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The paper intervenes in current discussions within post-phenomenological geography. It analyzes the movement of people with visual impairments in order to develop an approach to post-phenomenology that emphasizes the in-betweenness of bodies in motion. Our perspective differs from phenomenological (and humanistic) geographies and from post-phenomenological geographies that are rooted in object-oriented ontology. They both rely on the differentiation between space and place, accept pointillism, treat places as points in space, time as exclusively chronological, and bodies as beings, not becomings. We analyze data from interviews with people with visual impairments. We first consider their movement through the perspective of humanistic (particularly phenomenological) geography. After acknowledging the limits of this approach, we turn to our actualized conception of post-phenomenological geography, which draws on Deleuze’s concepts of movement, path, refrain, and involuntary memory. With this conceptual repertoire, we go beyond the space-place dichotomy and highlight the in-betweenness and virtuality of movement. We explore difference-producing repetitions, which are constituted through refraining into paths. Our approach conceptualizing movement as “refraining into paths” is instrumental to studying the movement of people with visual impairment: It helps to dispute ableism, and it enriches the current discussion about post-phenomenological geography in its insistence on relations and becoming.

The Czech healthcare system primary care segment, comprising general practitioners and pediatricians, faces persistent challenges due to the unbalanced and aging workforce of physicians. Ensuring adequate generational turnover in this sector is threatened at the national level and will exert an even more significant impact regionally. The changing age structure of the population will also play a crucial role in shaping the future demand for healthcare services. Using data obtained from the largest Czech health insurance company, this article highlights current regional disparities regarding the number, structure and capacity of general practitioners and pediatricians. It estimates the potential decline in the availability of physicians due primarily to advancing age – it has been estimated that almost 40% of general practitioner and 55% of pediatrician capacity will be withdrawn by 2035. Using regional population projections, the study determines the capacity required in each region to maintain the appropriate doctor/patient ratios. The results of the projections serve to raise awareness of the impact of changing age structures on the future supply of, and demand for, healthcare. Although the study does not determine a precise estimate of unfilled capacity, it prompts further discussions on ensuring accessible healthcare in the future.

Flood maps are a crucial component of integrated flood risk management. While their key role is commonly acknowledged by experts and scholars, however, literature and findings on the practical utilization of flood maps (including the user’ experiences) within the processes of governance are scarce. Our study aims to contribute to closing this gap; by focusing on the Czech local government bodies, data collected through a questionnaire survey allowed us to examine (a) how, or whether at all, the officials employ flood maps in their agendas; (b) how do they experience and assess working with the maps; and (c) which data would they supplement the extant flood maps by. Our findings show that the praxis of local flood-related governance in the Czech Republic still largely neglects the up-to-date approaches and practices of flood risk management. The officials addressed mostly continue to rely on the earliest type of floodplain maps and purely technical aspects of floods, while largely omitting the newer flood danger and risk maps; thus, they are also missing the opportunities of applying multi-criteria assessment of the flood risk and more effective communication with the public. The paper concludes with a set of suggestions for relevant praxis and future research.

This study evaluates positive (topophilic) and negative (topophobic) perceptions of places using participatory mapping methods. Current research on mapping perceptions of urban environments relies heavily on retrospective self-reports from citizens. These methods are often susceptible to recall bias and do not capture granular information about urban environments. Places are dynamic, and peoples’ perceptions of them vary by time and space. To address these gaps in methods, we collected data from individuals living in two cities, Olomouc, Czech Republic and Brisbane, Australia. GIS was used to analyse a combined total of 634 momentary assessments from Olomouc, and 318 assessments from Brisbane. Our findings suggest that this approach can yield accurate and reliable data about perceptions of topophobia and topophilia in the two cities as well as enable researchers to clearly define hotspots and hot times related to individual activity spaces.

In Romania, one of the countries with the largest Roma community in Europe, the gap between the majority population and the Roma minority continues to be wide. The paper explores whether there is a sustainability of traditional Roma occupations and crafts or whether we are witnessing a continuous occupational dynamic. The objective of the research is to identify the patterns of traditional and non-traditional economic activities practised in Roma communities in two cities: Timişoara and Cluj-Napoca. The research hypothesis investigates whether there is a wide range of economic activities in analyzed Roma communities, where traditional activities tend to have a negligible share and dynamics compared to non-traditional ones. Also, we analyze whether traditional activities remain relevant in Roma communities and whether they represent a significant occupational resource in the case of external migration. The following statistical hypotheses are presented: there are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca. These are observed in the choice of practising non-traditional-traditional economic activities in the country. There are significant differences between members of Roma communities in Timisoara and Cluj-Napoca in the practice of traditional versus non-traditional occupations according to ethnic subgroup membership.

The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes’ results, while other support funds are often neglected. To fill this research gap, the authors undertook the research on cross-border cooperation of the area-based partnerships (Local Action Groups – LAGs) from Poland and the Czech Republic, financed by the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) 2014–2020. The main purpose of our paper is to identify the rationales for cooperation, strategies to find partners, the scope of activities and obstacles in implementing the joint projects. The qualitative research involved a content analysis of LAG documents and interviews with LAG managers. The actions in twelve identified cooperation projects were mainly related to local traditions, inventory and the promotion of local products and services, the development of tourism and environmental issues. The respondents have emphasised that these actions required separate financing by national RDPs following different administrative rules, even though when constituting the components of a single project. The bureaucratic restrictions resulted in a clear asymmetry of LAGs activities, manifested in a lower involvement of the Czech LAGs. As a result, many projects can be considered as highly unilateral, solely national rather than genuinely international, which has not been the intention of the LAG managers, however.

Collecting opinions regarding environmental management is essential, particularly in urban areas where space is limited, and interests often collide. However, the impact of the conditions in which the research is conducted on opinions and preferences elicited via surveys and interviews about the environment is usually taken for granted. The recent development of computer-aided survey methods allows a simulation of an environment, which can create an artificial environment for interviews. Therefore, examining whether direct access to the environment impacts opinions and preferences becomes a significant issue when considering environmental policies and management design and execution. This study examines whether the location of an interview, indoors or outdoors (in the vicinity of trees), influences the opinion on the ecosystem services (ES) trees provide. A quasi-experimental method with a map-aided computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) survey in two Polish cities, indoors and outdoors, in the vicinity of trees, shows that respondents’ location did not significantly affect the opinion on the ES provided by trees. However, on average, respondents answering the survey inside buildings marked more trees on a map than those answering outside. We argue that although an interview location does not have a significant impact on the results, from the perspective of various stakeholder groups in participatory processes, the convenience of place is more important than the character of the place (i.e., in the vicinity of trees) as long as the survey method is mediated by a virtual representation of the subject of the study.

The goal of this article is to uncover the innovative changes that have emerged in Tourist Information Centres (TICs) in Lithuania as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article is based on the assessment of primary research data collected through completed in-depth questionnaires. The research results revealed that a significant number of TICs transformed their activities while adapting them to local tourists. TICs introduced new products, attractions, and services, updated webpages and mobile applications, and created online souvenir shops. The research results indicated that, because of the lockdown, some state tourism institutions in the regions, along with local service providers, experienced a ‘renaissance’ and a successful period. New products and services were essential for the tourism sector’s survival, and the majority of them continue to be used in the post-COVID reality, providing opportunities for greater resilience and reduced dependence on unexpected circumstances in the future. This article addresses discussion points related to general changes in tourism services in the context of resilience and the application of innovations. Additionally, the article introduces the concept of Re-tourism, which adds value to the development of the theoretical framework for post-COVID tourism.

Slums are considered one of the largest problems that threaten our urban environment, and their negative impact is exacerbated by the passage of time without a radical solution. This research investigated measures that are successful in achieving sustainable urban development within slums or surrounding urban areas. Reducing the negative aspects accompanying the traditional remedies for this phenomenon, which Iraq is currently suffering from, has become a widespread trend in most Iraqi cities. As a result, there emerged belts surrounding urban areas, causing severe repercussions, some of which can be addressed. However, most problems are challenging to address because they affect the urban structure. In Iraqi cities, slums are a feature of the city’s transformation phase, distorting their essence. This phenomenon directly and indirectly affects sustainable urban development by conflicting with one of the most important pillars of sustainable development: not to pass on problems to future generations. Over the past decade, our cities have been formed with slums being a large part of their structure. This poses significant challenges for future generations, which will be difficult to solve unless we proactively address them with effective solutions to mitigate their impact. After reviewing various remedies for this problem, it was found that the proposed treatments were unsuitable for the Iraqi situation. The research proposes the idea of exchange (land versus time). When comparing this strategy with the rest of the treatments, it has been found to be the best solution for slums in Iraq, meeting the requirements of sustainable urban development.

Female-based urban poverty has been a widely researched topic fitting into the pursuit of gender equality since the Beijing 1995 Conference for Women. However, the criteria for measuring female-based urban poverty assume a direct role in reducing various urban poverty manifestations amongst females. Nevertheless, standard domains such as economic and educational statuses show some noticeable characteristics in smaller townships located in the low-urbanised states of India. The city under concern — Sehore Municipal Council (M.C. hereafter) — furnishes an example of an emerging urban area in a low-urbanised state of Madhya Pradesh (27.6% of the urban population compared to the national average of 31.16%) where domain-wise spatial manifestations of female-based urban poverty are noticeable. In addition to the financial aspect of urban poverty, the study attempts to identify local area determinants related to the socio-economic and the cultural environment of Sehore M.C., using standard variables and indicators for the spatial manifestation of female-based urban poverty through a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making technique of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Female-based urban poverty in Sehore M.C., lying within the urban sphere of influence of two metro cities of Bhopal and Indore, is analysed across six domains of economic, educational, social, health, lack of decision-making and time poverty, for 17 selected localities across four wards. Out of the six selected domains, the economic poverty domain turns out to be the strongest, while time poverty is the least dominant. The present model of female-based urban poverty may apply to similar newly urbanising areas falling within the ambit of metro cities in India.

Knowledge and human capital are gaining importance as determinants of urban and regional development on a global scale. We can observe a simultaneous increase in the mobility of human capital, the availability of knowledge, and an increase in the importance of location. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as glocalisation. Mobile and highly valuable human capital are being territorialised. From the city’s point of view, is this an opportunity or a threat? The question can be asked whether the territorialisation of human capital has an impact on the durability of urban development. It is not obvious whether it helps to develop competitive potential and competitive advantages of an area only temporarily or in the long term. An analysis using elements of the path dependency theory can provide answers to these questions. It considers both the complexity of the research subject and the evolutionary nature of development processes. Therefore, the fundamental question of this article is whether the territorialisation of human capital affects the durability of urban development. The main findings of the study show that both the size of a city and the rate of demographic growth affect the choice of the type of development path. Cities with high demographic growth rates and complex development strategies enter reactive paths. This type of path guarantees the durability of development processes.

