University of Novi Sad - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Novi Sad
Identification of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Sites using the GIS and AHP Multicriteria decision analysis: A case of the urban municipality of Dédougou (Burkina Faso)
Sustainable management of municipal solid waste is a major challenge for developing countries, where rapid population growth and accelerated urbanization are increasing waste production and pressure on landfill sites. Selecting suitable landfill sites is a complex task that requires consideration of multiple environmental, geological, topographical and anthropogenic factors in order to minimize impacts on public health and the environment. This study focuses on the urban commune of Dédougou and proposes an approach combining GIS and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to identify optimal municipal waste landfill sites. The data used includes groundwater depth, distance from built-up areas, distance from watercourses, slope, altitude, land use and cover, soil types, geological formations, and distance from road networks. Each factor was standardized, weighted according to Thomas L. Saaty's 1977 AHP scale, and integrated into the GIS to produce a landfill suitability map. The results indicate a classification of areas into five categories: very unfavorable (9.29%), unfavorable (23.55%), moderately favorable (27.25%), favorable (39.88%) and very favorable (0.06%). The weightings assigned reveal that groundwater depth (0.386), proximity to built-up areas (0.232) and distance from watercourses (0.131) are the most influential factors. The final map shows that suitable and very suitable sites are mainly located on the northern and north-western outskirts of the urban commune of Dédougou, while the central areas are largely unsuitable for landfills.
Copyright (c) 2026 Geographica Pannonica
Exploring Behavioral Intention Toward Sustainable Ecotourism Development among Local Residents Working in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
This study aimed to explore various levels of local residents’ behavioral intention toward sustainable ecotourism development in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam and identified their key determinants. Using convenience sampling method, a total of 302 responses were used for data analysis. The proposed model involving three dimensions of residents’ perceptions (economic, sociocultural and environmental sustainability) and attitude was developed to determine the formation of local residents’ participation intention. Furthermore, residents’ intention in sustainable development of ecotourism was examined through a second-factor latent variable with four aspects including sustainable community development, natural resources conservation, cultural tradition preservation, and participation in planning and managing ecotourism development. The findings demonstrated that residents’ perceptions had direct impacts on their participation intention, which were partially mediated by their attitude. Notably, perceived environmental benefits of local people had the strongest overall effect among the variables examined. Finally, theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
Air Temperature Fluctuations in Sarajevo and Climate Projections in the Context of Climate Change
When discussing climate change, we primarily refer to global warming, that is, the in-crease in air temperature which directly affects other climatic elements. The Sarajevo meteorological station has a homogeneous series of observations and measurements of this climatic element spanning 136 years (from 1888 to 2024) without interruption, which represents a highly representative period for monitoring changes in air temperature and its fluctuations in the study area. The main characteristic of the thermal regime in the Sarajevo area is warming. The mean annual temperature for the entire instrumental period is 9.8°C, with a linear warming trend of 1.7°C. In addition to the general analysis of air temperature and its fluctuations in Sarajevo over this long-term observational period, special attention will be devoted to projecting this climatic element up to the year 2100 under different climate scenarios.
Investigating the impact of El Niño Southern Oscillation and North Atlantic Oscillation on Temperature regime in the Republic of Azerbaijan
The study aims to investigate recent changes in the climate of Azerbaijan and climate drivers behind these changes. To reveal the combined influences of multiple climate oscillations, it was decided to employ regression models with climate teleconnections of North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Prior to these, Statistical analysis such as Mann – Kendall test and extreme value tests were applied to identify statistically significant trends. The findings revealed that temperature persistence dominates the local climate in the country. Overall, the impact of North Atlantic Oscillation is small, while El Nino – Southern Oscillation shows little to no impact.
