Territorial Characteristics Research Articles

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO TERRITORIAL PLANNING METHODOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONS

This article is devoted to the implementation of innovative approaches to the methodology of territorial planning in the context of sustainable regional development. The work analyzes the features of territorial planning that affect the formation of sustainable development strategies. In the face of intensifying global challenges related to climate change, socio-economic disparity, and the need to preserve natural resources, it is critically important to develop and implement new methods of territorial planning. The main focus of the article is on the methodological aspects of integrating ecological, economic, and social criteria into spatial planning processes. The article considers tools that allow accounting for the specific development characteristics of particular territories, such as digital spatial data analysis models, geographic information systems, and advanced approaches to strategic planning based on scenario analysis. It is proposed to use integrative models that balance the interests of local communities, businesses, and the state. Special attention is given to the role of innovative technologies in ensuring transparency and public engagement in the planning process. Using digital platforms to collect and process data on natural resources, demographic indicators, and economic activity enables informed decision-making, contributing to more efficient resource utilization and improved quality of life. This, in turn, allows for a comprehensive consideration of community interests and promotes socio-economic stability. The study shows that innovative approaches to territorial planning not only enable sustainable development but also create prerequisites for the long-term economic growth of regions, enhancing their competitiveness and resilience to external threats. The methods proposed in the article are universal and can be adapted for use in various conditions, contributing to the formation of a new paradigm in territory development management. Thus, the article offers a comprehensive approach to territorial planning, facilitating the integration of different aspects of sustainable development. The application of these methods enables regions to adapt to contemporary challenges, preserve their natural and human resources, and create conditions for inclusive development.

Desert or garden? Energy sacrifice zones, territorial affordances and competing visions for post-coal landscapes: The case of the Czechoslovak Army Mine

The transition away from coal has often been discussed in abstract and disembodied terms. This paper aims to show how the post coal-mining transition is a territorially embedded process that is contested by local actors. We use the case of the Czechoslovak Army Mine in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic to problematize the role of local history (as an energy sacrifice zone) and of the features of territory (landscape, water and energy) in the post-coal transition. The argument is that this transition is shaped by specific territorial affordances, by the expectations that local actors invest in these affordances and by the changes induced from outside. All of these interact and create problematic outcomes at the local level. We flesh out these arguments using fifteen interviews and documentary material related to the CSA mine, all collected and analysed in 2023 and 2024. The findings are structured by the main development phases of the CSA mine, first as an energy sacrifice zone and second in relation to the current conflicting post-mining plans. These include post-mining lake(s), the liveability and usability of the post-mining space and the question of energy production futures. Across all these disputed plans we highlight the positions of local stakeholders and their calls for socio-economic and environmental justice.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF GEOPOLITICS: NEW TOOLS, ACTORS, AND POWER DYNAMICS

This article explores the evolution of geopolitics in the digital era, emphasizing how technology has transformed traditional geopolitical frameworks. Initially grounded in the physical characteristics of territories, modern geopolitics, influenced by digital tools, has shifted to a more intangible domain. The interconnectedness brought about by digital technologies has blurred the boundaries between internal and external state affairs, reshaping how geopolitical power is understood and exercised. As new technologies such as artificial intelligence, large datasets, and digital infrastructure gain prominence, they become new tools in global competition. While digital geopolitics democratizes participation, enabling individuals to influence international discourse, it also presents challenges, such as the potential misuse of these tools. Furthermore, the rise of digital geopolitics reflects a critical approach, where ideological and political phenomena are redefined through digital means. This transformation leads to the merging of traditional and modern power dynamics, making geopolitics more accessible but also more complex in terms of influence, representation, and global rivalry.

