Journal of the Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijic" SASA - Geographical Institute "Jovan Cvijic"
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ANALYSIS OF RURAL TRANSFORMATION TRAJECTORIES IN THE POST-SOVIET SOCIETY: A SPOTLIGHT ON DAGESTAN
Full text linkThe article analyzes the spatial features of the post-Soviet socio-economic transformation of rural areas of southern Russia with the Republic of Dagestan as an example. The limited availability of reliable statistical data determined the need to organize five expeditions to Dagestan from 2020 to 2024. The results of the expeditions revealed a high spatial heterogeneity of rural development in the region. The presence of vast mountainous and the specifics of post-Soviet modernization of society and economy determine a particular nature of development of rural Dagestan. The classification procedure allowed identifying 10 types of districts in rural Dagestan with significant differences in their basic characteristics. The analysis of the dynamics of the main socio-economic indicators of Dagestan rural areas within different geographical, social, and economic types emphasized that a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of mountain territories should consider both the specific features of mountains and the factors of population and economy modernization. The study has shown that rural Dagestan has two main trajectories of socio-economic transformation of territories in the post-Soviet period, i.e., inertial and modernization. Together they demonstrate matching of such processes as the archaization and modernization of the local economy structure, and traditionalization and modernization of the society. It has been revealed that the inertial trajectory of rural transformation dominates in mountainous and piedmont rural areas, while the modernization one dominates in the plains. This is a serious challenge for the spatial development of the region
ANALYZING ACCESSIBILITY TO URBAN SERVICES FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. A CASE STUDY OF CRAIOVA CITY
Full text linkThe present study uses methods based on Geographic Information System (GIS) to investigate the distribution of new residential buildings in Craiova (Romania) and assess their accessibility to key urban services. The focus is on collective housing developments constructed after 2015, encompassing both completed and ongoing projects. The research evaluates accessibility at the neighborhood level, considering key facilities and services such as banking services, pharmacies, kindergartens, primary schools, supermarkets, sport facilities, and green urban areas. Data for urban services were collected from open-source databases (OpenStreetMap, Copernicus Land Monitoring—Urban Atlas) and completed by field investigations. Isochrones, representing travel time from each residential building to the selected services, are used to measure the residents' accessibility by multiple travel modes. Additionally, the study considers the proximity of new residential buildings to the old historical city center, as a hub for shopping and leisure activities, and the walkability of the neighborhoods where the collective residences are located. The findings shed light on the spatial distribution of new residential developments in relation to essential urban services, providing valuable insights for urban planning and development strategies in Craiova, as well as for future residential investments
THE CURRENT CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF INLAND WATER BODIES OF THE VOLGA-AKHTUBA FLOODPLAIN (RUSSIA)
Full text linkThe problem of clean water is one of the most important environmental problems in the world. It is impossible to prevent the occurrence of adverse environmental situations without careful monitoring of the aquatic ecosystems state. The assessment of the current chemical composition of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain shallow channels (Peschanyj, Dudak, and Dudachenok) in the water-bottom sediments system was carried out. Studied shallow channels dried out during the summer-autumn low-water period for the last few decades. Studies were carried out after the clearance and ecological rehabilitation of the shallow channels. It was found that almost all the studied indicators in water samples correspond to the established quality standards. There is uneven distribution of heavy metals in the studied shallow channels. It can be caused by the influence of hydrodynamic conditions, changes in water and sediment flow, as well as local factors, including the catchment heterogeneous geology. The analysis of the metals content in bottom sediments with permissible ones made it possible to detect excess for Hg (0.18–0.75 mg/kg), Cd (1–2.12 mg/kg), Mn (370.8–493.3 mg/kg), Ni (2.6–67.9 mg/kg), Pb (14.3–22 mg/kg), Zn (75.2–147 mg/kg). The content of As (1–1.4 mg/kg) and Cu (8.54–28.7 mg/kg) in bottom sediments does not exceed the permissible concentrations. The obtained results will form the basis for a general comprehensive assessment of the clearance and ecological rehabilitation of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain watercourses. It is necessary to continue monitoring the watercourses state and strengthen efforts to preserve the resilient ecosystem of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain
THE COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS FOR BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND REMOVAL EFFICIENCY
