Spatial Entities Research Articles

Linear, Cyclical, and Spiral? History in Fourth-Century Greek Catechists

This article delves into the previously underexplored conceptualizations of history articulated in the initiatory homilies of late fourth-century Greek catechists Cyril of Jerusalem and John Chrysostom. Grounded in their interpretation of the (Judeo-)Christian tradition, both authors conceive history as a divine narrative, constituting a coherent “history of salvation”. Metaphorically, their historical understanding can be illustrated as a spatial entity characterized through geometric imagery. A systematic analysis of their catecheses reveals that, fundamentally, both authors maintain a linear perspective on history, emphasizing divine beginning in creation and continuing through the present toward an eschatological consummation. Nonetheless, Cyril introduces more nuanced models, including cyclical depictions, notably a four-staged vision of paradise intertwined with a spiral-like conception of history. Owing seemingly to their primary objective of guiding audiences toward robust engagement with the Christian tradition and ecclesial participation, both authors refrain from addressing themes that might provoke unwarranted speculation. By presenting these insights, this article offers a novel contribution to the scholarship on late fourth-century theology of history, concurrently paving the way for historiographical exploration in modern scholarship of late antique Christian sources.

Remnants of Urbicide and Shared Heritage: Uncovering Beirut’s Liminal Political Holes

ABSTRACT The article explores the ways deliberate and large-scale destruction within the urban environment of Beirut initiates a state of liminality resulting in “political holes”– empty areas dispersed throughout the cityscape. The existence of these political holes creates a shared heritage of liminality in the post-conflict territory of Beirut. Drawing from Coward’s (2008) framing of urbicide, Casati and Varzi’s (1994) definition of the hole, and van Gennep’s (1960) and Turner’s (1969) notions of liminality, the article introduces the term “political hole” as a physical liminal spatial entity – an absence – in the urban fabric achieved through an intentional political decision to demolish shared space. Based on a study of a series of demolitions in Beirut, Lebanon, between 1983 and 1994, the article demonstrates how urbicide led to the obliteration of heritage and the appearance of political holes in the city. Using aerial view observation and walking practices, the liminal ephemeral political holes are exposed as physical traces that sit in limbo, awaiting their replacement with a new building. Through analysis, these spaces are then uncovered as a representation of a history of urbicide, embodying the shared permanent liminality that was inflicted on Beirut’s urban landscape.

Uncovering the impacts of LUCC on ecological connectivity in suburban open-pit mining concentration areas: A pattern collection of changing relationships between ecological resistance and ecological network elements

The suburban open-pit mining concentration area couples two human activities, urban sprawl and open-pit mining, while destruction of surface vegetation and ecological restoration coexist. This has also resulted in complex land use shifts that significantly affect regional ecological connectivity. However, the impact of such complex Land use/land cover changes (LUCC) on ecological connectivity in this region is not well understood Therefore, this study takes the suburban open-pit mining concentration area of Jinan City as a case study and uses Land use/land cover (LULC) data from the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 to simulate the spatio-temporal evolution of ecological networks (ENs). Subsequently, a pattern collection of changing relationships was proposed that relate changes in ecological resistance to changes in EN elements, addressing the dynamic transmission process from "spatial field" to "spatial structure entity". Based on this approach, GeoDetector is employed to reveal the response extent of EN elements to LUCC. The results indicate: (1) In the past 20 years, the area of construction land has increased by 100 %, while mining land has increased by 69 %. This significant increase in LUCC has led to a notable enhancement in ecological resistance in the study area, driving the generation of 20 % more ecological pinch points and barriers. Additionally, it has resulted in a twofold increase in both the number and length of level 1 ecological corridors. (2) The dominant status and structure of grassland, agriculture land, and woodland remain relatively stable; however, the interflow among them has caused approximately 25 % of the ecological corridors to undergo changes such as disappearance and path alteration. (3) The implementation of ecological protection and restoration has led to a continuous increase in the area of ecological sources, particularly with the mining rehabilitation increasing by 32.7 times compared to 2000, thereby driving gradual improvement in 25 % of the ecological network elements. (4) Although the quantity and length of ecological corridors in the study area remain relatively stable, evaluation results indicate that its spatial structure is gradually deteriorating, with ecological connectivity decreasing by 7.7 %. This study highlights the importance of restoration of ecological processes in sub-urban open-pit mining concentration areas. The study results can provide a scientific basis for ecological restoration and sustainable development in resource-based cities.