The aim of the study is to examine the regional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and its individual waves on foreign trade in food and agro-based products in the world’s largest trading countries. The study was based on the statistical database of the International Trade Centre (ITC). In addition to the basic analysis, use was made of the auto-correlation method to detect special relationships between foreign food trade of different countries. The results show that the pandemic has had the greatest impact on agricultural and food trade in the United States, but it has spilled over to other countries as well, especially its two major trading partners, the European Union and China. Food trade stagnated in the initial period of the pandemic, but later recovered relatively well. The six examined regions can be divided into three groups based on the typical features of their autocorrelation.

Contemporary development policy concentrates predominantly on reducing noticeable economic differences in a spatial system, and an important role in this respect is played by EU Cohesion Policy. Owing to the considerable scale of financial exposure of Cohesion Policy, the assessment of effectiveness of the implemented measures and their greater reliance on evidence are of major significance. Despite numerous attempts to empirically verify the effects of EU funds spending, the problem remains unresolved, and the results of recent studies lead frequently to ambiguous conclusions.

The aim of this study is to assess the importance of geotourism before, during and after the eruption of the Tajogaite Volcano (September to December 2021) on La Palma, Spain. The methodology applied consisted of identifying the geotourism products on the island before the eruption, the importance of the volcano for geotourism – by means of a survey – and the geotourism products developed after the eruption. The findings show that, before the eruption, La Palma's tourism products (hiking, archaeology, stargazing and volcano tourism) were closely related to its volcanic heritage. During the eruption, Tajogaite became a tourist attraction for the island, drawing thousands of visitors and scientists. Lastly, now that the eruption has ended, geotourism is playing a key role in the various island recovery plans through the evaluation of sites of geotourism interest and the design of geotrails in natural and urban areas.

This paper provides a comprehensive description of preserved copper plates used for map printing in order to enrich the existing knowledge and, at the same time, contribute with new knowledge on the topic of the engraving of old maps. The dimensions, thickness, and weight of individual printing plates were measured. Qualitative indicators of the material were also examined. Printing plates originating from countries north of the Alps (former Czech lands) and from Mediterranean regions (Malta and Italy) are represented. For the purpose of the study, the term printing plate refers to a copperplate on which the engraving was made using the burin or line etching technique. These are some of the oldest reproduction techniques used for printing old maps. The period studied covers the 18th century, approximately. Studies dealing with a large set of printing plates and their classification are rather an exception (Hameleers 1989). The issue of the qualitative properties of printing plates has not yet been comprehensively addressed in the literature focusing on the history of cartography.

In this article, we introduce a new dataset to complement the existing evidence on economic inequalities in Poland’s rural areas. This important dataset uses annual information on the beneficiaries of income support, which is paid to farmers within the European Common Agricultural Policy and covers the period 2014–2021. The data can be used to analyse the changing distribution of this support at municipality level using conventional inequality measures. Since part of the support is granted per eligible hectare, our data can also serve as a good approximation of land use distribution, and thus allow researchers to scrutinise the changes in the distribution of an important component of the wealth of many people living in rural areas. The paper presents selected findings on the distribution of income support granted to land users in the studied period and suggests potential research areas, for which the presented dataset can provide useful insights.

This paper presents five sites located in the marginal zone of the Wartanian stadial within the Odranian Glaciation (MIS6a) on the border of the Central Polish Uplands and Lowlands, representing different glacial forms and geological structures: terminal moraine hill, undulating moraine hill, sedimentary margin of the ice sheet, kame hill, and outwash plain. This differentiation is also reflected in the petrographic composition of the gravels and the interesting surface microstructures of the Scandinavian erratic boulders. This small study area, with its high geodiversity, which we have identified and investigated, has considerable potential for sustainable development. Geotourism is a tool for this development in a peripheral tourist region, providing both economic benefits for the local population and conservation services for the geoecosystem.

This study delves into the synergy between remote sensing and satellite gravimetry, focusing on the utilization of Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) data for modeling delta Total Water Storage (ΔTWS) values derived from the GRACE mission. Various machine learning algorithms were employed to investigate the concordance between Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and AMSR-E observations. Despite the limited correlation in circumpolar permafrost areas, ΔTWS was successfully modeled with an accuracy of a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 3.5 cm. The Amazon region exhibited a notable model error, attributed to significant ΔTWS amplitude; the overall model quality was affirmed by Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) metrics. Importantly, the effectiveness of AMSR-E Soil Moisture (SM) data, encompassing C (frequency of 4–8 GHz) and X (frequency of 8–12 GHz) ranges (~0.04 m and ~0.03 m wavelength, respectively) in modeling ΔTWS, even in heavily forested equatorial regions, was demonstrated.

