In accordance with legacy of the Water Framework Directive membership countries of the EU are obliged to reach at least good ecological state of running waters until 2015. One of the three basic components of assessing ecological state is the determination of hydromorphological conditions occurring in river channels and valleys. In this paper an effort has been taken to check usefulness for such evaluations River Habitat Survey (RHS) – British research method, which is used in Poland for classification of ecological
quality of surface waters from the view-point of their actual hydromorphological state. Research was conducted in four upland and
lowland rivers and streams of south Poland while each watercourse belonged to another abiotic type. The research released both
advantages and disadvantages of the RHS method whereas results of this evaluation pointed at need of developing this method by
adding to it, not regarded as yet, the characteristic of hydrological regime

In this paper an effort has been taken to bind usefulness of water plants – as bioindicators of running waters eutrophication – with observations concerning influence of modifications in hydromorphology of watercourses on species diversity of macrophytes occurring in them. Research was conducted in four upland rivers and streams located in south Poland. Research results indicate that slight anthropogenic modifications in river channels cause increase of macrophyte species diversity in relation to natural conditions, but advanced modifications cause ecological degradation of watercourses below the level of initial stage. Results of assessment also indicate that there is a need of developing the Macrophyte Method of River Assessment in direction of immediate connections between the value of Macrophyte River Index and physicochemical state of surface waters

The paper presents equations to determine concentration changes in time at the outlet of single homogeneous tanks and homogeneous tank cascades. Using these equations, one can specify the required capacity of the facilities that will provide necessary damping of concentration oscillations at their outlets. The additional calculations performed by the author shows that the cascade of homogeneous averaging tanks and cascade of homogeneous retention- -averaging tanks also exhibit similar properties of damping concentration oscillations. For some specific cases of dynamics of concentrations and residence times changes for the substances within the tank, to damp concentration oscillations at the same level, the required capacity of the cascade tank can be smaller than the capacity of a single homogeneous tank. Damping of concentration oscillations by a tank cascade may be better than the attenuation by a single homogeneous tank of the same capacity. The same concentration oscillations damping effect can be, obtained for two different tank cascades, occasionally.

The paper discusses the problems of optimal water management in a distribution system. The main technical elements of the considered water-economic system include: retention reservoirs, among which water transfer is possible, and a network of connections between the reservoirs and water treatment plants (WTP). The system operation optimisation involves specifying proper water transport routes and the rates of water flow from the retention reservoirs to the WTPs, and them volumes of possible transfers among reservoirs, so as to ensure that total system operation costs as specified by the assumed quality coefficient are minimal. The analytic solution of the formulated optimisation task has been obtained as a result of employing Pontryagin’s maximum principle with reference to the assumed quality coefficient. The researchers have assumed fixed initial and end conditions in reservoir level trajectories. Optimisation start and/or end time is free to choose. The solutions obtained gave grounds to develop a simulation computer model representing the system’s operation. The analysis of of the results obtained may affect decisions supporting control of water-economic systems existing in reality.

The paper presents the adaptive, reactive computer assistance system design methodology, making modelling, analysis, and testing possible of the integrated waste management systems. The presented model is defined in a multilayer open architecture, i.e.-, it consists of the logical spaces of the constituent models (submodels) of the object classes and real processes of the waste management system. Topics covered by the paper include elements of a literature review on the modelling of systems and waste management processes, review of the programming environments employed, as well as a description of the object- -oriented waste management systems design methodology.

This article has been divided into two parts. First part describes calculation procedure for theoretical flood waves in gauged catchments using the Cracow University of Technology method and Warsaw University of Technology method. Both methods are based on unified unit hydrograph (UHG). Second part presents cross evaluation of mentioned methods on in relation to records historical flood waves. Evaluation was performed on 8 different catchments in Upper Vistula Basin. Selected catchments represented small to big areas with mountainous, highlands and lowlands characteristics.

First part of the article describes calculation procedure for theoretical flood waves in gauged catchments using the Cracow University of Technology method and Warsaw University of Technology method. Both methods are based on unified unit hydrograph (UHG). Second part presents cross evaluation of mentioned methods on in relation to records historical flood waves. Evaluation was performed on 8 different catchments in Upper Vistula Basin. Selected catchments represented small to big areas with mountainous, highlands and lowlands characteristics. The Cracow University of Technology method of theoretical flood waves determination gives more reliable result.

Water supply systems are an important element of a strategic urban infrastructure. Their configurations are usually complex and dynamic. The optimal operation strategy of the water supply system should consider both current conditions as well as the future prognosis. Current conditions of the water supply system may be characterized by so called: failure rate. The parameter may be determined directly by the water system operator and defined as the average number of failures per the unit length of pipe and the time unit. The work presents a theoretical background for the selected mathematical models, that may be applied for the both short-term and mid-term predictions.

The optimal strategy of the water supply system operation should consider the current conditions as well as the future prognosis. In the work some mathematical models have been presented, that may be applied for the both short-term and mid-term predictions. The models have been used for the analysis of failures in the City of Krakow water supply system.

