Cities In Poland Research Articles

ANALIZA TRENDÓW ROZWOJOWYCH MIAST SIECI CITTASLOW W POLSCE W LATACH 2006-2019

The article presents a study of Polish cities, members of the cittaslow network, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis covered twenty-nine cities that belonged to the network before 2019. The research is divided into three stages: the first one focuses on the analysis of strategic and planning documents at the municipal, provincial, and national levels; the second one examines investments by the cities and determines their relation to the cittaslow idea to highlight directions of development; whereas the third stage analyses statistical data to determine whether the cittaslow cities in Poland show an upward growth trend based on selected indicators. The analyses aim to assess whether and to what extent the idea of cittaslow is an important factor in the development of the cities.

Model podmiotowego rozwoju miast. Analiza politologiczno-prawna

THE MODEL OF SUBJECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF CITIES: POLITICAL AND LEGAL ANALYSIS The development policy of the cities is analyzed and studied mainly with the help of concepts typical of geography, spatial economy and sociology. The article proposes to look at this issue through the prism of political science. The epistemology of the concept of political subjectivity, the theory of rational choice, the new institutionalism and system analysis will be used. Based on the conclusions from the theoretical part, the authors distinguish four criteria for the political analysis of the position of cities in Poland. They are: the criterion of resources and interests, the criterion of efficiency, the criterion of relations, and the criterion of coordination. Those criteria relate to, i.a. activities of political authorities in relation to cities, the influence they have on implementation of functions assigned to them, as well as the way in which the role of cities in the state’s political system changes. Based on the analysis of the four criteria, it is possible to determine whether cities are to a greater extent subjects or objects of activities of the central center of political power in the state. Using a schematic matrix of city development models proposed by the author, it is then possible to determine whether, in political terms, we are dealing with a subjective development of cities in Poland.

Seniors' housing preferences in medium-sized cities in Poland

Purpose: The paper investigates senior citizens' housing preferences and needs in medium-sized Polish cities, aiming to inform sustainable housing development strategies that cater to an ageing population. Methodology: Utilizing a questionnaire survey, the study engages a representative group of seniors and pre-seniors within the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship to gather data on their housing conditions, preferences, and expectations. Results: Findings reveal a significant demand for housing adapted to seniors’ needs, with preferences leaning towards dwellings without architectural barriers and including essential services. The research highlights the discrepancy between current living conditions and the ideal housing situation for seniors. Theoretical Contribution: This paper contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban development by emphasizing the importance of integrating senior citizens’ housing preferences into planning and policy-making processes. Practical Implications: The study offers valuable insights for real estate developers, urban planners, and policymakers, suggesting the need for a diversified housing market that includes options tailored to the elderly, potentially influencing future housing policies and market offerings.

Fundamental power of the city – A proposition of a new paradigm and index for city development

Managing a dynamic and complex urban system according to the single concept of city development is insufficient. The study's aim is to present the main concepts of cities development, formulate a new hybrid concept of city, and propose a related index to support strategy implementation and monitoring. The research methods include literature scoping, literature content analysis, and linear ordering as a multivariate method of analysis. The research conclusion identifies a new hybrid concept of a “resilient smart sustainable city” and explains a distinction between weak and strong perception of the concept. The practical part of the research develops synthetic measure “Fundamental Power of the City Index” which allows to select variables representing individual cities' priorities and apply them in every city analysis, development strategy building, and monitoring. The Index is tested for 18 voivodship cities in Poland for the period 2014–2020. The results of this study can support city stakeholders in their efforts in developing “resilient smart sustainable city”.

Paradoxes of probation: Statutory limitation on the possibility of probation decreased the severity of judgments

Probation is a tool to decrease the severity of the legal system. In theory, more instruments of probation mean fewer people deprived of liberty. However, Poland previously faced a paradoxical situation: there was a significant crime rate drop and a growing number of suspended punishments, but—at the same time—the incarceration rate was high. Many argued that the cause of this state of affairs was the overuse of probation instruments. Almost half of suspended punishments of deprivation of liberty were ultimately enforced. The 2015 reform of the Polish criminal law aimed to decrease the statutory possibility of using probation. This study compares trial outcomes from before and after the reform. We examine files from district courts in 13 cities in Poland for two offences: drug possession and drunk driving. We conclude that the limit on probation decreases the severity of the legal system.

