The Influence of Natural Areas on Investment Opportunities - Analysis with the Use of GIS Tools

Investment attractiveness of a given area is a function of the investor's free reign in developing the land. The investment process may commence when permission to carry out investment have been obtained from relevant authorities. Whereas environmentally valuable areas do not rule out investment, there are certain limitations to investing in such areas. Authors of the article present research carried out in the Pisz municipality. This work relies on data regarding planning permits in the municipality. Analytical tools have been used to determine relation between planning permits and the distance from the environmentally valuable areas, communication routes and residential areas. Performed research proves that environmentally valuable areas do not constitute a barrier to investment. On the contrary, it frequently happens that existence of such areas determines the investment attractiveness of a given area. The article also presents the opportunities of using the free GIS-QGIS software in the development planning analysis.