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Urban parks and forests are important providers of cultural ecosystem services (CES) for the majority of the global population. Data from diverse sources are needed to reflect both ecological and social aspects of CES delivery in these areas. Understanding and disentangling this complex relationship is crucial to managing urban green spaces (UGS) in a way that maximizes users' cultural benefits, and does not threaten the ecosystem and its functions. This paper provides a multidimensional analysis of CES delivery in parks and forests located along the urban–peri-urban axis in Warsaw, Poland. We analyzed the content of photographs posted on Instagram to identify which UGS elements attract the attention of users. We also examined whether the pattern of CES delivery was a function of the naturalness and location of the park or forest, and analyzed the factors that influence weekly and seasonal patterns of CES delivery. Although our study focused on areas where natural elements dominate, only around a quarter of photographs featured plants, water, or wild animals. Nature typically appeared as the background, while the foreground was occupied by people and their activities. Consequently, recreational services dominated over aesthetic experience; at the same time, it proved to be very difficult to identify educational services from our dataset. Air temperature, and the color of vegetation resulting from phenological changes were the most important drivers of CES delivery. We found that both the dynamics and character of CES delivery varied depending on the character of the area, and its location. Finally, delivery patterns were similar in semi-wild urban parks and outer city forests. • When visiting urban green areas, people focus on themselves, not on the natural features. • CES delivery patterns in mature urban parks are similar to those observed in outer-city forests. • Air temperature and phenological changes in vegetation are significant drivers of the CES delivery pattern. • The IG photos help to identify recreational and aesthetic CES, but do not serve for educational CES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to track how cities develop and grow, multidimensional systems of urban development indicators taking into account the balance between economic, social, and environmental aspects are the best solution found so far. However, there is no unique measurement system that would be widely accepted and applied within various urban areas to verify whether a given city is developing in a sustainable way. The aim of this paper is to apply the TOPSIS algorithm on the basis of selected urban indicators, in order to evaluate the progress of a single city towards the concept of sustainable development observed over a longer period of time. A capital city of Poland, Warsaw, faces several challenges associated with development policy evaluation, thus confirming the need for this research. We meticulously selected 48 indicators from the economic, social and environmental areas as an input for TOPSIS algorithm, which allowed us to calculate a new proposed aggregated index for evaluating urban policy on the example of Warsaw. Research has shown usefulness of applied TOPSIS algorithm in assessing the long-run development of an urban area towards the concept of a sustainable city. The results of our analysis indicated that over a period of ten years, during 2008-2017, the urban policy decision-making has been balancing the socio-economic and environmental aspects and the city of Warsaw has been developed in a sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Open source data and a dense in-situ air temperature measurement network were used. • The ratio of biologically vital areas impacts city thermal conditions the most. • Build-up indicators with vertical features present thermal regime better than others. • The area of radius of at least 100 m is the best for evaluating thermal conditions. • Spatial development particularly influences minimum and average air temperature. In the face of climate change and the growing frequency of thermally burdensome conditions, urban morphology and city planning are becoming increasingly important to human health. Architects and policymakers use various tools, including spatial development indicators describing the characteristics of built-up areas, to mitigate urban climate. This study purposed to (1) indicate which widely used spatial development indicators most adequately explained the thermal conditions of the environment, and (2) investigate how large an area most accurately represents the thermal features recorded at a given air temperature measurement site. Selected indexes were used to characterize each of the 21 measuring sites located in Warsaw. First, five spatial development indicators were calculated for three distances from each site. Then, based on data from the air temperature monitoring network, 17 selected thermal characteristics were calculated. The results of the analyses indicated that the Ratio of Biologically Vital Area has the highest impact on the thermal regime with particularly strong influence on the lowest daily temperature values. The paper proves that the thermal conditions of a given location in the diverse space of a city are more precisely represented by a large area than by its nearest surroundings. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to examine the relationship between the flexibility of spatial planning at the local level and the natural and socio-economic development indicators of municipalities. Seventy municipalities located around the most dynamically developing large urban centers in Poland (Krakow, Poznań, Tri-City, Warsaw, and Wrocław) were selected for the study, in which the records of 1131 local spatial plans enacted in 2017–2019 were analyzed in detail in terms of indicators including, but not limited to, characterizing the average area of the plans, the duration of the development procedure, and the intensity of residential development, the biologically active area. Development characteristics were identified through 30 indicators in six thematic groups (demographic, socio-professional, economic and settlement structures, natural environment, and spatial planning). The relationships between the two groups of indicators were analyzed using factor analysis. On this basis, three clusters were identified, explaining 32.9% of the variation. Such a relatively low result may indicate that the spatial policy pursued by local governments is highly individualized. It may also be concluded that the flexibility of spatial planning in general is weakly related to the characteristics of development, including natural and socio-economic development, and therefore its absence should not be an obstacle to it. • The level of flexibility of local spatial development plans in the surroundings of the largest cities varies greatly • The weak link of flexibility and development features is indicative of the individualization of spatial policy • There is an impact of environmental and landscape features