Corridor Network Research Articles

Геополитическая трансформация Каспийского региона: итоги и направления развития

The geopolitical reshaping of the Caspian region, which began after the collapse of the USSR, continues. Over the past decades, a network of transport corridors has expanded in this area, and a new architecture of pipelines delivering oil and gas to foreign markets has been formed. The Caspian states actively develop cooperation in the energy sphere that serves as a basis for development. Significant progress has been achieved on the key issue of the international legal status of the Caspian Sea. The signing of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea in 2018 stabilized the geopolitical situation, defined common approaches of the states to solving regional problems and outlined ways for further cooperation. After the signing of the Convention, the key principles of multilateral cooperation between the countries of the region in different areas were formulated, establishing their priority in determining major directions of the region’s development. The 6th Summit of the Caspian States, held in June 2022, consolidated the main approaches to cooperation in the region. The meeting resulted in the creation of multilateral mechanisms for interaction and implementation of new infrastructure projects in the region. At the same time, new trends have emerged in recent years, and they have unique characteristics. This indicates the high dynamics of the processes that is taking place in the Caspian Sea. The methodological basis of the study is a systematic analysis of the processes unfolding in the region in the light of foreign policy changes and the transformation of the role of external actors.

ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ РАЗВИТИЯ РОССИЙСКО-КИТАЙСКОГО ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКОГО СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА И КООПЕРАЦИИ

Russian-Chinese energy cooperation is one of the most promising areas for the development of bilateral relations between the two states. China is the world’s largest energy consumer, and Russia is one of the largest producers of oil and gas. This makes it possible to establish a strong partnership between the countries in question in the energy sector. The urgency of the development of Russian-Chinese energy cooperation lies in the need to ensure economic growth and stability of both countries. China’s rapid economic growth leads to an ever-growing demand for energy, which can cause certain difficulties for its own production and imports. In turn, Russia needs to diversify its exports and look for new markets for its energy resources. In recent years, Russia has been actively involved in the implementation of China’s largest infrastructure project “One Belt, One Road”. This project provides for the creation of a network of transport and energy corridors connecting the countries of Eurasia, Asia and Africa. Russia is a key partner of China in this project. The purpose of the article is to determine the opportunities and prospects for the development of Russian- Chinese energy cooperation.

Small and Medium-Sized Port Greening Initiatives as Trigger for a Servitisation Port Ecosystem

Abstract Despite the highest competition among the big EU seaports – gateways and hubs, such as Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg or Valencia, etc. which stand for the Core Ports in the European Union (EU) Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Core and Comprehensive Network, the present paper addresses challenges and raises potentials immanent in Small and Medium-Sized Ports (SMSPs) in the EU. Environmental responsibility and digital efficiency – Europe’s twin to a green and digital economy paves the way for SMSPs to improve innovation capacity, upgrade demanded future skills and competencies, accelerate EU policies compliant operational, environmental, digital, social and market performance. The paper deploys a multi-case study approach. Using an ecosystem approach, the paper reveals potentials and pinpoints to key short- and long-term challenges pursuant to SMSPs in the three different EU macro-regions – Baltic Sea Region, Adriatic-Ionian Sea Region and Mediterranean Sea Region along the three TEN-T Core Network Corridors Orient-East Med, North Sea-Baltic and Scandinavian-Mediterranean. Departing from the role model – Baltic Sea Region – ports of Kaunas, Klaipeda & Wismar are connected via TEN-T corridors with ports of Bari and Corfu. In this vein, knowledge, skills and best practices are transferred from the North Europe to the South and vice versa using the concepts of co-creation and servitisation. Illustrated case studies reveal how all SMSPs are capable to kick-start environmental and digital transition through co-creation and servitisation mindset in a SMSP ecosystem conceptualisation.