This study aims to investigate the dynamic pattern of landscape ecological units (LEUs) and analyse spatial variations of the ecological risk in Parangtritis coastal dune, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A quantitative method was used in this research as part of landscape ecological analysis using a geographic information system. LEUs were interpreted by small format aerial photographs (SFAPs) and verified through field survey, then were calculated using the formula within grids to produce the ecological risk index (ERI) in the total area. According to the sub-class and class scenario, many LEUs showed changes in their landscape pattern. The ERI in the study area consisted of five levels (very low to very high), each of which was spatially varied. The ecological risk formed clusters coinciding with certain LEUs where fragility chiefly contributed to the sub-class scenario, while disturbance contributed to the class scenario.

The article’s topic reflects climate scientists’ presence and communication in the public sphere, while the main focus is on the two ways a society may respond to the climate scientists’ communicative efforts: by denying the scientific messaging (climate change denial) and by engaging in relation-building communication (climate change dialogue). Those aspects were explored from the point of view of American and Polish climate scientists through the method of in-depth interviewing. According to the scientists, as the study results show, the most effective way to enhance science-society dialogue on climate change is to detangle from unproductive denial narratives and truly embrace the dialogic model of science communication by opening it to feedback, including honest societal scepticism.

Land cover change and its consequences such as environmental degradation and biodiversity loss pose significant global challenges, including in Nigeria’s Anambra River Basin. This study focuses on monitoring, predicting and understanding land cover changes in the basin from 1987 to 2018, with projections up to 2030. It explores the intricate relationship between population growth and land cover dynamics, aiming to contribute to sustainable land management practices and align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. Using a combination of neural network classification and the CA-Markov model, the study analyses historical land cover data to identify significant transformations. Between 1987 and 2018, bare lands increased by 29%, vegetation increased by 14%, built-up areas increased by 128% and waterbodies increased by 10%, whereas there was a 58% decline in the extent of wetlands. The most significant transformation occurred in the wetlands, with a total of 1819.46 km2 being converted to various land cover types. The results demonstrate remarkable shifts characterised by rapid urbanisation, substantial wetland loss and a decline in vegetation cover. Expectedly, population growth is found to be closely linked to the expansion of built-up areas while negatively impacting other land cover types. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable land management strategies that balance the demands of growing populations with the preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Furthermore, the study provides future projections that offer crucial insights for decision-makers involved in land use planning, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The shores of Recherchefjorden in western Spitsbergen have undergone significant changes during the 20th and early 21st centuries, resulting from the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) and climate warming. In areas exposed by retreating glaciers, paraglacial processes have had an impact, leading to the development of forms such as spits, lagoons and beaches. The main factors that determine the direction of landform development include wave patterns, the role of longshore currents in material transport, and the state of the fjord’s sea/coast ice. Archival materials such as aerial and satellite photos and geomorphological mapping were used to analyse changes in the length of accumulation forms in Recherchefjorden. Nine accumulation areas were identified along the fjord’s shores. Longshore currents’ primary directions were determined by the arrangement of accumulation forms, flowing southward along the western coast from the Chamberlinelva estuary to Rubypynten, and westward on the eastern outwash plain of Recherchebreen. Material transport along the fjord’s eastern coast is mainly towards the south. Following the LIA, the accumulation rate increased, with the highest values recorded in the second and early third decades of the 21st century. Longshore currents shape accumulation forms such as spits and beaches, but they appear intermittently depending on favourable wave and tidal conditions, transforming coasts and accumulating material through longshore drift. These conditions occur periodically and independently of water circulation or tidal currents, allowing accumulation forms to develop in leaps under intensive material supply, ensuring their stability.

This paper discusses place-oriented values via actions against unwanted landscape changes reported by the community affected. The case study was based on a post-mining area in the city of Poznań (Poland), now functioning as a naturally valuable ecosystem. The relationships between landscape changes and the local community’s perception of these changes were studied. The results showed that a landscape transformation which is not accepted by the local community can stimulate a sense of loss, specifically, a feeling of detachment from the emotionally valued landscape. Based on this, a conceptual framework of detachment from a place was constructed. In this regard, the findings fill the gap in the case of experiences of solastalgia and topophobia. Different qualitative methods supported the analytical proceedings, such as content analysis, in-depth interviews, case study visits, community observation, field study and exploratory analysis.

Recognising the degree of climate transformations in the Arctic becomes vital, especially in times of rapid global climate change. The 21st century has seen a renaissance in Arctic coastal research. Here, we aim to present this recent progress. Moving from the European Arctic through the Siberian part and ending with the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA), we describe how the region’s coasts have transformed. This work is mostly focussed on progress in coastal geomorphology, geohazards, and reconstructions of the paleoarchives, although we also address the future research challenges of cold region coastal environments.

Older adults have a long-time perspective when it comes to the perception of changes in local climate and are uniquely vulnerable to these developments in terms of health. The discussed in-depth, qualitative study is based on interviews with people from the age group over 65 years (N = 10; five females), who live in different regions of Poland, concerning their views on climate change and its mitigation. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to create a map of their observations and attitudes. Results indicate the importance of perceiving climate change in specific and local categories as well as show frequent identification of this issue with traditional environmentalism focussed on pollution and littering. This foregrounds difficulties in understanding invisible greenhouse gases and how they work. In terms of mitigation, the study has revealed little faith in climate action undertaken by fellow citizens and the government, as well as a sense of limited agency, which is also disproportionally projected onto children and young adults. However, through everyday observations, older adults appear to be profoundly aware of how climate change impacts the environment. Contrary to stereotypes, they also declare high emotional engagement in this issue. Consequently, despite being overlooked with respect to this subject, older adults can play an important role in promoting climate awareness and climate-friendly policies.