on the extent and level of flexibility in spatial development plans [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, Poland celebrated the 10th anniversary of the access to the European Union. At present, air traffic has been increasing since 2004, when the open sky policy was introduced. Unfortunately, the dynamics of year to year growth is getting lower. In 2014 Polish airports operated more than 25 million passengers. Polish Civil Aviation Authority forecasts the growth of air traffic by 2020. It is possible to predict that in 2020 in Poland 38 over million passengers will be traveling by plane. The flight operations and the rate of population mobility will increase. Polish government as well as local authorities and regions have to prepare a strategy of air transport development. This strategy should be realized for the central airport in Warsaw, major regional airports, small regional airports, and local and business aviation. The main aim of this paper is to identify opportunities for Polish airports in the new perspective of European funds for 2014–2020. The main problems of the issue will be presented from various points of view. The first problem focuses on the development of Polish air transport area. Moreover, the paper concentrates on the availability of European funds for air transport. Finally, the paper presents the analysis of selected investments in air transport area: infrastructure, capital and operations. These investments and regional strategies as well as individual programs and the concept of Central airports for Poland will be determining the model of the Polish air transport system until 2020. In the paper, I conducted the detailed research about the development with the management of Warsaw Chopin Airport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents essence of traffic risk. Determinants of this derivative of frequency and consequences are enumerated and described. The main attention is focused on kind of consequences, type of vehicle, injury seriousness as well as kind of accident participant. Basing on classical risk approach, traffic risk assessment methodology is created. It plays a crucial role in formulating risk strategies, implemented from most popular, international risk management standards – PRINCE2® and PMI®. Recommendations for traffic safety improvement base on an unique comparison of risk assessment results and general risk strategies, and they are implemented into real data that characterizes the biggest city in Poland – Warsaw. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We implement the landscape mosaic model to describe UBS recreation diversity. • We investigate seasonal patterns of riverine activity among Instagram users. • Both ecological and social ephemerals explain recreational demand for UBS. • The social-ecological mosaic shapes seasonal patterns of use intensity. • Intensity of visits to more natural areas does not depend on ephemeral phenomena. Urban Blue Spaces provide multiple benefits to city dwellers and, therefore, are a key element in the social-ecological system. To responsibly maximise these benefits, it is necessary to link data and knowledge on the social and ecological functions of the urban ecosystem. This paper aims to identify recreational use intensity patterns of urban riverfronts along the Vistula river in Warsaw, Poland. The landscape mosaic model was used to identify differences along the urban core–periphery axis, and explore disparities induced by the variety of riverfront functions. Recreational demand for the river was assessed by measuring the daily activity of Instagram users in 2019. The short-term perspective we applied allowed us to examine the role of several ephemeral factors on the variability of use intensity. Our results indicate that both the position along the core–periphery axis, and the social-ecological characteristics of urban riverfronts can shape seasonal patterns of use intensity. Overall, Instagram users concentrate their activity in the city centre. Seasonal fluctuations are found across the mosaic of Warsaw's riverscape, due to both its ecological (level of naturalness) and social (recreation versus 'entertainment machine') functions. Ephemeral factors shape recreational patterns in various ways: (1) fine weather attracts Instagram users more than unfavourable conditions discourage them; (2) demand for 'pure' riverine nature is independent of all of the proposed factors; and (3) the relationship between air quality and use intensity is weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed urban growth leads to rapid changes in landscape and environment, increase of demands on sources, education and social services, etc. causing both positive results as well as considerable threats. In the era of modern technology development, including the commonness of GIS tools, obtaining geospatial data sets and their visualisation become easier. Their application allow for quick and advanced analyses of the current needs and prediction of the future ones. The present article discusses the problem of spatial accessibility of educational services in the city. This issue is very important from the perspective of the changes that took place along with the educational reform and the absence of urban planning regulations pertaining to the location of primary schools within a residential unit. Using 6 parameters and 3 indicators, as well as the example of the network of primary schools in the district of Bemowo, Warsaw the Authors of the paper showed the positive and negative features of spatial accessibility of those facilities and proposed methodology for analysis of spatial accessibility of educational services which was validated with Huff's theory. The aim of the study was to obtain maps of the accessibility of educational institutions and to identify on their basis the areas that are educationally excluded. A Huff's relative gravity model was developed for the school sites, and the probability of the area of influence from each school was determined. Locations where the location of schools does not meet the demand of residents were identified. At the same time, they demonstrated the usefulness of GIS tools for geospatial analyses in terms of meeting the residents' needs. • The proper arrangement of space, including adequate provision of services, is a vital matter in sustainable development. • The application of GIS tools allows for quick and advanced analyses of current needs and prediction of the future ones. • Analyses of spatial accessibility of services are valid in view of changes caused by reforms and urban planning rules. • The spatial accessibility was analyzed, and a methodology for the procedure was proposed, then validated with Huff's theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports on the changes in the spatial structure of landscape in the years 1950–1990 within the Warsaw metropolitan area. The analysis was aimed at identification of (a) the influence of the distance from the center of the city and from the transport routes on the values of landscape metrics, (b) changes in time of the