<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The literature on the concentration of urban poverty has considered two kinds of locations as the pockets of poverty: slums (vs. non-slums) and towns (vs. cities). Moving beyond these binaries in discussing spatial concentration of urban poverty, we have made an intersection of these two kinds of residential locations in the post-reform India using four rounds of data from the National Sample Survey. The proportion of relatively poor households was lower in city slum areas than in towns (both slum and non-slum households). Next, this paper tries to find out the level of basic services availability across these intersectional spatial categories and how public policies respond to existing poverty. Availability of basic services was higher in city slums than in town non-slum households. Across all these urban areas, the poor had a lower access to services than the non-poor, and the gap between them had increased over time. These findings also pose serious concerns on the geographical targeting of poverty alleviation programmes in India and on iniquitous resources allocations for providing basic amenities
</abstract>

Has the geography of deprivation changed in post-reform urban India? A Look into relative poverty and access to basic services

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The aim of this research study is to compare the procedures for solving geographical problems with printed and digital cartographic products. These documents are used in various areas of society, including regional development or visual communication in the media. A total of 27 probands participated in the research. Individuals were randomly divided into two groups, one group working with a printed atlas and the other with a digital atlas in the same version. Respondents were tested using stationary and wearable eye-trackers while completing a didactic test to determine different levels of map skills. The results of the research showed that although the procedures and the success rate for solving the different tasks did not differ between the two groups of respondents, the differences were mainly in the time needed for the solution and in the satisfaction in the use of a given type of cartographic work.
</abstract>

Problem-solving procedures in spatially explicit tasks: comparing procedures with printed and digital cartographic documents

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Although medium-sized towns are key components in the polycentric structuring of regional spaces, their evolutionary pathways are less clear than those of cities. This paper considers a set of four medium-sized towns with provincial capital status located in the southern zone of Lombardy, on the fringes of a densely urbanised area dominated by Milan. The population trajectories of these towns and their agglomerations (firstand second-belt municipalities) are investigated in the decade from 2010 to 2020, with a descriptive analysis. The research resulted in three main findings: 1) even in a challenging economic climate, the population trends of the towns considered were affected by proximity to the vibrant Milan metropolitan area; 2) all the towns have gone down the route of reurbanisation, but the suburbanisation process is still ongoing and very intense, especially for the Italian population; 3) there are gaps between cores and belts in terms of population distribution by age group and land take intensity, resulting in differing drives for population concentration or deconcentration.
<bold>Highlights for public administration, management and planning:</bold>
<list list-type="bullet">
<list-item><label>•</label> Medium-sized towns that are more able to “work together as part of a network” enjoy greater population vitality.</list-item>
<list-item><label>•</label> Medium-sized towns are not a unitary group: even in an area featuring similar structural characteristics, their evolutionary dynamics differ, calling for place-based policies.</list-item>
<list-item><label>•</label> A drive for population deconcentration is under way in agglomerations linked to medium-sized towns, powered by certain population groups, which could adversely affect the quest for a sustainable development model.</list-item>
</list>

</abstract>

Moving towards repolarisation? The population trajectories of medium-sized towns in Lower Lombardy, Italy (2010‒2020)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Dhaka City has been suffering from many environmental problems including
flooding, water logging and other related problems. Urbanization, which is occurring very fast
and with larger magnitude in Dhaka, is the intrinsic reason behind these problems. High rate of
urbanization causes extensive urban area expansion and as a result canals, wetland and other
water bodies are quickly vanishing from the landscape. This study shows the present physical
condition of the canals; identifies the processes of canal encroachment; represents the
consequences of canal encroachment. 13 canals of 50 were surveyed; local people were
surveyed to identify the impact and processes of encroachment. According to this study, canals
of Dhaka city are under serious threat of extinction and require immediate recovery actions.
Canals are being encroached in various styles and this study identifies five: unauthorized land
filling, illegal construction over canal, expansion of slum, solid waste dumping, taking
advantage of lack of awareness of local people as well as government agencies. However, this
study also discusses the grave consequences of canal encroachment: increasing flood
vulnerability, wane of ground water recharge area and ground water level, collapse of natural
drainage system, loss of local ecology and biodiversity.</abstract>

Department of Geography & Environment, University of
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Department of Geography, University of Calgary, Canada.