Construction of Cultural Heritage Tourism Corridor for the Dissemination of Historical Culture: A Case Study of Typical Mountainous Multi-Ethnic Area in China

The conservation and utilization of cultural heritage resources play a crucial role in the sustainable development of regional tourism in mountainous multi-ethnic areas. Nevertheless, these heritage resources tend to be numerous and geographically dispersed, poorly accessible, and difficult to preserve and utilize, which makes utilizing them holistically at a regional level challenging. Furthermore, each cultural heritage has a specific capacity for cultural dissemination, and establishing the links between heritage sites can enhance the overall cultural influence of a region and promote the development of regional tourism. Consequently, this study aims to promote the conservation and utilization of cultural heritage by constructing a cultural landscape tourism corridor network in the region. A potential cultural landscape tourism corridor network was first constructed based on the least-cost path analysis. Then, the layout and hierarchy of the potential network were optimized based on the existing traffic layout in the area. Finally, for mountainous multi-ethnic areas with poor access to transportation, the tourism corridor network may support the holistic conservation and use of the region’s cultural heritage and the development of regional cultural tourism.

PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE GEOPOLITICAL POSITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

This article analyses to what extent the Republic of Croatia has so far been able to use its favourable geographical position and other geographical features of its territory to improve its own geopolitical position. The article uses the method of neoclassical geopolitics. The conducted analysis shows that the geopolitical agents are aware of the potential of the Croatian territory and that some geopolitical goals are defined in the National Security Strategy. Consequently, Croatian transport infrastructure is constantly being built, modernized, and partly connects to the network of pan-European corridors. Croatia has been able to use its favourable geographical position in defining and implementing its foreign policy goals.

PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE GEOPOLITICAL POSITION OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

This article analyses to what extent the Republic of Croatia has so far been able to use its favourable geographical position and other geographical features of its territory to improve its own geopolitical position. The article uses the method of neoclassical geopolitics. The conducted analysis shows that the geopolitical agents are aware of the potential of the Croatian territory and that some geopolitical goals are defined in the National Security Strategy. Consequently, Croatian transport infrastructure is constantly being built, modernized, and partly connects to the network of pan-European corridors. Croatia has been able to use its favourable geographical position in defining and implementing its foreign policy goals.

Construction of Ecological Security Pattern for Plateau Lake Based on MSPA–MCR Model: A Case Study of Dianchi Lake Area

The construction of ecological security patterns is an effective means to improve ecological environment quality, protect regional biodiversity, and alleviate the landscape fragmentation caused by urbanization in plateau lake cities. Taking the Dianchi Lake area as an example, we used the morphological spatial pattern analysis method (MSPA) and the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) to construct a comprehensive resistance surface, ecological corridor network, and ecological security pattern for the study area. Firstly, we selected 12 ecological sources with more than 1000 hm2, PC, IIC index more than 1, and high habitat quality and connectivity from the study area, including the Dianchi lake body and the mountain forests in the south, north, and west. The overall habitat quality in the eastern region was poor. Secondly, the regional comprehensive resistance value was 1.0925–4.5395. The comprehensive resistance surface showed that the influence of human activities in the region was strong, and the connectivity between important sources was poor. Thirdly, we identified 26 important corridors with interaction force values higher than 50, mostly mountain corridors, between sources that were close to one another and over 40 general corridors with interaction force values lower than 50 in urban built-up areas, most of which were river corridors. Fourthly, by identifying five potential sources and 43 potential corridors in the eastern region, we improved the ecological network function and overall connectivity. The α index (loop pass degree), β index (line point rate), and γ index (connectivity degree) were 2.895, 5.5, and 2.2 before optimization and 3.206, 6.412, and 2.422 after optimization, respectively. Lastly, the “ridge lines” and “valley lines” were used to screen the ecological nodes in our ecological network model and construct a “one core, three regions, and one belt” ecological security pattern by combining the geographical characteristics of the research region and the local policy planning guidance. We also provided ecological control, restoration, and construction suggestions based on the corridor plans of other administrative regions and the different types of source area.