Murale w przestrzeni miasta. Analiza funkcji i rozmieszczenia na przykładzie Słupska

Mural art is popular in many cities in Poland. Słupsk is one of them. The main goal of the paper is to present the distribution, theme, and functions of the murals in Słupsk. In the space of this medium-sized city situated in Pomerania region 40 murals have been catalogued and described according to the adopted criteria, thus obtaining detailed information about their location and subject matter. Most of Słupsk’s murals are in the Old Town, especially located in the revitalized area. The analysis of their detailed location shows that they are both in prominent places (main streets and squares) and in less visible places (side streets, gates, garage walls). The themes of murals in Słupsk are diverse. In-depth interviews with representatives of the city hall, cultural centre, tourist information centre, a foundation operating in the field of culture, social activation, and education, as well as mural artists in Słupsk allowed also to obtain information on the murals’ functions and paths of their creation in the urban space. Respondents emphasized the importance of murals in the revitalization of the city and drew attention to their educational, tourist and promotional function.

Marketing of heated tobacco products and tobacco - a case study of 5 nightclubs in a major city in Poland

Marketing of heated tobacco products and tobacco - a case study of 5 nightclubs in a major city in Poland

CHANGES IN THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF MUNICIPALITIES WITHOUT POVIAT RIGHTS IN POLAND IN THE YEARS 2010-2021

The purpose of the paper is to identify and assess changes in the financial situation of municipalities without Polish towns in Poland against the background of the whole country in the years 2010–2021. The empirical material of the paper concerns both the whole country and all municipalities without poviat towns in Poland. The numerical data comes from the Warsaw Central Statistics Office Local Data Bank and cover the years 2010–2021. The collected and ordered empirical material was elaborated in descriptive, tabular, and graphical form, using the method of comparative analysis. Furthermore, a point evaluation of all diagnostic features was made that illustrates the financial situation of municipalities without cities in Poland against the background of the entire country for the years 2010–2021, which constitutes a new approach to the research problem undertaken in the article. The analysis of the statistical data confirmed the research hypothesis assuming that the presence of a city, especially a bigger one, is a significant factor positively and permanently influencing the financial situation of communes without cities with poviat rights in Poland.

Optimizing Municipal Waste Collection: a Case Study of a City in Poland

The main problem of waste management is the increasing amount of municipal waste, and one of the key processes generating high costs is the waste collection process. The aim of the article was to optimize the route of a garbage truck using information technology (IT) software in one of the most populated Polish cities. The article tests the study hypothesis: the use of route optimization software will reduce the route length traveled by the garbage truck of the MZO in Pruszków. The data for the study was made available with the consent of the Municipal Treatment Plant in Pruszków. The received materials included information on, among others, Global Positioning System (GPS) readings of the garbage truck, including route start and end times, route length, average speed, driving time, and time of stops, points selected by the planners to collect waste along the route, information on the amount of waste collected during the implementation of the route, technical data on the moving vehicle and characteristics of the sorting plant were received. The article proposes the optimization of the routes of collection and transportation of municipal waste using the traveling salesman problem (TSP). The minimization of route length was assumed as the optimization criterion. All calculations were made in the Routimo program dedicated to route planning and optimization. As a result of the optimization, the route length was reduced by nearly 32%, and the working time by 9%. Thus, the research hypothesis stated in the article was positively verified.

Detecting housing bubble in Poland: Investigation into two housing booms

The paper investigates the potential house price bubble in 18 provincial capital cities in Poland from 2000 to 2022. This is the first comprehensive effort to examine the house price exuberance throughout two housing market cycles (2000–2013 and 2014–2022, respectively). Additionally, we evaluate the risk of the housing bubble during a volatile era when the housing market in Poland was exposed to significant external shocks connected to COVID-19.In the study, we apply the new generation of recursive housing bubble identification procedures developed by Phillips, Shi and Yu (2015) and test whether the explosive behaviour of house prices in Polish cities was linked to household incomes and rents. Using the Error Correction Model, we also checked whether house prices were linked to fundamentals.In general, we observed explosive behaviour of house prices during the 2006–2007 period, which is not justified by fundamentals in all cities examined. The length and precise timing of the bubble phases varied amongst regional cities. Despite this, the findings are consistent with earlier data from other nations, which adds credence to the idea that the 2007 housing bubble was a worldwide occurrence. Contrary to what is commonly believed and reported in the media, we have not seen any indications of irrational house price behaviour in Polish cities during the Covid-19 outbreak. Contrary to the overwhelming evidence for the house price exuberance between 2006 and 2007, we conclude that there is no solid evidence of the existence of the housing bubble in recent years.

Friendly City. Making Architectural Heritage Accessible

The “Friendly City” Project (FCP) supports the blind and visually impaired (BVI) people to perceive the local architectural heritage in Lodz city in Poland. The multidisciplinary project aims on promoting the accessibility of architectural heritage to the BVI community by adding Audio Descriptions (AD) to 85 public places. The ADs in FCP are guided by insights from an eye tracking study on the perception of architecture by novices and experts, and interviews with BVIs from the Lodz association. The project supports the independence of movement of BVI people in the city center using public transport by installing 200 Bluetooth beacons on city stops and in public places. The beacon devices communicate with smartphones of BVIs and sighted people via a mobile application. The system and applications for FCP are designed with the principles of universal user-centered design. The signals will help BVIs to locate the stop with voice messages about the distance and location.

