Abstract 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).

Abstract 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.

Abstract 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. This article presents the results of a user study examining the impact of selected map design choices – specifically: a level of spatial unit aggregation, a type of color scale, and a form of data presentation (a qualitative area map, a choropleth map, a cartogram, graduated symbols with choropleth colors) – on the accuracy of perceiving the dominance of a phenomenon shown on thematic maps. The study employed thematic maps visualizing two socially relevant topics: ethnonational diversity and presidential election results, each displaying two categories. The survey, conducted using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing) method, involved 151 participants. Respondents were asked to identify which of the two categories was dominant on a given map. Response accuracy (identification of the actual dominant phenomenon), the perceived difficulty of the tasks, and the perceived magnitude of dominance were measured. Participants were also asked to describe the spatial distribution of the dominant phenomenon and indicate a map design preferred by them. Based on the collected responses, the analysis revealed statistically significant differences in metrics depending on the map designs tested. The tested map designs, therefore, vary in their degree of persuasiveness in portraying dominance. The article concludes by identifying the techniques that more or less effectively distort the information conveyed by thematic maps.

Abstract 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. The research proposes the author’s methodology and technology for creating and updating of three-dimensional artistic maps mainly of small and medium cities and towns using modern information technology, which involves a rational combination of works done manually (handwritten) and with the usage of graphic editors (automated). The preferred cartographic projections for mapping of different territories have been determined (external perspective projection with positive image, taking into account the curvature of the globe surface – for vast territories, central projection – for small territories, including individual monuments). The most optimal conditions for three-dimensional illusory representation of cities have also been established (the constant height of the observation point, the projection with parallel rays at an angle of 60° to the picture plane, the display only the front and middle parts of the map). Special attention is paid to the usage of automated libraries of signs, textures and colors, developed by the author in digital form and containing individual constructive elements of urban environment objects, which greatly simplifies the process of panoramic map creating. The proposed combined handwritten-automated methodology involves several stages: preparatory, field and office. At the last stage, the visualization of objects is carried out, including the construction of the plan of the mapped territory, transforming it into the perspective projection, the construction of building frames and filling them with structural elements, color design and drawing detailing. This methodology is also used for updating of artistic maps (actualization of their content).

Abstract Using the full potential of old maps requires interdisciplinary research, which allows for a comprehensive assessment of facts recorded on the map along with their features. The author of the article is interested in cartometric analysis. It is used to study one of these features – the location of an object in geographical space. The author describes and evaluates the usefulness of GIS tools in the automation of examining the cartometry of old maps and presents her own tool for determining the general scale of maps.

Abstract Nowadays volunteered geographic information (VGI) and collaborative mapping projects such as OpenStreetMap (OSM) have gained popularity as they not only offer free data but also allow crowdsourced contributions. Spatial data entry in this manner creates quality concerns for further use of the VGI data. In this regard, this article focuses on the assessments of geometric and semantic quality of the OSM building features (BFs) against a large-scale topographic (TOPO) data belonging to some areas of Istanbul. The comparison is carried out based on the one-to-one matched BFs according to a geometric matching ratio. In geometric terms, various parameters of position (i.e. X, Y), size (i.e. area, perimeter and granularity), shape (i.e. convexity, circularity, elongation, equivalent rectangular index, rectangularity and roughness index), and orientation (i.e. orientation angle) elements are computed and compared. In semantic terms, BF type coherences are evaluated. According to the findings of geometric quality, the average positional difference was less than three meters. In addition, the perimeter values tended to decrease while area and granularity values tended to increase in OSM data against TOPO data. Those showed that the level of the detail of the OSM BFs was lower than TOPO BFs in general. This was also confirmed by the decreasing tendency of shape complexity according to the parameters of shape element. Orientation angle differences was often low except for some special cases. It was found that the scale of the OSM dataset, even though not homogenous, approximately corresponded to the lower limit of medium scale maps (i.e. 1:10,000) or a slightly smaller scale. According to the findings of semantic quality, in case of the presence of specific type definition, the coherence was rather high between OSM and TOPO BFs while the most OSM BFs did not have a specific type attribute. This study showed that the matching process needed some improvements while the followed approach was largely successful in the evaluation of the matched buildings from geometric and semantic aspects.