This paper describes the foundations of the periglacial concept beginning from the introduction of this term by Łoziński in 1909 and 1912. Its etymology along with the meaning and definitions that change over time are analysed in the present paper. Originally derived from geology, periglacial now functions as a geomorphological term. It has been compared with other terms used in the characterisation of cold geographical environments; the role of freezing and ice has been especially emphasised for periglaciology, and the most important types of ice have been highlighted. The present paper aims to show that with the increasing specialisation of research and the evolution of the meaning of the term periglacial, it is still seen as playing an important integrating role. The relation of the periglacial environment and ice to the glacial environment is also presented, showing the places of mutual overlapping of both environments. Old and newly introduced terms related to this concept such as periglacial facies, periglacial landscape, paraglacial, and cryo-conditioning are critically assessed. Finally, a short description of the permafrost in Poland, occurring in two remote and specific places, is presented: the active mountain permafrost covering the alpine belt of the Tatra Mountains about 1900 m a.s.l. and the relict permafrost in the Suwałki area, located in the northern lowland of Poland at a depth of 357 m and below.

Visiting urban green and blue spaces improves the quality of life in cities as it helps to preserve human-nature bonds. In this context, the role of urban parks and forests has been well-recognised; however, much less is known about the landscapes of inland water bodies. To fill this gap, the study aimed to identify spatiotemporal patterns of recreational activities in the urban riverscape in relation to the visitors’ residential proximity. Also, survey results were combined with spatial and remote sensing data to determine how the spatial characteristics of the riverscape affect its recreational use. The case of Warsaw, Poland, was used. The results indicated that the riverscape serves as a local park for the neighbouring communities, while it is rather a warm-weekend attraction for far-living ones. Visitors concentrate in the city centre, and spread out along the communication paths; however, spatial patterns of the magnitude of particular activities also show interbank differences. Spatial error models of drivers of riverscape recreation revealed (1) the multifaceted role of trees in densely visited areas and (2) the importance of physical availability for contact with the urban river. These findings expand knowledge on the recreational use of urban rivers by exploring its place-related motivations.

Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic challenge some established human-landscape interactions notably. In this article, we analyse whether the pandemic had an impact on the perception of urban green spaces (UGS) and usage behaviours in Leipzig, Germany. We use a quantitative survey to understand people’s attitudes. Our study is novel in that it firstly explores the relationship between UGS and visitors during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (winter 2022/2023), contrary to the vast majority of already existing studies that relied on digitally distributed surveys due to the lockdown protocols. Secondly our study does not apply exclusively online methods to reach out to the participants. The survey results show that about 40% (of the 115 participants) use parks more frequently during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before 2020. Characteristics such as proximity to home, naturalness and cleanliness have become the most relevant. We see a notable increase in the demand for secure public green spaces, particularly among female visitors. Every second respondent confirmed experiencing considerable difficulties when accessing UGS, revealing the existing (spatial) deficits in environmental justice. These results should be considered by urban planners to adapt UGS to the changing demands of the citizens.

The public space environment is one of the critical influential factors for strengthening local identity and communities’ sense of belonging, while enhancing city life quality. This study focuses on the use of heritage buildings as a catalyst for reactivating public spaces and aims to explore to what extent the revitalization project for the historical centre of Craiova, a medium-sized post-socialist city, has succeeded. The three dimensions of revitalisation – physical, economic and social – were analysed using a mixed approach, including participant observation, field investigation, and a residents’ survey. Physical changes within the study area, improved accessibility, functional changes and economic restructuring were analysed, as well residents’ perceptions and use of the area (perceived changes, use of the place, types of places used by the residents, frequency, times spent). The results point to the fact that not all the three dimensions of the revitalization project were equally successful, proving once again that not all the actions are effective in delivering the best outcomes. The main beneficiaries are discussed and the outcome of the revitalisation project is analysed against similar projects in other countries.

In this article, we identify the spatial mobility of the populations of selected urban centres in Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. In total, 1,616 interviews were conducted. Additionally also interviews with the employees responsible for crisis management were conducted. Based on the analyses, five different clusters were identified, with different patterns of inhabitants in terms of their spatial mobility in the event of war. The most significant factors influencing their mobility in crisis situations are country of residence, age, number of people in the household and sex. This research can help develop evacuation strategies at different levels of governance.

Based on a scoping review of English-language scientific literature for the period of 1990–2022, the article presents a synthetic outline of previous research, focusing on factors influencing the specifics of foreign military bases (FMBs) as examples of facilities that mostly generate negative attitudes known as ‘Not In My Backyard’ (NIMBY). The specific characteristics of different categories of objects that generate various social attitudes are also presented. The results of the analyses include a classification of factors and aspects related to the local impacts of foreign military bases, which have not been analysed before.