Above‐ground nest locations support key life stages and group behaviours in Eurasian badger territories

Although the Eurasian badger Meles meles is well known for occupying underground setts, badgers also use nests above ground. There is limited research as to how these above‐ground nests function within a badger territory and which behaviours and life stages they provide for social groups. This project investigated the use of above‐ground nests within known badger territories, taking into consideration when and how they are used by the group, as well as identifying where nests are located and where they are likely to be found in relation to other territory features. We found that nests were located closer to habitat boundaries than main sett or satellite locations, and latrines. The probability of a badger using a nest was greater at night, with nests supporting important behaviours such as mating and social interactions during the hours of darkness. Mating and grooming were found to decrease the further nests were from main sett locations, whereas territorial behaviours in nests were found to decrease the further nests were from habitat edges. This study provides new understanding of above‐ground badger behaviour and use of nests and their function within badger territories, which may have implications for current badger legislation and best‐practice survey guidelines.

«Умная деревня» как перспектива развития сельских территорий

The article substantiates the role and importance of rural areas in the country's economy. Data on the dynamics of the number of both urban and rural populations are presented. The importance of implementing the concept of introducing "Smart villages" as one of the ways to solve the problem of rural depopulation is considered. This is relevant both from the point of view of the need to modernize and increase the competitiveness of agricultural production, and taking into account the geographical features of territories and different population densities in different regions of the country. The main interpretations of the concept of "smart village" using foreign sources are highlighted, as well as the basic principles of the concept of "smart village" are highlighted. As an example of the implementation of the concept, the domestic and foreign experience of the functioning of "smart villages" is given. The main technologies introduced in the implementation of the "smart village" concept are considered and organizational and managerial recommendations are proposed for the further effective development of "smart" rural areas.

The role of underground archaeological remains on the seismic response of a historic tower

The Italian territory features plenty of historic masonry buildings, many of which have undergone reconstruction, often atop ancient ruins. The presence of archaeological remains in the shallow layers of the ground is always disregarded in the seismic assessment of masonry buildings. To address this gap, the paper delves into the influence of underground masonry ruins on the seismic response of a bell tower built above a historic soil deposit. A comprehensive 3D finite-element model encompassing the tower, foundation, soil, and underground remains was developed. A parametric analysis was conducted, involving modifications to the geometry, mechanical properties, and location of the buried ruins. From the parametric study it emerged that the buried walls could alter the seismic signal at the base of the structure. The most critical scenario occurs when the buried archaeological ruins have a grid spacing comparable to the characteristic size of the foundation, especially in soft soils. Analysis of displacements, accelerations, and spectral accelerations at different elevations along the tower height revealed that the presence of archaeological ruins could modify the seismic response of the structure built above them.

The regional features of digitalization in public administration: experience of the Orel region

Relevance. Russian regions are characterized by varying degrees of readiness for the introduction of digital technologies into the management system, this process often takes place formally and does not imply a significant change in the format of interaction between the population and business, on the one hand, and regional executive authorities, on the other. The study of the specifics of digitalization of public administration will allow to identify "bottlenecks" for improving measures to support digital transformation at the level of the subject of the Russian Federation, to identify and replicate successful experience.The purpose of the article is predetermined by its topic and is to determine the regional features of the digitalization of public administration in the Orel region.Objectives. To achieve this goal, the theoretical, methodological, organizational and regulatory foundations of digitalization of public administration are considered, a comparative analysis of key indicators of digitalization in this area is carried out, the opportunities and threats of digitalization are determined, taking into account the specifics of the socio-economic development of the region under study.Methodology. The materials for the study were official statistics presented on the official websites of the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia, compiled by constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the “Information Society” section. The main research methods are statistical analysis of data series, comparative analysis, SWOT analysis.Results. Based on the results of the study, it was revealed that the basic conditions for the digital transformation of management in the Oryol region have been formed: relevant regional strategies and programs have been developed and are being implemented, benchmarks for their implementation have been established, the system of authorities is functioning and the infrastructure necessary for successful digitalization is being developed. At the same time, there is no list of specific measures necessary for the integration of state regional information systems into federal super services, measures for personnel and financial support for digitalization processes, increasing the level of digital literacy of the population, and intensifying outreach work among the population. Solving these problems will improve the efficiency of the digital transformation of public administration in the Orel region.Conclusions. Regional specifics determine the effectiveness of the digital transformation of public administration in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, and therefore regional programs should not only repeat federal initiatives, but also adapt them taking into account the territorial characteristics of socio-economic development.

