The main aim of the thesis is to study and present current possibilities of GIS and remote sensing to delimit spatial structures of the city and to apply gained knowledge to a particular area and thus delimit spatial structures of the city. This thesis aims mainly at delimitation of city centre boundaries, city boundaries, urban area, city districts and basic residential units.
Boundaries of the city centre were delimited using three different methods. First method of delimitation was based on land rent (the land in the city centre is the most expensive land of the whole city), second method was based on a business and services density and the last one tried to delimit the centre of the town from the public transportation density. The third method turned out to be unsuitable for such analysis. Outputs of the first two methods were very similar and they were also similar to mental maps made by students of Palacky University. Methods turned out to give acceptable results in the city of Olomouc, however it would be better to test them also on data from other cities to be sure that they work.
Delimitation of the city boundary was also made by different methods. First method was based on density of communications. Three different approaches were used – density of roads, density of pavements and combination of both. The best results were achieved by the density of pavements. Delimitations based on road density lead to a selection of very small area (in case the limiting density value was too high) or to a selection of areas which are not part of the city, as the bypass-highway (in case the limiting density value was to small). Second method of delimitation was based on density of public transportation. This method had similar problems as the previous one – the delimited area was either too small or too big. Other methods of city delimitation are possible – population density, density of power transmission lines, gas-pipes and water pipes.
Urban area was delimited with the use of remote sensing. Images form LANDSAT from years 2000, 2005 and 2007 were used as main data sources. Images were categorized into four categories – urban land, agricultural land, greenery and water bodies.
Delimitation of basic residential units turned out to be a very tough task and therefore was not really realized in this thesis. Comparison of delimitation of basic residential units with municipal plan was made instead (with municipal plans from years 1999 and 1985). This comparison revealed that current delimitation of basic structural units corresponds more with the municipal plan from year 1985.
City districts are delimited administratively and they are based on the former historical villages. No better way of their delimitation was found.
The main aim of the thesis was fulfilled only partially. Methods how to delimit city centre, city and urban area were found and they were also applied on the city of Olomouc. However, to prove that these methods are suitable as universal would need more tests on data from different cities. These data were unfortunately not available. Aims of the thesis were not accomplished completely. Delimitation of basic structural units was too complicated to be realized as a part of this thesis and delimitation of city districts as administrative units cannot be improved.