Presentation of settlement on contemporary Polish topographic maps

W artykule omówiono pojęcie zabudowy z punktu widzenia prac topograficznych. Następnie pokazano sposoby przedstawienia zabudowy na mapach topograficznych w skalach od 1:5 000 do 1:200 000, a także problemy z tym związane. Artykuł zamyka analiza prezentacji zabudowy na nowej mapie 1: 50 000 wydanej przez Głównego Geodetę kraju.Topographic maps in Poland are currently published by two independent goverment agencies : Head Office of Geodesy and Cartography (Główny Urząd Geodezji i Kartografii) and Military Geography Authority of the General Staff of the Polish Army (Zarząd Geografii Wojkowej Sztabu Generalnego Wojska Polskiego). The oveview of these maps is presented in the Table 1. On 1:10,000-scale each building is presented with a separate cartographic sign. Almost all buildings are shown (escluding the smallest ones located in the close proximity to other ones). Also, building located within the allotments are generally omitted. Buildings classed in the same category ((esp. row and semi-detached houses) are shown with a single sign, which causes certain misrepresentations. On 1:25,000-scale maps the majority of buildings is shown, however the smallest ones located in large distances from streets can be omitted. The presentation of built-up areas is composed of two separate elements: separate symbols for each building as well as the range of the entire built-up area (shown in color). The editors' guidelines for 1:50,000-scale maps were similar to those for 1:25,000-scale. As far as the maps the scale of 1:100,000, the difference lies in the presentation of built-up areas, which are shown in black. Consequently, the symbol for single buildings is the same as the one used to present the whole built-up area. On 1:200,000-scale maps the symbol used to show separate farm building was eliminated. Cartographic generalization (mostly quantitative) as well as the correct classification of buildings (either to densely or sparsely populated area) are considered to be the most vital problems concerning the presentation of settlement. A new method of settlement presentation was introduced on the new series of civilian 1:50,000-scale topographic maps published by the Surveyor General of Poland (Główny Geodeta Kraju) since the mid-1990s. Maps published before that date presented settlement classification based on the density and size of buildings. However, there was no functional classification applied. Functional categories have been first used on these new map series, which can be considered as a revolutionary change. The following classes were introduced: compact multifamily dwellings, dense multifamily dwellings, dense single-famly dwellings as well as industrial zones. The remaining buildings are presented with sings for each separate building. The settlement is shown in brown, which makes it possible to overprint geographic names in black. However, the presentation of built-up areas by showing the range of buildings instead of presenting the range of the whole area can be considered questionable, as it weakens its graphic presentation.The idea of presenting dense multifamily dwellings with a separate sign also seems doubtful. On the other hand the lack of a symbol for high-rise buildings is a serious drawback of the map. The presentation of separate buildings is very subtle, yet legible. The elimination of a separate symbol for farms is an important modification to the map content. To sum up, owing to the new graphic techniques and new theoretical approach the map presents settlement in a much better way compared to the previous ones