The Settlement Network in Spatial Plans in the Republic of Serbia – Key Dilemmas
The settlement network represents one of the key segments of spatial plans in Serbia, as well as part of the broader framework that encompasses the population and public services within a given territory. The ways in which this segment has been addressed in practice show considerable variation, which points to the absence of a clearly established and widely accepted approach. This paper presents a comparative analysis of spatial plans at the national, regional, and local levels, with the aim of examining the methodological and substantive consistency in the treatment of this segment, as well as the degree to which individual subsegments and related concepts are included. The results of the research made it possible to identify key uncertainties and inconsistencies, which may serve as a basis for improving planning practice, that is, for enhancing its quality and relevance in the planning of settlement network development.
Bridging Disciplines: Inter–Multi–Transdisciplinary Pathways for Sustainable Urban Development in the Western Balkans
Western Balkan cities currently stand at a critical inflection point, characterized by the convergence of intensifying climate and hydrometeorological hazards, acute environmental pollution, and profound demographic imbalances. This article argues that the region’s persistent implementation gap—frequently described as being "full of plans but short of traction"—is not primarily a technological deficiency but a structural crisis of knowledge integration and governance. By analyzing the compounding nature of risks, where environmental stressors cascade across interdependent infrastructure systems, the study demonstrates that traditional, siloed policy responses are insufficient. Instead, it posits that achieving urban resilience requires a fundamental shift from technocratic management to inter-, multi-, and transdisciplinary frameworks. Four practical pathways are proposed to operationalize this shift: (1) embedding environmental and social risk assessment into the core of sustainable urban development; (2) integrating service delivery to simultaneously support livelihoods and sustainability; (3) establishing 'frugal' urban observatories that bridge official monitoring gaps with citizen science, providing a resource-efficient counterpart to expensive 'smart city' architectures; and (4) institutionalizing co-production to ground policy in local realities. Ultimately, the paper suggests that by treating integration as a delivery mechanism rather than an academic ideal, Western Balkan cities can transform into "integration laboratories," demonstrating how to govern sustainability transitions effectively under strict fiscal and administrative constraints.
Effective Street Geometry and Shading Strategies for Pedestrian Thermal Comfort: A Scenario Based Simulation Approach
The development of urban heat issues poses significant challenges for pedestrians in tropical cities, necessitating climate-responsive street design. This study employs a scenario-based simulation approach to determine optimal combinations of street geometry and shading strategies that enhance Pedestrian Thermal Comfort (PTC). Using ENVI-met, this study simulated 90 scenarios by combining geometric variables, such as aspect ratio (AR), building typology (BT), and street orientation, with five shading strategies in Nagpur City, India. The modified Physiological Equivalent Temperature (mPET) index was calculated for each scenario using a pre-trained machine learning model. Results quantified that canopy shading was the most effective strategy, reducing mPET by up to 7°C in E-W streets. The effective street geometric combination was a N-S oriented street with a deep AR and linear BT, which consistently achieved the lowest mPET values (33.1–35.8°C). The study concludes with a rating matrix that guides the integration of shading design with street geometry to achieve thermally resilient streets.
When Ungauged Micro-Watersheds Conceal Danger: A Morphometric and Morphodynamic Analysis of Flood Risk. Case Study: The City of Aïn M’lila, Algeria
Extreme weather events-particularly episodes of intense rainfall-are increasingly disrupting hydrological regimes and triggering frequent, destructive floods, especially in urban environments. These floods have severe repercussions on populations, infrastructure, and economic activities. While large river basins are typically monitored and extensively studied, small ungauged urban catchments remain poorly documented despite their critical role in generating localized hydrological hazards. This study focuses on a small ungauged watershed located in Aïn M’lila (northeastern Algeria), which experiences recurrent flash floods that frequently lead to urban inundation. In the absence of hydrological instrumentation, the objective is to generate insight into the watershed’s hydrological functioning and the associated geomorphological impacts using alternative, integrative methods. The approach combines morphometric analysis, a morphodynamic reading of