Abstract In the modern world of mass information being reduced to colourful images, maps have the chance to become a medium that transmits important information in an attractive format. Due to time pressure, many cartographic publications that have a short life span on the internet contain a lot of methodological errors. Viewers receive an image that is hard to interpret, incomplete or even incorrect. The author aims to summarize and classify the cartographic content of social media, while bearing methodology, the role of the cartographer and users’ reactions to that content in mind. The springboard to online discussion is mainly a map topic. Their design or methodology is of little interest in most cases. This may be due to insufficient knowledge of how forms (their correctness and quality) shape messages. Hence the role of the cartographer is important, what can be seen – among methodological remarks – as one of conclusions. It seems that map-makers are becoming more expert, and are guiding map lovers and amateur cartographers towards creating good, effective and elegant maps.

Abstract The authors examine the impact of the development of image-based remote sensing systems on the activities of state administrations in the cartographic production and making of geographical information publicly available in the Eastern Bloc countries. A convergence of cartography, secrecy, and power occurred during the Cold War. Through investigation of facts relevant to the acquisition image data of the Earth surface performed by the USA and the USSR, it aims to examine the key questions of why the logic behind the development of cartography in the Eastern Bloc countries after World War II was distorted. The lack of logic was reflected in the fact that the amount of information actually presented on maps decreased with an increase in the information about the surface of the Earth acquired by the means of remote sensing systems. It was suggested that image data in the member states of the Eastern Bloc, in spite of their restricted use and a drop in the informational value of maps, was the main factor behind the creation, detail, and geometric accuracy of civilian maps. Proving this thesis involved analyzing the correlations between the achievements in the field of remote sensing and the quality of maps developed during the Cold War in the Eastern Bloc states.

Abstract In 2018, 100 years had passed since the Central Statistical Office of Poland (since 2017: Statistics Poland – GUS) was established. This anniversary was considered an opportunity for preparation of a series of cartographic publications, i.e. 16 statistical atlases of Polish voivodships (first order administrative units) and the Statistical atlas of Poland. Publication of such a series of atlases is a new undertaking in the history of Polish statistics – it involved both the employees of the head office of Statistics Poland in Warsaw and the staff of statistical offices in 16 voivodships. Until 2018 Polish public statistics did not have many such publications. The first atlas publication of Central Statistical Office was Republic of Poland – statistical atlas released in 1930. The next Statistical atlas, covering all of Poland, was published only in 1970. Subsequent statistical atlases were published over 30 years later – the atlases of five voivodships, published in 2006−2016, and the Demographic atlas of Poland published in 2017. Atlases for individual voivodships were prepared by the relevant regional statistical offices. The project was managed by the head office of Statistics Poland which prepared the guidelines and provided technical and substantive supervision. Due to different sizes of voivodships, the atlases were prepared in scales from 1:900,000 (Opolskie and Świętokrzyskie Voivodships) to 1:1,500,000 (Mazowieckie and Wielkopolskie Voivodships). A standard page contains a map of a voivodship divided into communes (gminas) or counties (powiats) and a map of Poland at the scale of 1:9,500,000 divided into voivodships. The number of pages of the voivodship atlas is 104 with 165 maps: 76 maps of voivodships, 76 maps of Poland, one administrative map of Poland at the scale of 1:3,800,000 and 12 maps of the European Union or Europe at the scale of 1:21,500,000. The Statistical atlas of Poland was published in early July 2018. It consists of 216 pages, with 281 maps (full-page maps of Poland at the scale of 1:3,800,000, quarter-page maps of Poland at the scale of 1:9,000,000, full-page maps of Europe or the European Union at the scale of 1:21,500,000, and half-page world maps at the scale of 1:200,000,000) and 175 charts/graphs. Maps made by using quantitative cartographic presentation methods predominate in the atlas – choropleth and diagram methods are used most frequently (they are observed on 263 maps). Statistical atlases of voivodships and the Statistical atlas of Poland count 1888 pages in total with 2934 maps, on which the development of the country is presented in relation to regional and local conditions. All atlases are bilingual, Polish-English. Publications printing was co-financed from EU funds within the Operational Programme Technical Assistance 2014–2020. Atlases are also available free of charge in the PDF format on the website of Statistics Poland: https://stat.gov.pl/statystyka-regionalna/publikacje-regionalne/podreczniki-atlasy/atlasy/.

Abstract The aim of the article is to present different relief visualization techniques created using only free and open source GIS tools, such as QGIS and RVT. The criteria for selection of these techniques are that they should be, on the one hand, simple and fast for implementation and on the other suitable for multiple visualization purposes. Here we present several techniques which combine hillshade with other relief data layers derived from DEM and an assessment of advantages and disadvantages of their visualization.