Cultivated terraces are phenomena that have been protected in some areas for both their cultural heritage and food production purposes. Some terraced areas are disappearing but could be revitalised. To this end, recognition techniques need to be developed and terrace registers need to be established. The goal of this study was to recognise terraces using deep learning based on Lidar DEM. Lidar data is a valuable resource in countries with overgrown terraces. The U-net model training was conducted using data from the Slovenian terraces register for southwestern Slovenia and was subsequently applied to the entire country. We then analysed the agreement between the terraces register and the terraces recognised by deep learning. The overall accuracy of the model was 85%; however, the kappa index was only 0.22. The success rate was higher in some regions. Our results achieved lower accuracy compared to studies from China, where similar techniques were used but which incorporated satellite imagery, DEM, as well as land use data. This study was the first attempt at deep learning terrace recognition based solely on high-resolution DEM, highlighting examples of false terrace recognition that may be related to natural or other artificial terrace-like features.

Changes in land cover (LC) are continuously growing due to natural and human factors, and they are even occurring within protected areas. In Europe, one such place is the Tatra region (southern Poland), which is the area of the presented research. Dynamic landscape transformation in a valuable natural area can negatively affect both environmental quality and sustainable land use planning. Appropriate recommendations and treatments can be introduced to prevent negative effects. To do this, it is necessary to understand the dynamics and character of these transformations. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to analyse changes in LC, its causes and their spatiotemporal dynamics, as well as the resulting landscape fragmentation. For this purpose, a set of landscape metrics and GIS (Geographic Information System) tools were used. The main data source in the study was the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) database. The results indicate a significant landscape transformation with a negative impact on the region’s environment, even in protected areas. Landscape fragmentation, which causes disturbances in ecosystems, increased across the entire study area. In turn, in the spatial development, it can introduce chaos and spatial disorder, and lead to the phenomenon of urban sprawl.

This article presents the results of field research, as well as the results of the use of remote-sensing data in the geochemical study of the soil cover of the Yertis River basin. In the work, the content of the gross form of heavy metals in the soil of the river basin was investigated. The atomic absorption method determined the content of the Poor configuration of elements of elements in soils. Statistical processing of the obtained data from N. A. Plokhinsky was carried out using the Statistica program. Also, using the performed indices in the remote sensing of clay minerals, iron oxides, and carbonates, the spatial distribution and comparison of pollutants in the soil cover of the river basin were revealed. The methods and means of image processing tested in this study can be used to create maps of the distribution of pollutants. Also, the data obtained reflect the patterns of distribution of heavy metals in the soils of the basin and can be used to optimize landscapes and improve the organization of ecological and geochemical monitoring.

Mobility is an important source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and a major contributor to human-induced climate change. Much of these emissions result from urban residents’ travel within urban areas (i.e. short-distance travel [SDT]) and away from them (i.e. long-distance travel [LDT]). In this study, we focus on the distribution of mobility-related GHG emissions in two functional urban areas in Poland: Poznań and the Tri-city. Using data from a representative survey (N ~2000 in each area), we investigate the emission distribution and associations between emission levels and the socio-economic characteristics and residential locations of study participants. Emission levels are unequally distributed: the top 10% of emitters contribute >50% of SDT and LDT emissions. People with high education and income levels tend to travel and emit more within and away from the cities. People of retirement age travel and emit much less than the younger people. SDT emission levels are clustered spatially and increase with the increasing distance from the main city centres and decreasing density. LDT emissions have only very weak or no association with residential location.

The development of remote sensing instruments and methods has revolutionised work practices worldwide, resulting in a new field of research. Remote sensing has significantly expanded the possibilities for detailed research, spanning from biological to urban studies, by constantly imaging the Earth. Numerous photogrammetric campaigns and satellite missions have been increasing the possibilities for conducting research that includes larger areas and time scales while minimising the need for fieldwork. This is particularly useful in polar regions, where fieldwork is complicated by harsh weather conditions, hard-to-reach research areas, polar nights, and the need for high funding and logistical support. Here available algorithms that help to track environmental shifts in the small Arctic catchments, such as changes in ice, snow, vegetation, and water are presented.

This review paper provides an overview of recent research on landslide susceptibility. Landslides are a natural phenomenon that can cause significant damage to infrastructure and endanger human lives. The paper presents an in-depth analysis of the factors that contribute to landslide susceptibility, including geological, hydrological and anthropogenic factors. It also discusses various methods and techniques used to assess landslide susceptibility, including statistical models, geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The paper examines the advantages and limitations of these methods and highlights the need for an integrated approach that combines multiple techniques to improve accuracy and reliability. Additionally, the paper discusses the challenges associated with developing landslide susceptibility maps and emphasises the importance of considering uncertainties and risk assessments. The review paper concludes by identifying the gaps in current research and suggesting potential directions for future studies. Overall, this review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of landslide susceptibility, which can serve as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and policymakers working in this field.

We studied the phenomena associated with the thrusting of ice onto the shore of the Szczecin Lagoon based on the occurrence of tree ice scars. The measurements concerned mostly the maximum height, length and width of ice scars on trees, and the distance of these trees from the shore in the period 2017–2022. It was observed that sheets of ice advanced up to 64 m inland, and piled to form hummocks reaching up to 4.3 m above the water level. These maximum values occurred mostly on eastern shores, which is where the highest numbers of damaged and broken trees were observed. This should be associated with the strongest and most frequently occurring wind blowing from the western direction in the winter-spring period. To the contrary, the lowest number of damaged trees were observed on the western shore. This is due not only to the lower frequency of wind blowing from the east, and the associated cooling (Ta < 0°C) and ice cover stabilization, but also due to the presence of extensive reed belts. Our results enable an indirect insight into the ice phenomena dynamics, especially in areas lacking systematic ice observations. Similar conclusions may be extended for all the sheltered basins as lakes or lagoons.