From an arasta bazaar to a piyasa street: the transformation of Direklerarası in Ottoman Istanbul from the 1720s to the 1920s

This article examines the transformation of Direklerarası Street, located on Istanbul’s historical Divanyolu, from the 1720s to the 1920s. Originally built in 1729 as an arasta to generate revenue for Ibrahim Pasha’s madrasa, it featured an innovative architectural style comprising rows of shops facing each other and colonnaded sidewalks. It served as a commercial and social centre for the Janissary Corps until their abolition in 1826. Around the 1860s, Direklerarası integrated into the entertainment and social milieu surrounding Beyazıt Square, particularly during the Ramadan months, and evolved into the primary promenade street of intramural Istanbul with the proliferation of literary cafés, teahouses, and theatres from the 1880s onwards. However, starting from the 1910s, changing socio-cultural and urban dynamics led to the decline of Direklerarası’s reputation and popularity. Conceptualizing Direklerarası as both a spatial entity and a reflection of the cultural dynamics of the late Ottoman capital, this article scrutinizes its transformation driven by social interactions, local entrepreneurship, and political interventions, focusing on spatial experiences, entertainment, spectacle, promenade culture, and clientele.

A Contribution to the Integration of International, National and Local Cultural Heritage Protection in Planning Methodology: A Case Study of the Djerdap Area

The paper focuses on the question of how the application of a multilevel, integrated, and territorial approach can contribute to the protection of cultural heritage through planning instruments in Serbia. The principles of territorialization, integration and digitalization highlighted in the recent strategic documents of the Republic of Serbia are related to international recommendations and theoretical concepts and analyzed with regards to the possibilities of their implementation in planning methodology. The case study is the spatial plan for the Djerdap National Park, a special purpose area with already recognized international and national importance. The research suggests that the encompassed cultural heritage, except the Roman limes, is still recognized at the level of individual entities. The study emphasizes the importance of aligning all levels of governance to safeguard the whole spatial entity rather than focusing solely on its particular areas. The international and national significance of the planning area contributes to the strengthening of awareness of heritage and its institutional protection. However, the vitality of the area, which is key to its sustainable development, comes from the local level. Planning documents contribute to the integration of local values and local communities into development programs and projects.

Integrated representation of technical systems with BIM and linked data: TUBES system ontology

Technical systems in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) industry are complex interconnected structures. To cope with this high complexity, large amounts of data must be processed and exchanged throughout the whole life cycle of these systems. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Semantic Web Technologies (SWT) offer the possibility to structure and link this data as well as to define common terminology. Semantic Web ontologies describing HVAC systems in the AECO industry have been developed, but an ontology for an integrated representation based on general system theory is missing. Therefore, this study proposes the TUBES System Ontology (TSO) as a knowledge representation for an integrated, explicit representation of linked technical systems, their hierarchical subdivision, structural and functional interconnections, and relationships to spatial entities. The contribution is validated on two example models, and the results are critically discussed, pointing out corresponding limitations as well as the need for further research.