Outdoor ventilation evaluation and optimization based on spatial morphology analysis in Macau

Owing to Macau's high urban development intensity, outdoor ventilation is important to enhance human comfort. In this study, four morphological indices as frontal area index (FAI), site coverage (SC), building height (BH) and floor area ratio (FAR) were mapped and analyzed by establishing a refined three-dimensional urban digital model. Then indicator analysis, numerical simulation and LST retrieval were comprehensively used to assess the present outdoor ventilation conditions of Macau. The results showed that Macau's overall spatial morphology was not conducive to ventilation. In hot season, the cool sea breeze was obstructed by high-rise buildings in coastal area of the northern peninsula and difficult to infiltrate into the inner city. In cold season, the high pedestrian level wind speed of urban blocks in coastal areas of southern island was not good for wind protection. In Macau's northern peninsula, three potential wind corridors that connecting several existing open spaces are suggested. In southern island, a clustered urban development mode is proposed to create a wind corridor network. In addition, the existing heat islands in the windward side of wind corridors can be reduced by optimizing land surface. For pedestrian-level ventilation, the wind speed of traditional neighborhoods can be enhanced by reducing site coverage and introducing high-rise buildings during urban renewal. Wind protection methods should be considered in existing coastal urban areas, and low-rise high-density development mode is recommended for coastal new town planning in southern island. This research presents an opportunity to assist urban planners and researchers in developing a comprehensive understanding of Macau's ventilation condition, and provides theoretical support for planning practices for Macau and cities with comparable conditions.

Identifying ecological corridors for wetland waterbirds in Northeast China

Ecological corridors have recently garnered increasing international attention as promising biodiversity conservation models to study the effects of climate change. However, very few studies have characterized waterbird ecological corridors and their responses to environmental variations. Here, a hybrid model approach combining the least resistance model and circuit theory was applied to identify ecological corridors for four kinds of waterbirds (Grus japonensis, Grus grus, Cygnus cygnus, Mergus squamatus) in Northeast China. This region contains many wetlands that are rich in waterbird species and are important habitats and breeding grounds for waterbirds on the East Asia-Australia migration route. Our findings demonstrated that the least cost routes of different waterbird species and their pinch points (i.e., areas exhibiting high waterbird transit and density) have the potential to become waterbird ecological corridors. However, we observed substantial differences in the number of least-cost paths and the structure and distribution of ecological corridor networks due to differences in the number and distribution of waterbird core habitat patches. The number and distribution of pinch points were also different. Over 85% of the waterbird occurrence points were not far from the least-cost routes or the pinch points, indicating that the detected least-cost routes and the pinch points were not only ecological corridors for waterbirds but also priority areas for the conservation of waterbird habitat networks. The methods proposed herein could thus be used as a basis for the identification of multi-species waterbird ecological corridors in other countries, as well as forest bird ecological corridors at other scales.

Restoration of urban waterbird diversity: A case study of the construction of a waterbird ecological corridor in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Southern China

Rapid urbanization has intensified habitat fragmentation and shrinkage of waterbirds, threatening the sustainable development of waterbird diversity. Urban waterbird restoration can be achieved by considering suburban waterbirds as the source of restoration of urban waterbird diversity and by overcoming the separation between urban and suburban populations. Optimal design of ecological corridors is the most effective approach to facilitate movement of waterbirds. However, three challenges to applying ecological corridors to urban waterbird diversity restoration remain: (1)identifying focal species for the ecological corridor network; (2)identifying nodes in the ecological corridor; (3) assigning priority for design of the different areas in the corridor. The aim of this study was to develop methods to resolve these challenges using the design of a waterbird ecological corridor in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in Southern China as a case study. Under the proposed methods, it is hoped that waterbird recovery will occur in the city, characterized by a complex three-dimensional space, thereby promoting an increase in urban waterbird diversity.