Sedimentation determines how optimal a reservoir functions throughout its design life. The Sempor Reservoir in Central Java, Indonesia, will be 45 years old in 2023. At least 15 million m3 of particles have been sedimented in the reservoir for >30 years, reducing its function as an irrigation water source to only 60%. Therefore, assessing its performance in providing irrigation water and generating hydropower electricity is essential, given that its design life ends in 2028. This study was conducted to analyse the sedimentation and estimate the useful life of the Sempor Reservoir based on the erosion potential in its catchment area. The potential sedimentation rate was formulated from erosion potential assessed using the universal soil loss equation (USLE) model, sediment delivery ratio (SDR) and trap efficiency (TE). By contrast, the actual sedimentation rate was determined from changes in the dead storage capacity from 2013 to 2023. The interpolation performance evaluation of the bathymetric survey results was tested using the coefficient of determination (R2), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) which resulted in values of 0.917; 0.87; and 13.03%, respectively. The results show that the catchment area had an erosion potential of 3,405,353.86 t·a-1, resulting in a potential sedimentation rate of 309,106.63 m3·a-1. The calculated actual sedimentation rate was 33,903.28 m3·a-1. Therefore, the useful life of the Sempor Reservoir was estimated to end in 0.5 years and 4.59 years based on the potential and actual sedimentation rates, respectively.

Ventilation corridors are critical for regulating the appropriate flow of urban air streams. Details on how they function, especially in a specific location, can be found in local eco-physiographic studies. Such analyses are designed during conceptual work on the conditions and directions of the development of a studied area. Such documentation includes advanced research on the impact of natural conditions on the area's growth and evolution. In Warsaw, Poland, such a study makes it possible to define various natural areas that are essential for the appropriate functioning of the city and increase its inhabitants’ well-being. This provides an initial basis for further analysis and motivates researchers to investigate the distribution of natural sites. It inspired the authors to assess the land-use structure in the context of the location of ventilation corridors. Thus, land use and land cover (LULC) modifications were examined in the context of their tendency to aid in the ventilation of the city. The object of the study is the Bródnowski Ventilation Corridor (BVC) – one of several designated for Warsaw in the spatial planning concepts of the 1980s and 1990s. In the research encompassing the years 1982–2020, the authors analysed the land use and roughness determined by the development characteristics and vegetation cover. References were made to current and archival planning documents, aerial photographs, satellite images, and the Topographic Objects Database BDOT10k. The research was prompted by the municipality's intention to urbanize the study area, which will undoubtedly eliminate the ventilation function of the southern part of the corridor and significantly reduce its remaining territory. Analysis of changes in the land cover of the south part of the corridor confirms its marginal importance for the city's ventilation. In this area, ongoing modifications proceed slowly, and urbanization – mainly low-rise and less intensive buildings – is limited. This zone has largely retained and is likely to maintain its favourable features from the point of view of ventilation and air regeneration.

Progressing climate change is often reflected in changing biometeorological conditions. The Sudetes Mountains, located in the Polish–Czech border area, are concerned by this phenomenon. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the influence of atmospheric circulation on multiannual changes in biothermal conditions using the UTCI index. In the analysis, data for 1991–2020, from both Polish and Czech meteorological stations, was considered, while the circulation factor was evaluated using the Lityński classification. The research indicated a positive tendency of UTCI values for the majority of circulation types, which consequently contributed to a decrease in the frequency of cold stress categories. In the summits, a decline in the number of days with extreme cold stress was the most characteristic feature, especially under anticyclonic and northern circulation. Tendencies of heat stress occurrence were in most cases statistically insignificant, except for cyclonic and transitional circulation.

The article presents an assessment of Poland's participation in Earth observation programmes within its 10 years of membership in the European Space Agency (ESA). A diagnosis of the current state of affairs makes it possible to assess the actions taken to date by policy-makers and to indicate the directions which should be taken in the future so that satellite data on the Earth's surface is more widely utilised and available.

ChatGPT, along with its applications, possibilities, limitations and future development, is currently one of the most often discussed topics worldwide. One of the issues raised in those discussions is its ethically questionable role in science and education.

The Sulejów reservoir is one of the largest reservoirs in Poland and is exposed to a large flux of nutrients from both point and diffuse sources, which leads to an excessive amount of eutrophication and cyanobacteria bloom. The underlying inspiration for this paper was to use a 1D HEC-RAS hydrodynamic model to improve the knowledge of sedimentation conditions and the chemistry of bottom sediments in the context of reservoir eutrophication and algae bloom. Field sampling was performed, and chemical concentrations of Total Organic Carbon, Total Phosphorus, and Cadmium were measured in samples from bottom sediments. The deepest parts of the reservoir and the presence of sediment traps coincide with the highest concentrations of organic carbon, nutrients, and heavy metals. The paper has shown that reservoir hydrodynamic modelling and precise bathymetry maps provide very valuable information that can be used for the interpretation of bottom sediment chemistry patterns and for understanding the conditions of sedimentation.

