Scientific Annals of "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi
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EXPLORING THE WALKABILITY CONCEPT IN A POST-SOCIALIST CITY THROUGH GIS ANALYSIS. THE CASE STUDY OF IAȘI, ROMANIA
Get PDFThe walkability concept is widely researched and applied in western societies, being a major benchmark for creating a friendly urban environment by the local authorities. While in these countries the concept has a strong tradition, in Eastern Europe it has not received enough attention yet (neither from researchers nor local stakeholders). The present study aims to explore the possibilities of adapting this concept to the post-socialist city by analyzing the walkability potential in a medium-size city (Iași, Romania). The three main objectives envisaged by this research - delineating Walkability Areas, exploring their internal structure and highlighting patterns in regard to the urban structure of a post-socialist city – are accomplished by using the specific GIS tools and statistical methods. The results reveal a heterogeneous construction of the six walkability areas resulted, shaped by the socialist legacy and market economy transition. A walkability score, computed in order to quantitatively assess these differences among them, represents an effective tool for decision makers as it spots the major dysfunctionalities each of the walkability areas. The emergence of the concept in the post-socialist city favors the construction of a more livable urban environment
ASSESSING THE SPATIAL DIFFERENCES AMONG SOME URBAN EXPANSION DRIVING FORCES IN CONSTANȚA METROPOLITAN AREA (ROMANIA)
Get PDFThe urban expansion process has become a major challenge for the scientists and urban planners, mainly due to its various spatial and functional expressions. The present study aims to identify the spatial patterns of several driving forces of this phenomenon in Constanta metropolitan area. In order to reach our purpose, multi-temporal remote sensing data was employed; by image processing, we obtained the built-up area for 2001 and 2013. Subsequently, a Geographically Weighted Regression model was employed to explore the relationship between the newly-built-up area and four driving forces related to accessibility: distance to the shoreline, distance to the existing built-up area, distance to the road network and distance to Constanta city center. By studying the spatial distribution of the regression coefficients for the explanatory variables we mapped the relevance of each driving force, leading to the general conclusion that the strongest driving forces are the distance to the built-up area and the distance to the road network. At the same time, the spatial distribution of the correlation coefficient and of the residuals revealed that the model best fits the axial and suburban areas, while the internal, consolidated areas record highly deviated residuals
An Appraisal of Current Management Approaches of Ecotourism and Alternative Management Paradigm for Sustainable Development in Fako Division, South West Region of Cameroon
No full textThis paper seek to examine the current management approaches of ecotourism in Fako Division, Cameroon which is managed in various dimensions; legislative and institutional framework, international organizations, protected area management, tour operators, NGOs and CIGs, local councils, community members and conservation strategies. But an appraisal of the problems plaguing the ecotourism sector in the region shows that much still need to be done. Firstly, there is no integrated ecotourism management body in the entire Division and an ecotourism network that coordinates the activity. Secondly, inadequate finance still prevails and the problem of benefit sharing is still hanging. In certain Sub-Divisions like Buea and Limbe, urbanisation is taking place rapidly at the cost of ecotourism. All these problems point to the fact that sectoral management is been put in place instead of a holistic management body. It is in this regard that this paper recommends the Ecotourism Management Triangle (EMT) as an alternative, integrated sustainable management system to be put in place which will solve all the problems highlighted above. The EMT paradigm will form a nexus between conservation and development for sustainable development to occur in the area
Expansion des cultures de contre-saison, mutations socio-spatiales et les implications environnementales dans les paysanneries de l'Ouest-Cameroun
