography, Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii.