Settlement Areas Research Articles

Health related quality of life and associated factors among children living in previous leprosarium and nonleprosarium areas of Eastern Ethiopia

Children and their families living in leprosarium areas may have a lower quality of life than the general population. However, there is limited evidence on health-related quality of life and its associated factors among children living in previous leprosarium settlement areas. Hence, this study aimed to compare the health-related quality of life among children living in previous leprosarium and non-leprosarium settlement areas in eastern Ethiopia. A community-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 515 randomly selected children aged 8 to 18 years living in the Amir Nur and Babile districts from January to February 30, 2024. Data were collected through interviews with children and parents using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4. The data were analyzed using STATA version 14. Simple and multiple linear regression was employed to identify associations between independent and outcome variables. The overall mean health-related quality of life scores were 73.98 ± 18.47 and 77.67 ± 14.72 in the child self-reports (P = 0.01) and 55.78 ± 12.03 and 55.61 ± 8.50 (P = 0.85) in the parent proxy reports in the previous leprosarium and nonleprosarium settlement areas, respectively. In multiple linear regression, child education (β = 14.69; 95% CI: 8.69, 20.69), the absence of neglected and tropical diseases (β = 4.02; 95% CI: 0.66, 7.37), and child face washing habits (β = 5.54, 95% CI: 2.14, 8.95) increase health-related quality of life. However, a previous history of neglected and tropical diseases (β = -8.54; 95% CI: -12.93, -4.15) and the absence of hand washing facilities (β = -8.57; 95% CI, -15.22, -1.92) decrease the mean health-related quality of life. Based on child self-reports, one in four children from previous leprosarium areas had poor health-related quality of life compared to children living in none leprosarium areas. Children’s educational status, their daily habits of washing their face, not having neglected, and tropical diseases had improved health-related quality of life. To improve health-related quality of life, stakeholders should pay attention to and work on the early detection and treatment of neglected and tropical diseases, child education, and proper sanitation practices in the leprosarium community.

Lung cancer screening: Real screening site data, Vojvodina, Serbia

Abstract Background Lung cancer (LC) is the top cause of cancer-related deaths globally and in Serbia, often diagnosed in advanced stage of disease with when 5-year survival is 10% to 20%. LC screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) can decrease LC mortality and overall mortality. The first pilot LC screening program in Serbia started in the Institute for Pulmonary Diseases of Vojvodina in September 2020. The main objective of this study was to analyze LC patient characteristics according to their screening status. Methods This retrospective study utilized LC hospital registry data from September 2020 to December 2023, including gender, age at diagnosis, settlement area, smoking habits, cancer histological type, TNM classification, disease stage (1-4), and data on participation in LC screening. Group differences were assessed using chi-square and Student’s t-tests, with analyses conducted in SPSS v24.0. Results During observed period from a total of 4649 LC cases 2948 (63.4%) were males, and 73 (1.6%) were included in LC screening. Average age of all LC patients was 66 years, without differences between groups (p = 0.778). Significant differences between groups by gender were find (p = 0.042). Non-screened LC patients were significantly common males compared to females (63.6% vs 36.4%), while among screened difference by gender were lower (52.1% vs 47.9%, respectively). Screened compared to non-screened LC patients have significantly lower percentage of SCLC (9.6% vs 19.1%), and higher percentage of NSCLC (90.4% vs 80.9%), (p = 0.040). According to LC stage, screened compared to non-screened patients were significantly common diagnosed in stage I of disease (45.8% vs 7.8%), and significantly less common in higher LC stages; stage IIIB (11.1% vs 22.5%), and in stage IV (22.2% vs 45.7%), (p < 0.001). Conclusions LC screening with LDCT is proven secondary preventive measure with significant influence on decreasing LC mortality by increasing number of LC patients in early stages of disease. Key messages • Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT significantly increases early-stage diagnoses, improving survival chances. • Population strategies to prevent smoking and screening programs for high-risk groups are needed to reduce lung cancer incidence and mortality rates in Serbia.

Epidemiology of Mansonella perstans and Loa loa: Prevalence and Specific Risk Factors in Njombe-Penja Health District, Littoral Region of Cameroon

Aim: This epidemiological survey aimed to determine the prevalence and specific risk factors of Mansonella perstans and Loa loa infections in the Njombe-Penja Health District of Cameroon. This region is endemic for filarial infections, posing significant public health burden. Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 360 participants, representing various occupational groups and areas of settlements. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Njombe-Penja Health District of the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Recruitment of participants, biological samples collection and questionnaire administration was done over a period of 1 month (July 2023). Methodology: Fifty microliters (50 µL) of peripheral blood was collected using capillary tubes, and analyzed for microfilarial presence and load. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographic characteristics, exposure to risk factors, and preventive practices. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests with p-values, and odds ratios were calculated to identify significant associations. Results: The results showed a prevalence of 45.8% for M. perstans and 19.4% for L. loa, with higher infection rates among farmers, especially those working in the large scale banana farming sector, and those living near water bodies (P = .002, OR = 3.15). Poor environmental sanitation (P = .004, OR = 2.75), and low monthly income (< 50,000 CFA) (P = .001, OR = 2.32), were also significantly associated with increased infection risk. Although 70.0% of participants were aware of the diseases, only 50.0% could identify key symptoms. Preventive measures like using bed nets and insect repellents were linked to a lower risk of infection (P =.003, OR = 2.10). Conclusion: Mansonella perstans and L. loa infections are highly prevalent in the district, driven by occupational exposure, socioeconomic factors, and environmental risks. Interventions should focus on improving sanitation, enhancing public health education, and expanding healthcare access.

The Influence Of Motivation, Work Environment, And Competency On Asn Performance In The Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing And Settlement Area (Putrpkp) Enviroment Of Takalar District

The Influence of Motivation, Work Environment, and Competence on the Performance of Civil Servants in the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Areas Office (PUTRPKP) of Takalar Regency, guided by Andi Mappatompo Badawi and Dg. Maklassa. This study aims to analyze and explain the Influence of Work Motivation, Work Environment, and Competence on the Performance of Civil Servants in the Public Works, Spatial Planning, Housing and Settlement Areas Office (PUTRPKP) of Takalar Regency. This type of research is quantitative research, which is research based on data that can be calculated to produce a solid assessment using SPSS. This study used 68 respondents using multiple linear analysis techniques. The results of this study show that work motivation has a significant positive influence on ASN performance with P = 0.007 < 0.05 with a coefficient value of 0.380. The work environment has a positive and insignificant influence on ASN performance with P = 0.502 > 0.05 with a coefficient value of 0.118. Competence has a significant positive influence on ASN performance with P = 0.024 < 0.05 with a coefficient value of 0.280. The Work Motivation variable is the most dominant variable that affects ASN Performance.

Evolution and simulation optimization of rural settlements in urban-rural integration areas from a multi-gradient perspective: A case study of the Lan-Bai urban agglomeration in China