Encroachment of Canals of Dhaka City,
Bangladesh: An Investigative Approach

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The article attempts to estimate the size of the wage premia fetched by ranked academics on the academic market in Ústí nad Labem, Czechia. We employed a large (anonymized) data set of contracts and wages of employees of a medium-sized regional public university in Ústí nad Labem. We used OLS regression in various specifications to determine the wage premia of all educational levels (mainly full professors over associate professors/ docents and associate professors/docents over assistant professors/PhDs) while controlling for many attributes (of employees or contracts) possibly affecting wage levels. The local context regarding the topic of this article is discussed as well. The results generally confirm the intuition and show a clear pattern of increasing wages with levels and ranks. Focusing predominantly on the academic ranks, the monthly premium of associate professors (docents) over PhDs seems to be somewhere between 5 and 6 thousand CZK (185 and 220 EUR), and the premium of full professors over associate professors to an average of around 4 thousand CZK (150 EUR). The latter premium, however, exhibits systematic variation across different schools within the university: in some it is insignificant (around 0), while in others it is rather large and averages around 8 thousand CZK (300 EUR).
</abstract>

Earning like a Prof: Academic rank wage premia in Ústí nad Labem, Czechia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The magnitude and frequency of severe and extreme drought events continue to grow, instigating a grave risk to human wellbeing. Marathwada region of India is one of the most chronically drought affected region of India. The sequential drought events between the years 2012 to 2016 acutely impacted the natural as well as socio-economic resources of the region. This study attempts to assess the drought vulnerability of Marathwada region at sub-district level. An integrated drought vulnerability index has been developed by blending biophysical and socio-economic indicators of drought vulnerability. The analysis revealed that sub-districts like Shirur-Anantpal, Deoni, Shirur Kasar, Dharur, Biloli, Paranda, Mukhed, Khuldabad, Patoda, Hadgaon, Palam, Badnapur and Kaij, emerged as the very highly vulnerable to drought, representing 14.43% of geographical area and 10.96% of population of Marathwada while the sub-districts lying under the category of high drought vulnerability represented 39.15% of geographical area and 34.69% of population.</abstract>

Drought vulnerability of Marathwada region, India: A spatial analysis

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Post-construction Support (PCS) services refer to all forms of assistance/support given to water service providers (WSPs) to enable them to detect, correct and maintain water system infrastructure or prevent future system faults. PCS enhances the quality and sustainability of water supply services. This paper examines the provision of PCS to state water authorities in Nigeria. Specifically, we identified the sources of PCS and relevance of PCS; then we discussed the pattern of occurrence of system faults the bureaucracy associated with PCS provision across the sampled states. Finally, we examined the constraints to PCS provision and the options for overcoming the challenges. The study used empirical data derived from questionnaire surveys, through key informant interviews (KIIs) and from published literature. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. Results of the study revealed the current sources and patterns of PCS provision which vary widely across the sampled states. PCS is provided intermittently based on resource availability and on the willingness of the provider. The constraints and bureaucracies associated with PCS provision cause prolonged and avoidable delays and limit quality service delivery with often great consequences for the end users. WSPs lack legislative, and policy instruments to compel governments to act and ensure that PCS services are provided speedily and in a sustainable manner. The poor quality of service delivery in the area can be traced, in part, to a lack of needed PCS services. Consequently, the way forward for WSPs is to confront the dearth of PCS in the water supply sector frontally. Suggestions on how to surmount the dearth of PCS and improve the quality of service delivery in the area were advanced.
</abstract>

Provision of post construction support (PCS) services to state water authorities in Nigeria: constraints and the way forward