surface flow dynamics, and targeted field observations of flood traces and erosion patterns. This methodological framework offers a more precise characterization of the watershed’s specific features, enhances understanding of its behavior during extreme rainfall events, and provides a transferable basis for flood risk assessment in other similarly data-scarce urban contexts. This study contributes in three concrete ways: (1) by demonstrating a reproducible workflow that integrates 30 m DEM-based morphometry with field-scale morphodynamic observations for ungauged urban micro-watersheds; (2) by providing quantified morphometric metrics linked to hydrological response indicators (e.g., drainage density, time of concentration) and interpreting their physical meaning for flash-flood generation; and (3) by combining spatial evidence with participatory survey data to inform practical recommendations for low-cost monitoring and urban planning interventions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Geographica Pannonica
Human Thermal Load of Cfb Climate Summer Weather Based on the Concept of Required Skin Evaporation
We analyzed the human thermal load of summer weather in the Cfb climate based on the results of a new model based on the human body energy balance equation and the skin surface evaporation gradient formula. The active surface of the model is the skin surface, the person is lying in a resting position, its skin type is Fitzpatrick skin type IV. For that purpose, longitudinal research method was performed in 2022 in Martonvásár, Hungary (East-Central Europe), comprising 331 observations in which weather conditions and thermal sensation types were recorded simultaneously. The main observation is that in warm climates and/or weather situations, the amount of thermal load can be very simply characterized by latent heat flux density values of the skin evaporation. From a human point of view, the most important characteristics of summer weather in the Cfb climate are as follows: 1) The latent heat flux density of skin surface evaporation varied between 10 and 300-350 Wm-2, while the operative temperature ranged between 25 °C and 80 °C. 2) The relationship between skin surface evaporative resistance and operative temperature can be characterized by an exponential function. In cases of thermal sensation type "neutral", skin surface evaporative resistance values ​​are mostly above 0.5 hPa·m2·W-1. Observations made by people with different skin types are essential to generalize the results.
Disaster Risk Perception and Communication in Flood-prone Areas in Albania: A Comparison of Urban and Rural Settings
This study examines disaster risk perception and communication in Albania, focusing on two districts in the cities of Tirana and Fier and the villages of Novosela and Dajç, all affected by severe flooding in recent years. The research highlights how dimensions of national culture - particularly fatalism and attachment to home and hearth - interact with contextual, psychological, and demographic characteristics to shape flood risk perceptions. Quantitative analysis using surveys (N=104) and ORL regression models shows that disaster risk tolerance is influenced by location, household income, and prior exposure to natural disasters. Urban residents are less tolerant of risk, while higher-income individuals and those with previous disaster experience show greater tolerance. Qualitative interviews reveal that city dwellers often perceive floods as inevitable, while rural participants emphasize communal coping and local knowledge.
Extreme precipitation events in Novi Sad during the period 1961-2020
Extreme precipitation events (EXPEs) were analyzed based on daily precipitation data from 1961 to 2020 in Novi Sad, Serbia. The temporal characteristics of the following EXPEs were investigated: Heavy precipitation days (R10mm), Very heavy precipitation days (R20mm), Highest 1-day precipitation amount (Rx1day), Highest 3-day precipitation amount (Rx3day), Highest 5-day precipitation amount (Rx5day), Very wet days (R95p), Extremely wet days (R99p), Precipitation fraction due to very wet days (R95pTot) and Precipitation fraction due to extremely wet days (R99pTot). The EXPEs were analyzed on an annual and seasonal basis and for two reference periods 1961-1990 and 1991-2020. Positive trends were found for both annual and seasonal values for all indices, except for R20mm and R99pTot in winter. A significant increase in Rx1day, Rx3day and Rx5day was observed in all seasons (except for Rx1day and Rx5day in winter) and on an annual basis. The high value of Rx1day (116.6 mm) was recorded in the summer of 2018 in Novi Sad, caused by convective precipitation that led to urban flooding. The possible influence of large-scale circulation patterns was investigated. A strong positive and negative influence of the East Atlantic pattern and the East Atlantic Western Russia pattern on the EXPEs was found. The results of this work support the growing evidence that the impact of extreme conditions is likely to become even stronger due to changes in their intensity and frequency.
