An algorithm for selecting groups of factors for prioritization of land consolidation in rural areas

Large defects in the spatial structure of agricultural land are an issue in many countries. The main cause of these defects are hundreds of years of social, economic and historical transformations. The spatial structure of farmland can be improved using procedures such as land consolidation and exchange. However, given the fact that the funds for these activities are limited, it is necessary to select those areas in which land consolidation and exchange are a priority. To develop a prioritization plan for land consolidation and exchange interventions, it is necessary to carry out a series of studies and analyses which will provide a set of factors characterizing the region under investigation. Many years of research have shown that different regions in Poland are characterized by different parameters. Therefore, in the present study, an attempt was made to develop a universal algorithm for selecting groups of factors for purposes of prioritization of land consolidation which takes into account the geographic location of an investigated area. To test the proposed algorithm, analyses were carried out in two communes located in central and south-eastern Poland which differed significantly in terms of the spatial structure of farm holdings. A first test object was the commune of Paradyz, occupying an area of 8125.73 ha and divided into 15,941 cadastral plots. A second test object was the commune of Frysztak, located in south-eastern Poland, with an area of 9066.86 ha, divided into 21,506 cadastral plots.