Full text linkThis research shows efficiency of constructed wetlands (CWs) to purify waste water in the case of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD). CWs such as surface flow (SF), subsurface flow (SSF), and hybrid (HYB) systems have been compared to provide an analysis about which system has better performance for BOD removal efficiency. Data were collected from different scientific articles and from all over the world. Meta-analysis technique was employed to aggregate data from scientific sources, facilitating hypothesis testing, and comparisons between different types of CWs. All the systems of CWs show satisfactory removal efficiency. HYB systems are shown to be the most efficient. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) has been applied to analyze differences between respective CWs using R software. It shows that there is a statistically significant difference between different types of CWs. Post-hoc Tukey’s Honestly Significant Different (HSD) analysis demonstrates a statistically significant difference between SF and HYB systems in the case of BOD removal efficiency. Also, Post-hoc Tukey’s HSD shows statistically significant difference between SSF and SF CWs. On the other hand, Post-hoc Tukey’s HSD does not show statistically significant difference between HYB and SSF CWs. The significant reduction rates for BOD removal efficiency, demonstrates that CWs can be used to diminish this kind of pollution
LONG-TERM EFFECT OF WARMING-INDUCED PERMAFROST THAWING ON TUNDRA VEGETATION—THE EVIDENCE FROM THE CHUKCHI PENINSULA (RUSSIAN NORTHEAST)
Full text linkTundra is one of the most sensitive environments of the world in relation to climate changes, since its ecosystems exist close to the limits of plant community tolerance. Besides, tundra vegetation in most of Arctic regions resides on permafrost, which is thermally unstable media. Thus, vegetation and frozen soils are extremely vulnerable to external impacts and are balancing in fragile thermodynamic equilibrium. Thermal and moisture regime shifting lead to changing of thermophysical properties of vegetation cover and thus, the thermal balance of underlying permafrost. In this study we present the results of 2001–2024 in-situ monitoring of vegetation cover and permafrost conditions in remote region of the Chukchi Peninsula, Russian Northeast. The study combines the yearly data on active layer thickness and vegetation cover from two sites of Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) program located within the key site of Eastern Chukotka Coastal Plains (ECCP). The study reveals long-term trajectories of climate, permafrost, and vegetation cover characteristics. Although common biological productivity was growing and active layer was thickening, the particular plant species respond to these changes differently. On sloping plots, the increasing of active layer thickness (ALT) led to correspondent lowering of the permafrost table, drainage of thawing ice and thus, soil drying, which caused the decrease in moss and sedge covers. Meanwhile, within flat poorly-drained surfaces the permafrost thawing contributes to soil moisture with correspondent sedge expansion. Thermokarst-affected terrain triggers the growth of tundra vegetation bioproductivity and serves as a shelter for plants from Arctic winds and facilitates higher snow accumulation
ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF THE AL WAHDA DAM COMMISSIONING ON FLOOD FLOWS AND LOW WATER LEVELS IN THE GHARB PLAIN, MOROCCO
Full text linkThe Sebou Basin is one of the most important hydrographic basins in Morocco. When the Wadi Sebou enters the Gharb Plain, it encounters difficulties in evacuating its waters during wet years due to its flattening, resulting in risks of floods. Its flow decreases during drought years and in August and September. For the purpose of this research, we were granted authorization to utilize the hydrometric station located in Bel-Ksiri. This station is most suitable for the study as it was designated as a reference point for the Wadi Sebou's flooding in the lower basin. This study is based on detecting floods in the Wadi Sebou from 1976 to 2020, dividing this period on pre and post 1997, corresponding to periods before and after the construction of the Al Wahda dam, examining the mean daily flow rates. Identifying discontinuities within the maximum daily flow series from 1967 to 2020 was achieved in Microsoft Excel. Additionally, determining flood return periods and examining low water flows are integral aspects of the study. The findings indicate a relative decrease in the frequency and intensity of floods within the Wadi Sebou's basin, coupled with effective control of low water levels. These changes are attributed to the construction of the Al Wahda dam, which guarantees a stable water supply for irrigation purposes in the plain. To ensure the long-term sustainability of water management practices, the adoption of innovative irrigation technologies is deemed necessary
CLUSTERING FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOTELS’ GUESTS TO DEVELOP TOURISM MARKETING STRATEGIES
