cy of 
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ation they 
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19.3. 
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1onitoring 
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ture Map” 
and - use 
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sification 
used for 
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ous data 
ages and 
ster data 
e gives 
d spatial 
escribing 
ons. For 
digitizing 
  
procedure, image processing and manipulation of 
database the IDRISI Version 4.1 package was used. The 
following hardware configuration has been used (Mularz, 
994) : 
nOn el computer based on the Intel 80486 at 50 MHz 
with math co-processor, 520 Mb hard drive, 4 Mb RAM 
and SVGA graphics adapter capable of emulating 
8514/A card, 
- MAG colour monitor, 
- a Microsoft mouse - compatible and 80486 CPU, 
- HP Laserjet and HP Paintjet graphics printers for hard- 
copy output, 
- CALCOMP digitizer with SSCII output. 
(USLE) the Universal Soil Loss Equation (Wischmeier 
and Smith, 1978) was used for quantitative soil erosion 
assessment of Cracow region (Mularz, 1993). The model 
combine natural factors (slope steep, slope length, 
rainfall and genetic susceptibility of each soil type to the 
erosion and factors referring to human activity - land 
use/land cover and conservation practice. These major 
factors which determine or contribute to soil erosion 
process were used in USLE model allowing computation 
showing for each pixel the influence of all factors for 
erosional effect. The six land categories were determined 
and statistical evaluation of these categories were 
calculated. 
After reclassification the result map was compiled with 
six categories: weak, slight, moderate strong very strong 
and severe soil erosion susceptibility. Finally, as it can be 
seen on the soil erosion map (Fig.4 taken from Mularz, 
1994), only three categories were determined: slight 
medium, strong and fourth category showing non - 
agriculture areas (urban, forest, water and waste-land). 
The map shows that strong and medium categories are 
the most frequent at the Cracow area. 
Several cross tabulation analyses were performed to 
evaluate the results. This shows that for instance strong 
erosion class exists for slope interval between 3° and 25°. 
That loess soil is heavily exposed to the erosion process, 
that the wheat complex is affected by medium and strong 
erosion but range-land and grass-land belong to slight 
erosion category. 
8. CONCLUDING REMARKS 
The densely populated Cracow region belongs 
to the most polluted regions in Poland. Establishment the 
local system supporting monitoring changes in terrestrial 
ecosystems was an absolute necessity. Various types 
and sources of information and impediments to the 
Integration of the multiple spatial, temporal, terrestrial 
and remote sensing data was a reason that as a tool for 
the environmental monitoring - the integrated Geographic 
Information System was chosen. These technologies 
allow the coupling remotely sensed measurements with 
other spatial and environmental pollution data describing 
not only Earth surfaces but also  biophysical 
representation. These and GIS data have been profitably 
merged for joint analysis of the phenomena under 
investigation. 
References 
Mularz S., 1993. A GIS for Assessing the Soils Erosion 
Susceptibility. GIS for Environment, Krakéw, Poland, 
November pp.163-170. 
Mularz S., 1994. Mapping Soil Erosion by GIS. GIS in 
Ecological Studies & Environmental Management, 
Warszawa, Poland, September pp.137-148. 
Mularz S., Mierzwa W., 1993. An Attempt to Apply GIS 
Technology for Soils Degradation Assessment. GIS for 
Environment, Kraków, Poland, November pp.171-177. 
Pyka K., Sitek Z., 1993. Remarks on DTM Generation for 
GIS Needs. GIS for Environment, Kraków, Poland, 
November pp. 197-203. 
Sitek Z., 1993. Problems Associated with Monitoring of 
Polluted Environment Using GIS - Technology. GIS for 
Environment, Kraków, Poland, November p.p.211-221. 
Wischmeier W.M., Smith D.D., 1978. Predicting Rainfall 
Erosion Losses - a Guide to Conservation Planning. 
Agriculture Handbook, no 537, US Department of 
Agriculture. 
Zabrzeska-Gasiorek B., Wróbel A., 1994. Application 
FoxPro DBMS to Environmental Monitoring Information 
Collection and Processing (in Polish). Archiwum 
Fotogrametrii, Kartografii i Teledetekcji, Vol.2, Kraków, 
pp.33-46. 
623 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B7. Vienna 1996