Cartographic sources as a base of knowledge about land use in selected areas in the north-western Poland

Abstract The aim of the research was to analyse land use changes and to develop a coherent base on the basis of available cartographic source materials – archival and contemporary topographic maps and spatial databases. The presented research is a continuation of works related to the cartographic visualization of changes in the distribution of the settlement network in the Noteć Forest – one of the largest forest complexes in Poland. The analysis was performed for nine villages together with their immediate surroundings, located in this area. The total surface area of lands covered by the study was 32,468 km2. Cartographic source materials were collected for selected areas. The archival maps were georeferenced and then digitized. In this way, the data has been transformed into a homogeneous system enabling further comparisons and analyses in an automated manner. Geodetic software (C-Geo), GIS (MapInfo, QGIS) and GNSS technology were used in the work. Cartographic sources can be successfully used for spatial analyses and environmental studies, providing reliable and available quantitative data. This type of research is important because it shows the changes taking place in the natural environment and can be used in works related to spatial planning, landscape ecology and social research.