Measuring urban ecological network resilience: A disturbance scenario simulation method

Human disturbance of urban ecosystems is intensifying, as is ecological fragmentation. As such, effective connections between green spaces must be established and restored to form structurally resilient urban ecological networks. In this study, we focused on indicators of city-scale ecological network resilience. We constructed a network model, analyzed the disturbance simulation results, and identified key nodes. Shenzhen, a megacity in China was selected for empirical research. First, we used Floyd algorithm to extract least-cost paths and then generate the corridor network, constructing an ecological network model with 386 nodes and 4910 edges. Second, focusing on the nodes of the constructed ecological network, we adopted a selected attack strategy to conduct dynamic simulations, using two parameters, network efficiency and maximum connectivity, to evaluate the resilience of the ecological network to changes under various disturbance scenarios. The results showed that the ecological network structure in the study area was relatively stable, and the first 30 % of nodes substantially impacted network resilience. The outcomes reflect the state of urban ecosystems that have been disturbed by socio-economic systems and are practically important for formulating adaptive spatial planning and management policies.

Urban wildlife corridors: Building bridges for wildlife and people

Urbanization is rapidly expanding across the globe, leading to increasing threats to wildlife in and around cities. Wildlife corridors are one strategy used to connect fragmented wildlife populations; however, building wildlife corridors in urban areas remains a challenge because of the number of barriers between habitat patches and the extensive number of property owners and stakeholders involved. Successful urban wildlife corridor conservation thus requires a collaborative approach and a cohesive plan that transcends municipal boundaries. Here we demonstrate how urban wildlife corridor conservation can provide a unique opportunity to build bridges not only for wildlife but also among scientists, non-profits, government agencies, and communities. Our case study centers on the conservation of a network of wildlife corridors in one of the world's megacities, Los Angeles, and the positive feedback loop sparked by collaboration between research and non-profit work. We discuss the benefits of and challenges to building complex collaborations for the purpose of strengthening urban resilience and redesigning sustainable cities.

Landscape genetics of a sub-alpine toad: climate change predicted to induce upward range shifts via asymmetrical migration corridors.

Climate change is expected to have a major hydrological impact on the core breeding habitat and migration corridors of many amphibians in the twenty-first century. The Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus) is a species of meadow-specializing amphibian endemic to the high-elevation Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Despite living entirely on federal lands, it has recently faced severe extirpations, yet our understanding of climatic influences on population connectivity is limited. In this study, we used a previously published double-digest RADseq dataset along with numerous remotely sensed habitat features in a landscape genetics framework to answer two primary questions in Yosemite National Park: (1) Which fine-scale climate, topographic, soil, and vegetation features most facilitate meadow connectivity? (2) How is climate change predicted to influence both the magnitude and net asymmetry of genetic migration? We developed an approach for simultaneously modeling multiple toad migration paths, akin to circuit theory, except raw environmental features can be separately considered. Our workflow identified the most likely migration corridors between meadows and used the unique cubist machine learning approach to fit and forecast environmental models of connectivity. We identified the permuted modeling importance of numerous snowpack-related features, such as runoff and groundwater recharge. Our results highlight the importance of considering phylogeographic structure, and asymmetrical migration in landscape genetics. We predict an upward elevational shift for this already high-elevation species, as measured by the net vector of anticipated genetic movement, and a north-eastward shift in species distribution via the network of genetic migration corridors across the park.

Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) network in urban areas for sustainable storm water management: A geospatial approach

In a natural landscape, when rainfall reaches the Earth’s surface, water either percolates into the ground or it flows as run-off finally reaching a water body such as a lake or a river. Due to rapid urbanization, the natural landcover in the cities is being replaced with impervious surfaces which significantly alters the natural patterns and processes of urban landscape resulting in mismanagement of storm water and hence the flooding issues. Integrated Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI), a landscape conservation approach with nested networks of blue and green spaces (permeable pavements, bioswales, rain gardens, urban tree cover, small ponds and wetlands) can provide an alternative approach to conventional storm water management along with its multiple environmental benefits. The objective of this paper is to develop a geospatial technology-based approach for the identification of BGI network by employing graph theory and gravity model for sustainable storm water management in the city of Ahmedabad, India. The study introduces a replicable approach by integrating five key criteria i.e., slope, drainage density, land cover, hydrologic soil group and proximity to roads for Suitability Analysis, selecting core patches as nodes in a GIS environment and identifying corridors by employing the least cost path function followed by assessment of selected corridors using gravity model. Analysis of land surface characteristics reveals that Ahmedabad has a high suitability for the implementation of BGI. A variety of blue and green open spaces throughout the city such as parks, gardens and lakes form the node which are connected by a network of corridors developed by the least cost path model and gravity model. The methods and practices adopted in this research represented an innovative approach for the implementation of BGI networks for storm water management in an urban landscape.