No full textLa problématique de l’utilisation de l’espace dans les paysanneries Bamiléké de l’Ouest-Cameroun est une préoccupation majeure, dans la mesure où la terre de plus en plus sollicitée est de moins en moins disponible. Il ne s’agit pas d’une nouveauté, mais d’un avivement de la crise foncière à travers la reconversion paysanne et l’émergence de nouveaux acteurs. Des études basées sur les enquêtes humaines et les observations de terrain montrent que la pression démographique sur le foncier a entrainé une culture intensive de plus de 25% des terres arables. Depuis la fin des années 1980, les paysans de la région de l’Ouest-Cameroun ont développé des stratégies de contournement ou d’adaptation à la double crise économique et foncière ; au rang desquelles l’expansion du maraichage dans les bas-fonds. Cependant, la transformation des bas-fonds au profit du maraichage porte un amendement notoire sur la survie des espèces raphiales en particulier et l’appauvrissement des galeries forestières en général
FROM VADU SACALELOR TO PARIS – A HISTORY WRITTEN ON THE STREETS
Get PDFThe present paper subscribes to the line of research on urban dynamics at Lower Danube. Its objective is to underline the historical phases of the city of Galați and the stages of its territorial expansion by highlighting the relation between street names and its meaning. The result of the study revealed a certain connection between odonyms and the ages of the neighbourhoods, which allowed the identification of three distinct area (the centre and the valley of the city, belonging to the pre-modern and modern time, the series of neighbourhoods built during the socialist age and the new residential areas placed at the fringe of the city. In each of these, a nucleus of specific urbanonyms was identified, a reflex of the socio-political and economic traits of the age when the neighbourhoods were built. The endeavour emphasizes the double value of the odonyms: the functional one, of localization, and the symbolic, of expressing the political power
ASSESSMENT OF EARTHQUAKE HAZARD AND BUILDING RISK IN SIKKIM, INDIA
Get PDFSikkim (27°04' N to 28°07' N and 88°01' E to 88°55' E) is a tiny Himalayan state in India and it is one of the most earthquake hazard prone area (Zone-IV category) as well. The present work intends to study the structural settings of Sikkim and the extent of faulty planning of the buildings in a fragile landscape like Sikkim. Buildings made with mud, unburnt brick and stone wall are possesses high level of risk in whole Sikkim and become critical assets which need security in future.
«HYDEN ROCK» ET «WAVE ROCK» (AUSTRALIE): DES CURIOSITES GEOMORPHOLOGIQUES EN TERRAIN CRISTALLIN
Get PDFFamous in Australia for their photogenic aspect, the sites of “Hyden Rock” and “Wave Rock” are part of the touristic circuit of the Perth region (SW Australia). They are original and spectacular forms developed in very old granite. Nevertheless, their interest is more than their aesthetic aspect and despite attempts of explanation by tourist brochures and tour operators, geologists remain unsatisfied as to their genesis. This note attempts to in part remedy that
TÂNĂR GEOGRAF ROMÂN DISPĂRUT ÎN STELE IULIAN CĂTĂLIN STÂNGĂ (1979-2014)
Get PDFMarți, 5 august 2014, o zi ca oricare alt
Book review of: Atlasul Electoral al României (1990-2009)
Get PDFBook review of: Atlasul Electoral al României (1990-2009), Editura Universităţii „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Iaşi, ISBN 9 789737 036292, 754 p cu planşe color şi comentarii, coordinator: Corneliu Iațu, authors : Ionel Boamfă, Ciprian Alupului, Sebastian Năstuţă, Silviu Petru Grecu, Romeo Asiminei, Raluca Ioana Horea-Şerban, Voicu Bodocan, Aurelian Giugăl, Cătălin Timofciuc
ESTIMATING THE TERRITORIAL AUTOCORRELATION OF AIR PASSENGERS FLOWS IN EUROPE USING A MULTIVARIATE GRAVITY MODEL
Get PDFUsing a gravity model that includes the cost distances and the airports' mass at origin and destination, we have obtained a matrix of residuals for 21325 air links in Europe. These residuals served as the basis for calculating the coefficients of territorial autocorrelation in a multiple regional context. The coefficients we obtained were classified using an hierarchical clustering, at country level. This final typology shows that the national frontiers are more and more permeable to air traffic, having a limitated impact on the intensity of air links between the airports. Some spatial discontinuities are still at work in the European air space and they still have an influence on the amount of traffic, negatively (West-East opposition) or positively (the Scandinavian countries vs. the mainland). Mapping the residuals of the air flows gravity model indicate that these spatial discontinuities can occur also at regional scales of analysis, but they are fuelled by other logics: economic performance, tourism or workforce migration