With the rapid growth of global urbanization, rural land has been continuously occupied, which has brought about profound changes in human-land relationship. As a rural regional system in the frontier area of urbanization, the rural settlements in the urban-rural integration area (URIA) are in a profound transformation due to multiple disturbances such as internal natural factors and social and economic factors brought about by external urbanization. Based on the internal and external system factors of rural settlements, this paper constructs an analytical framework to explore the spatial and temporal evolution pattern of URIA rural settlements from 2000 to 2020, and then summarizes its evolution model, and predicts the situation of rural settlements in different scenarios in 2030. Finally, the optimal control strategy is proposed. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, affected by the gradient of natural environment, the scale of rural settlements in URIA shows a trend of decreasing in low-altitude areas near rivers and increasing in high-altitude areas far from rivers. Under the socio-economic gradient, there is a phenomenon that the scale of rural settlements in the inner edge of URIA with better socio-economic environment decreases and the scale of settlements in the outer area of URIA with poor socio-economic environment increases. (2) Based on different environmental factors, in the internal natural environment, it shows the evolution mode of “terrain containment” and “water source guidance”, while in the socio-economic environment, it shows the evolution mode of “urban sprawl encroaches rural”, “population decrease and land increase”. (3) The simulation results of rural settlements in 2030 show that the scale of rural settlements in the periphery of URIA continues to increase under the natural development (ND) scenario, while the scale of rural settlements in the inner edge decreases and the distribution is scattered. Under the urban-rural integration development (URD) scenario, rural settlements are mainly concentrated in the core area of URIA, and the area of rural settlements turning into urban land has dropped significantly. (4) Based on different gradients, the settlements are divided into three types: centralized development type, restricted development type and migration remediation type. Patch reconstruction is carried out by gravity model, which can theoretically save land and vacate 327 hm2 of construction land index. Compared with the extensive development model of the ND scenario, the URD scenario has important theoretical significance in limiting the blind expansion of the city and realizing the integration of urban and rural development in Lanbai.

Evaluation of Groundwater Potential Zones Using GIS‐Based Machine Learning Ensemble Models in the Gidabo Watershed, Ethiopia

AbstractThe main objective of this study is to map and evaluate groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) using advanced ensemble machine learning (ML) models, notably Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM). GWPZs are identified by considering essential factors such as geology, drainage density, slope, land use/land cover (LULC), rainfall, soil, and lineament density. This is combined with datasets used for training and validating the RF and SVM models, which consisted of 75 potential sites (boreholes and springs), 22 non‐potential sites (bare lands and settlement areas), and 20 potential sites (water bodies). Each dataset is randomly partitioned into two sets: training (70%) and validation (30%). The model's performance is evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC‐ROC). The AUC of the RF model is 0.91, compared to 0.88 for the SVM model. Both models classified GWPZs effectively, but the RF model performed slightly better. The classified GWPZ map shows that high GWPZs are typically located within water bodies, natural springs, low‐lying regions, and forested areas. In contrast, low GWPZs are primarily found in shrubland and grassland areas. This study is vital for decision‐makers as it promotes sustainable groundwater use and ensures water security in the studied area.

Lifestyle Changes, Individual Mobility, and Interactions in Suburban Settlement Areas of Makassar City, Indonesia: Perceptual Model Approach

Lifestyle Changes, Individual Mobility, and Interactions in Suburban Settlement Areas of Makassar City, Indonesia: Perceptual Model Approach

Long-Term Evolution of Ecologically Fragile Waterside Rural Areas and Strategies for Local Spatial Planning: An Empirical Study in Baiyangdian, China

Under the dynamics of urbanization and counterurbanization, rural areas in China face both challenges and opportunities with the government’s new-town policy. A comprehensive analysis is essential for developing effective strategies. Characterized by traditional water settlements and high ecological sensitivity, Anxin County, which encompasses 50% of Baiyangdian Lake, was selected as a case study. Anxin County was incorporated into the National New Area in 2017, and it served as an experimental site for green ecological development. This study aims to provide insights into the sustainable spatial planning of Anxin County’s settlements by examining their long-term evolution and locational differences, modeling the driving mechanisms, and proposing differentiated spatial planning strategies based on predictive outcomes. Our research findings indicate the folllowing: (1) Anxin County’s settlements have expanded significantly in the past, with a notable surge between 1975 and 1996. Initially, semi-waterside settlements experienced the fastest growth before the 1970s, followed by land settlements. (2) Natural and socio-economic factors are modeled as independent variables to explain the evolution of settlement areas. The results indicate a decreasing impact of natural factors and an increasing influence of socio-economic factors over time. Furthermore, the evolution of settlements in water areas is relatively straightforward and random, whereas land settlements are influenced by a complex array of factors. (3) Utilizing the model to predict settlement growth, the study identifies settlements requiring relocation, and it proposes the most suitable relocation targets for them. A total of 23 villages, including Bei Tianzhuang and Cai Putai, are identified for relocation, while villages such as Ma Village, Bian Village, and Liu Lizhuang have strong capacities for accepting in-migrants. The study also offers recommendations for enhancing waterfront landscapes, flexible land use, road network systems, and internal construction.

På höjderna och i stadens utkant. Gravfält och gravgårdar i det äldsta Sigtuna

This article discusses late Viking Age mortuary practices in the town of Sigtuna during the early urban phase (c. 980–1100 AD) with focus on the so-called graveyards (Sw. gravgårdar): cemeteries where the dead were inhumed mainly in accordance with Christian customs, but that lacked churches. It aims to trace cultural, social, or religious communities among the early town dwellers based on an analysis of their burial rituals, in combination with results of osteological and bioarcheological studies of their physical remains. The paper shows that burial customs varied within the early townscape: the dead were laid to rest under visible grave constructions in exposed topographical locations, as well as on flat-ground cemeteries in lower terrain close to the settlement area or at early churchyards. Moreover, diversity in mortuary customs, sex and age distribution, gender division, and diet can be detected between individual cemeteries, indicating that they were used by different urban groups that to some extent parted from their dead in different ways. The results of bioarcheological analyses indicate a heterogenous early urban population, comprising people from the Mälaren area, and also from distant regions. The burial customs reflect this specific urban situation, bearing witness to both long-distance contacts and roots in local mortuary traditions.

Quantification of construction and demolition waste disposal behaviors during COVID-19 using satellite imagery

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted conventional municipal solid waste (MSW) management practices and affected waste generation rates. While MSW streams have been extensively studied and reported, the impact on construction and demolition (C&D) waste remains overlooked. This research develops an innovative analytical framework utilizing satellite imagery to quantify C&D waste disposal rates during COVID-19 restrictions in a mid-sized Canadian city. Supervised classification of Landsat-8 images is conducted to derive the settlement area over a period of 8.8 years (2014–2022). The C&D disposal rates and settlement area relationship is evaluated using regression analysis. Results reveal a 73.4% reduction in mean weekly C&D disposal in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic years, reflecting diminished construction activity. The settlement area exhibits a strong positive correlation (R2 = 0.812) with per capita C&D disposal rate, providing spatial evidence of urbanization patterns affecting C&D waste generation. Among socioeconomic factors examined, the value of building permits issued most influences C&D quantities (R2 = 0.934). The satellite imagery-based approach allows indirect estimation of disrupted C&D waste streams when on-site auditing is restricted during pandemics. The framework offers municipal authorities spatial decision support to formulate data-driven C&D waste management policies that are essential to smart cities and resilient to future public health emergencies.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) Population Trend and Productivity in Central Israel

ABSTRACT Israel’s nationwide multiyear campaigns, particularly in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, involved deforestation and the development of natural areas for agriculture and human settlement, and resulted in the local extirpation of several animal species. However, reforestation began in the 1940s and promoted the resurgence of extirpated populations. One species that has benefited from these landscape changes is the Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). Based on the analysis of population trends in the Judea region (central Israel), we found that this species’ abundance increased by 8.9% over a 5-yr study period (2006–2010). We also found that hatching day was the only reproductive parameter in our study area that varied significantly among years. This breeding parameter depended on three habitat characteristics: (1) the height of the nest; (2) the amount of mixed forest with sparse cover in the area around the nest; and (3) the amount of herbaceous vegetation around the nest. Hatching began earlier in higher nests, and hatching began later in nests surrounded by a high percentage of mixed forest and herbaceous vegetation. However, productivity was independent of the habitat type surrounding the nest site. Our descriptive analysis of prey types suggested that most species in the prey remains and pellets likely came from outside the forest, typically from open areas such as agricultural fields, water reservoirs, or aquaculture ponds. Further, only three species dominated the prey remains and pellets below the nests. We documented reproductive parameters and changes in population size during the early years of this population increase. We predict that the population will continue to thrive and spread into the surrounding areas, as there have been no significant changes in land management in the study area over the past 13 yr.

Analysis of land use land cover change dynamics in Habru District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

This study examines spatiotemporal changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) patterns within Habru District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, between 1985 and 2021. Employing Landsat imagery and a supervised classification approach, we mapped six LULC classes: water body, settlement area, cultivated land, bare land, shrub land, and forest land. Ground control points (GCP) were obtained through field observations to ensured image accuracy. Complementing the remote sensing analysis, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews were conducted to understand local perspectives on LULC changes. The analysis revealed significant LULC transformations over the study period. Between 1985 and 2021, there was a significant increase in cultivated land and settlement areas, which expanded from 12.27 % to 0.23 %–42.12 % and 2.58 % of the total area, respectively. Conversely, shrub and forest lands saw a marked reduction during the same period, declining from 71.52 % to 12.88 %–45.35 % and 7.06 % of the total area, respectively. Water body area showed a minor increase, while bare land exhibited negligible change. Agricultural land and settlement area expansion, population growth, land tenure insecurity, economic challenge, and climatic change were identified as key drivers of observed LULC changes. Our findings underscore the urgency of implementing multifaceted interventions to address these drivers and promote sustainable resource use practices. Such actions are critical for safeguarding Habru District's natural resources and ensuring the long-term viability of ecosystem services.

Reciprocal regulation between rural settlement expansion and human-elephant conflict in China's wild elephant range

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) and its socioeconomic impacts are a pressing global issue. Accurately quantifying HWCs and their interaction with residential development is crucial for rural revitalization and biodiversity conservation efforts. This study investigates the interplay between rural residential expansion (RRE) with human-elephant conflict (HEC) in southern Yunnan Province using high-accuracy yearly land use/land cover data and Asian elephant accident data. A piecewise regression along with several metrics, including expansion intensity and rate of rural residential land, and residential density, were employed to analyze the spatial-temporal change characteristics of RRE. Then, a geographical detector and a bivariate spatial autocorrelation model were used to reveal the driving mechanisms of RRE, with particular emphasis on the spatial relations between RRE and HECs. The results indicate that HECs had a significant negative impact on RRE, exhibiting higher expansion intensity and rate of rural residential land in non-HEC areas than in HEC areas. High spatiotemporal consistency between accelerated RRE and intensified HECs occurred from 2010 onwards, which aligns with the year when the trend of settlement area expansion changed. RRE activities and ensuing land use conversions led to increased occurrences of HECs, which negatively affected the RRE. Compared to HECs, topography and locational factors exhibited a secondary effect on RRE activities. The findings underscore reciprocal feedback mechanisms between RRE and HECs and the elevated risk of adverse interactions between humans and elephants within the range of China's wild elephants, providing theoretical support for coordinating conservation initiatives for Asian elephants with rural revitalization in the border areas of Southwest China.

LEGAL JUSTICE FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES IN BALANCED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

This research investigates legal protection for low-income communities in the context of balanced residential development in Indonesia. The study aims to analyze the policies and regulations surrounding balanced housing development while identifying solutions to promote social justice for low-income people (MBR). Grounded in Law No. 1 of 2011 on Housing and Settlement Areas, which mandates the government to address housing needs for MBR, the research reveals various implementation challenges. Utilizing a normative juridical approach, the analysis employs legal protection theory, development law theory, and human rights theory as frameworks. Findings indicate significant obstacles, including limited land availability and rising land prices, which hinder low-income individuals' access to decent housing. The research underscores the necessity for stricter legal protections and adaptable policy measures to achieve the objectives of balanced housing development effectively.

