Slovak Cities Research Articles

Post-communist city text in Košice, Slovakia as a liminal landscape

Abstract During the communist period in Slovakia (1948-1989), street toponyms and monuments were a few of the many realms of ideological infusion by the communist government. Renaming streets and establishing monuments in honor of local and international socialist figures was intended to have an aggregate effect on public consciousness in a way that helped legitimize the political rule of the communist regime. However, because the nature of socialist commemorations is fundamentally more complex that those of other competing ideologies like nationalist movements, these commemorations took on complex and sometimes contradictory meanings in the public memory that, in some cases, cause them to persist to this day. This paper utilizes Turner’s (1975) concept of ‘liminality’ to examine elements of city text like toponyms and statues in the eastern Slovak city of Košice to demonstrate why many of these communist-era elements of city text remain as leftover landscapes of the communist period.

Local and Institutional Factors of Start-Up Ecosystems: Common and Inherited Attributes

Start-ups and creative industries have gone through an amazing development since the beginning of the twenty-first century. The location of start-ups and creative industries has been shown to be consistent with the factors of agglomeration externalities and networking of actors. The presence of talented people, as well as an advanced managerial culture, are similarly vital for both sectors. In Slovakia, the government has only recently recognised the potential of start-ups and the creative economy (2013) although the global trend was anticipated by the private and non-profit sectors a couple of years prior to that. Not surprisingly, the first major co-working spaces and young innovative businesses emerged in the capital city Bratislava in 2010. In the east Slovak city of Kosice, the first activities only appeared in 2013 within the premises of the Technical University. So far, these young start-up ecosystems have emerged on different foundations. The idea of local and institutional factors of start-up ecosystems has been formulated and evolved into a new theoretical framework. The research on city start-up ecosystems is based on interviews with start-up owners, gurus, venture capitalists, enthusiasts and observers and has resulted in the formulation of the concept of common and inherited ecosystem attributes.

The specifics of retail network´s spatial structure in the city of Žilina

The retail network as a variable subsystem of a cultural landscape is an important feature of the settlement system and the inner structure of the settlements. In the urban environment of post-socialist countries under the influence of globalization the retail network belongs to the most dynamic elements. Our goal is to identify the spatial configuration of demographic and retail indicators. Data obtained from field passportization were processed by using statistical-mathematical methods. We also deal with the processes and specifics of the retail network of the city of Žilina, which impact on the modeling of its spatial structure, polycentrism, increase of disparities, and commercial suburbanization. The development of the retail network in the city of Žilina is significantly influenced by the following factors: purchasing power of residents, globalization impacts of supranational retail chains´ entrance, accessibility, synergy effect, development of new retail forms, and self-government policies. The paper is part of a broader research into the retail network of large cities in Slovakia. The research has been carried out with the same methodology as in the two regional cities of Nitra and Trnava. The automotive industry as an important economic factor is the common feature of all of them.

Possibilities of tracking city indicators in the sense of the Smart city concept

Abstract The paper deals with the current trends in the use of digital, information and communication technologies in Slovak cities in the sense of Smart city concept. The role of these systems is to provide simple and clear evidence and tracking of city performance indicators in areas such as city cleanliness, transport infrastructure, city management, security, health care, culture, sports, and so on. For this, cities can use different data acquisition methods, different ways of processing, interpreting, and other uses.

Parades of Monuments and Memorials: Transformation of Memory, Place and Identity in a Slovak City

Parades of Monuments and Memorials: Transformation of Memory, Place and Identity in a Slovak City