Предпосылки создания отраслевых индустриальных парков в Тульско-Новомосковской агломерации

The tendencies of the industrial parks formation in the Russian agglomerations are considers in the article. The branch and territorial features of industrial parks foundation in the Tula region are determined on basis of the experience study of the special economic zone (SEZ) «Uzlovaya». The positive influence of the manufacturing SEZ on the branch clusters in agglomerations is confirmed.

Depopulation in rural areas of the North Kazakhstan region: social, economic problems and regulatory mechanisms

There are very few studies that have determined the causes of depopulation in rural areas of Kazakhstan and the North Kazakhstan region (NKR). Purpose of the study – to study the causes of the phenomenon of depopulation in rural areas of the NKR, determine its social and economic consequences and propose regulatory mechanisms. To determine the causes of the depopulation process in rural areas of the North Kazakhstan region and propose regulatory mechanisms, methods of empirical, hypothetical, scientific abstraction, dynamic analysis, synthesis, comparative analysis, and systems approach were used. The article provides an in-depth analysis of the rate of natural increase (loss) in the population of Kazakhstan. Having divided the population of the rural areas of the NKR into age groups, we determined which age category was decreasing and put forward a hypothesis about what they wanted. The Government of Kazakhstan has developed and continues to develop various programs for developing rural areas and population growth in the Northern region. However, the coefficient of natural increase (loss) of the population of the North Kazakhstan region has a negative value. The study results showed that the population aging rate in rural areas of this region is intensive. The government must identify groups and target areas that require support measures, taking into account the situation with specialization, labor potential, territorial characteristics, and age characteristics of the areas of the region.

Main risk factors for the development of chronic non-communicable diseases among residents of the Altai Territory

Purpose of the study. analysis of the prevalence of the main risk factors for the development of chronic NCDs in the unorganized population of the Altai Territory aged 25–64 years.Materials and methods. The study involved 1,103 people aged 25–64 years, selected by random sampling from the population of the Altai Territory. The survey was conducted using a standard questionnaire. During the study, the blood pressure level, height, and weight of respondents were measured.Results. The study involved 1103 people, of whom 33.4 % were men (n = 368), women – 66.6 % (n = 735). Smoking was registered in 21.5 % (n = 234), among men – 45.7 % (n = 166), among women – 9.4 % (n = 68). IBP of salt was detected in 58.9 % (n = 650), among men – 63.6 % (n = 234), among women – 56.6 % (n = 416). Consumption of less than 5 servings of fruits and/or vegetables on average per day was noted in 55.7 % (n = 597), among men – 67.6 % (n = 244), among women – 49.6 % (n = 353). NFA occurs in 19.9% (n = 218), among men – 19.4 % (n = 71), women – 20.1 % (n = 47). Obesity occurs in 34.9 (n = 349), among men – 22.3 % (n = 73), women – 41% (n = 276). High blood pressure among all respondents was 50.3 %; in men this risk factor was lower than among women (45.4 % and 52.8 %, respectively).Conclusions. For the first time, the features of the main risk factors for the development of chronic non-diseases were studied in an unorganized sample of the region’s population aged 25–64. Residents of the region have a high incidence of salt IBP, NPOF and elevated blood pressure. The ESSE-RF study made it possible to identify gender and territorial characteristics of our region. Thus, the study demonstrated that both sexes have NPOF and salt IBP, but smoking was more common among men, and high blood pressure among women. This study is the starting point for epidemiological studies in the Altai region and can serve as a guide for further monitoring of the prevalence of risk factors and the effectiveness of preventive programs.