From agriculture to new town: land conversion towards new-build gentrification in the southwest of Jakarta, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Located in the southwest of Jakarta, Pagedangan has been known as one of the hotspots for large-scale residential complexes or ‘new town’ in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area, Indonesia. By using a diachronic approach, we aim to examine spatial transformations of rural Pagedangan at micro-scale from 1901 to 2022 which shows the trajectory of new-build gentrification in the study area. This study thoroughly examines how land conversion transforms the rural Pagedangan into gentrifying urban landscape using historical maps and multitemporal imageries. During the last decade, Pagedangan has experienced massive agricultural land conversion which increased land price in the area. It has become gentrified seen by the rise of new town’s urban economy. Meanwhile, pre-existing irregular settlements, or kampungs, have remained as an assemblage of enclaves in a new town, a realm that completely differs from their previous rural environment. Despite displacement has not yet been the main issue in Pagedangan, kampungs are still possibly at risk of disappearance. This study delivers a comprehensive empirical study on physical gentrification process to provide insights into urban studies discourse, especially in urban Asia. This study proposes kampung as an important spatial entity which government should consider in Indonesian land use planning and urban policy making.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF MULTIPURPOSE SPACES AS CENTERS IN RURAL AREAS OF SERBIA

<p class="ABSTRACT">The research examines the possibility of improving the spatial and functional capacities of centers in rural areas of the Republic of Serbia. The basic question raised in the paper refers to the specific definition of the center, more precisely the criteria that define it in the contemporary context. That is, how rural areas and settlements can be integrated into contemporary development trends. The initiation of multipurpose spaces is analyzed as a development model that can contribute to the social and economic sustainability of the settlement. The relevance of the study is based on the analysis of examples, i.e. the analysis of positive and negative sides of different types of spatial entities that represent centers in rural areas.</p>

Social network dynamics in rural public spaces of multi-ethnic settlements: A case study from Tongren, China

In multi-ethnic rural settlements, a diversity of social relationships gives rise to various public spaces. The integration of cultures, propelled by urbanization, poses challenges to the unique characteristics of these rural public spaces. This process leads to issues such as the loss of cultural diversity, increased homogeneity of spaces, uneven distribution of public services, and low efficiency in space utilization, which seriously interfere with the healthy and sustainable development of rural social systems in multi-ethnic rural areas. This study, focusing on the rural public spaces in Tongren's multi-ethnic settlements, employs a social network analysis approach to investigate the implications of these spaces for the stability of rural community life and the preservation of cultural identities. A model for analyzing social networks in rural public spaces was developed, emphasizing overlapping patterns of user groups, activities, and spatial entities. Analysis of the social networks was conducted in three domains: emotional support, material exchange, and information dissemination. A semantic model was also constructed to understand the usage and structural networks within these public spaces. Comparative analyses between the usage and structural networks of rural public spaces were conducted to develop a comprehensive structural analysis system for these areas. Application of this system in analyzing the rural public spaces of Tongren revealed distinct findings. The connectivity of the structural network in Dongganmu Village's public spaces was found to be lower than that of the usage network, indicating that social factors heavily influence villagers' interactions. Furthermore, the number of small groups within the usage network was fewer than in the structural network, reflecting a lack of hierarchy in public space organization. Villagers’ preferences for public spaces were primarily influenced by cultural beliefs rather than spatial accessibility. The insights garnered from this study not only contribute to the understanding of social network structures in rural public spaces within multi-ethnic settlements but also provide a foundation for informed decision-making regarding the sustainable development of these areas.

Indoor navigation map design based on spatial complexity

ABSTRACT In the face of the complex interior structure of a building, indoor navigation is an important tool for people to arrive at their destination in large public buildings. In this research, we first analyze the complexity of indoor space, which mainly includes spatial entities with rich semantics, but corridors lacking in semantics, poor visibility, and multi-dimensional floors. Then, we designed various indoor navigation maps based on spatial complexity and conducted a comparative analysis between the existing maps and the ones we designed. Participants were recruited to perform three navigation tasks in the study area on-site. The results demonstrate the advantages of using a hierarchical landmark representation for improved spatial knowledge acquisition and the effectiveness of scene-enhanced directional guidance in areas with poor visibility. It is worth noting that the introduction of three-dimensional maps was found to have a positive impact on users’ spatial perception and their ability to sketch routes accurately. In summary, this evidence confirms that maps based on spatial complexity not only enhance navigation efficiency but also have the potential to improve the overall indoor navigation experience.

