Geographia Polonica (2020) vol. 93, iss. 2

Abstract

The primary objective of the work is to analyze the largest Polish cities in terms of the smart city indicators, which currently form one of the most important models of development. Special attention was paid to smart and sustainable solutions for public transport and infrastructure. An MCDM (Multiple Criteria Decision Making)/MCDA (Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis) method was used. First, the selected method (PROMETHEE) allowed to indicate the smartest and least smart cities with respect to six main dimensions: smart economy, smart people, smart governance, smart mobility, smart environment, and smart living. Secondly, the PROMETHEEmethod allowed compilation of a final ranking, taking into account publicly available indicators of the smart city concept. Finally, 43 smart city indicators that are available in public statistics were proposed. In addition to the primary goal of the study, i.e., diagnosis of Polish cities in terms of the global concept of smart city, a critical analysis of the availability of necessary statistical indicators was also carried out, indicating potential directions for database development.

Keywords: smart city, multi-criteria analysis, PROMETHEE method, ranking

Karolina Ogrodnik [k.ogrodnik@pb.edu.pl], Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering Białystok University of Technology Wiejska 45E, 15-351 Białystok: Poland

Abstract

Quality of life is an extraordinarily multidimensional term. It includes both objective and subjective factors. This article reviews the quality of life of an extremely sensitive group – people over the age of 65, based on data from the pan-European SHARE survey (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe). The survey revealed the disparities in the quality of life of seniors regarding material, health, social and emotional dimensions in 16 European countries. According to the European survey of the evaluation of the quality of life of seniors, those living in Western and Northern European countries are more satisfied with the quality of their life. Generally, it has become apparent that quality of life is interlinked with the institutional framework of the country, family support and individual approaches. Countries in Southern and Eastern Europe have lower values in individual dimensions as well as in the aggregate quality of life index.

Keywords: quality of life, senior, Europe, material, health, social and emotional dimension

Marcela Káčerová [marcela.kacerova@uniba.sk], Faculty of Natural Science, Department of Economic and Social Geography, Demogeography and Territorial Development Comenius University Mlynská dolina, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava: Slovakia
Jana Ondačková [jana.ondackova@land.gov.sk], Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic Dobrovičova 12, SK-812 66 Bratislava: Slovakia

Abstract

Interest of scholars in community gardens has skyrocketed recently. However, little is known about how community gardens are adopted in post-socialist countries and what modifications took place. The present article aims to identify spatial differences and management practices of gardens organized in Hungary from a critical geography perspective. The paper presents the findings of a nationwide research based on online research and interviewing including 44 community gardens. Results show that in contrast to the gardens in the USA,these located in Hungary are organized on the peripheries (of cities) and local governments play a significant role in organizing and managing them.

Keywords: urban agriculture, top-down development, urban renewal, Hungary

Csaba Bende [csaba.bende92@gmail.com], Economic and Social Geography DepartmentUniversity of SzegedEgyetem u. 2, 6722 Szeged: Hungary
Gyula Nagy [gynagy@geo.u-szeged.hu], Economic and Social Geography DepartmentUniversity of SzegedEgyetem u. 2, 6722 Szeged: Hungary

Abstract

The article aims to analyse the renovation of housing estates in postsocialist cities. Two cities with different share of housing estates and public support system, Vilnius and Budapest are in the focus of the analysis. The renovation of housing estates is a new process in both of them; it started only in the 2000s and its outcome is far from spectacular. The most important and most common type of renovation activities is the insulation of blocks of flats because it significantly decreases the utility costs. The article investigates whether and how the social and physical characteristics of housing estates influence their renovation. The size, age, type, spatial location all have some impact on the renovation level. The authors point out that the necessity of renovation and its costs depend on the physical characteristics of the buildings but the opportunity for renovation derives from the ability to finance it. Consequently, the social status of the inhabitants and the availability of state support are of crucial importance. The findings of the analysis indicate that different combinations of state support and social status result in very different renovation activities in the two cities.

Keywords: housing estate, urban renewal, Budapest, Vilnius

Balázs Szabó [szabo.balazs@csfk.org], Geographical Institute Research Centre for Astronomy and Earth Sciences Budaörsi út 45, 1112 Budapest: Hungary
Donatas Burneika [donatas.geo@gmail.com], Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences, Institute of Sociology

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to identify the main actors (leaders) involved in transformations of medium-sized cities in Poland and Russia that share similar legacies but took different development paths after the collapse of state socialism. These transformations are discussed using the framework of urban regeneration and are based on empirical data from two cities – Kolomna (Russia) and Kalisz (Poland). The data were obtained through expert interviews, as well as nonparticipant observation in the two cities. Though the process of urban regeneration shows similarities, the process leaders are different.

Keywords: urban transformations, urban change, urban regeneration, urban planning, medium-sized cities, Eastern Europe, Poland, Russia

Przemysław Ciesiółka [przemko@amu.edu.pl], Faculty of Human Geography and Planning Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań Krygowskiego 10, 61-680 Poznań: Poland
Maria Gunko [msgunko@igras.ru], Institute of Geography Russian Academy of Sciences Staromonetny pereulok 29, 119017 Moscow: Russia
Galina Pivovar [gpivovar@skolkovo.ru], ‘Skolkovo’ Moscow School of Management Novaya ulitsa 100, 143025 Skolkovo Odintsovsky rayon, Moscow oblast: Russia

Abstract

Most of the Polish-Czech borderland is of great tourist attractiveness and has a considerable potential for tourism development. In order for a tourist region to function properly, appropriate public transport is necessary,which in the analysed case also includes cross-border transport. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the level of development of cross-border public transport in the Polish-Czech borderland from the perspective of its attractiveness and the development of tourism functions. Despite the fact that both Poland and Czechia joined Schengen the development of cross-border journeys’ range has been relatively slow (in some cases even diminishing). The coordination of services organised by the two countries is poor in terms of routes and timetables (in the latter case especially taking into account tourists’ needs). Locations where it is possible to cross theborder using means of public transport are located irregularly and do not always correspond with the tourist attractiveness of a region. For the tourists who do not have a vehicle or for those who consciously refrain from using the car on holidays, the border is still a barrier.

Keywords: public transport, transport accessibility, borderland, Poland, Czechia, tourism

Krzysztof Kołodziejczyk [krzysztof.kolodziejczyk@uwr.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Geografii i Rozwoju Regionalnego

Abstract

This paper proposes a new guidebook analysis method for the study of tourist–historic cities, which are well recognized in the Maghreb; hence, six cities from this region were selected for the research sample (Algiers and Constantine in Algeria, Marrakesh and Tangier in Morocco, and Sousse and Tunis in Tunisia). The main purpose of this research paper is to indicate the advantages and disadvantages of this original method.

Keywords: guidebook analysis method, tourist-historic city, Maghreb

Maciej Kalaska [m.kalaska@uw.edu.pl], Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warsaw: Poland
Maciej Jedrusik [m.jedrusik@uw.edu.pl], Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 30, 00-927 Warsaw: Poland
Tomasz Wites [t.wites@uw.edu.pl], Uniwersytet Warszawski, Wydział Geografii i Studiów Regionalnych