Spatial-temporal dynamics and evolution of ecological security in a rapid urbanization city, Southwest China

The main goal of constructing ecological security patterns (ESPs) is to identify ecological sources, corridors and nodes that play significant roles in sustainable development on a regional scale. Although there are many studies on the construction of ESPs, there is no consensus in terms of research methodology and systematic frameworks for integrated landscape management. Based on land use data from 2000, 2010, and 2020 of Chongqing Municipality in southwest China, we evaluated the spatial-temporal variation of ESPs by integrating InVEST and Circuit Theory. Results showed that: (a) Habitat quality varied through space, with habitat quality being lower in the western and central regions and higher in the southeastern and northeastern regions. (b) The area of lower quality habitat across different time periods was more than 46%, and habitat quality over the last two decades has generally been low with no significant improvement. (c) From 2000 to 2020, ecological sources were primarily distributed in the mountainous areas with high habitat quality and fractional vegetation coverage in the northeast and southeast. The regions identified ecological sources in 2000, 2010, and 2020 accounted for 31.37, 33.53, and 32.7% of Chongqing Municipality, respectively. (d) The ESPs were composed of ecological sources dominated by forests, connected by continuous ecological corridors. The current ESPs of Chongqing Municipality included 20 ecological nodes, 17 continuous ecological corridors and 23 ecological sources. We strongly suggest the local governments strengthen the protection of the identified ecological nodes, ecological corridors, ecological sources, and protection gaps, and focus on strengthening the construction and management of the ecological corridor network system to promote species diffusion and gene exchange. Our findings are helpful for policy makers to introduce appropriate measures to objectively guide urban expansion via rational and sustainable development of land resources and improve the level of ecological security for Chongqing Municipality.

Ecological networks and corridors development in urban areas: An example of Tabriz, Iran

Landscape fragmentation and the elimination of urban green spaces are the results of human activities which put significant pressure on urban sustainability. The planning and developing of urban ecological networks and corridors as an effective approach is a response to rapid urbanization and fragmentation of natural areas. The Tabriz metropolitan as the fourth-largest city in Iran was selected as a case study that has grown rapidly over the past few decades. This study presents a practical approach and framework for assessing and enhancing ecological connectivity of landscape. The framework was developed based on the landscape metrics, graph theory, least-cost modeling, and geographic information system tools during three different periods (1984-2000-2020). The results using the values of landscape metrics such as CA, Edge Distance, Mean Patch Size, Mean Shape Index, large patch index, NP, Landscape shape index, and COHESION indicate that the urban landscape of Tabriz has been more fragmented over the past 3 decades and has lost its connectivity. To reduce the effects of fragmentation and enhance landscape connectivity in study area, we proposed a network of ecological corridors that passes through the core ecological patches. Our results also indicate that the core patches and the least-cost created corridors are mainly located in the suburbs of Tabriz and the central part of the city cannot be suitable for ecological development. Therefore, using the above-mentioned methods could be an effective approach to develop ecological networks and improve landscape connectivity that can encourage urban planners and managers to protect and develop green networks.

Developing and evaluating a coordinated person-based signal control paradigm in a corridor network

ABSTRACT Connected Vehicles (CVs) provide both vehicle trajectory data and occupancy information to the junction controller, which make person-based signal controls to be possible by realizing the importance of reducing person delay. This study presents a coordinated person-based signal control algorithm (C-PBC), which has extended a previously developed approach from isolated junctions to multiple junctions. C-PBC incorporates vehicle information that is outside the CV communication range from the adjacent junction. It also updates data inputs for signal optimization algorithms based on formulated different arrival vehicle trajectory situations and coordinated data supplement algorithms. The developed algorithm has been evaluated using simulation with benchmarking signal control methods under a variety of scenarios involving CV penetration rates and predictive horizons. The results indicate that C-PBC is able to significantly improve person delay reduction when compared with fixed time control and vehicle-based control using CV data in 100% CV penetration rate under saturated flow conditions.

