Evaluation of Slovakia’s R1 expressway enhancement impacts on local socio-economic development: expert panel approach

Transport infrastructure development is considered one of the basic structural preconditions of competitiveness, growth and economic development in Slovakia. Transport network upgrading in the country has recently been focused mainly on road and motorway networks. The goal of this paper is to contribute to existing approaches to transport infrastructure impact assessment. The paper presents selected results of qualitative research focused on an analysis of the R1 expressway (as a part of TEN-T network) and its impacts on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of life at the local territorial level. The paper also seeks to answer the basic question, whether and to what extent the new section of the expressway brings any stimuli to regional or local development. Qualitative research realized by field sociological methods has shown new data and information necessary for a complex assessment of transport infrastructure impacts on social and economic development of regions. We assume that these impacts should not be based purely on mathematic and statistical research methods.

The new delimitation of peripheries in Czechia

Peripheries may be delimited by various methodological approaches. The aim of this article is to identify and spatially determine inner and outer peripheries at the municipal level in Czechia. With the help of 15 indicators (reflecting the demographic development, economic activity, and transportation accessibility), the municipalities are divided into five categories according to the level of their peripherality. The results are then confronted with previous research in this field to assess the dynamics of spatial distribution of peripheries in Czechia, particularly in terms of their location and size.

General medical practitioners in Czechia: development trends and regional differences

In Czechia general practical medicine represents the bulk of basic primary healthcare both in terms of the number of doctors and the range of services provided. For the healthcare system to function effectively as a whole requires sufficient capacity and the even distribution of providers across the country. As observed throughout Europe, a key risk is the age structure of the general practitioner population, with most of the capacity being provided by older practitioners, which could affect overall primary care access in the future. In Czechia, the general practitioner age structure is skewed, with the proportion of older age groups continually increasing. This article analyses changes in selected indicators of the number, capacity and age structure of general practitioners at the regional level in 2010–2019 and identifies regions where general healthcare access may be at risk. These areas are often rural and, as the specially created municipality typology shows, the pace of change differs along an urban vs rural line.

The development of spatial differentiation of unemployment in Czechia through evolutionary and institutional approaches: the example of the Karvinsko and Jablunkovsko regions

The aim of this paper is to gain insight into the dynamics of spatial differentiation of unemployment on the municipal and microregional levels in Czechia. The spatial patterns of unemployment are quantitatively evaluated; and, based on these results, two microregions are chosen as case studies (Karvinsko and Jablunkovsko). These microregions are spatially close but underwent a totally different evolution in regional unemployment. Factors that affect different dynamics of unemployment are identified based on the analysis of their historical development and interviews with local agents. Thus, potential causes of dissimilar trajectories are revealed. The theoretical framework of the research is based on a combination of evolutionary and institutional approaches in economic geography that emphasize the role of history, continuity, local specifics and informal norms and practices in local and regional development.

The effect of sun elevation, cloudiness, and altitude on the ultraviolet index in Czechia

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has recently become an important topic in relation to the loss of stratospheric ozone. High doses of UV radiation have a negative effect on many organisms. This paper focuses on the UV index (UVI), which expresses the risk of UV radiation on human health. The aim of the paper is to describe the definition of UVI, and its measurement, and to summarize geographical parameters and meteorological conditions affecting the values of UVI. The effect of sun elevation, cloudiness, and altitude is demonstrated using observed data from the Hradec Králové, Košetice and Labská bouda stations during the period 2011–2017. The results show a strong effect of both sun elevation and cloudiness. The highest values of UVI (up to 8) are generally observed on sunny days around midday from May to July. The reduction of the UVI caused by clouds, fog, and rain is, on average, 85% of values typical for sunny days. The effect of altitude is distinctly weaker; a rise of UVI with increasing altitude is 0.4 per 1 km for clear sky and the surface without snow cover.

Between the layers of the palimpsest: Historical geographical research of changes in functions of small water reservoirs on the case study of the town of Čáslav (Czechia)

Small water reservoirs have represented an important water feature of the Central European landscape since the Middle Ages. In our study, we focused on researching the historical functions of those reservoirs and their changes through time. We recorded 169 mentions to the functions of selected ponds in the selected four historical reservoirs around the town of Čáslav (Central Bohemia Region), using a combination of written, cartographic, and iconographic archival sources. Fish-related production functions were most frequently mentioned. However, others were also important mainly for the development of the town – the accumulation of water for the needs of mills and industry, and the supply of the city population through the historical aquifers from these reservoirs. They often served as recreational areas for residents. Our research pointed to the multifunctionality of small water reservoirs and the fact that the change of the main functions was mainly related to the change in the owner of the reservoir.

Statistical analysis of water quality parameters in the basin of the Nišava River (Serbia) in the period 2009–2018

This paper analyzes water quality from four hydrological stations in the Nišava river basin from 2009–2018 based on the following parameters: pH, conductivity, O2 saturation, BOD5, suspended solids, total oxidized nitrogen, phosphates, turbidity and coliform bacteria. Authors have applied WQI (water quality index) as the most reliable indicator of the watercourses pollution for setting of surface water flow quality. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) using t-test inferential statistical analysis and post-hoc Tukey test were applied to evaluate statistically significant differences between specific data groups. The results show that bad water quality was registered on all the profiles on an annual basis (WQI = 65–71). The river water pH decreases downstream, while values of BOD5, suspended solids, turbidity, TON, phosphates and coliform bacteria gradually increase. The waters of the Nišava at the station Niš belong to the third class of waters and they are mostly loaded with organic matter originating from waste sewage and industrial waters of both urban and rural areas.

Farmers shaping the landscape: how do they influence the form of landscape and land use structure in Czechia?

In the developed countries the share of agriculture in employment and economy is small, but a large proportion of land is used for agricultural purposes. Therefore, farmers have a significant influence on the form of landscape and land use. The goal of this article is to explain how the landscape form and land-use structure in Czechia are influenced by the farmers’ decisions. In the article mainly qualitative data were used. The analysis is based on the results of fifteen semi-structured interviews with farmers in the model area. The results of the study showed that farmers in Czechia have a significant influence on the landscape form and land-use structure, whereas these decisions mainly depend on their motivation to farm in a specific form. The results also showed that social capital doesn’t have any direct influence on the landscape form and land-use structure in Czechia.

Changes in land use of the Krkonoše Mts. and the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. alpine treeless: a summary of the current state of knowledge and a comparison of historical development

Alpine treeless is a unique phenomenon in Czechia occupying the largest area in the Krkonoše Mts. and the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. Since the time of colonization, the landscape of the alpine treeless in both mountain ranges has experienced a turbulent development that has been variable in space and time. The aim of the article is to compare the development of land use of the alpine treeless in the Krkonoše Mts. and the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. and the driving forces that caused the changes there, through a literature search. The results show a lack of studies focused on the development of land use in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. The biggest differences in the land use of both mountain ranges started in the seventeenth century, when the phenomenon of so called “huts farming” came to the Krkonoše Mts. as the main driving force. This phenomenon prevailed in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. much later and only very sporadically and locally. Other driving forces of landscape change are mining, deforestation, afforestation, and tourism.

New challenges for the Slovakian geography of religions in a dynamic society

Religion represents an appealing topic for social science research. Especially in Eastern European countries, the resurgence of religious identities and practices poses many questions that are of interest to human geography. We approach this research gap in Slovakia, outlining the main research topics that have dominated the scientific field, especially atlases and census data analyses. This paper proposes several possible points of interest where research in Slovakian (and possibly Eastern Central European) religion can proceed. Topics such as secularization, non-religion and demographic aspects of religion, like research in suburban areas and areas of religious identity diminution, are potentially attractive, yet not thoroughly researched, fields. Geographers of religion should be more audible with their analysis of the relationship of religious/non-religious identity and space construction in certain contexts.