Tourism and Regenerationin World Heritage Urban Areas: A Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis
Tourism and regeneration are two interrelated factors that have a significant impact on World Heritage urban areas (WHUAs), places of outstanding cultural and historical values. However, the literature on the relationship between tourism and regeneration and their impact on these areas is still scarce and fragmented. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the existing studies on tourism and regeneration in WHUAs and to identify the main research gaps and directions for future research. In this regard, we reviewed English published articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters indexed on Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases until 2023. We analyzed the publication trends, the most influential journals and publishers, the main research topics and methods, and the most applied approaches. The results revealed that in recent years, the Historic Urban Landscape, and culture-led urban regeneration approaches, as well as concepts such as authenticity and sustainability, have received the attention of researchers in this field. However, the literature also shows some limitations, such as a lack of theoretical and review studies, quantitative approaches, and a shortage of multiple-case studies. In addition, the factors for failure, consequences, and procedural solutions extracted as the key themes of the related projects. Based on these findings, this review provides insights valuable to researchers, urban planners, and policymakers involved in the conservation and development of these culturally valuable areas in ways that balance tourism growth with heritage preservation.
Perceptions of Heat Risk Among Street Vendors, Its Associations With Knowledge and Impacts on Adaptive Measures in a Tropical Indian City
There has been a concerning rise in heatwave-related deaths in India over the past few decades, particularly affecting the informal work sector exposed to high outdoor temperatures. This study aimed to understand how outdoor workers and street vendors in the landlocked tropical city of Nagpur perceive heat risks and how this perception relates to their knowledge and adaptive measures. A cross-sectional study using face-to-face surveys was conducted, introducing a novel Heat Risk Perception (HRP) Index to quantify participants' risk perception. The findings revealed that 70% of street vendors had high HRP, with a mean index score of 0.72. Local knowledge and past heat experiences significantly influenced risk perception, despite gaps in scientific knowledge resulting from limited access to training programs. A strong positive relationship was observed between HRP and adjustments in work routines during hot weather, especially when vendors perceived health risks. This suggest that risk perception is crucial for adopting protective behaviours. Demographic factors did not significantly affect heat risk perception. Notably, 69% of vendors perceived themselves as vulnerable to heat's negative effects, and perceived vulnerability emerged as a significant predictor of high HRP. The findings highlight the importance of risk perception in mitigating heat-related risks among vulnerable populations. The study's results can inform the development of targeted interventions to protect street vendors and outdoor workers from heat-related risks.
Urban Stormwater Management with Rain Gardens – A Case Study of Kecskemét, Hungary
This research explores the potential benefits of rain gardens, a form of nature-based solutions (NbS) for urban stormwater management in Kecskemét, Hungary. An experimental rain garden was established using plants with varying drought tolerances to capture rainwater from a single-family house roof. This garden was monitored for a year to assess its rainwater retention capacity and observe plant development and survival. Concurrently, we identified areas within Kecskemét prone to flash floods from heavy rainfall, demarcating promising locations for rain garden conversion. Our primary goal was to identify applicable plant species and quantify how much rainfall could be retained in rain gardens. Our results show that drought-tolerant plants (e.g. Festuca amethystina, Festuca pallens glauca) perform better in the dry conditions typical of Kecskemét. Based on our calculation, the possible rainwater retention is about 1,500 m³, with 60 planned rain gardens. These findings suggest that the widespread urban application of rain gardens, as a nature-based solution, can significantly contribute to mitigating flash floods and enhancing urban resilience to extreme weather events.