Strengthening a Regional Green Infrastructure through Improved Multifunctionality and Connectedness: Policy Suggestions from Sardinia, Italy

A wide body of research in recent years has studied either green infrastructures as providers of multiple ecosystem services, especially at the urban level, or ecological corridors and the issue of connectivity between landscape patches in the face of growing fragmentation. However, not many studies have analyzed how the two concepts can be combined to ground evidence-based policy and planning recommendations. In this study, a methodological approach for such a combination is proposed: after mapping a regional green infrastructure building upon the assessment of multiple ecosystem services and a network of ecological corridors through the resistance to movement of species, the two spatial layouts are combined so as to analyze correlations between the potential provision of ecosystem services and the resistance to movement. The methodology is applied in the case of the island of Sardinia, whose self-containment makes it possible to discard potential effects from surrounding areas, hence facilitating the implementation of the model. The outcomes of the regression model point out three ecosystem services as the most important factors that should be targeted by appropriate spatial policies if connectivity is to be increased: regulation of micro and local climate, forestry productivity, and cultural identity and heritage values.

Geospatial modelling of overlapping habitats for identification of tiger corridor networks in the Terai Arc landscape of India

Wildlife corridors in a landscape include local vegetation, topography, prey base, water and are associated with isolated wildlife habitat patches. They facilitate maintenance of ecological structure and function as well as provide connectivity to faunal populations supporting genetic transfers, and are elements critical to wildlife management. In this work, habitat patches for tiger, both inside as well as outside of Protected Areas have been identified by developing a Habitat Suitability Index model utilizing Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System datasets for the Terai Arc landscape, India. By using a computational approach based on the framework of theory of complex networks, for exclusively pairwise interactions between the habitat patches, a potential tiger corridor network has been structurally identified and studied in this landscape. The interactions between these habitat patches on a spatial scale has been analyzed as a clique of the corridor network. Further, the Clique Percolation Method has been applied to detect overlapping communities of habitat patches in the landscape. The Cliques required for maintaining contiguity between the habitat patches in order to support tiger movement are validated using field observations of tiger communities within the landscape matrix. The model developed for identification of tiger corridors in this study could potentially be of a vital importance for wildlife stakeholders to better understand and manage tiger populations both within and outside of protected areas. The study also highlights Critical Habitat Patches and their importance in maintaining landscape connectivity for tiger dispersal in the landscape. Using a report published by the Government of India as a benchmark, the model presented in the work is found to have an accuracy of 90.73% in predicting tiger carrying patches and the corridor network in the focal landscape.

A connectivity modeling and evaluating methodological framework in biodiversity hotspots based on naturalness and linking wilderness

AbstractWilderness is important for the maintenance of biodiversity, but human activities are increasingly fragmenting it. This situation has serious impacts on various ecological processes, especially in biodiversity hotspots. In previous studies, connectivity modeling is mostly focused on key species, but this approach is difficult to use in biodiversity hotspots. Therefore, it is more practical to focus on naturalness or wilderness. In this study, the Boolean tool and morphological analysis were used to extract landscape type core as wilderness core and Bridge as structural corridors. Then, connectivity analysis was used to extract the wilderness landscape source (WLS). Linkage mapper and Pinch‐point mapper were used to identify the potential corridors and analyze the Pinch‐Points in the corridor, and network connectivity indexes were used to evaluate the corridor network structure. Finally, wilderness core, WLS, structural corridor, and potential corridor are superimposed to get a wilderness network map. A method framework for comprehensive identification and evaluation of the wilderness network in biodiversity hotspots was proposed. Taking Nujiang Prefecture as an example, a wilderness network was constructed and evaluated based on naturalness and wilderness. The results show that human activity has a clear impact on connectivity and that wilderness networks have the potential to be an efficient alternative to habitat networks. In addition, the method framework has potential applicability to other biodiversity hotspots’ regions to reduce the impact of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity.