Abstract

This study aimed to widen the knowledge on landscape element changes in areas exposed to the effects of mining and other industries, which represent one of the most affected types of landscape in terms of environmental changes. It provides results of analyses of landscape element changes in the selected area of Ostrava Basin (city of Ostrava) in the North-east of Czech Republic. The study was compiled for nine model areas. All the analyses of landscape element changes were executed on the basis of geographical information systems, study of archives and terrain observation. In the monitored area, there were significant changes in the landscape character. Four landscape elements increased (built-up area, forests, anthropogenic shapes and water areas) and two elements lost their percentages (fields and meadows, and water courses). The surface area of the built-up area grew by 44 km², which represents a rise of 99.7%, though the anthropogenic shapes enlarged by 160%. Both the largest surface area and the most significant percentage drop were registered with the landscape element of fields and meadows (decrease of 59 km², that is, of 48%). The main cause of this was expansion of the built-up area.

Key words: Landscape elements, anthropogenic changes, mining, aerial photos, geographic information system (GIS).