Long-Term Exposure of Nitrogen Oxides Air Pollution (NO2) Impact for Coronary Artery Lesion Progression-Pilot Study.

The potentially harmful effects of air pollution on the human health have been already presented in epidemiological studies, suggesting a strong association with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate a possible relationship between coronary artery lesion progression related to habitation place (cities vs. villages) and air pollution. There were 148 (101 men and 47 women) patients with a median age of 70 (63-74) years enrolled into retrospective analysis based on the coronary angiography results and their habitation place. Patients with stable coronary syndrome, who underwent repeated percutaneous coronary interventions were enrolled into the analysis based on demographical and clinical characteristics combined with annual exposure to air pollution (PM2.5, PM10, and NO2). The results of multivariable regression analysis showed a significant relationship between coronary artery lesion progression requiring percutaneous intervention and NO2 chronic exposure in patients living in cities of Poland (OR 2.00, 95% CI: 0.41-9.62, p < 0.001). The predictive value of air pollution exposure at habitation place for coronary artery lesion progression requiring percutaneous intervention was evaluated by receiver-operator curve analysis, which revealed an area under the curve of 0.939, yielding a sensitivity of 87.1% and specificity of 90.7%. Coronary artery lesion progression can be related to chronic exposure to NO2 air pollution in patients living in cities in Poland.

Comparative Analysis of the Development of Electromobility Strategies in Selected Cities in Poland

Comparative Analysis of the Development of Electromobility Strategies in Selected Cities in Poland

Identification of the spatial extent of the peri-urban area: The case of three cities in Poland

Abstract The work detailed here seeks to recognise features by which areas that can be deemed peri-urban differ from both city and countryside, to the extent that a separate specific identity for them can be discerned. The recognised features made it possible to identify the extent of the peri-urban area. The wealth of relevant literature is first considered, and this is seen to relate to the spatial side and to definition on the one hand, and to ongoing socio-economic processes on the other. Several Polish cities are then selected as the authors seek to discuss indicators useful in determining the spatial scope of the said peri-urban zones. The work proceeds on the assumption that these represent a real component of an urban-rural continuum characterised by reduced diversity and intensity of social and economic phenomena with steadily-increasing distance from the limits of a city in the direction of “traditional” rural areas.

Alternative Methods of Replacing Electric Batteries in Public Transport Vehicles

Current electric vehicle solutions offer the possibility of a fully electrified bus fleet, although due to financial constraints, most cities cannot afford it. Therefore, the possibility of battery replacement is a needed alternative to the electrification process of a city’s bus fleet. The aim of this study is to investigate the needs of cities and present the concept of battery replacement in an electric bus. The research was based on two groups of selected Polish cities: (1) up to 150,000 inhabitants, and (2) up to 1 million inhabitants. The research part includes an analysis of the means of transport in provincial cities in Poland, an analysis of the kilometers covered by the city fleet, the average distances covered by buses per day, and an estimate of the number of battery replacements. The concept is based on current technological solutions. The description of the concept includes the proposed battery and the technology used, the placement of the battery in the vehicle, and the replacement scheme. Research indicates that the concept can be used with existing technology but will be more justifiable for a larger city due to the higher fleet load. The paper shows the importance of researching bus electrification solutions and that modern solutions can improve existing urban networks in cities.

Climate change adaptation policy and practice: Case study of the major cities in Poland

The paper critically evaluates the urban climate change adaptation policy and practise in Central Europe using Polish cities as an example. The study focused on local policy documents and a scoring system was elaborated and applied for their analysis with particular attention to ‘green’ adaptation concepts. The link between the time of adoption and the scores received by cities' Strategies and Programmes for Environmental Protection demonstrates innovation flow from science into urban policy. We revealed that many of the proposed measures in Urban Adaptation Plans represent rather mitigation than adaptation implying substantial knowledge gaps in differentiating between them. A portfolio of projects implemented in 2014–2020 within EU funding programmes and Participatory budget was compiled with further classification into ‘green’, ‘grey’, or ‘soft’. More than 80 % of the selected projects in each of the cities were classified as ‘green’, but only one studied city demonstrated an upward trend in the number and cumulative budget of the adaptation projects. The examined Polish cities, similarly to other Central and Eastern European ones, experiencing fast economic growth have featured a profound contraction of green areas over the last decades. Partially it might be compensated by local environmental programmes that promote application of nature-based solutions.

