Dynamics of settlements within Balyhorod commune through the use of GIS techniques

Abstract

The main aim of this work is to analyze the dynamics of settlements from the 2^nd half of the 18^th century to 2^nd half of 20^th century in Balyhorod commune (in Polish “Baligród”), in Lesko district, Podkarpackie voivodeship in Eastern Poland. Balyhorod commune was analyzed in terms of the changes of settlements, applying maps together with published historical data for the analysis of changes in its structure. Firstly, the tactical map of «WIG-Military Institute of Geography» was applied. Secondly, maps from the «WMS-Web Map Service, Geoportal» were analyzed. Changes in the number of villages and households population dynamics for Greek Catholics, Latins and Jews for the year 1785 were evaluated applying ArcGIS 10.3 program. Ukrainian ones were evaluated using ArcGIS 10.3 program in comparison with the number of Poles and Jews for the year 1939. Ethnic and religious composition from the 2^nd half of the 18^th century to 2^nd half of 20^th century and the character of settlements distribution in Balyhorod commune was evaluated based on the study of spatial distribution of settlements with the use of Spatial Statistics (Spatial Autocorrelation Global Moran's test, Standard Deviational Ellipse and Mean Centre). In 1785 there were 74,01% of Greek Catholics and in 1939 there were 77,98% of Ukrainians in Balyhorod commune. There was confirmed a similar configuration of Standard Deviation Ellipse and Mean Center for Greek Catholics who were Ukrainians for the year 1785 and Ukrainians for the year1939 in Balyhorod commune. The scale and results of such changes are essential for future research, mainly in terms of the change of traditional village system infrastructure and culture.