A smart city is one of the latest concepts in the development of modern cities. It has evolved from the foregoing smart cities 1.0 and 2.0 to the smart city 3.0, where members of the local community ...play the main role as not only the recipients of the introduced changes and modern technology, but also as the creators of urban space. One of the goals of a smart city 3.0 is to promote sustainable urban development by improving the quality of life, enhancing social participation, and involving local community members in planning and decision-making processes. This study set out to determine the role and significance of e-participation methods in the smart city concept. The results of questionnaires exploring the importance of e-participation in urban development are presented. The paper also discusses changes in the availability of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Poland. The secondary goal was to present the geo-questionnaire and Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) as modern research tools. Internet tools based on geoinformation systems have considerable potential for mobilizing social participation in spatial planning (Public Participation GIS). The present study postulates the need for modern social participation methods in shaping urban space and promoting the sustainable development of cities. The study highlights the main challenges in the research process. The cooperation between the authorities and the citizens contributes to the development of a civil society, informed decision-making, social involvement in public life, and more effective governance at the local, regional, and national level. Measures that foster cooperation between the authorities and local communities, the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), and growing social awareness and social participation in managing development are the components of a modern smart city and the building blocks of an e-society. The study also revealed positive changes in access to ICT and their contribution to bridging the digital divide in Poland. Higher levels of social awareness regarding participation and e-participation promote the growth of smart cities.
Small towns around the world contribute to sustainable development at the regional, national and international level, and play an important role in human settlement networks. They can create ...cooperation networks to increase their competitive advantage relative to large cities and to promote regional growth. Organizations that provide a shared platform for mutual assistance, cooperation, exchange of experiences and the implementation of measures for resolving socio-economic problems can increase small towns' growth potential and promote the achievement of common goals. One of such organizations is the International Cittaslow Network which brings together small towns willing to implement the Slow City philosophy. The aim of this study was to classify the member towns of the Polish Cittaslow Network based on their socio-economic development and to identify the opportunities that arise from Cittaslow membership. It was also the authors' intention to present and popularize the Wrocław taxonomic method in the international arena. The results of the study indicate that members of the Polish Cittaslow Network differ considerably in socio-economic development, growth potential and barriers to development. However, the socio-economic status of most towns has improved. The study demonstrated that small towns can benefit from joining cooperation networks at the national and international level.
•The taxonomic method for evaluating the Polish Cittaslow Network was implemented.•The benefits of Cittaslow membership were presented.•The Wrocław taxonomic method supports analyses of towns' development potential.•The analyzed towns differed in their levels of socio-economic development.•The results offer valuable insights for towns that aspire to become Cittaslow members.
Urbanization processes are some of the key drivers of spatial changes which shape and influence land use and land cover. The aim of sustainable land use policies is to preserve and manage existing ...resources for present and future generations. Increasing access to information about land use and land cover has led to the emergence of new sources of data and various classification systems for evaluating land use and spatial changes. A single globally recognized land use classification system has not been developed to date, and various sources of land-use/land-cover data exist around the world. As a result, data from different systems may be difficult to interpret and evaluate in comparative analyses. The aims of this study were to compare land-use/land-cover data and selected land use classification systems, and to determine the influence of selected classification systems and spatial datasets on analyses of land-use structure in the examined area. The results of the study provide information about the existing land-use/land-cover databases, revealing that spatial databases and land use and land cover classification systems contain many equivalent land-use types, but also differ in various respects, such as the level of detail, data validity, availability, number of land-use types, and the applied nomenclature.
Problem areas are targeted by regional policy. The type and scope of spatial conflicts are analyzed to determine the most appropriate spatial planning measures. In this study, a problem area was ...defined as an integral spatial unit which is characterized by growth barriers, accumulation of negative phenomena, untapped resources and potential, and where support measures are required to promote growth and eliminate the existing obstacles to development. This study identifies and analyzes problem areas in the Region of Warmia and Mazury in Poland based on counties as the main taxonomic unit. For the needs of the analysis, it was assumed that problem areas are characterized by a high prevalence of adverse demographic and/or socioeconomic phenomena which constitute growth barriers and prevent these areas from harnessing their potential and the local resources. Spatio-functional parameters were taken into consideration to comprehensively describe spatial conditions in the analyzed region. Spatial variations were analyzed with the use of the Wrocław taxonomic method, where demographic, socioeconomic and spatio-functional criteria were evaluated separately. The Wrocław taxonomic method has never been described in English-language academic papers. According to research, areas with the greatest accumulation of socioeconomic and demographic problems in the Region of Warmia and Mazury are situated along the Polish border. The results can be used in the process of setting directions for development and implementing remedy measures at the regional level.
•We implemented a taxonomic method for the identification of problem areas on a regional scale.•We defined the type and the extent of spatial conflicts needed to make the right planning decisions.•The implemented taxonomic method allows for separating groups of homogeneous counties in terms of the analyzed features.•We showed that agricultural areas with small populations are characterized by a limited development potential.•Taxonomic methods are a useful tool for determining the region's development potential.
