Obraz pełnej sieci osadniczej na mapie małoskalowej na przykładzie województwa mazowieckiego

W artykule omówiono poszukiwania kartograficznej metody prezentacji sieci osadniczej. Porównano różne mapy osadnictwa, by znaleźć najwłaściwsze rozwiązanie merytoryczne dla Mapy sieci osadniczej województwa mazowieckiego w skali 1:1000 000. Przedstawiono sposób opracowania bazy danych, a także zredagowania mapy zzastosowaniem oprogramowania GIS.

The first maps of settlement network were prepared between the World Wars. F. Uhorczak (1932) proposed a method of equidistants and W. Deszczka (1931) - methods of geometric point symbols to present settlement. The applied cartographic methods changed with the development of research. Interesting presentations of settlement network can be found primarily in atlases of countries and regions, among the maps of settlement distribution and size. A review of maps of settlement network made it possible to prepare a concept of Map of settlement network of Mazowieckie voivodship at 1:1 000 000 for Atlas of Mazowieckie voivodship, prepared at the Warsaw University Chair of Cartography. It consisted of: an idea to present all cities, towns and village as diagrams, with the population figures, simultaneously showing the status and administrative function of the settlement. The map was prepared in GIS environment together with database. Basing on a topographic maps at 1:100 000 and 1:50 000, the coordinates of settlement centers were entered into the chart, while statistical sources provided the data on the population, settlement status (town or village), administrative rank (gmina, powiat and voivodship offices) and administrative district (belonging to a particular gmina or powiat). The method of presentation of settlements was based on the analysis of a database of 7904 settlement points. A number of value diagrams, histograms and GIS trials had been prepared to ensure the methodologically best solution. Finally a continuous approach was chosen (for settlements over 2 500 residents) and an interval approach in six classes for smaller communities. Volume diagrams (spheres) were picked for larger settlements and area diagrams (circles) for smaller ones. The map presents a comprehensive image of the settlement network. The size, status and rank of communities show their hierarchy. Infrastructural connections (roads and railways) paste this spatial structure together. The applied diagram method gives a varied but clear depiction of settlement network. One can observe spatial regional arrangements and different settlement sizes in relation to various factors, like infrastructure and natural conditions. The technical side of the project was crucial. A number of GIS options was used; settlements were precisely placed, a large pool of data was classified and verified, the whole project was visualized - first in the trial versions of the map, and finally as a completed thematic map. There are further possible applications of the prepared database: firstly - for the purpose of the map's revision, secondly - for preparation of other maps in the same atlas, thirdly - as a starting point for a larger project of presenting the settlement network of Mazowieckie voivodship in functional-structural approach including settlement characteristics, and fourthly - for preparation of other maps of population and settlement.