## 5 Conclusions  
In this paper, a workflow for the automatized and easy-to-use generation of DH networks on the basis of very few input data is proposed. The methodology considers reliable street networks and building footprints in order to draw first rough potential heating networks in analyzed areas. The methodology was first verified in a very small test area, which enabled proof that the model works appropriately. Then, the model was implemented in a selected study area of Wroclaw county, the Siechnice commune, and its surroundings to check if the implementation procedure on a wider scale than a small community is possible due to the target of achieving the replicability of this method at higher administrative division levels. A further and wider target is to transfer this methodology in other countries in Europe, especially Germany, where an urgent need for such applications exists due to achieving climate-neutrality regarding the heat supply.  
The findings of this study can be summarized in the following points:  
An easy-to-use and accurate method on the basis of very few open-source data input is possible with reliable computation time (LCPA method: few minutes; Closest Facility method: 220 connections/hour).  
The DH networks generated using both methods are reliable, as they are based on real street networks and considers real building footprints.  
The drawing of the first potential DH networks using an LCPA method on a smaller spatial level is very appropriate: in the case of higher spatial levels, a weak point occurs due to the fact that some redundant (duplicate) heating pipes routes are generated.  
A solution to work around this weak point was found using another so-called Closest Facility method, even if this method takes more computation time.  
Even if both methods have some restrictions, they can both be used and implemented in the Municipal Heat Planning at the first stage, called Strategic District Heating Planning. The stage of implementation as well as validation must be assessed in further works. These further developments will be focused on the following:  
1. Analysis of the open-source heat demand or even available heat consumption data for each of the heat consumers integrated in the DH network due to proceeding with dimensioning of the generated heat pipelines of the DH networks.  
2. Development of an additional option to generate the house connections between the main heat pipes and the heat consumers. 3. Development of an automatic tool/model for performing the dimensioning of DH pipes. 4. Enhancement of the model to perform the first cost-effective analysis on the basis of the line density and effective width for district heating (example procedure in [28]). 5. Implementation of the model for the fully automatic generation of potential DH networks at different spatial levels.  
Conceptualization, A.S. and J.B.; methodology, A.S., J.M. and J.B.; validation, A.S. and J.M.; writing--original draft preparation, A.S. and J.B.; writing--review and editing, A.S.; visualization, A.S.; supervision, J.B.; project administration, A.S.; funding acquisition, A.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded in part by the National Science Centre, Poland (grant number: 02 NW/0010/23). For the purpose of open access, the authors have applied a CC-BY public copyright license to any Author Accepted Manuscript (AAM) version arising from the submission.  
Data availability StatementData used in this paper are taken from Geoportal.gov.pl (assessed on 1 September 2023).  
The authors wish to thank their German colleagues from the KEA Klimaschutz- und Energie Agentur Baden-Wurttemberg GmbH (eng. Climate Protection and Energy Agency Baden-Wurttemberg GmbH) as well as other partners in the ANSWER Kommunal project for their input considering the existing German regulations in the field of Municipal Heat Planning.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.