A Qualitative Approach for Investigating Thermal Discomfort in the Outdoor Environment of a World Heritage Site: A Case Study of Hampi, India
The outdoor thermal environment affects visitors' thermal comfort and overall experience. This study investigates the application of photographic analysis as a qualitative tool for evaluating thermal discomfort in outdoor environments at a World Heritage Site. Thermal discomfort is a key concern in public settings as global temperatures continue to rise. At the same time, traditional approaches rely on microclimate measurements and user feedback. However, this study takes a more subjective, visual approach to capturing and interpreting how visitors experience thermal comfort or discomfort in large-scale archaeological sites. This research uses photographic data to identify and analyze the primary visual signs of thermal discomfort. Results reveal that visitors in the heritage site experience strong heat stress during the winter season. Despite the study area experiencing strong heat stress and visitors feeling hot and warm, the majority of the visitors are satisfied with the thermal conditions of the heritage site. Photographic analysis reports that the most common signs of thermal discomfort are mostly related to intense solar radiation and the absence of shade. The research findings can be used to develop strategies for reducing thermal discomfort while maintaining the cultural and historical integrity of heritage places. The research underscores the importance of visual data in comprehending the interplay between thermal comfort, environmental design, and visitor experiences in culturally significant sites.
Seasonal Variations in Thermal Perception of Urban Environments: Summer and Winter In-situ Assessment from a Central European Town
Growing urbanisation, together with extreme weather events, negatively affects urban populations worldwide. Recent urban climate studies demonstrate that people-oriented approaches are needed to effectively target adaptation measures and thus improve urban populations’ well-being. In this study we used the in-situ approach of sketch mapping to identify thermally pleasant and unpleasant places during two seasons, summer and winter, in Ústí nad Orlicí, a Czech town. Generally, places perceived as the most thermally unpleasant, regardless of season, are parking lots near shopping centres, and these require priority attention from urban planners. Respondents consistently identified the planting of high greenery and the construction of shelters as preferred adaptation measures across both seasons. Our findings also point to a clear preference for more enclosed places.
Multiscale Analysis of Green Infrastructure Impacts on PM2.5 and PM10 Pollution in Delhi, India
Urban air pollution, particularly from fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), poses critical environmental and public health challenges in rapidly urbanizing regions. This study presents a multiscale, seasonal analysis of the relationship between Green Infrastructure (GI) landscape characteristics and PM concentrations in Delhi, India. Using high-resolution Sentinel-2 imagery (2019–2021) and air quality data from 39 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitoring stations, we quantified 15 GI characteristics across five spatial scales (0.5–2.5 km) using NDVI. Empirical Bayesian Kriging was applied for spatial interpolation of PM values, and Otsu’s thresholding was used to delineate vegetated areas. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and regression models revealed that compositional metrics—such as Class Area (CA) and Percentage of Landscape (PLAND)—showed consistent negative correlations with PM2.5 and PM10 levels across all scales and seasons. Configuration metrics, including Largest Patch Index (LPI), Edge Density (ED), and Aggregation Index (AI), exhibited scale- and season-specific influences, with stronger effects observed at broader spatial scales during winter and autumn. The findings suggest that both the quantity and spatial arrangement of urban vegetation significantly affect local air quality. The study underscores the need for scale-aware, evidence-based GI planning as a nature-based solution, supporting India’s airshed-level approach to urban pollution management. These insights offer practical guidance for urban policymakers and planners aiming to enhance air quality through strategic green infrastructure design.
Fine-scale Mapping of Heat-hazard Risk and Vulnerability Using Geo-spatial Techniques: Insights from a Tropical Indian City
Unprecedented extreme heat events (EHEs) have amplified associated health risks, but they present great differences within the urban environment. This paper aims to assess heat-hazard risk (HHR) and associated vulnerability in Nagpur, a heat-prone Indian city using remotely sensed and on-site meteorological data. HHR was generated through high resolution local climate zone (LCZ) maps via the product of hazard and vulnerability which featured census-tract socio-economic variables (sensitivity and adaptive capacity) and exposure. Principal component analysis (PCA) with equal weighting was applied to develop a composite fine-scale heat vulnerability index (HVI). Out of 136 wards, a total of 68 wards were identified to have ‘high’ or ‘very high’ HVI featuring about 49.06% of the population. LCZ-based spatial mapping showed a heterogeneous heat ‘risk-scape’ across the city. ‘High’ and ‘very high’ heat vulnerability/risk (HV/R) signature was observed in city core, its adjoining areas (LCZs 3 and 3F) and urban fringes (LCZs 9 and 93). Conversely, open areas with moderate vegetation cover and natural classes (LCZs 6, 6B, A and B) showed ‘moderate’ to ‘low’ HHR. The findings of this research will enable the urban practitioners and policymakers to deal with explicit determinants of heat vulnerability and risk especially in regions with low adaptive capacity.
