2235 research outputs found
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Ski Resort vs. Altitude and Latitude: Competitiveness from the Perspective of the Consumers
No full textSerbian ski resorts’ altitude and latitude are lower than in most European ski resorts. In the context of climate change and the Serbian Government’s plans to keep opening new ski resorts, this study examines the competitiveness of Serbian ski resorts in the eyes of domestic tourists, hence the justification of new developments. This research was carried out in three steps: a statistical analysis of a survey conducted among domestic tourists, an interpretation of the context based on responses to open-ended questions, and a comparison of Serbia’s most popular ski resorts with leading ski resorts in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Italy, and France. The results showed that Serbian tourists focus on value for money, skiing, and ski infrastructure quality rather than additional activities such as cultural tours, entertainment, or wellness. In the context of international discussions on climate change impacts, environmental consequences of ski resorts, and survey results, we recommend that future strategies of ski resort operators in Serbia focus on developing and promoting complementary activities to winter sports and prioritizing the redevelopment of existing ski resorts rather than constructing new ones
MCDM Approach Combining DEA and AHP Methods in Sustainable Tourism: Case of Serbia
No full textThis paper focuses on the workforce capable of implementing new trends through the application of environmental tourism and IT knowledge. Multi-criteria optimization methods such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) were used to solve a particular and sensitive business decision problem. A unique questionnaire on five global trends - renewable energy growth, pollution, electrification, cloudification, data boom and smartization - was developed to assess the capabilities of potential candidates in relation to environmental issues in tourism and to determine whether they are able to solve tasks in a sustainable way. This paper proposes an approach for the selection of candidates for sustainable and green tourism. From 200 candidates, data collected in a northern region of Serbia in the fall of 2023, the model resulted in the 5 best alternatives under 5 criteria. The final solution was the alternative/candidate B with the consistency index 0.03. The intention was that by combining AHP and DEA methods to evaluate efficiency, the subjectivity of decision making in the selection of candidates would be minimized. The new value of this work could be that advanced technologies are integrated into sustainable tourism in a practical and scalable way, and that methods for evaluating and implementing the technologies in question are developed. This could form the basis for future research and practical applications
Sustainable land use in Moldova: GIS & remote sensing of forests and crops
No full textForests and agricultural lands are critical components of the environment, influencing ecosystem stability, biodiversity, and land productivity. In the Republic of Moldova, a country with limited forest cover (11.4 % of its territory), the relationship between forested areas and cultivated land plays a key role in sustainable land management. This study examines the spatial interactions between forest land and two major agricultural crops—sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and grapes (Vitis vinifera) - using remote sensing and GIS techniques. By integrating Google Earth Engine (GEE), CORINE Land Cover data, and cadastral records, we analyze land cover changes from 1996 to 2018, identifying vulnerable areas where deforestation and agricultural expansion intersect. Additionally, fuzzy aggregate AHP and zonal statistical methods are applied to assess land suitability for crop cultivation and reforestation. Our findings highlight regions where sustainable land management policies should be prioritized to balance agricultural development with forest conservation. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for adaptive land-use strategies that account for climate variability, urban expansion, and rural land degradation
Bor and Majdanpek – Report on the Results of the Survey Research