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The present paper deals with the limited aspects of calculation of gender gap in terms of socio-economic variability measures in Sehore Municipal Council (Sehore M.C.), Madhya Pradesh, by partially utilizing Global Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Pronounced gender inequality in terms of Indian scenario and thrust of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations, on Gender Equality (Goal-5), have made it pertinent to assess gender gap in terms of socio-economic variability. The present study, therefore aims to measure the gender inequality in the upcoming city of Sehore, a class I city as per 2011 Population Census, in Madhya Pradesh. The study adopts the methodology of the Global Gender Gap Index of the WEF, and applies it to 15 variables over 3 sub-indices obtained from the household survey of 940 women across selected 17 localities covering 4 wards in Sehore M.C. The methodology includes the standardization of the selected variables and preparation of the composite index. As per the composite index mapping, 35% of the localities belong to very poor category, while 29% of the localities belong to poor category. Nearly 12% of the localities belong to each satisfactory, good and very good categories. The study concludes with suggestions for the promotion of gender parity in the city apart from highlighting the ongoing activities of the government for the women’s empowerment in the Sehore city.
</abstract>

Measuring the Gender Gap Index using socio-economic variability: A case study based on Modified Global Gender Gap Index (Sehore Municipal Council, India)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
A unified land use classification system with mutually exclusive definitions of each land use category helps to avoid inconsistencies in the planning process and, most importantly, ensures effective implementation of development control tools. In Bangladesh, the planning authorities prepare land use plans by independently deciding the land use classes. This study aims to explore the nature of inconsistencies in the land use classification systems followed by different planning institutions in Bangladesh and understand their corresponding consequences. To conduct the study, land use plans prepared by different planning institutions have been collected. Based on descriptive analysis, the study shows that the types of land use classes in land use plans change over time, between administrative units, and in different parts of the country. Even authorities are not consistent in maintaining a classification system in their subsequent plans. Moreover, the plans retain ambiguous definitions of land use classes. The classification and definitions of the land use classes are not well linked with different national acts, rules, and policies relating to environmental and natural conservation, which makes it difficult to control development and protect natural, environmental, and cultural resources. This study has the potential to help us understand the importance of a unified land use classification system. Utilizing concept hierarchy, the study has also developed a system for land use classification in Bangladesh that will assist in future research, planning, and policymaking.
</abstract>

Land use classification system in Bangladesh: Inconsistencies, their planning implications, and the way forward

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
A significant phenomenon of sacral complexes in a landscape is their cultural heritage dimension. They are part of historical landscape structures, representing a type of cultural landscape. In addition, they are often perceived as important landscape landmarks and symbols. In Slovakia (Central Europe), most such complexes are abandoned and deteriorated. In this context presented paper deals with the assessment and possible future human use of Calvary in Hliník nad Hronom (Slovakia) in order to preserve it for future generations. A central aspect of our research work presented in this contribution is to elaborate a sustainable and feasible concept for the Calvary following the integrated approach of its revitalization. Firstly, we analyzed Calvary´s historical and regional setting with the help of a thorough review of literature, historical maps, and pictures. Then we evaluated architectural, landscape, and vegetation values, as well as landscape structure changes using relevant methodologies. Based on this evaluation, much fieldwork, and social survey we were able to identify the current problems of the place connected with abandonment and use, evaluated values, socio-economic factors, and preservation policies. Subsequently, we prepared a future concept for the Calvary following the selected criteria and distinguishing features and looking at the Calvary as a result of collective work. Finally, recommendations were formulated for legal framework and spatial planning procedures in order to enforce better preservation of values of sacral complexes in the country.
</abstract>

Assessing current use and visions for sacral complexes in a landscape: An example from Central Europe

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Regions are main building blocks of larger territorial units, but they also display high dynamics affecting how regional identities can be studied. The regional dynamics and multilayered nature ultimately require new approaches to their visual representation. The goal of this article is to present a novel approach to visual presentation of the administrative regions’ dynamics by cartographic means of representation in a synthetic map that can assist in the research of regional identities. We adopt the theory of the institutionalisation of regions, the administrative division of the state is a process in which the borders and names of regions are constantly transformed causing changes in the perception of the population. Then we analyse the laws on administrative division reforms and old/historical map documents. This enabled us to identify the dynamics of individual borders and names of administrative regions (choronyms) that form spaces with a higher or lower degree of stability. We propose a visualisation approach to represent such dynamics, and we assert that through cartographic visualisation of the degree of transformation in these spaces it is possible to get an insight into population’s awareness about the named regions and their delimitation.
</abstract>