DISSEMINATION THE REFORMATION ON TERRITORY OF SPISHSKY COMMITTEE AT 16th CENTURY

У цій статті розглядається процес проникнення та характер поширення Реформації в Спиському комітеті Східної Словаччини протягом XVI ст. Розглядаються та аналізуються питання, що стосуються діяльності окремих релігійних організацій та лідерів Реформації, прийняття та закріплення реформаційних ідей у духовному житті суспільства, їх оцінці та цінності. Протягом першої половини XVI століття Списька область Словаччини зазнає поступового переходу до протестантизму. У Спиші до 1526 р. Були реформаційні погляди, але спочатку вони обмежувалися більш вузькими колами і не викликали суттєвих зовнішніх змін у священному житті. На першому етапі руху Реформації першочерговим питанням для новостворених релігійних течій було отримання послідовників, які мали перевагу над церковними реформами. Після прийняття Аугсбургської сповіді в 1530 р. рух Реформації в Спиші був у розпалі, розвинувши нові й більш потужні функціональні властивості. У цей час з'являються нові пропагандисти доктрини Лютера. Можна виділити наступних релігійних активістів: Юрій Левдішер, Ян Генкель, Вавринець Квендель Серпіліум, Вавринець Бухвольт, Шаламун Реґнер, Даміан Граф, Матей, Валентин Мегандер-Гросман, Кіріак Обсопій-Кокс, Антон Топерсер і Грегор Філкер. Визнання Спишського братства «Confessio Scepusiana», що складається з 24 королівських священиків, може вважатися апогеєм релігійного життя в Спиші, а також одним з найважливіших джерел словацької Реформації. Хоча сам зміст документу не є оригінальним, оскільки він практично копіює попереднє сповідання віри, тобто заснований на текстах «Confessio Pentapolitana» і «Confessio Heptapolitana», він висуває власні тези, викладені в дусі Аугсбургське сповідання. На зустрічі, що відбулася 26 жовтня 1569 р., текст Віровизнання був переданий братству священиків Спиша, де він був затверджений і підписаний всіма священиками Списького муніципального старшини. Так, протягом другої половини XVI ст. реформаційні процеси охоплювали практично всі словацькі землі. У Спіші поширення Реформації було швидким і успішним, а його послідовники могли діяти в рамках вже існуючих структур і установ католицької церкви в період, що охоплював весь XVI століття і початок XVII століття.

GIS-based multicriteria evaluation of foundation conditions

This article deals with an evaluation of the engineering geological and hydrogeological conditions in Vajnory with relation to landuse planning. Vajnory is one of the city parts of Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, with huge building activity. Parametric maps were constructed using a multi-criterial approach and the result is a set of engineering geological and hydrogeological maps of geofactors which present a level of suitability for building foundations using map algebra tools in a GIS environment. Four geofactors which influenced the suitability for building foundations were selected — workability of soil, bearing capacity, groundwater level and aggressivity of groundwater. These factors were analysed for three different depth levels. The suitability map for building purposes at a depth of two meters under the surface showed foundation conditions for simple buildings with the basement below freezing level or for buildings with one underground level. The suitability map for a depth of five meters under the surface presents foundation conditions for buildings with two underground levels. The last evaluated level was for a depth of eight meters under the surface and analyses the foundation conditions for buildings with three underground levels.

Urban Land Systems: An Ecosystems Perspective

We live in an urbanizing world. Since 2008, more than half of humanity lives in cities, both large and small, and old and new.[...]

Analysis of Bratislava and Žilina as urban areas in Western Slovakia in the context of associations among employment and industries

Research background: This paper observes especially the position of cities, urban areas in the context of global value chains ? GVCs. Global value chains reflect specialization and labour division of companies, mostly multinational enterprises ? MNEs. MNEs can be considered flagships of some industries. Such flagships influence suppliers and purchasers. MNEs are a part of networks or have got access to such networks that combine dispersion of the value chain, the boundaries of the firm and across national borders.
 Purpose of the article: The impetus for this work was to look at the position of Slovak cities (Bratislava, Žilina) in order to look for sectors that can help to develop the city and its adjacent regions, particularly cross-border regions. The paper discussed how the attribute of the cross-border regions gives the cities more advantageous position in GVCs.
 Methodology: Applying the method of location quotient allowed to shed a light on the GVCs, which cities participate in. Some cities were in a position to take advantage of participation in GVCs.
 Findings & Value added: Examined cities are located in the western part of the Slovak Republic. Discussion about the attribute of the cross-border regions can stimulate new ideas for finding causalities in city sprawl or in specialization patterns in the industrial structure of the city. Discussion further fosters the comparison of two cities strengths and weaknesses of each of them that were summarized in terms of employment and industrial exploitation of GVCs. This is the first finding and value added of the paper. The second one is that the method of location quotient is simple but provides clear evidence of the regional development or decline in particular industries and at the time of observation.

RADIATION EXPOSURE OF THE POPULATION FROM 222Rn AND OTHER NATURAL RADIONUCLIDES AROUND MOCHOVCE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, SLOVAKIA.