Intracountry Regional Inequalities in the Context of the Socioeconomic Status of Selected European Countries
The paper deals with the issue of intracountry inequalities in selected European countries with attention paid to the analysis of potential connections between the level of identified regional inequalities in the assessed countries and their socioeconomic status. Two frequently employed indicators were chosen to assess regional inequalities: Gross Domestic Product per capita in PPS and Income of Households per capita in PPS, employing the Gini coefficient and the coefficient of variation as the basic statistical measures. The obtained results refer to the highest level of regional inequalities in the countries of the former Socialist Bloc, while the strong influence of capitals was also confirmed in these countries on the level of inequalities. At the same time, the presumption that the decreasing socioeconomic status of the countries caused the increasing level of intracountry regional inequalities was largely confirmed.
Hydrological Shifts in the Carpathian Basin: Climate Change Impacts on Summer Low-flows
To assess hydrological shifts in the Carpathian Basin, this study analyzes a 90-year summer minimum discharge dataset from 12 river stations. We reveal widespread, significant declines, with the most pronounced trends on the Danube showing an average decrease of (-8.9% per decade). Critically, we identify a systemic regime shift using Pettitt tests, with most changepoints occurring between 1968-1990. Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) regionalize these trends into two clusters: a high-variability group (Danube/Sava) and a vulnerable, low-flow group (Tisza/Drava). These findings prove the region’s growing drought vulnerability and highlight the urgent need for adaptive water management.
Spatio-temporal Analysis of Drought Trends Recorded during the Wettest Months in the Mouhoun-Comoé Basin in Burkina Faso (Africa): an Analysis using Z-score and Linear Regression
Meteorological drought is a natural phenomenon that occurs when there is insufficient rainfall over a more or less prolonged period. In West African countries, and particularly in Burkina Faso, this situation undermines agricultural systems. Knowledge of the spatio-temporal trends of drought is essential for optimal management of water resources and effective planning of sustainable agricultural activities. The aim of this study is the analysis of the spatio-temporal trends of drought in the Mouhoun-Comoé basin in Burkina Faso. To this end, the study used CHIRPS rainfall data in raster and CSV file form for July and August, as well as soil moisture (0-10 cm) at 1-, 2- and 3-month scales for the period 1994-2024. The data were analysed using the z-score index, linear regression and correlation. The study shows that the upward trend in drought oscillates between extreme drought and mild drought. The decade 1994-2004 was characterised by extreme drought, followed by a decrease in drought throughout the basin during the decade 2005-2014. Finally, in the decade 2015-2024, a phase of high humidity was observed throughout the basin. Drought trends have had an impact on soil moisture levels, particularly in the valleys of the basin. This situation has a negative impact on agricultural production in the basin. This situation is forcing farmers to use crops that have more or less water tolerance in order to cope with the drought.
Habits of Using Private Gardens and Green Spaces in Suburban Villages around Nitra
The growth of suburbs alters the traditional villagescape due to increasing population and new housing developments. This not only affects the buildings but also alters the green spaces within the settlements. The amount of green space is decreasing as more densely populated developments are built. Additionally, most green spaces in villages are privately owned, with gardens making up the majority of these areas. Our study examines the attitudes of the population towards gardening and greening in four settlements near Nitra, Slovakia. Through questionnaires we explore how the attitudes of both newcomers and local residents differ and how this varies between the different settlements, to identify any differences in attitudes towards gardening.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Heat Stress in the Climate of Koper and Ljubljana (Slovenia)
This study examines the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to heat stress among residents of two distinct urban neighbourhoods in Slovenia with different climate types: Olmo, Koper, and Zupančičeva jama, Ljubljana. The study explored the interplay of socio-economic indicators, demographic characteristics, and health status with heat stress KAP. While both locations demonstrated comparable levels of knowledge regarding heat stress, residents of Olmo exhibited significantly more positive attitudes towards adopting preventive measures and reported engaging in such behaviours more frequently. The findings suggest that targeted interventions must consider not only knowledge dissemination but also the unique characteristics of each community, including their specific climate, socio-economic profile, and cultural norms, to effectively enhance community resilience to the adverse impacts of heat stress.
