The purpose of the article is to present the author’s methodology for identifying and assessing potentials and barriers occurring in various locations related to cultural tourism. The research aimed to develop a methodology to identify barriers and potentials for tourism development in peripheral and less-known locations. The potentials and barriers identified in a given location are important determinants of the development of cultural tourism and therefore economic development in the mentioned area. The identification of development potentials and barriers refers to the existing features of a given area or place and factors that activate or limit the possibilities of its using cultural resources. The study was based on the analysis of eight case studies of destinations with interesting cultural values. The entire series of analyses addressed various aspects of these destinations. Areas of different sizes and scales were considered, including areas in transboundary regions, rural areas, historic city centres, and archaeological or industrial sites. The work presents the author’s methodology for integrating the various elements that define the features and factors of cultural tourism and establishes a framework for a strategy for its sustainable development. To achieve this, a tool in the form of a comprehensive matrix was developed to assess the situation of each pilot site. Based on this tool, the pilot sites identified key features or factors as a barrier or potential and furthermore defined their territorial scope and their impact on their chosen dominant types of tourism. Barriers and potentials were identified based on a set of 47 previously developed features and factors. During the research, 38 most important potentials and 15 barriers were identified. The tool presented in the paper is comprehensive and universal, so it can be applied to any destination.

The aim of this study is to present a methodology for diagnosing cities in terms of hydrological and meteorological threats, with the goal of improving water management and helping cities adapt to changing conditions. Urbanisation is expected to progress unevenly across countries and cities, influenced by factors such as climatic conditions, economic disparities, and governance structures. Consequently, urban landscapes should strive for a balanced approach that integrates safety and risk management, commercial spaces, emotional well-being, and the promotion of biodiversity. Cities play a pivotal role in addressing climate change, as they account for a significant share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In Poland, numerous national and international projects are being implemented to help cities mitigate the impacts of climate change. Among these, the City with Climate project aimed to enhance residents’ quality of life while facilitating a pro-climate transition for cities. A holistic and multifaceted approach was adopted, incorporating the analysis of historical flood events based on archival documents and rescue service reports, detailed GIS data such as soil sealing, non-drained basins, NDVI, NDBI, and a multi-criteria analysis targeting hydrological and water management factors to develop effective solutions for urban retention challenges. The main findings indicate that: (1) combining insightful analyses using well-established methods provides a robust foundation for informed decision-making by city authorities; (2) overlaying information layers, such as local flooding interventions, non-drained areas, drainage networks, and soil sealing, helps identify areas requiring large-scale, technical, or nature-based solutions; and (3) regardless of city size, there is a concerning trend of increasing impervious surfaces replacing green areas, alongside urban sprawl altering land use in flood-prone regions, including mountainous, forested, and floodplain areas that should be protected. These findings illustrate that employing a structured project methodology alongside a comprehensive approach can significantly contribute to urban landscape planning, addressing the challenges of climate change while enhancing urban biodiversity through blue and green infrastructure.

In this paper, a Tectonophysics map of Rybnik region is presented which is based on the method of determining the direction of the trajectory of the principal stresses in the rock mass and axis orientation of these stresses. This method is used in tectonophysics and is based on the character and parameters of faults. The whole map of Rybnik region encompasses an area of active mines: Rydułtowy-Anna, Marcel, Chwałowice, Jankowice as well as closed ones: Rymer and 1 May of Marcel mine. The paper presents only some fragments of the maps made for the four fault systems and a collective map of tectonophysic, i.e., showing chart areas of compaction for all the systems. The tectonophysics map was made to a scale of 1:20 000. Before the proper work which was the reconstruction of the compaction zone, preparatory work was done. This consisted of updates in 2013 of the tectonics of this area. As a result, tectonic maps were obtained where faults were projected on one level to get their proper azimuth and their inclination. So, a map was made which was used to separate four fault systems arising in similar conditions of stress. Next followed the reconstruction of the main stress fields, which was the cause of faults. On the map there are plotted trajectories showing minimum stress (σ₃) and areas of compaction. The maps thus constructed will be used for further studies on the stress spreading and the impact of these areas for geomechanical properties.