Recognition of systemic differences in municipal waste management in selected cities in Poland and the United States

This study aims to demonstrate differences in the efficiency of municipal waste management from 2014 to 2017 between two selected cities with a comparable number of inhabitants: Radom in Poland and Spokane, WA, in the United States. The study considers the significance of these cities’ rates of waste accumulation and the application of the autoregressive integrated moving average model for forecasting. Within a 4-year period, Spokane recorded a higher total mass of waste collected (4175.4 Mg) than Radom, while Radom recorded a higher monthly average (exceeding 500 Mg) than Spokane. In these cities, nonselectively collected waste was predominant, with an average mass of 1340 Mg, and the highest accumulation rate per capita in the European Union was recorded in Radom (174.04 kg per year). An increase in the number of residents by 2000 people in Spokane fostered an increase in waste accumulation rates per capita by an average of more than 11 kg per year, with the highest value of selectively collected waste accumulation per capita reaching 102.18 kg per year. In comparison to Radom, the Spokane city waste management system is characterised by projected waste growth, greater efficiency, a higher accumulation of selective waste, and rational waste to energy processing. Generally, the results of this study indicate a need to develop rational waste management, while taking into account the principles of sustainable development and the requirements of the circular economy.

REVERSE LOGISTICS: A CASE STUDY IN RELATION TO POST-CONSUMER RECYCLED PET BOTTLES (RPET) OF MINERAL WATER

Plastic packaging in general, due to its significant generation, has been configured as an environmental problem, especially when associated with inadequate disposal. In this context, the objective of the present work was to analyze the strategies and the reverse logistics process employed for the production of post-consumer recycled PET (rPET) bottles of mineral water from a factory located in the city of Poland, Maine, the United States (US) and point out reverse logistics actions between Brazil and the US. Data for mapping the reverse logistics process were obtained from secondary data, available electronically. The production cycle begins with the consumer through the correct disposal of the bottle, preferably in the vending machines, allowing the recycling company to recycle the residue and enable the manufacture of pellets. The company under consideration uses pellets to manufacture new rPET bottles, promoting a circular economy. Regarding reverse logistics strategies, the use of water bottle label was identified as a means of communication to inform the proper way of disposal, and the reimbursement given to consumers when disposing of their packaging in reverse vending machines.

Musical communities of sexual minorities

Wroclaw, one of the largest cities in Poland, is full of events taking place in public space, including protests. Using examples taken from the 10th Wroclaw Equality March in 2018, it can be shown that specific musical works become a weapon in the struggle for recognition of the proclaimed values. The study traces the auditory dimension of protests, the role of music in creating a community and the place of such events in the soundscape of a contemporary city. Then the study presents these mechanisms on selected musical examples. Particular attention is paid to the musical communities, because the sound not only accompanies the protests it strengthens the sense of solidarity between the participants. The event is interpreted as a kind of spectacle that constitutes a space for self-expression and the articulation of the postulates of its participants, accompanied by a characteristic soundtrack. It consists mainly of popular music performed by artists either belonging to sexual minorities or being recognized as icons of the community. The study presents the role of disco music and club culture as well as the aesthetics of the camp as crucial for LGBT+ people seeking space for their expression, which is oppositional to the dominant system of values based on gender dualism. Seemingly simple or silly songs can have a deeper meaning and are a key element in shaping a certain community.

Cardiac Involvement in Patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Poland.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an immune-mediated complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Cardiovascular system is commonly involved. Acute heart failure (AHF) is the most severe complication of MIS-C, leading to cardiogenic shock. The aim of the study was to characterise the course of MIS-C with a focus on cardiovascular involvement, based on echocardiographic (echo) evaluation, in 498 children (median age 8.3 years, 63% boys) hospitalised in 50 cities in Poland. Among them, 456 (91.5%) had cardiovascular system involvement: 190 (48.2%) of patients had (most commonly atrioventricular) valvular insufficiency, 155 (41.0%) had contractility abnormalities and 132 (35.6%) had decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF < 55%). Most of these abnormalities improved within a few days. Analysis of the results obtained from two echo descriptions (a median of 5 days apart) revealed a >10% increase in LVEF even in children with primarily normal LVEF. Lower levels of lymphocytes, platelets and sodium and higher levels of inflammatory markers on admission were significantly more common among older children with contractility dysfunction, while younger children developed coronary artery abnormality (CAA) more often. The incidence of ventricular dysfunction might be underestimated. The majority of children with AHF improved significantly within a few days. CAAs were relatively rare. Children with impaired contractility as well as other cardiac abnormalities differed significantly from children without such conditions. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, these findings should be confirmed in further studies.