In using small-scale topographic maps, we always have to bear in mind their inaccuracy, and that the parameters estimated on their basis may be burdened with significant differences. The following work allows for an analysis of error size occurring when estimating runoff hydrographs for uncontrolled catchments that are dependent on catchment hydrograph parameters, estimated based on topographic maps in 1:50 000 scale.

In the paper nonlinear analysis of the Poniczanka Creek dynamics was conducted. Verification of the detected determinism type and the assessment of complexity of the discharge dynamics was carried out together with the evaluation of its effective number of degrees of freedom. Noise level was also estimated. The obtained information is going to be useful for selection of the appropriate predictive model for Poniczanka discharge.

The problem of radioactive wastes concerns all developed countries in which nuclear energy has become common in practically all spheres of life and economy. Radioactive wastes require special treatment connected with their processing, transport and temporary and permanent storage in surface and underground stockpiles in chosen rock outcroppings. The paper presents types of radioactive wastes formed in Poland, criteria of their division and classification, methods of neutralization and utilization. Systems of barriers for radioactive wastes stockpiles protecting the environment are presented, especially conditions resulting from geological structure and soil properties, which form a natural protective barrier.

The article presents the basic techniques of measuring geophysical resistivity methods: Vertical Electrical Sounding VES, Electrical Profiling EP and Electrical Resistivity Tomography ERT. Discussed the basic methodological assumptions, advantages and limitations. Electrical Resistivity Tomography ERT – one of the most popular variants of this method was presented more widely.

The article presents a method of electrical resisitivity tomography which allows to identify the geological structure of the basement. Resistivity tomography was also used to detection of anthropogenic objects in Brzozówka and Zabierzów areas. A total of six profiles were done, on the basis of which it also describes applications of the electrical resistivity tomography for the near surface prospecting as well as its ability to detect and localize antropogenic objects.

The article presents the possible locations for control retention polders of Dunajec river in the section below Czchów. It also presents the method and results of impact assessment on the growth of polder retention capacity of a large water trough.

The revolutionary development of Internet services, and legal requirements arising from the implementation of the provisions of the act on spatial infrastructure, are causing rapid development of public geoportals. The paper presents results of research on assessing the quality of information available in public mode in geoportals of 10th largest Polish cities. Data sets were analyzed in terms of fulfillment of the provisions of the act on infrastructure and data sets and spatial services from point of view of potential users including investor and the applicant. The results show that the city of Wroclaw best performs tasks related to spatial data in any given thematic groups.

Using the natural capacity of retention we can significantly affect the reduction in frequency of flooding. The article presents the retention of the flood as an effective tool for limiting the size of the flood. It also proposes the retention of flood types available for use in the Dunajec basin.

According to the brightness dependences on the cloudiness, identified in our previous studies of the artificial sky glow, we attempted a detailed examination of these relationships within the light island of Cracow. For this purpose we use the measurements made in one of the Cracow residential estate in conditions of a cloudless and overcast sky. We have also used the unique measurements made during a power failure on 25 August 2011. These measurements allowed us to separate the local and distant light pollution. This enabled the assessment of the contribution of these two types of light pollution into the total light pollution of the urban light-island. We also used our earlier year-round measurement series made in the same estate in Cracow as well as one of the neighboring villages, in order to determine the effect of the cloud genera on the distant light pollution.

The influence of three waves of the flood in May, June and September 2010 on the water quality in the Goczałkowice reservoir has been studied. For each sample, levels of 22 indicators of water quality were determined. Most amongst all indicators were measured 42–48 times per year. The data were statistically analyzed. It has been shown that cluster analysis of standardized indicators of water quality may be used to distinguish clearly separated groups of measurements from the period of floods and periods beyond. Distribution’ diversities in the water quality indicators were tested separately, and were compared including the following periods: during and beyond floods in 2010, during the floods in 2010 and 1997, as well as during the floods, and month-corresponding multi-year period 1994–2009. It has been shown that flood characteristically affects the distribution of the indicators of water quality – regardless of season, and also the passage of time

Geodetic works carried out for the purposes of evaluation of technical condition of flood embankments have to meet some special technical criteria. Modern technologies such as classical measurements, the photogrammetric studies and laser scanning have been taken into consideration in the paper. The presented method follows a hybrid approach by integration of classical measurements, scanning function of reflectorless tachymeter and camera images. Experiences based on geodetic inventory of the Vistula Boulevards in Cracow conducted in 2010 r allows to determine the usability of above mentioned methods in this specific measurements. It has been found that in the case of inventory of earth structures the optimal method of measurement needs combining classical methods and scanning tachymeter. The proposed hybrid method is also effective when applied for typical concrete constructions. Using of laser scanners is justified only in the case of measurement of very complicated structure.

Paper’s main target was verification of a thesis that terrestial photogrammetry with application of vertical offset and a non-specialist photo camera can be used in monitoring of landslide hazard areas. Working included three stages: preparing configuration of a proper equipment, measurement of two objects with different surface with terrestial photogrammetry method and 3D scanning as a comparative method, elaboration of results and drawing conclusions. Results indicate possibility of succesful using the proposed method in cases where high accuracy isn’t required but speed and low cost of measurements.