In this article, the effective dose to the population from natural sources of ionizing radiation in the vicinity of Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia is presented. All major contributions to the effective dose were taken into account, including the contributions from gamma radiation of soil and rocks, cosmic radiation, and indoor and outdoor radon and thoron. On the basis of recent indoor radon measurements in Slovak cities and publicly available data about radon concentration in the soil air, a roughly linear relationship was found between these variables. Consequently, the annual effective dose from indoor radon and thoron was conservatively estimated. For the area of interest, a map of conservatively estimated potential effective doses was created. For the villages in the vicinity of Mochovce, the conservatively estimated effective dose to the population from natural sources ranged from 5.4 to 14.6 mSv, which is four orders of magnitude higher than the contribution of radioactive discharges from Mochovce nuclear power plant.

Long-Term Land Use Changes Driven by Urbanisation and Their Environmental Effects (Example of Trnava City, Slovakia)

Similar to other post-communist countries, Slovakia has undergone significant changes in the last decades—largely through transformation of central planning into a market economy. Unfortunately, this process has been associated with increasing pressure on surrounding ecosystems and their individual components. These changes are subject to various influences, e.g., socio-economic, political and environmental; in addition, urbanisation has also had great influence. This is typified by conversion of productive agricultural land and semi-natural ecosystems into built-up area accompanied by the negative ecological impacts of habitat deterioration and fragmentation. The rapidly changing consumption patterns of luxury living, transportation and leisure have increased the negative consequences on ecosystems and these compound the negative environmental trends. This paper evaluates land use changes in Trnava, which is one of the most rapidly developing cities in Slovakia. Evaluation covers 1838–2015, with explicit emphasis on transformation over the last 25–30 years. We present comparison with developments since 1990 in other cities in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany and then discuss the main processes and environmental problems related to these changes, concentrating on the sustainability of current trends and appropriate planning and management responses.

Gaps in performance: benchmarking of the Czech and Slovak city libraries

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify gaps in performance of city libraries from the Czech and from the Slovak Republic engaged in the project Benchmarking of Libraries. The subject of research consists of input and output performance variables of selected 51 city libraries for the period of 2011-2015 and their mutual dependence and influence.Design/methodology/approachTo analyse relationships among ten input and four output variables, the correlation and regression analyses were used. Regression analysis was focussed on four output variables – numbers of physical visitors of libraries, numbers of loans, numbers of visitors using the internet in the library, and numbers of registered readers. Interpretation of results was supplemented with classification multidimensional analysis Chi-square automatic interaction detection.FindingsFindings reveal that besides others the significant gap in performance was represented by library additions, which means the renewal of library collections. Performance differences were also found between city libraries in the Czech Republic and those in the Slovak Republic.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper evaluates gaps in the performance on representative sample of city libraries. The number of population served among individual selected 51 libraries ranges between 15 and 35 thousand inhabitants. Analysed data are from years 2011-2015.Originality/valueThe paper analyses, by using statistical methods, data that are generated within the benchmarking project. This methodology proves and reveals causalities among performance indicators of city libraries in an unconventional way.

Slovak housing estates and the accessibility of the key amenities. Case study Banská Bystrica

Housing estates, which have emerged during the post-war mass housing development, became the significant part of an urban structure of many cities across the eastern bloc. In Slovak cities, they still represent the major part of residential complexes. Housing estates usually ignored the original urban structure and isolated themselves declaring their independence from the rest of the city. In an effort to a strict functional segregation housing estates paradoxically became dependent on the traditional urban structure. The original plans of the housing estates mostly proposed the local centers with a relatively broad spectrum of amenities; however, these were often greatly reduced or unfinished under the pressure of solving housing problems. Since the functional mixing with an emphasis on the walking accessibility of the key amenities from the place of a residence is one of the important aspects of livable and sustainable neighborhoods, the questions arises: To what extent do housing estates provide the key amenities necessary for the everyday life of their inhabitants? Are they in this respect truly self-sufficient or fail to fulfill their original ambition? Answering these questions is important not only in terms of the evaluation of their quality but also for setting strategies for the further development of housing estates (for example, intensification). The goal of the paper was to examine the current structure of Slovak housing estates in terms of accessibility of the key amenities and the evaluation of the results from the perspective of the future development of housing estates. The research was carried out within 18 selected housing estates of varying size, nature and location within the city of Banská Bystrica (county city in Central Slovakia). The key amenities and optimal walking distances (radius of accessibility) were defined based on a comparison of existing researches and recommendations. Within the territory of housing estates, the percentage of overall coverage by key amenities (percentage of the territory of the individual housing estate with access to all key amenities in walking distance), the average percentage of coverage of the key amenities and the percentage of coverage of the selected key amenities were assessed. The results of the research demonstrate a large diversity of housing estates in terms of accessibility of the key amenities and their relation to other features of housing estates.