Visualising administrative division dynamics: transformation of borders and names in the Bohemian-Saxonian borderland

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study investigates the narratives surrounding COVID-19 in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. It assesses whether the narratives contained knowledge about the relationship between capitalist accumulation and expansion (CAnE) and the spread of COVID-19. Political ecologists argue that CAnE is associated with the spread of infectious zoonotic diseases like COVID-19. While studies on COVID-19 are growing, there has yet to be an exploration of ordinary people’s knowledge of the relationship between CAnE and COVID-19 spread, especially in Africa. Thus, this paper examines the narratives of COVID-19 in Nsukka to see whether they contain information about how COVID-19 spreads through CAnE. The findings revealed a significant evolution in the narratives of COVID-19 in Nsukka over time, reflecting changing perceptions and attitudes within the community. At the pandemic’s start, the dominant narratives centred around religious interpretations and scepticism about the virus’s reality. However, these initial religious and sceptical narratives gradually gave way to a different perspective, termed spatial othering, as the pandemic continued, suggesting that while acknowledging the virus as real, they believed it could not thrive in Nsukka or Nigeria. This shift was accompanied by the belief that the virus did not originate in the region and thus lacked agency to thrive there. The official government narrative, as observed in public health messages, primarily focused on hygiene and sanitation measures to curb the spread of the virus. Thus, it argues that political ecology knowledge about the pandemic is not acknowledged or endorsed in the ordinary people and government narratives, highlighting the need for diversified sources of knowledge, including non-conventional forms, to reach and educate local communities effectively. Hence, the central argument in the study is that even though CAnE can contribute to the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 as formulated by political ecologists; this idea is absent in the narratives surrounding the pandemic in Nsukka. Whilst not discounting other sources of the pandemics and alternative perspectives, the study called for resistance against practices associated with capitalist expansion, highlighting the role of education in raising awareness, resistance and activism to address the vulnerabilities associated with capitalist expansion in the context of public health crises.
</abstract>

Capitalism and infectious diseases spread? Narratives of COVID-19 in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>As satellite data of the Earth surface seems to be of vital importance for many applications, classification of land use and land cover has been found to vary dramatically in different approaches. In this paper, modified classification algorithm of remote sensing data is presented for processing medium and high spatial resolution satellite images like Landsat and Sentinel in Tashkent province of Uzbekistan. The results of NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index) profile analysis via Spectral Correlation Mapper classification are shown for the period 1994-2017. It is implied, that combination of optical and radar data with application of Spectral Correlation Mapper classification improve the results of classification for a specific dataset by considering such factors as overall classification accuracy and time and labor involved.</abstract>

Multi-temporal monitoring of cotton growth through the vegetation profile classification for Tashkent province, Uzbekistan

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Recent effects of globalization, urbanization and climate change have resulted in an increasing interest in the quality of life in cities and seeking pathways for its improvement. At the same time, there are changes in society and lifestyles that may challenge or facilitate these pathways. Community gardens (CGs) represent an effort to provide more sustainable urban economies, while reflecting on the public demand for cultivation of own crops. However, members of CGs may not perceive all the benefits that CGs provide for their surroundings. Using two case studied from Czechia (CG Kuchyňka and CG Vidimova in Prague) the aim of this paper is a comparison of the benefits perceived by community garden members and the evaluated net social benefits of community gardens in cities for all local residents. Through a questionnaire survey, the paper answers the research question of the benefits of community gardens perceived by community garden members. An economic assessment based on cost-benefit analysis was made to answer the question of the value of the net social benefits of community gardens in cities. Our comparison shows that the net social benefits are higher than perceived by their members. Net present benefits of EUR 31 550 for CG Kuchyňka and EUR 1 175 for CG Vidimova were quantified in a 50-year horizon. This economic analysis should contribute to greater support for community gardens by city governments and spatial planners.</abstract>