Ecological-economic assessment of environmental quality as a natural basis for territorial sustainable development: conceptual-categorical analysis

In the context of growing global problems of resource using and environmental protection the development of a sustainable environmental-economic development strategy, including at the territorial level is becoming increasingly actual. The purpose of the research is conceptual-categorical analysis of ecological-economic assessment of environmental quality as a natural basis for territorial systems of different levels sustainable development, elaboration and justification of the conceptual assessment model and methods of its implementation. Methodological issues focus on how to comprehensively assess the environmental quality of the territory and how this assessment can be taken into account in the formation of a strategy for environmentally sustainable development of spatial-economic systems. The scientific novelty of the research results lies in the consolidation of the theories of territorial development sustainability and environmental quality environmental-economic assessment in the conceptual model, as well as in the substantiation of tools for quantitative measurement of environmental quality, increasing the accuracy and reliability of the obtained environmental-economic assessments. The significance of the research results lies in providing decision-makers with comprehensive information on the long-term consequences of environmental-economic decisions and facilitating the transition to environmentally sustainable economic development of territories. This information can be obtained as a result of systematic application of multi-dimensional environmental-economic assessment tools that take into account not only the full socio-economic value of natural environmental resources, but also the spatial characteristics of territories.

Questions of Research of Digitalization in Various Fields of Activity

The ability to implement strategic priorities of digital development and intensify the activities of various stakeholders (government, science, business, enterprises) in high-tech sectors are necessary conditions for the successful development of the country and solving economic problems. A key affiliation related to digitalization issues has been highlighted. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, those accents (availability of digital technologies, impact on managerial and institutional spheres, sectoral and territorial features, applied significance) on which researchers focus their attention, are identified. The directions are systematized depending on the digitalization of individual objects, including the necessary elements of digitalization.

Assessing the impacts of public policies towards environmental sustainability in the Centre NUTII of Portugal. The case of POSEUR (2014-2020)

The operational programme for Sustainability and Use of Resources (POSEUR 2014-2020) is the most powerful mechanism of EU Cohesion Policy to be implemented in Portugal concerning sustainable environmental development. The programme has a place-based approach that attends to the territorial characteristics of the Portuguese regions. This study focused its analysis on the POSEURS’ main impacts on the Portuguese Centre NUT II. With a mixed methodological approach, impact scores were produced for five environmental sustainability dimensions: i) low-emissions economy, ii) adaptation to climate change, iii) risk prevention and management, iv) environmental protection, and v) resource efficiency. The qualitative and quantitative data was collected through interviews, literature review, the POSEUR project database analysis and regional environmental indicators. The outcome of the analysis showed that technical and execution barriers contributed to the heterogeneity of the results obtained in the five selected dimensions. An overall balance points out the low positive impact scores promoting small regional changes in environmental sustainability. Nonetheless, elaborating spatial plans for the municipalities and regions turned the adaptation to climate change into a highly positive impact dimension.

RANKING OF BASHKORTOSTAN DEPOSITS BY TYPES OF COMPLICATIONS FOR ASSESSING ECONOMIC COSTS

This article presents a review of the results of the analysis to identify the main types of complications characteristic of the deposits of the Republic of Bashkortostan. From field information and accumulated drilling experience, it has been established that among the main types of complications in the process of well construction in this area, the absorption of drilling fluid and grouting mixture of various intensities, starting from background values and ending with complete care, is the most significant and problematic from the point of view of its elimination. Taking into account the territorial features of the location of the deposits of the Republic of Bashkortostan, the main causes of the occurrence of acquisitions, divided into geological and technological components, have been identified. A percentage comparison of cases of absorption compared to other types of complications is given, confirming that the problem of prevention and elimination of absorption is very significant and relevant in modern drilling, both in general and with regard to the fields of Bashkortostan, in particular, requiring significant time and material costs to solve. The purpose of the article, which the authors strive to achieve, is to reduce and optimize the financial and time costs allocated to combat the absorption of drilling and grouting fluids. The authors have made an attempt to combine the deposits of Bashkortostan, located on large tectonic structures of the region, according to the similarity of the complications that arise, in order to simplify the assessment of the corresponding economic costs. Using the results of the analysis of lithological and stratigraphic sections of deposits and indicator dependencies obtained for the identified absorbing horizons, general similarity criteria were determined, according to which each of the considered deposits was assigned its own rank, and deposits with the same rank were grouped. The work carried out on the ranking of deposits will be useful to drilling specialists, who, using this information, can more accurately and efficiently develop and select appropriate sets of measures to prevent and eliminate the absorption of drilling mud. This article will also be of interest to specialists in the preparation of design estimates when evaluating the economic component.