ДРЕЙФУЮЩИЕ НИТЧАТЫЕ ВОДОРОСЛИ В ПРИБРЕЖНОЙ ЗОНЕ ВОСТОЧНОГО КАСПИЯ КАК САМОСТОЯТЕЛЬНОЕ ВЕРХНЕПЕЛАГИЧЕСКОЕ СООБЩЕСТВО

The coastal zone of the Middle Caspian is currently undergoing significant changes due to falling sea levels. With shallowing, the nature of the influence of water flows on bottom landscapes changes, including the intensification of the impact of storm waves on their surfaces inhabited by bottom communities. The impact of rolling and storm waves on bottom algae is also increasing. Cenoses of bottom macrophyte algae, which was previously growing on underwater rocks, including flat rock platforms, which abound along the eastern coast of the Middle Caspian, at depths of 10-12 m, were previously affected only by particularly strong storm waves. Now their habitats are at a significantly shallower depth (about 7.5-9.5 m), which led to more frequent and massive detachments of macrophyte thalli and their transfer to the pelagic zone. Mass transfer of living thalli of green and red algae to the upper layers of the water column during different seasons of the year led to the formation of communities of a new type, differently structuring the surface layer of the phytopelagic zone. New cenoses are a set of metamorphosed thalli of filamentous algae with a microepiphytic complex abundantly growing on them, live in the surface layer of water for a long time, serve as food for pelagic fish and have a significant impact on coastal landscapes. Mass development of macrophytes on the bottom, and their further intensive development in the pelagic zone, in turn, can be caused by increased eutrophication of the coastal zone in areas of large settlements.

Genetic and phenotypic evidence suggest the existence of indigenous olive population of wild var. sylvestris in the Carmel coast, southern Levant

BackgroundPopulations of Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris, the ancestor of cultivated olives, are scattered across the Mediterranean Basin. However, after millennia of possible hybridization with cultivated varieties, the genetic identity of many of these populations remain questionable. In the southern Levant, the plausible primary domestication center of olives, many of the naturally growing olive (NGOs) are considered feral, having developed from nearby olive groves. Here, we investigated the genetic identity of NGOs population in the Carmel region, hypothesizing that their specific location, which limit anemophily, provided an opportunity for the persistence of genuine var. sylvestris.ResultsWe mapped more than 1,000 NGOs on the Kurkar ridge along the Carmel coast, within and outside the residential area of Atlit and used simple sequence repeats of 14 loci to assess the spatial genetic structure of 129 NGOs. Genetic diversity parameters and genetic distances between NGO and cultivated olives, as well as phenotypic and morphometric analyses of their oil content and pits, respectively, indicated the presence of a genuine var. sylvestris population. However, NGOs within the residential area of Atlit and old settlements showed an intermediate admix genetic structure, indicating on hybridization with local varieties, a consequence of their proximity to cultivated trees.ConclusionsIntegrating the results of genetic and phenotypic analyses we provide crucial evidence of the presence of a genuine var. sylvestris population in the southern Levant, in close geographical proximity to archaeological sites with the earliest evidence of olive exploitation in the ancient world. We supplement the results with recommendations for a conservation program that combines municipal requirements and the urgent need to preserve the largest population of var. sylvestris in the southern Levant.

Recommendation for Self-Help Housing Stimulus Assistance (BSPS) Recipient Using Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods

The Housing and Settlement Area Office aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of selecting beneficiaries for the Self-Help Housing Assistance (BSPS) program by using the Weighted Product (WP) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods. This study was conducted in Sungkai Tengah Subdistrict, North Lampung, involving six criteria: land ownership, employment, house condition, income, independence, and household size.The WP method is used to determine the weight of each criterion by calculating the product of the criteria values raised to the power of their respective weights, which helps in ranking the alternatives. TOPSIS is applied to identify the best alternative by comparing the geometric distance of each option to the ideal solution, which is either the maximum or minimum value of each criterion The results indicate that the WP and TOPSIS methods can provide more objective and transparent rankings. The application of these methods resulted in the highest ranking for ID V3 with a vector V score of 0.1317. The decision support system developed from this research is expected to assist the Housing and Settlement Area Office in distributing aid more accurately, fairly, and efficiently, thereby supporting the government's goals in improving housing quality and spatial planning