Nowadays, the large-scale disturbance and subsequent temporary deforestation of mountain forests are widely discussed phenomena. In this study, we built both a logistic regression model (LRM) and a generalised additive model (GAM), in order to understand the drivers of deforestation after the Elisabeth windstorm (2004) in the Central Low Tatras, Slovakia. A set of topographic and biotic characteristics was selected as explanatory variables, while the presence of deforestation was a response variable. The results show that the most prone to windstorm-driven damage are forests growing at a high elevation, in the ridge’s surroundings, and on gentle slopes exposed to the wind during the disturbance. Moreover, the stands with a high proportion of Norway spruce and with medium-diameter trees, which are under forest management, were identified as more vulnerable. Additionally, both models were used to identify those stands, which would be most susceptible to damage by future windstorms. According to its explanatory power and building efficiency, we propose using of LRM rather than GAM in similar large-scale studies. The addressed methods can be used in local forest management, as scientifically based decision-making appears to be crucial for maintaining mountain forests resistant to gusty winds, as well as other disturbing agents.

The crisis around the operation of the Turów coal mine and its impact on cross-border relations in the Polish-Czech borderlands is examined in this article. The genesis of the international dispute and its course is analysed on the basis of international relations and border studies theories. Moreover, the specific cross-border relations and asymmetries in the area are studied. Then, the authors discuss the methodology and results of the research through questionnaires and formulate conclusions drawn from the research conducted by the Polish-Czech research team in 2022. The results prove that the nearly two-year Polish-Czech dispute over the Turów mine hurt the cross-border activity of the inhabitants of the Polish-Czech border. Despite alarming media news, this impact was weak and short-lived. It ultimately did not significantly impact the cross-border integration of the inhabitants or cause a deterioration of relations between the Polish and Czech sides of the Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa. The crisis was caused by the lack of adequate communication between local governments from Poland and the Czech Republic and insufficient commitment from the local and regional authorities. Another cause was the poor integration of residents in the border area, although the cross-border cooperation epitomised by the Euroregion Neisse-Nisa-Nysa is not poorly rated.

The (non)contribution of schools towards cross-border integration in the divided town of Těšín/Cieszyn, located on the Czech-Polish border, is analysed in this article. The pandemic-related border closures revealed a substantial level of togetherness in this town, manifested by various social activities. Moreover, a part of these (during the pandemic restricted) cross-border social practices were those in education. We applied a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods to diagnose the directions of cross-border educational flows, the approach of schools towards the identified joint cross-border social practices, and the possible level of togetherness. As a result, one-sidedness (Polish pupils attending schools in the Czech Republic) of cross-border flows was identified – which also follows the direction of a cross-border workforce. Except for the schools with Polish as the instruction language, located in the Czech part of the town, primarily serving Polish speakers living in the Czech Republic, we can mention hardly any mutually shared feeling of togetherness and an actual place-based approach towards educational governance in this divided town. We observe some ties in education between the autochthonous Polish minority in the Czech Republic and the Poles in Poland, without the involvement of pupils or teachers of Czech ethnicity, who do not reflect opportunities behind the border.

The paper explores how Slovak consumers perceive the value of food, sold by different retail formats (especially farmers’ markets and supermarkets), in terms of the quality, price, and healthiness. The aim of this paper is to evaluate consumer perceptions regarding global and local types of retail stores where they buy food most frequently. In the study, the segmentation of consumers by generation, income, and type of residence is provided. From the methodological point of view, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests are used to test hypotheses. According to the sample of respondents (n = 1,004), large-scale stores do not offer healthier and higher-quality food. This perception, however, varies based on the income of the consumer groups. On the other hand, respondents perceive that food sold at farmers’ markets is healthier and of higher quality than food in conventional stores. They do not perceive that food sold at farmers’ markets is cheaper than food in conventional stores.

The aim of this paper is to present the issue of border traffic of foreigners and their expenses on the Polish maritime border. The study is based on quantitative data on border traffic and expenses of foreigners in Poland. The time of the study was 2014–2021. Thus, the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on foreigners’ mobility and spending in Poland was additionally taken into account. For the purpose of this paper, the following study methods were adopted: reference literature analysis, secondary data analysis and comparative analysis. The paper mainly uses data from official statistics and the Border Guard. The study has shown that the Polish maritime border generates the smallest volume of border traffic, however, its share increased during the analysed period from 0.7% in 2014 to 0.8% in 2021. Nevertheless, it is foreigners crossing the maritime border who on average spend in Poland more than twice as much as foreigners crossing the Polish land border. In 2020, they spent the most on non-food goods (40%) and services (34.7%). As the study results reveal, their spending patterns and travel purposes are different from those of foreigners crossing the land border. The potential that foreign visitors bring is significant for the development of border areas in such sectors as tourism, services and trade. The analysis of the motivation of foreigners crossing the sea border makes it possible to shape the regional development policy of this particular area.

The study evaluates the regional development potential of a specific rural micro-region with regard to its qualitative aspect. It aims to set a general strategy for further development. The method is a geographical analysis using the migration balance as an indicator of the region’s attractiveness for housing. Main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats were identified. Generally accessible statistical data was used. The proposed strategy is to support the development of the human capital. In addition to the generally valid recommendations for the development of rural areas, it is always necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the geographical location, path dependency, natural, economic and social potential, the state of the environment, cultural factors or other specifics. The regional and local decision-making levels play an important role in this process.