Use of cartography and remote sensing in heritage landscape change detection on the example of the Royal Castle gardens in Warsaw

Historical maps, photoplans as well as modern satellite images and ortophotomaps are effective sources of geographical information for heritage landscape research. The presented study aims at characterizing landscape changes and focuses on the example of the Royal Castle gardens in Warsaw, Poland. Fundamental elements of the garden structure were examined from the period between 1700-2015 using historical maps, photoplans, and ortophotomaps. The methodology included multitemporal data harmonization, which was performed on the basis of visual interpretation keys for photoplans and cartographic symbols. The datasets were subsequently stored, analyzed and visualized using a historical GIS. A major transformation resulting from the regulation of the Vistula river banks was identified as the creation of the Lower Garden at the end of 18th century, which covers three quarters of the total study area in 1829. After World War II, restoration of the garden commenced. The derived geohistorical knowledge can be applied in future landscape planning in order to implement better informed reconstruction strategies