Interactive maps of social problems and security threats illustrated with an example of solutions currently used in Upper Silesia

Abstract

The geographical presentation of various data on the spatial functioning of society has been present in fields such as social policy and security for almost 200 years. New technologies, in particular computerization and the GIS tool, not only make the mapping of social problems or security threats more accurate, but also allow for the interactive creation of those maps by society and public institutions. This article is a qualitative analysis of solutions used in the Silesian Voivodeship, a region of Poland with a highly specific nature and density in terms of the problems discussed. The tools presented, including a "National Map of Security Threats" and "Maps of Social Problems and Resources in the Local Environment", demonstrate-apart from their obvious benefits, such as increasing public awareness of threats and enhancing cooperation between society and public institutions in combatting them-the challenges and problems that these solutions bring and may also create in the future.