Associations between self-rated health, mental health problems and physical inactivity among urban adolescents.

Self-rated health is a valid and reliable subjective indicator of general health. We aimed to assess the associations between self-rated health, mental health problems, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and BMI among Slovak urban adolescents. Data were collected within the EU-FP7: EURO-URHIS 2 (The European Health Indicator System Part 2) project in two largest Slovak cities: Bratislava and Kosice. Sample included 1111 adolescents (response rate 73.7%, mean age 14.32 ± 0.48 years, 52.8% boys). Self-rated health was measured with the first item from the Short Form Health Survey 36 questionnaire, mental health problems were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and for physical activity and sedentary behaviour questions from the WHO HBSC questionnaire were used. Logistic regression was performed to determine the associations between self-rated health and the independent variables. Self-rated health was found to be significantly associated with mental health problems, sedentary behaviour and BMI. However, the strongest association was found with engagement in physical activity every day (OR 8.0; 95% CI 1.6-39.9). Previous research revealed that self-rated health was associated with various mental health problems. Our findings add to these results by showing that physical activity and sedentary behaviour are also very important additional factors related to self-rated health. Better understanding of these associations can help in developing more effective public health intervention programmes for adolescents.

Analysis of Urban Green Spaces Based on Sentinel-2A: Case Studies from Slovakia

Urban expansion and its ecological footprint increases globally at an unprecedented scale and consequently, the importance of urban greenery assessment grows. The diversity and quality of urban green spaces (UGS) and human well-being are tightly linked, and UGS provide a wide range of ecosystem services (e.g., urban heat mitigation, stormwater infiltration, food security, physical recreation). Analyses and inter-city comparison of UGS patterns and their functions requires not only detailed information on their relative quantity but also a closer examination of UGS in terms of quality and land use, which can be derived from the land cover composition and spatial structure. In this study, we present an approach to UGS extraction from newly available Sentinel-2A satellite imagery, provided in the frame of the European Copernicus program. We investigate and map the spatial distribution of UGS in three cities in Slovakia: Bratislava, Žilina and Trnava. Supervised maximum likelihood classification was used to identify UGS polygons. Based on their function and physiognomy, each UGS polygon was assigned to one of the fifteen classes, and each class was further described by the proportion of tree canopy and its ecosystem services. Our results document that the substantial part of UGS is covered by the class Urban greenery in family housing areas (mainly including privately-owned gardens) with the class abundance between 17.7% and 42.2% of the total UGS area. The presented case studies showed the possibilities of semi-automatic extraction of UGS classes from Sentinel-2A data that may improve the transfer of scientific knowledge to local urban environmental monitoring and management.

Changes in night-time distribution of goods to the city centres as a tool to meet the requirements of the EU white paper on transport

The report focuses on assessing the advantages and disadvantages of night distribution in selected European cities. The first chapter is focused on projects focused on night distribution of goods in the city centre. The second chapter deals with a more detailed analyses of night distribution in some countries of the European Union. It shows concrete example, a solution for night distribution, which can be applied to our Slovak cities. Even in Slovakia, it has to deal with the issue in view of the constantly increase the number and the duration of traffic accidents not only in Bratislava, but also in all regional cities.

Spatial Aspects of University Graduates in Slovakia

Abstract University and college graduates do not represent just a highly skilled workforce. They are holders of a high level of education and they serve also as a component of human capital that have a high potential for increase productivity, create new jobs and discover new innovative production processes. This contribution deals with the concentration and dispersion of the production of university and college graduates of master level studies in Slovak cities, as holders of a high level of human capital. Examined were 41 of 46 fields of master level studies, which were assigned to 6 groups of studies. Within the overall production of graduates, there was observed a dispersion of production, because during the observed time period, between 1997 and 2015, the competition between cities in generating graduates of master level studies has increased. Within the production of individual groups of studies, the evolution was not so clear. In some groups of studies, the production of master level graduates has concentrated over the observed period time, in other groups the production has dispersed and in one group of studies the situation has not changed.