Waste Disposal Practices, Health Awareness and Challenges in Rapidly Growing Populations: A Case Study of Ede, Southwestern Nigeria
Waste disposal and management have emerged as pressing challenges in urban areas, particularly in developing countries where rapid population growth exacerbates the situation. This study examines waste management practices, health awareness, and the associated challenges in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 310 respondents using a simple random sampling method. The analysis revealed that waste disposal practices predominantly involve open burning (34.2%) and disposal in rivers/streams (26.8%), both of which pose significant environmental and health risks. Despite a high percentage of organic waste (74.2%), sustainable practices such as recycling (7.1%) and composting (3.2%) are minimally utilized. Using ordinal logistic regression, important predictors of waste disposal methods were found. These included lack of money, inadequate facilities, and low awareness. Additionally, dissatisfaction with waste management services correlated with poor waste disposal practices. The findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced public education, infrastructure improvements, and the promotion of sustainable waste management practices to mitigate environmental and health impacts in the study area.
“All the world’s a stage” – The Spatial Value of Destination DJ Videos
This exploratory article analyze the contemporary trend in the music and event industry of organizing and filming electronic dance music (EDM) events at tourist destinations. These videos featuring DJ sets in attractive locations, referred to as destination DJ videos (DDJVs), accumulate a substantial number of views on social media platforms, primarily YouTube. Due to their widespread popularity, they represent an untapped source of online media content, holding potential for broader industry utilization and academic analysis of their spatial value, understood as an addition to the typically considered social, cultural, and economic values of music events. DDJVs combine the popularity of a music genre, an artist, a music streaming platform, and the destination featured in the video, offering various perspectives and approaches for assessing and evaluating them within the domain of tourism. The presence of datasets encompassing DDJVs stands as a noteworthy and substantial resource for novel academic explorations within the sphere of tourism research, expanding the scope of visual studies in tourism. Moreover, DDJVs hold the potential to serve as valuable and pragmatic instruments for fostering innovation in the field of destination marketing. This exploratory study provides an early evaluation of research directions for DDJVs.
Copyright (c) 2024 Geographica Pannonica
Assessment of Surface Water quality in Highly Urbanized Areas: A Case Study of the Vladayska River in Sofia
This study investigates the impact of Sofia's urban areas on the physicochemical parameters of water quality along the Vladayska River. Two sections of the river were analyzed: (1) an upper, relatively unpolluted section from the source to the Vladaya district, used as a reference due to limited data availability, and (2) a lower section (Kubratovo), downstream of Sofia, influenced by anthropogenic activities. Based on the results, significant changes in the physicochemical parameters were observed in the lower section. Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on data for 15 water quality indicators, precipitation, and river runoff under different hydrological conditions (high flow, low flow, and winter season) for the lower section (Kubratovo). The PCA results identified nutrient and organic matter pollution and mineral content as key drivers of water quality variability. Additionally, hydrological factors were found to indirectly influence water quality in the downstream section at Kubratovo. As revealed by the CCME WQI index, the Vladayska River's upper section also experienced poor water quality between 2013 and 2015, improving to good in 2016–2018, likely due to reduced pollution from tourism and residential sources. In contrast, the downstream section at Kubratovo consistently exhibited poor water quality from 2010 to 2021, reflecting ongoing urban pollution with no observed trend of improvement.