No full textThis report presents the findings of a survey conducted within the MINIPART project – Improving Participation in Spatial Planning of Mining Areas. The survey was carried out in the City of Bor and the Municipality of Majdanpek on a random, two-stage sample of 300 respondents. The purpose of the research was to explore local residents’ perceptions of participation in planning processes, focusing on their behaviour, understanding, engagement, and attitudes toward specific participatory methods and procedures. The aim was to identify which participation methods are most suitable and acceptable to the local population. The results indicate a significant level of disappointment and distrust among respondents toward all actors and participatory processes. Only a small number of participants had taken part in public hearings. The most common reason for non-participation was the belief that individual voices are not heard and do not influence outcomes. Respondents expressed a preference for using the internet to obtain information and share opinions. Furthermore, favoured participation methods tended to be those that respondents were already familiar with, particularly those involving face-to-face communication. These findings will be compared in the following stages of the research with expert opinions on participatory methods and procedures. The final outcome will include recommendations for improving participation practices in the mining areas of Serbia. The insights gained are expected to apply to other contexts as well
Oil field impacts on Venezuela’s rivers and water stress with environmental challenges
No full textThis study examines the ecological impact of oil extraction on Venezuela's river systems, focusing on pollution, hydrological changes, and water resource stress. A spatial and quantitative assessment was conducted using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), the Ecological Equilibrium Equation (EE), and the Ecological Equilibrium Index (EE index). Analyses were performed in QGIS and SAGA GIS environments, integrating satellite data and field-verified hydrological datasets to evaluate major river basins, particularly the Orinoco River Basin and Lake Maracaibo. Buffer analyses (10 km, 50 km, and 100 km) identified the Orinoco, Guárico, and Cuyuní rivers as most affected within the 10 km zone, where contamination risk from oil spills and industrial runoff is highest. The 50 km buffer revealed expanded impacts on rivers such as Apure, Cojedes, and Ventuari, while the 100 km zone indicated that nearly all major Venezuelan river systems are exposed to potential contamination, increasing the risk of water pollution, biodiversity loss, and hydrological disruption. The EE index showed a deviation of −0.3, reflecting widespread ecological imbalance. The study recommends adopting advanced wastewater treatment technologies, enforcing stricter environmental regulations, expanding hydrological monitoring networks, and engaging local communities and indigenous groups in sustainable watershed management. Safeguarding Venezuela's freshwater resources demands urgent, integrated policy interventions to balance economic development with environmental preservation
Assessment of groundwater potential zones using GIS and AHP techniques – A case study of the zone of influence of Kolubara Mining Basin
No full textGroundwater forms through infiltration beneath
the Earth’s surface as it moves through various rock layers.
Reliable and sustainable water supplies are predominantly
sourced from underground sources, making them some of
the most important natural resources. The aim of this study is
to assess and identify potential groundwater zones using
Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, and multicriteria
analysis, specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process
(AHP), within the Kolubara Mining Basin influence zone in
Serbia. This study considers factors such as rainfall, geology,
slope, river network density, and land use/land cover. These
factorswere evaluated using the Saaty scale to determine their
respective weights. Due to their higher weights, the AHP process
revealed that precipitation and geology are the most
influential factors in groundwater formation. Groundwater
potential zones are categorized into five classes: very low,
low, moderate, high, and very high. These results will enhance
groundwater management at both regional and local levels
and contribute to the future protection of this resource
Land Cover Changes in the Rural Border Region of Serbia Affected by Demographic Dynamics
No full textThe rural border areas of Serbia have been undergoing significant demographic shifts and
transformations in land use. Between 2002 and 2022, these regions experienced a continuous
population decline, an increase in the average age, and a growing share of single-person
households. Simultaneously, there has been a reduction in agricultural land and a noticeable
expansion of forested and grassland areas, particularly in hilly and mountainous terrain.