landscape metrics of forests and built-up areas, (c) the influence of habitats, transportation network and the distance from the center on the directions and intensity of urban growth. Several landscape metrics were chosen to describe the landscape pattern (spatial share, mean patch size, patch size coefficient of variance, mean shape index, mean nearest neighbor distance, mean proximity index, and interspersion and juxtaposition index). The majority of changes in land cover took place in the years 1950–1970, but relations between landscape metrics and the distance from the center of Warsaw as well as from the transport routes, had a persistent character over the entire period studied. The influence of the habitat differentiation (expressed in categories of potential natural vegetation) in land cover is relatively unimportant in the vicinity of the city center and in the direct neighborhood of roads, while it would become the dominating factor in the periphery. The landscape metrics enable the description of the spatial regularities and trends, and constitute useful indirect indicators of the impact of urbanization on cultural (rural) landscape and of the general ecosystem disturbance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Novel universal methodology of spatio-temporal comparison of stability of spatial data-driven clusters. • Integrates spatial econometrics, spatial statistics and unsupervised learning. • K-means clusters of GWR model coefficients are rasterised and the mode cluster id labels given raster cell, Rand index and Jaccard Similarity test if pairs of pairs of raster cells belong to the same clusters in both periods. • Clusters of GWR coefficients indicate spatio-temoral stability of submarkets, while clusters of standard errors of GWR coefficients detect stability of local spatial heteroscedasticity. • Methodology can be applied to any spatial phenomena, including housing submarkets. This paper fills the gap in rich housing literature by testing the spatio-temporal stability of real estate submarkets. We start with standard Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) estimation of the hedonic model on point data, and we cluster model coefficients to detect housing submarkets. We check spatio-temporal stability - we add novelty by comparing if clusters move over space or stay in the same place. We rasterise surface and apply the Rand Index and Jaccard Similarity to check if clusters assigned to raster cells yield stable spatial structure. This approach allows for quantitative assessments of how much determinants of price are stable over time and space. The same mechanism applied to standard errors of GWR coefficients is a good test of the spatio-temporal stability of local heteroscedasticity. A Case study of apartments' transactions in Warsaw-Poland for the 2006–2015 period, evidences relatively high spatio-temporal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Presence of Alexander's patterns in an urban landscape was associated with positive affect. • The patterns were associated mostly with the emotion of relaxation. • Pattern theory is a manifestation of the conservative rather than the progressive place meaning. • With the exception of the downtown, Warsaw was judged as relaxing and relatively boring. A pattern language is a set of recipes, described by the architect Christopher Alexander, to help design spaces that will appeal to everybody and satisfy basic human needs. In this paper, we tested (1) whether the presence of patterns in an urban landscape is associated with a positive affect and aesthetic appreciation, and (2) what kind of emotions (low or high arousal) are elicited by settings with identified patterns and thus whether pattern theory is a manifestation of the conservative (enclosed, with continuous identity and offering rest) or the progressive (open, dynamic, and promoting social interaction) meaning of place. Participants evaluated 1310 panoramic pictures covering the entire area of a large European city (Warsaw), according to the four types of elicited affect (relaxation, excitement, irritation, and boredom), aesthetics (pretty vs. ugly settings), and liking. Expert judges estimated the presence of 68 patterns in the same pictures. The findings show that the presence of patterns in an urban landscape was associated with increased positive affect, aesthetic appreciation of the setting, and more liking. The effects of the presence of patterns were not eliminated by the content of the pictures (e.g., the presence or lack of nature). The dominant emotion was that of relaxation, suggesting that pattern language theory is rooted in the conservative (essentialist) rather than the progressive (anti-essentialist) concept of place. Except for the strictly defined downtown, Warsaw was judged as a mostly relaxed, and somewhat boring city. Alternative explanations and suggestions for future studies have been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Warsaw church gardens are part of small urban green spaces structure and promote ecological benefits. • Church gardens provide the convenient environment for the individual worship and restoration. • Church gardens host both the religious and the liturgical events. • Bigger absolute green space surface and presence of trees favors social events. The subject of the paper are gardens associated with the Roman Catholic parish churches of the Warsaw Archdiocese. Church gardens derive from tradition of former churchyards which are principally characterized as places of burial. With passing years churchyards have lost their function of burial place and were transformed into designed green areas. The church gardens scattered throughout the urban tissue may constitute significant part of urban green spaces. Despite their fairly small size, the church gardens can function as a compliment to larger public green spaces. The research aims to verify how the church gardens of the Warsaw Archdiocese contribute to urban residents' quality of life improvement. The data collection, by means of on-site study, included identification of garden layout, types of vegetation, symbolical elements, furniture and other architectonic elements. To identify each church lot size and the surface covered by green space within respective church lot the orthophotomaps were used. Information on social functions of the gardens was acquired from the parish websites and their profiles in the social media (Facebook), and was supplemented by on-site observations carried out in the gardens. The size of the church gardens is diverse, but the majority of them has at least a small-size green space. The gardens which host social events are larger and have larger green space surface but do not differ with respect to the percentage of the green space surface. Social events take place more frequently in gardens with woody plants. Bigger absolute green space surface and presence of trees favors social events. The results show that Warsaw Archdiocese church gardens constitute important part of small urban green spaces structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]