Full text linkAn increasing number of guests in hotels evaluate the quality by reading online reviews. A deeper analysis of the attitude and behavior of the visitors is conducted to understand the experiences of guests, considering the diverse backgrounds and needs. This study aims to analyze the selection process of family-friendly hotels by guests, using available TripAdvisor online reviews, as well as for hotel management to better understand the comments left by guests and create more organized plans and policies. A model is devised that integrates clustering and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making-VIKOR (MCDM-VIKOR) method to prioritize the attributes of hotels based on the significance within each cluster of guests. Data is collected from online reviews of guests in family-friendly hotels in Indonesia. The features used for ranking preferences are the numerical ratings assigned to four attributes on the platform. These four features included “location”, “cleanliness”, “service”, and “value”. The results showed that “cleanliness” evolved as the most critical factor in the majority of segments for selecting family-friendly hotels. To further comprehend the behavioral trends of guests and assist in decision-making, this study proposed a model capable of analyzing online reviews and ratings provided by customers
THE IMPACT OF EMIGRATION ON POPULATION DECLINE IN CROATIA
Full text linkIn the last thirty years, the countries of south-eastern and eastern Europe have experienced significant population decline, and Croatia is no exception to that. This paper revisits the problem of depopulation in Croatia in the last two intercensal periods (2001–2011 and 2011–2021). The aim was to analyze the impact of emigration on depopulation in Croatia and investigate whether it had a greater impact on depopulation than natural decrease. Additionally, the aim was to investigate whether the number of emigrants was underreported in the official statistics. The results show that Croatia lost more population due to negative net migration than the official statistical data indicate. Recent migrations in Croatia did not only affect the population decline, but also age composition of the population, particularly in the last intercensal period due to emigration of families with children and population in their working and reproductive ages, as they composed a large proportion of emigrants. The paper provides an elaborate insight into the recent migration patterns in Croatia while highlighting the underestimation of the proportions of emigration from Croatia by the official statistics
DIGITAL DIVIDE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: ASSESSING SPATIAL DISPARITIES AND NEIGHBORHOOD EFFECTS
Full text linkThis article aims to investigate whether the digital inequality within the European Union (EU) has been reduced in the period 2017–2022. The goal of the study is to measure the dynamics of EU digital inequality and assess the effectiveness of the EU supranational bodies in reducing digital disparities. The author seeks to determine if the dynamics of this divide have been influenced by the EU's supranational policy fostering digital transformation by juxtaposing EU financing of digital transformation and spatial disparities among EU members based on Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) and its components. The study reveals that, despite the fact that the agenda of digital divide reduction has been in the focus of the European supranational bodies within the last 22 years, the funding of digital transformation was neither adequate in terms of volumes nor consistent. The main beneficiaries were the EU members located in Western and Southern Europe and the least supported area was the members in Eastern Europe. In addition, using spatial econometric analysis, the author proves that the spatial digital divide has decreased in the period 2017–2022 and coincides only partially with the conventional cleavage “developed North & West VS lagging South & East”. However, as the correlation analysis shows, the EU financial support of digital transformation had a slight positive impact on countries’ DESI score, which implies that the EU supranational policy on curbing digital divide was only partially effective
HOW DOES ECO-ANXIETY AMONG GEOGRAPHY TEACHERS AFFECT THEIR PERFORMANCE? EVIDENCE FROM THE BANJA LUKA REGION (B&H)
Full text linkGeographical education plays a crucial role in shaping individuals' understanding of the importance of addressing climate change and environmental issues. Nonetheless, the impact of ecological anxiety (eco-anxiety) on geography teachers, and its effect on their performance, remains insufficiently explored. This study examines the nature of eco-anxiety among geography teachers in the Banja Luka region of the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The research utilizes the HEAS-13 scale, which has been adapted into Serbian for the first time. This scale encompasses affective, rumination, behavioral impairment, and personal impact as the fundamental dimensions of ecological anxiety, comprising a total of 13 questions. The collected data were analyzed using the JASP software. Given the relatively small sample size (N = 40) and the observed non-normal distribution of data (Z-test), as well as their ordinal nature (Likert scale), correlations were determined using Spearman's rho factor. The primary hypothesis of the study suggests that geography teachers will exhibit a higher degree of rumination compared to other measured dimensions. The findings confirm the hypothesis, as rumination is the most prominent symptom of eco-anxiety (M = 0.925). The eco-anxiety of teachers in the Banja Luka appears to align with established trends based on gender, age, and type of school. The most notable correlation is observed between the dimensions of rumination and concern for personal impact on climate change (rho = 0.635). The expression of negative symptoms of rumination implies that teachers employ maladaptive coping strategies when addressing the adverse effects of climate change