Abstract

Abstract: Soil sealing can be defined as the destruction or covering of soil by buildings, constructions and artificial layers completely or partly impermeable (asphalt, concrete, etc.) It is the most intense form of land consumption and is essentially an irreversible process. Soil is sealed when agricultural or other biologically land is taken into the built environment. It is also a continuing process within existing urban areas, especially where urban population and the density of built structures is increasing and residual inner-city green zones are reduced. The paper concerns the methodology for an estimation of the area of sealed soil using GIS technology. Remote sensing data (aerial and satellite images) and cartographic data (city base maps, topographic maps) are used for that purpose. The proposed methodology is used for an estimation of sealed soil in two case studies: city of Warsaw and Lomianki municipality. First case study, city of Warsaw concerns the comparison of accuracy of different cartographic data (city base maps and topographic maps) as a data set for an estimation of sealed soil. Second case study, Lomianki municipality case study concerns a dynamic, multi-temporal approach. The multi-temporal set of aerial and satellite images is used for that purpose. The research results are changes of sealed soil in years 1977–2007. Key words: soil sealing, Geographic Information System, remote sensing