Exploring the Contemporary Spatial and Temporary Dynamics of the Settlement Hierarchy and System in Serbia’s Srem Region
Newer trends of balanced regional development emphasize the development of functional integrational areas and strong spatial and functional relations based on the nodal concept and a functional process approach. Therefore, it is essential to determine the hierarchy of settlements in the network, which defines their demographic and functional capacity. This paper identifies the nature and characteristics of urban primacy in the Srem region in Serbia, using the rank-size rule and urban primacy index, as well as the hierarchy of settlements in the network, by calculating the importance of secondary activities and the centralization of the settlements. The results confirmed that while urban primacy is not expressed, the hierarchy of the settlements remains dominated by urban and suburban centres.
Analyzing Precipitation Trends in the Cholistan Desert, Pakistan: A Statistical and GIS-Based Study
Climate change is driving significant shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns globally, with far-reaching socio-economic and environmental impacts, especially in arid regions. This study examines precipitation variability and long-term trends from 1980 to 2020 in Pakistan's Cholistan Desert, a region where water scarcity poses critical challenges for local communities and ecosystems. Using data from five meteorological stations, we applied a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques and statistical analyses to assess both seasonal fluctuations and annual trends in precipitation. The results reveal notable spatial variability in precipitation trends across the Cholistan Desert. Positive trends, indicating increased precipitation over time, were observed in the northwestern areas, particularly at the Bhagla, Khanpur, and Fort Abbas stations. In contrast, significant negative trends were detected in the southwestern areas, represented by the DinGarh and MaujGarh stations, where precipitation has steadily decreased over the study period. These contrasting trends reveal the diverse impacts of climate change within the desert pointing out the areas that may face heightened water scarcity. The ongoing shifts in precipitation necessitate targeted water management and climate adaptation strategies to address the challenges posed by these shifting precipitation patterns. For areas with declining trends, strategies focused on rainwater harvesting and conservation will be critical. Regions experiencing increased precipitation may require infrastructure improvements to manage and store water more effectively.
Mortality Risk during Heatwaves: an Evaluation of Effects by Heatwaves Characteristics in Serbia
Extreme temperatures and heatwaves are recognized as one of the deadliest weather-related hazards. The first of its kind in the Balkans region, this study explores the effects of heatwave timing, duration, and intensity on mortality in Serbia. Using daily all-cause mortality data and mean temperature, a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) evaluates the heat-mortality response for each city during the warm season (May to September) for the period 2000-2015 for Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš. Results indicate that longer heatwaves generally have a greater impact on mortality, regardless of when they occur in the warm season. When comparing warm and extremely warm days, relative risk (RR) increases with intensity, and RRs are higher for earlier season heatwaves Extremely warm, early season heatwaves show significantly high RR in all three cities, respectively, for Belgrade 1.37 (95% CI: 125, 1.5), for Novi Sad 1.27 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.5), and for Niš 1.47 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.87). The findings draw attention to how different heat events modify the health response in Serbia. Stakeholders who work to improve resilience to heat hazards may consider the development of an early warning heat system and a strengthening of local and regional outreach efforts designed to reduce adverse health outcomes.
Phenology Analysis for Detection of Vegetation Changes Based on Landsat 8 Images in Nature Park Kopački rit, Croatia
This study proposed a method for detecting vegetation changes and establishing geospatial management zones based on the 10-year phenology analysis using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) long-term trends from Landsat 8 multispectral imagery in Nature Park Kopački rit. The main components of the proposed method include phenology analysis and NDVI anomaly detection supported by unsupervised k-means classification of vegetation management zones. The reference monthly NDVI values (2013–2019) with three test years (2020–2022) strongly indicated very high heterogeneity in vegetation activity. A 100 m spatial resolution and a monthly temporal resolution were used. The results of unsupervised k-means classification in five vegetation activity classes indicated that three of these classes have considerably high negative NDVI anomalies, covering 64.1% of the study area. While the proposed method ensures the detection of vegetation changes and vegetation activity zones, a comprehensive field observation is required to determine the potential environmental and/or anthropogenic causes. However, the proposed approach significantly reduces the need for extensive fieldwork, allowing biologists to focus their efforts on areas with detected abnormal vegetation activity.