Proper quality assessment of ready-mixed concrete, which is currently the principal material for construction, land engineering and architecture, has an impact on the optimisation and verification of correct functioning of individual stages of the production process. According to the European Standard EN 206 “Concrete–Specification, performance, production and conformity”, obligatory conformity control of concrete is carried out by the producer during its production. In order to verify the quality of concrete, investors generally commission independent laboratory units to perform quality assessment of both concrete mix and hardened concrete, which guarantees a high quality of construction works. One of the essential tools for ensuring the quality of test results is the participation of laboratories in the so-called proficiency testing (PT) or inter-laboratory comparisons (ILC). Participation in PT/ILC programmes is, on the one hand, a tool for demonstrating the laboratory’s performance, on the other hand an aid for maintaining the quality of available concrete tests and validating test methods. Positive evaluation is a confirmation of the laboratory’s capability for performing the tests. The paper presents the results of laboratory proficiency tests carried out by means of inter-laboratory comparisons, as shown in the example of quality assessment of ready-mixed concrete for nine participating laboratories. The tests were performed for concrete of the following parameters: strength class C30/37, consistency S3, frost resistance degree F150, and water resistance degree W8. This involved determining consistencies, air content and density of the concrete mix, and compressive strength of hardened concrete. For the evaluation of laboratory performance results, z-score, ζ-score and E_n-score were applied. The innovation of the proposed study lies in employing both classical and iterative robust statistical methods. In comparison with classical statistical methods, robust methods ensure a smaller impact of outliers and other anomalies on the measurement results. Following the analyses, clear differences were found between the types of detected discrepancy of test results, which occurred due to the nature of individual parameters. For two laboratories, two scores revealed unsatisfactory results for concrete mix consistency. The main reasons can be pouring into the cone-shaped form a concrete mixture that is too dry, or incorrect use of a measuring tool also creating a possibility that the obtained value can be wrongly recorded. Other possible reasons are discussed in the paper. Participation in inter-laboratory comparison programmes is undoubtedly a way to verify and raise the quality of tests performed for concrete mix and hardened concrete, whereas individual analysis of the results allows the laboratory quality system to be improved.

The issue of land reclamation and post-mining land use appears to be extremely topical. In addition to traditional methods of excavation revitalization, such as directions: forest, water and communal, there is a very attractive solution which is an adaptation of these areas for geotouristic- or other functions designed to accommodate people, for example spa function. In addition to aesthetic assets, quarries have specific features predestining them to the location of the spa complexes. The article presents an example of the methods for selecting optimal locations and urban and architectural solutions for the needs of users of geotouristic and spa facilities.

“New cities” are perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of the construction, existence and subsequent development of the Central Industrial District. These settlement units founded “in cruda radis” have all a similar and characteristic layout structure. A newly established industrial plant of strategic production profile (usually associated with arms manufacturing) was directly or indirectly connected with a residential/services unit, which subsequently evolved into a city. The analysis of new settlements development in the COP area leads to identification of four groups, that vary in terms of transformation effects and current status. These are: small cities, medium cities, villages with urban characteristics and villages absorbed by previously shaped urban units. It seems that among these groups, the group of small cities deserves special attention, as it presents an explication of construction process and urban structure transformation, analysis of which may be easily achieved due to the size such units. This article presents the outline of layouts and the development history of the settlement units that were parts of functional/spatial structure created through the construction of industrial and residential estates in the Central Industrial District. The aim of the study was a framework analysis of how these cities originated and how the tissue of presented urban complexes transformed. The tools used to present these origins and basic urban development transformations included the analysis of available literature, museum/archive resources, general analysis of cartographic materials and also field studies.

The city life cycle is an issue that can be considered from many perspectives. Klaassen’s period cycle is the basic model of city life: urbanisation– suburbanisation–deurbanisation–reurbanisation. In each of these periods, cities develop by, building and transforming their structures. This article presents various approaches to shaping new urban spaces using the city of Rzeszów as an example. In the city’s history, three periods are distinguished during which structures referred to as the ‘new town’ were created in the 16th and 20th centuries and continue to be created now. After analysing the site-forming processes, the most important features of new-town urban systems are compared.

Public spaces exist in each space which has been built. In the case of small European towns, they are usually strictly defined: and include market square, side squares and streets, which are often clearly connected with each other with regard to functions and composition. There are also municipal units, which have been created as a result of the development and expansion of residential developments located near important industrial plants (e.g. within the Central Industrial Region). These units were built in accordance with the modernist principle of a functional town in its original form and did not have traditionally defined public spaces. The article presents the history and possibilities of creating such spaces in a small industrial town based on an example of Nowa Dęba.