Summary:

The purpose of the research was to indicate lands suitable for development on the basis of analysis of soil conditions. It was assumed that in rural areas soil conditions constitute one of the most important factors that influence development and the inevitable city sprawl. Detailed research based on soil-agricultural maps at a scale of 1:5,000 and the base map was effected for the geodetic units of Koprki and Michałówek, Ożarów commune, Western Warsaw poviat. Multi-criteria analysis was performed, on the basis of which the terrains most suitable for development were indicated, taking into consideration land bearing capacity, moisture content, land protection and public transport connections. Similar research for the whole Western Warsaw Poviat was performed afterwards. The analysis was based on data derived from soil-agricultural map at a scale of 1:50,000 and from Topographic Objects Database BDOT 10k. The research showed that due to advantageous location, short distance from Warsaw and good public transport connections arable lands of highest quality and agricultural suitability, protected under the Act on Protection of Forests and Agricultural Lands, are often designated for development. The availability of digital data and GiS tools that facilitate spatial analysis allow to consider various environmental factors that influence the optimal use of a given terrain.