GIS as a Support Tool in Regional Management of Rock Mineral Resources – Experiences from SW Poland

Mining and subsequent transport of rock minerals may cause environmental and social conflicts. Distribution of documented rock mineral deposits, being a derivative of geology, is usually uneven and inconsistent with demand areas. With the aim to facilitate modelling of potential conflicts and analysing the spatial distribution of source and demand areas, procedures have been developed in the geographical information systems (GIS). These tools can be used by public administration authorities, responsible for mineral resource management, to plan optimum development of available rock minerals resources taking into consideration costs and benefits in accordance with sustainable development requirements. A pilot geo-information system for selected two counties (Swidnicki and Wroclawski) in the Lower Silesia region (SW Poland) characterised by large and differentiated rock mineral resources has been developed, based on the proposed methodology and functionality. The system facilitates storage, management and distribution of spatial data related to rock mineral resources, mining and transport and the implemented functions can be used to solve planning, environmental and logistic problems connected with rock mineral management in a given space. The presented studies have been carried out within the frames of the “Strategies and Technological Scenarios of Management and Utilization of Natural Stone Deposits” Project financed from European Regional Development Fund within the Innovative Economy Operational Programme.