Changes in building numbers and density in Poland since the 1970s

This paper investigates changes in building numbers and density in Poland over the past 50 years. By combining building data from historical maps (1970s-1980s) with contemporary digital topographic datasets, we analyze changes in building numbers, distribution, and density at a national scale with high spatial resolution. We calculated a change index (Normalized Buildings Number Change Index, NBCI) within a 2 × 2 km grid covering the entire country. An additional map shows changes in building density at the commune level. The maps highlight areas with significant increases in building numbers around major cities and areas with stagnation or decreases, mostly in economically deprived regions. Some patterns reflect historical legacies related to boundary changes since the eighteenth century. Overall, the maps and data serve as valuable tools for discussions on settlement structure changes, migration patterns, and land use trends in Poland.