Unequal Dynamics of Ecological Regeneration and Anthropogenic Persistence During Landscape Transition in Krzemionki, Kraków

Post-socialist urban landscapes often undergo spontaneous transformation where formal governance is fragmented or discontinuous, yet the spatial logic of these transitions remains insufficiently quantified. This study examines Krzemionki, a landscape archaeological heritage site in Krakow, Poland, using multi-temporal land cover classification based on QGIS-based geospatial analysis, AI-assisted segmentation, and manual verification. Between 2009 and 2025, spontaneous vegetation cover increased by 36.27 ha, whereas developed spatial fragments increased by only 4.82 ha, revealing substantially unequal dynamics between ecological regeneration and anthropogenic spatial persistence. Change frequency analysis further shows that 76.85% of mapped improvised spatial practice area was located in areas experiencing zero or one land cover transition. This pattern suggests a spatial concentration of observable improvised practices in relatively stable interstitial spaces. This observed pattern may reflect selective spatial anchoring, although it should be interpreted as an indication of spatial tendency rather than direct evidence of persistent practices over the entire study period. By integrating ecological regeneration, fragmented development, and everyday spatial practices into a unified framework, this study identifies three differentiated types of spatial logic—expansion, persistence, and spatial distribution of observable practices—that characterise the observed landscape transition. Selective spatial anchoring is further proposed as one possible interpretation of these patterns. These findings support differentiated planning responses based on spatial stability, including selective formalisation in stable areas, temporary or adaptive use in low-frequency transition zones, and limited intervention in highly dynamic areas.