Land-use/land cover maps constitute one of the key sources of information on urban space. To address the problems associated with the lack of timely and detailed land-use maps, the authors have ...developed a universal methodological approach for monitoring land use structure that is particularly useful in a rapidly evolving urban environment. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to develop a universal methodology for high-precision land-use analysis in urbanized areas in the context of large-scale mapping. The method uses geoinformation tools, photogrammetric data (orthophoto maps) as well as data acquired during a field inventory (involving a field survey and field mapping). The proposed approach is based on the modified existing approaches towards a detailed identification of land-use patterns while reducing the difficulties arising from the limitations of existing land use data sources. The methodology consists of several steps. First, the data sources for land-use analysis were selected. Subsequently, the classification of land-use categories in urban space was made. Finally, the method to high-precision land-use analysis for large-scale mapping was defined under the assumption that it is to be universal for use in countries with different levels of spatial and economic development. The proposed research method is based on an interpolation algorithm. It is highly valid, flexible, modifiable, accurate, and it can be applied to process publicly available and free sources of spatial data. Validation of the method on a test object (city of Ostróda, Poland) showed its high effectiveness, which is limited only by the type of data. The results obtained with the use of the proposed method not only supported the determination of the present land-use structure in the town but were also used to identify areas with the highest and lowest intensity and concentration of specific land-cover types.
Land use changes in urbanized areas result from inter alia state policy, local policy, socio-economic situation and environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to present changes that occur ...in Ostróda town, which is located in the lake district, and to present the distribution, concentration and change trends in residential areas within the administrative boundaries of the town. The additional aim was implementing the research methods, which uses the modern geoinformation methods. The input data were maps from 1988 to 2017 and orthophotomaps. City surfaces were covered with a grid of squares that served as the base for interpolation. The next stage was to create maps that would present the distribution, concentration and changes in residential areas. The results indicate that residential concentration increased in both developed and undeveloped areas. The identification of areas characterized by the most extensive changes and the highest residential concentration was determined. The results show that city space undergoes constant changes and the location in the lake district can be both a potential and a partial development barrier. The presented research approach can be implemented in other spatial units, e.g. small, medium or large cities, metropolitan areas or rural areas.
The preservation of spatial order is one of the key objectives of spatial planning. Due to the dynamic changes associated with rapid urbanization, special attention should be paid to cities and the ...surrounding areas. The aim of this study was to measure spatial order in social, economic and environmental dimensions in the Functional Urban Area of Olsztyn, the capital city of the Polish voivodeship of Warmia and Mazury, and to propose indicators for measuring spatial order. Socioeconomic development should be balanced with environmental protection to promote spatial order and improve the quality of life. Functional urban areas should be regularly monitored to ensure that planning measures contribute to the preservation of spatial order, and to minimize local problems and conflicts. The municipalities belonging to functional urban areas should be regarded not only as distinct territorial units, but also as members of a cohesive area whose development in every dimension of spatial order contributes to an improvement in the quality of life for local communities.
Urban areas continuously evolve. The main drivers of spatial change in towns and cities are urbanization processes. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the process of urban development ...spanning a period of 30 years and to analyze the correlations between the distribution of various land-use types. The results were compared with the land use balance made in the 1970s. In the present study, the distribution of different land use categories in urban space was mapped with very high accuracy. The results of this study validate that areas with specific functions tend to coexist, whereas other areas exist separately in different parts of the town. Active urbanization processes were observed in the analyzed town. Developed and urbanized areas (mainly with residential functions) were significantly expanded in the analyzed period. The spatial and functional structure of the analyzed town and its development potential within the administrative boundaries are influenced by the geographic location, which significantly obstructs further expansion of developed areas. The proposed methodology can be used to improve land management in urban areas and can be implemented in other spatial units.
Przestrzeń miasta podlega nieustającym zmianom. Warunki środowiska naturalnego oraz sytuacja demograficzna i społeczno-gospodarcza kształtują strukturę zagospodarowania przestrzeni. Celem badań jest ...określenie przemian zachodzących w budownictwie (głównie mieszkaniowym) w mie-ście oraz ich wpływu na warunki życia mieszkańców. Wyniki badań świadczą o korzystnych przemianach w sferze budownictwa. Z jednej strony przejawia się to w rokrocznie rosnących zasobach mieszkaniowych. Z drugiej natomiast następuje poprawa warunków mieszkaniowych przejawiająca się m.in. większą powierzchnią użytkową mieszkania ogółem oraz powierzchnią przypadającą na jednego mieszkańca, znacznym spadkiem liczby osób przypadających na jeden lokal mieszkalny czy też wzrostem ogólnej liczby zasobów mieszkaniowych o prawie 30%. Efektem przemian jest coraz większe zagęszczenie zabudowy i intensywniejsze wykorzystanie przestrzeni miejskiej. Ze sferą zagospodarowania miasta połączona jest również przestrzeń rezydencjalna powstająca poza granicami administracyjnymi.
City space undergoes constant changes. Natural environmental conditions, demographic and socio-economic condition shape the structure of area development. The aim of the study is to determine the ...ongoing changes in construction (mainly housing) in a town and their influence on inhabitants’ living conditions. The research results show that the changes in housing are beneficial. It is manifested in the increasing housing capacity. Living conditions have improved, for instance, the usable floor area in general and per one inhabitant is higher, the number of people for one apartment is lower, and the general number of housing capacity has increased almost 30%. Consequently, the construction density and the intensiveness of using city space are higher. Residential area that emerges outside city administration is also connected with the city developmental area.
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