Novel and classical methods similarly describe variation in territory size among males in Neotropical poison frogs with contrasting reproductive and behavioral strategies

Territoriality is a form of social dominance concerning the use of space that ensures the territory owner primary access to critical resources. The territory is defended with visual displays, advertisement calls, physical attacks, or chemical signals. The territory is frequently estimated by mapping locations where an animal is observed engaging in territorial behavior or by tracking. However, these approaches may over- or underestimate the areas defended. Thus, the use of approaches explicitly determining defended areas is critical to properly characterize the territory. Intrusion experiments can elicit a response in territory holders, allowing one to characterize their aggressive responses; however, the aggressive response depends on the species. We describe an approach to experimentally estimate the territory size using playback experiments in a species that exhibits a stereotypical phonotactic response: the nurse frog, Allobates aff. trilineatus and develop a new behavioral index that allows assessing territory size in response to playbacks for a species with non-stereotyped phonotactic response: the endangered Lehmann’s poison frog, Oophaga lehmanni. We conducted 772 playback experiments on 18 males of A. aff. trilineatus, and 222 on nine males of O. lehmanni. We analyzed the results of playback experiments with three different area estimators regularly used to estimate space use and evaluated whether these estimates are correlated. The shape and size of territories varied among individuals and estimators in both species. Although we found that the absolute size of the territory depends on the method used, estimates were strongly correlated, meaning that different estimators similarly describe variation in territory size among males. Choosing an analysis method may not be particularly important for studying the characteristics of territoriality over space and time but using a systematic and standardized experimental approach that also incorporates the particularities of the aggressive response of each species is essential to understand the evolution of space use by poison frogs and other territorial species.

The characteristic of medical personnel resources in the state health care system of the Region

The indicator of provision with medical personnel under primary health care support significantly varies in Subjects of the Russian Federation. This indicator is affected by such territorial characteristics as long distance of territory, poor transport accessibility, low population density, migration processes. The purpose of the study is to analyze indicators of medical personnel resources in state health care system of the Transbaikal Krai. The sources of information were data from forms of Federal statistical monitoring № 30 "Information on the medical organization" of the Krai medical organizations in 2018-2022. The span diagram was made for levels of provision with physicians over 5 year period in regions of the Krai. The cluster analysis was applied to classify municipalities according to level and dynamics of indicators of provision with physicians. It is established that indicators of provision of district therapists and district pediatricians in the Transbaikal Krai remain below similar ones in the Far Eastern Federal Okrug and the Russian Federation. The making of span diagram demonstrated significant difference in indicators of provision with mentioned specialists in municipalities of the Krai over 5 year period that testifies instability of medical personnel situation in districts of the Krai. The maximal indicators of provision in certain regions are conditioned by higher wages and location of medical organizations in the Krai center. The shortage in medical personnel of primary health care is marked in the Krai. In order to implement tasks of overcoming medical personnel shortage, disproportions in structure of medical personnel, uneven territorial distribution of medical specialists in the Krai it is necessary to improve mechanisms of human resources planning.

