Assessment of the Exposure of Tourism-Related Landscape Values of the Silesian Beskids Based on Computer Visualization

This paper presents an analysis of the visibility of landscape values, which are important in terms of tourist attractiveness. The paper focuses on the area of the Silesian Beskid Mountains, which have highly diversified (in terms of structure, functionality and physiognomy) natural and cultural values. Due to its location near large urban agglomerations, the region enjoys high tourist interest, and it hosts intensely used recreation facilities. However, as a result of changes in land use and excessive afforestation, the area has lost its sightseeing value, which could result in the decreased interest of tourists and a loss of identity determinants in the landscape in that region. The foundation of tourist attractiveness lies in the visual diversity of elements of the natural and cultural landscape. Forests, which are common in the Beskids, are of unquestionable ecological value; however, from a tourist's point of view, their prevalence creates scenic monotony and decreases visual attractiveness because they hinder the perception of other valuable forms of landscape (e.g. surface features, hydrographic objects or cultural entities). The article presents existing and possible (computer simulated) states of landscape where the improvement of physiognomic value is planned. To visualize landscape values, the authors used methods and techniques of computer-aided modelling. Interpretation was based on topographic maps at various scales, aerial and satellite photos, a digital elevation model (DEM) and digital thematic maps.