Geoenvironmental Hazards in Development Planning

The usability of the natural environment for settlement can be analysed based on geoenvironmental conditions: groundwater levels, terrain elevations, subsoil construction suitability. They are all important elements of urban development planning. Developing a method for selecting areas with favourable construction conditions and determining future urban development trends based on geoenvironmental conditions is essential for proper formation of space for construction purposes. This article presents a proprietary approach to determining geoenvironmental indicators and the ongoing correlational changes in these indicators, which are the basis for choosing optimal areas for construction. The selected geoenvironmental factors influence the development and spatial growth of cities. The research area is located within a small agglomeration inhabited by up to 20,000 residents. Direct results concerning geoenvironmental data and urban development were obtained from an area of 9 km 2 . Within this area, data were collected on subsoil conditions, terrain elevations, groundwater levels, and the spatial pattern of development throughout the historical evolution of the agglomeration up to the present day. The analysis also identified the points in the city’s development history when local flooding or other environmental hazards occurred, which may have resulted from improper urban growth tendencies. Interpretation of the resulting graphs, particularly the interactions between geoenvironmental conditions (indicators) and development during the studied periods, can support urban planning processes.