Digital Skills and Gender Equity: Perceptions and Practices of Portuguese Primary Education Teachers

This study aims to characterize the digital skills and pedagogical practices using digital technology among primary teachers (first CEB), as well as to map their understanding and practices of promoting gender equality using digital technology. To this end, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among teachers, which yielded 3871 valid responses, representing 17.5% of the population. The sample structure is identical to that of the population, in terms of sociodemographic and territorial characteristics, as well as to the years of schooling covered. It was found that teachers perceive themselves as digitally competent to carry out the essential part of their teaching tasks. Most have already tried to carry out a diverse set of pedagogical practices and activities using digital technology. However, as the overwhelming majority did not find differences between the uses that boys and girls make of digital technology, they also do not act to promote digital skills differently among girls. Some contextual variables were also found that explain these differences in perception and practices regarding digital in education.

Unveiling the Impact of Transportation Infrastructure Construction on Rurality: A Case Study from Guangdong, China

Rurality is an important indicator to reflect the development of villages and reveal internal differences in rural areas. The unbalanced development of transportation infrastructure in the current period of rapid urbanization has become one of the principal elements triggering spatial differences in rurality and changes in rural territorial characteristics. However, there are few studies on the impact of transportation infrastructure accessibility on the multidimensional characteristics of rurality from the perspective of heterogeneity. This paper analyzed the spatio-temporal characteristics of transport accessibility (TA) and the county rurality index (CRI) in Guangdong in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 using an accessibility model and the rurality index and explored the clustering characteristics and interactions of TA and the CRI through exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and geographic weighted regression (GWR) modeling. The findings showed that (1) TA and the CRI in Guangdong were significantly unbalanced in terms of space. The CRI showed a weakening trend in general, forming a distribution pattern of “high in the north and low in the south, high in the west and low in the east”, while TA was on the rise, maintaining a stable pattern of “high in the middle and low in the periphery”. (2) Both TA and the CRI in Guangdong had a Moran’s I value greater than 0.6 during the study period, exhibiting strong spatial agglomeration, while the two showed a significant spatial negative correlation. (3) The influence of TA on the CRI in different dimensions showed dynamic changes in stages, with TA having a higher intensity of effect on society rurality and land rurality in 2005, while on society rurality and industry rurality in 2020. (4) This paper grouped 77 counties in Guangdong into four types of policy zonings—coordination types, lagged types of accessibility, lagged types of rurality and double lagged types—and put forward corresponding development recommendations. The study conducted in this paper contributes to an in-depth understanding of the impact of transportation infrastructure development on the multidimensional characteristics of rurality and provides a basis for policy formulation for coordinated urban–rural development and sustainable rural development.

The ritual of “qoʻsh chiqarish” among Uzbeks and its territorial features (on the example of the Fergana Valley)

The settled population of the Fergana Valley is distinguished by a unique agricultural culture. It had a strong influence on the agriculture of the Kyrgyz, Kipchak, Kuramin, Yuzi, and Karakalpaks, who were engaged in cattle breeding in the past. Traditions and rituals associated with agriculture were formed on the basis of belief in the magical power of various agricultural cults. In such rituals as khudoyi (sacrifice), kosh chikarish (plowing with an ox-drawn plow), shokhmoylar (lubrication of horns), kosh oshi (food prepared before plowing with an ox-drawn plow), performed before the start of spring work, ancient agrarian cults were preserved in syncretism with Islamic views.

Financial Absorption of Cohesion Policy Funds: How Do Programmes and Territorial Characteristics Influence the Pace of Spending?

AbstractUsing data from the execution of 2014–2020 cohesion policy, this article presents a novel indicator to measure how fast European territories were able to spend their allocated budget and then explores the drivers of such financial performance. This analysis aims to fill a gap in scientific literature as most existing studies tend to focus solely on the total absorption at the end of the period without looking at the average financial performance over time. The article also explores the influence on financial absorption of the governance model (nationally or regionally managed programmes) and the thematic structure of the funds, which has never been done before. The determinants of the speed of financial absorption are investigated through a Tobit model. Results show that both programme‐specific and territorial characteristics are relevant factors in explaining the varying levels of fund absorption. This suggests that increased flexibility in spending rules and the adoption of more tailored strategies could be instrumental in improving fund absorption.