An underwater metal hoard of the Urnfield Period from Prosiměřice in Znojmo District: On the issue of the relationships between hoards, settlements and waters

The Prosiměřice 2 metal hoard was discovered during archaeological rescue excavation in 2021 on the northern edge of the cadastre, where it was located in the floodplain of the River Jevišovka below the groundwater level. In addition to nine ingots and a broken-off sprue, the hoard contains two socketed axes, which date the find to the later stage of the Middle Danube Urnfield Culture. All the artefacts of the hoard were subjected to material composition analysis, which proved both relatively pure and variously impure copper (most ingots) as well as tin bronze (axes, ingot, sprue). According to X-ray computed tomography and use-wear analysis, the axes are imperfect, though functional, casts. The Prosiměřice 2 hoard therefore contains artefacts from various stages of the metallurgical production chain, just like the previously discovered Prosiměřice 1 hoard. Both hoards are part of a contemporary open settlement area and their contents could thus indicate local metallurgical activity. Other metal hoards in settlement areas also indicate a potential correlation between their contents and metallurgical production in open settlements. The location of both hoards from Prosiměřice in a floodplain wetland or even underwater points to their irreversible deposition and, like most other multi-piece hoards in a water environment, we associate them with communal socio-cultic rituals.

Monitoring of Land Cover Changes Between 1990 and 2014 over Cyprus using Multi-Temporal Landsat Imagery

Determining changes in forest resources and, consequently, land cover/land use is crucial for sustainable forest planning. This study aims to determine changes in land use classes, including Forest areas, Agricultural areas, Settlement areas, Other non-forest areas, and Water bodies in the study area located in Cyprus between 1990 and 2014. The study utilized digital management plans, a high-resolution base map, and Landsat satellite data for the relevant years. Necessary preprocessing steps were applied to prepare the satellite data for classification. Initially, unsupervised classification was conducted on the images to determine the number of distinguishable sub-information classes. Subsequently, supervised classification was performed using the maximum likelihood algorithm with the provision of training areas. The sub-information classes obtained from the supervised classification were consolidated into five predetermined main information classes. Following the classification process, the accuracy of the classification for each image was determined. Accordingly, the classification accuracy of the 1990 Landsat 5 TM satellite image was found to be 92% (Overall Classification Accuracy: 92%, Overall Kappa Statistics: 0.9000), while the classification accuracy of the 2014 Landsat 8 OLI satellite image was 89.20% (Overall Classification Accuracy: 89.20%, Overall Kappa Statistics: 0.8650). Subsequently, change analysis was conducted using the post-classification comparison method, and changes in land use within the study area over a twenty-four-year period were examined.

Landscape in Transition, Heritage in the Making: A Research Agenda for Understanding Lusatia’s Post-mining Landscape as a Practice of Past Presencing

The region of Lusatia in Germany is characterised by a permanent state of uncertainty – as a consequence of decades of resettlements due to lignite mining as well as structural changes resulting from the German reunification. This article discusses an inclusive concept of post-mining landscapes and the presencing of their pasts in regional discourses, given that lignite mining in Lusatia mainly took place in the settlement area of the autochthonous minority of the Sorbs/Wends. Since the end of lignite mining is planned for 2038, historicizing perspectives such as a World Heritage initiative are becoming increasingly important, leading to a new conceptualisation of the post-mining landscape primarily as a practice of past presencing itself, which functions as a coping mechanism for facing up to new uncertainties, thereby emerging as a new action arena for the negotiation of regional identity, belonging and power structures.