The Assessment of Patient Satisfaction and Attendance of Community Pharmacies in Slovakia

Abstract Aim: Patient-oriented pharmaceutical care in pharmacies could improve patient satisfaction and influence patient’s choice of a community pharmacy. The aim of the work was to assess patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Methods: A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was distributed to patients visiting 33 community pharmacies in a total of 23 Slovak cities during October-December 2013. The questionnaire contained 29 items and three dimensions were supposed (managing therapy, interpersonal relationship, general satisfaction). A 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = very satisfied, 2 = satisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = dissatisfied, 5 = very dissatisfied) was used for assessing patient satisfaction. The results are presented in percentages and by the level of satisfaction within the range: high satisfaction (score 1.00-2.50), moderate satisfaction (score 2.51-3.50) and low satisfaction (score 3.51-5.00). Reasons for attendance in the community pharmacy and factors influencing pharmacy choice were evaluated either. Results: A total 2 844 respondents were included into the survey. Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care achieved high satisfaction level: interpersonal relationship (1.85 ± 0.598; 86.7% highly satisfied respondents) and general satisfaction (2.02 ± 0.643; 71.3% highly satisfied respondents). Managing therapy scored lower (2.24 ± 0.704; 65.4% highly satisfied respondents). The most frequently reported reasons for attending community pharmacy were to obtain prescription (70.4%) and over-the-counter medications (70.4%). The patient choice of a particular pharmacy was influenced by its location (74.1%). Conclusion: This study presents the first nationwide patientreported outcomes about patient satisfaction and attendance in community pharmacies in Slovakia. Future development and advancement of pharmacy practice leading to higher patient satisfaction requires modification of community pharmacists’ professional behaviour in Slovakia namely in managing therapy of patients.

Population potential within the urban environment and intra-urban railway network opportunities in Bratislava (Slovakia)

AbstractUrban environments in post-socialist cities have generated new challenges for urban planners and decision makers. As one example, the transport infrastructure of Bratislava has not been adjusted with respect to increasing mobility and the transit problems of its intra-urban environment. An upgrading of the conventional railway networks within the city is one of the major opportunities which might considerably improve public transit capacities available for both intra-urban and regional (suburban) transport flows of passengers. Relevant studies on the population potential of residents supporting such upgrades are still lacking. In addition, a detailed database on population distributions within the intra-urban environments of Slovak cities is not yet available. Therefore, this paper attempts to introduce one of the possible methodological approaches leading to an estimation of population potential as an elementary precondition of intra-urban railway traffic effectiveness, in a society where a detailed database on population distribution is not available.

Network and participatory governance in urban forestry: An assessment of examples from selected Slovakian cities

Current political trends and scholarly research increasingly promotes network and participatory governance in multi-level systems as a way to more sustainable and effective environmental policy. In Slovakia best practice knowledge on shaping and implementing participatory processes is scarce. The main aim of the article is to assess the role of various stakeholders in the processes of participatory and network governance in urban forests in Slovakia. Based on selected case studies critical factors of success or failure in urban forestry at local level were identified. The methodological approach consisted of combination of multiple research methods. The main data sources for the qualitative part were expert structural interviews and complemented by desk study of relevant scientific literature, strategic documents, and personal observation and own findings from previous research projects on public participation. At national and regional levels open, continuous and initiatively functioning network is present and influences decision making. The result of the cooperation among various stakeholders at the local level most frequently takes the form of positive experience sharing from the implementation of community and civic projects, but it can also be beneficial to promote alternative proposals in strategic documents and development plans. In Slovakia, companies of municipal forests organize participatory processes in collaboration with local self-government, local and regional state government, nature conservation agencies, community activists and NGOs and enhance participation at regional and local level. The results thus show that difference between success and failure in many participatory processes is often unclear especially if a large number of stakeholders take part in the activities and their interests might differ. The crucial factor for the success or failure of the complex participatory process is to ensure the sustainability of the achieved goal or result.