This paper aims to explore the interrelationship between demographic indicators and land
cover changes in these areas. Pearson’s correlation analysis was applied to data from the
national population censuses and the CORINE Land Cover datasets for 1990 and 2018. The
strongest positive correlation was found between the decline in the number of households
and the reduction in agricultural land. Conversely, the expansion of forested areas showed
a negative correlation with most demographic indicators. The findings reflect trends similar
to those observed in other Eastern European countries but also reveal specific patterns of
spatial marginalization unique to Serbia. In the study, the conclusion leads to the idea that
depopulated border areas are in transition between past and future functions that will be
influenced by their resource base
Ključni aspekti i perspektive Zelene tranzicije u Srbiji
No full textZelena tranzicija u Srbiji predstavlja ključni proces transformacije ka održivom i
ekološki prihvatljivom razvoju, usklađenom sa evropskim i globalnim trendovima u oblasti
zaštite životne sredine. Rad se zasniva na Nacionalnom izveštaju o mapiranju zelene tranzicije
u Srbiji, izrađenom u okviru projekta Green Force (Horizon Europe program), kroz koji je
fokus stavljen na identifi kovanje relevantnih politika, aktera i inicijativa koje doprinose ovom
procesu. Fokusirajući se na pet stubova Zelene agende za Zapadni Balkan: dekarbonizaciju,
cirkularnu ekonomiju, smanjenje zagađenja, ruralni razvoj i očuvanje biodiverziteta, dat
je uvid u trenutni status Zelene tranzicije u Srbiji, ističući postojeće izazove i mogućnosti
za unapređenje. Metodološki okvir uključuje kvantitativne i kvalitativne pristupe, uz SWOT
analizu, kako bi bila procenjena efi kasnost primenjenih mera i identifi kovane oblasti koje
zahtevaju dodatnu podršku. Rezultati pokazuju da se u fokusu nalaze stubovi dekarbonizacije
i cirkularne ekonomije, dok su oblasti smanjenja zagađenja i ruralnog razvoja suočene sa
strukturnim izazovima i nedostatkom adekvatne podrške. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata,
iznete su preporuke za unapređenje Zelene tranzicije u Srbiji, sa posebnim naglaskom
na integraciji principa Evropskog zelenog dogovora u nacionalne javne politike i strateška
dokumenta.Urednici: Dejan Filipović, Velimir Šećerov, Dušan Ristić, Marina Ili
Vertical Segregation in the Open Housing Blocks of Belgrade: Socialist Legacy and Contemporary Dynamics
No full textThis paper explores vertical segregation in Belgrade, focusing on the open housing blocks built during the socialist era. Using 2022 census microdata at the level of census tracts, we analyze the distribution of social groups by floor of residence. The results show a clear overrepresentation of lower social strata on the ground and basement levels, while higher strata are increasingly concentrated on middle and upper floors. These patterns are most visible in socialist-era housing stock, revealing the persistence of socialist legacies alongside new post-socialist dynamics of privatization and investor-led development. Our findings highlight that vertical segregation in Belgrade coexists with the horizontal center–periphery divide, raising important questions for housing policy and urban justice
Primeri dobre prakse Evrope u postupku integrisanja adaptacije na klimatske promene u prostorno planiranje
No full textSavremeni problemi u životnoj sredini poput klimatskih promena i posledica njihovih uticaja nameću pred globalnu zajednicu mere mitigacije (ublažavanja) efekata klimatskih promena i adaptacije (prilagođavanja) na novonastale klimatske uslove kao neophodne. Akcije prilagođavanja podrazumevaju promene u ekološkim, društvenim ili ekonomskim sistemima u cilju ublažavanja potencijalnih šteta koje mogu nastati kao posledica klimatskih promena, ili pak iskoristile mogućnosti proistekle iz novonastalih okolnosti. Mnoge države uveliko preduzimaju određene korake na izgradnji otpornijeg društva i ekonomije, počevši od inoviranja zakonodavnih sistema, razvijanja mnogobrojnih rešenja za adaptaciju i sprovođenje akcija. Mere adaptacije nisu unikatne, a oblikuju se prema društvenom i državnom uređenju, planerskoj praksi, ekonomskom standardu i iziskuju velike ambicije i akcije kako bi se na ekonomičan i društveno prihvatljiv način realizovale. Pojedine mere adaptacije uveliko predstavljaju deo planerske prakse u Srbiji, poput mera zaštite od poplava i mera upravljanja rizikom. Međutim, adekvatne mere adaptacije moraju biti deo šireg konteksta u planskom procesu, što iziskuje promenu metodološkog i zakonodavnog okvira planiranja. Sa ciljem pružanja doprinosa integrisanja adaptacije na klimatske promene u prostorno planiranje u Srbiji, u radu se daje prikaz primera dobre prakse država Evrope (Velika Britanija, Danska, i Austrija) koje su utemeljile ovaj postupak kako kroz zakonodavni, tako i kroz planski sistem. Naveden je i primer države iz regiona - Hrvatske sa lokalnim nivoom planiranja u Karlovcima. Budući da su pojedina planska rešenja ovog tipa implementirana, izvodi se zaključak da mogu služiti kao dobar primer i pokazatelj da je dostizanje adaptacije moguće kroz planski sistem.Urednici: Dejan Filipović, Velimir Šećerov, Dušan Ristić, Marina Ili