Improving the quality of life in cities using community gardens: from benefits for members to benefits for all local residents

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>In this article, we examine a relationship between population/economic size and resilience of Czech regions. More specifically, we ask if there are any significant differences among metropolitan cores and hinterlands, urban regions and rural regions in (post)crisis economic development in the period 2009–2013. Three aspects of resilience were considered: volatility of unemployment, renewal (increase in economic performance compared to other regions) and reorientation (measured by the intensity of structural changes in total employment). We found relatively small differences among particular types of regions and high intra-group heterogeneity. Specialized industrial urban regions exhibited the fastest economic growth in the (post)crisis period. Metropolitan cores lagged slightly behind, but experienced relatively stable economic development. Although rural regions exhibited the highest unemployment volatility, they did not lag behind in terms of value added growth. Regional resilience in a small open economy like Czechia seems to be predominantly driven by extraregional factors such as the position in global production networks and economic performance in particular industries or large transnational corporations.</abstract>

Resilience of metropolitan, urban and rural regions: a Central European perspective

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>More than 40% of China’s arable land is degraded. This paper reviews the direct and indirect consequences of soil degradation in China. Soil degradation has observable and measurable impacts, which include soil nutrient loss, salinization, acidification, and desertification. It also has a number of indirect consequences, in particular, a reduction of the agricultural output due to a drop in soil nutrient; an increase in the frequency and magnitude of floods and landslides; a decline in livestock production due to a decrease in grass density available to roaming livestock; an intensification of dust storms and sandstorms which affects health, the productivity of the land, and visibility; and a faster accumulation of silt in dams, which damages their structure, reduces their water storage capacity, and compromises their original functions, in particular their electricity generation capacity.</abstract>

The consequences of soil degradation in China: a review

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Landslides are among the major environmental hazards with large-scale socio-economic and environmental impacts that jeopardize socio-economic wellbeing in mountainous regions. Landslides are due to the interaction of several complex factors such as local or regional geology, geomorphology, topography, and seismic motions. The goal of this study is to review published articles on causes and effects of landslides in Central Asia throughout 2000–2020. In line with this goal, we have collected (using Scopus database), reviewed, and analyzed 79 papers published during 2000–2020. Our results revealed an increasing number of landslide studies in Central Asia during the period under investigation, with authors from Belgium dominating in the published outcomes (28% of total), followed by authors from Central-Asian countries. After then, the paper analyses the mostly applied models and frequently identified driving conditions and triggers of landsliding, such as aspect, altitude, soil types, precipitation, earthquakes and human interventions. Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) had not commonly been used in the papers between 2000 and 2010, and they have progressively been applied in landslide studies in Central Asia in the last decade. According to our analysis, geotechnical, geophysical and statistical methods were preferably used for the landslide studies in Central Asia.
</abstract>

Landslides in Central Asia: a review of papers published in 2000–2020 with a particular focus on the importance of GIS and remote sensing techniques

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Quarrying represents a major human impact on the landscape. The positive effects of quarrying have also been appreciated over the last several decades and concern the role of quarries as sites with the potential for geoscientific education and geotourism. In this paper we present a procedure for establishing a multitemporal database of abandoned quarries and their multicriterial assessment in order to determine sites suitable for geotourism purposes. The case of the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area in Northern Czechia is used, as an example of conflicting interest between nature conservation and intense quarrying. Using the combination of old maps and current orthophotomaps, we identified 80 (mid-19th Century), 57 (mid-20th Century) and 38 (2007) quarries. 104 of them were further evaluated according to criteria of scientific and educational value and ‘potential use’ value (visibility, accessibility and extent). This process enabled to determine sites with the highest suitability for geotourism purposes. Finally, we discuss management context for these sites, and possible threats to the sites caused by increased geotourism.</abstract>

Assessing the geotourism potential of abandoned quarries with multitemporal data (České Středohoří Mts., Czechia)

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The journal was established in 2006 strictly following the Open-Access policy. Its editorial board makes its best to protect the journal’s status as...