A machine learning based approach for generating point sketch maps from qualitative directional information

People often use qualitative relations to describe locations or directional information, especially in written communication, such as ‘the restaurant is located at the southeast corner of the square’. However, when a large number of spatial entities are involved, qualitative relations alone are not intuitive enough for people to understand a spatial configuration. In fact, many applications, e.g. pertaining to sharing travel experiences, use sketch maps, i.e. maps focusing on the main features of an area whilst abstracting exact scale measurements, to help demonstrate abstract qualitative relations with more intuitive geometric points. Current approaches for generating point sketch maps from qualitative spatial relations require a high level of expertise, face inherent difficulties with efficiently processing large-scale data in bulk, and are vulnerable to inaccurate or conflicting information contained in qualitative data. To address these limitations, by incorporating machine learning techniques, we propose to translate the problem into an optimization problem of data reconstruction, enabling a novel end-to-end approach for generating point sketch maps from qualitative directional relations in bulk. Experiments on real-world datasets show that the proposed approach has very high accuracy and is robust even with a large portion of inaccurate or incomplete information.

Registration of apartments and office spaces in 3D land administration – A case study in Croatia

Due to the needs of modern society, cadastral systems should be designed to support three dimensional (3D) spatial data. One of many possible approaches for implementing a 3D cadastre, in countries such as Croatia, is to establish a Building Register as a transitional register between 2D and 3D cadastres, where data about buildings and infrastructure would be collected, gradually adapted to the data model of 3D cadastre, and finally migrated to the 3D cadastre database. Sources for establishing the Building Register can be based on the records of state surveys, the register of administrative units, the land book, data managed by local and regional self-government units, data from construction documentation according to special regulations in the field of spatial planning, data managed by the building and infrastructure managers, as well as from other sources. A significant element of the 3D cadastre would be the inclusion of representations of buildings and units of use, as well as public utility infrastructure and complex spatial real-life entities (e.g., bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, overlapping of constructed objects with natural facilities, large shopping malls with more underground and overhead floors etc.). This paper presents a conceptual model of a 3D cadastre in Croatia by establishing the Building Register with focus on unit of use of real properties, namely apartments and office spaces. The paper also summarizes the current situation regarding the Croatian Land Administration System (LAS) and proposes a conceptual model for modelling unit of use of real properties. Additionally, a proposal is made herein to assign unique identifiers to buildings and their parts in a logical manner which would be intuitive and clear to citizens of Croatia, citizens of European Union and citizens of Croatia neighboring countries. The proposed methodology of determining unique identifiers could provide the means for easier navigation in 3D space and better understanding of spatial information by lay citizens, by institutions or emergency services.

Clingo2DSR - A clingo-based software system for declarative spatial reasoning

ABSTRACT We present a modified ground-and-solve approach based on the clingo Answer Set Programming (ASP) system to perform non-monotonic spatial reasoning tasks, Clingo2DSR. Our system is distinct from previous research integrating ASP with space in that it deals with complex real-world data and numerous time steps. Clingo2DSR is composed of (i) an input language defining spatial entities, functions, and relations; (ii) an external geometry database for performing spatial computations and checking spatial constraints; and (iii) a theory-based solving approach coupling symbolic ASP with external sources for sound and fast model search. We demonstrate our system on three real building models, in the context of architectural design, submitted for analyses and queries where spatial components play an important role.

Баланс интересов внешних и внутренних бенефициаров в условиях «неполных контрактов» ресурсной экономики

This article examines the uncertainties arising from agent interactions in interregional resource-intensive markets, particularly those prevalent in northern regions, and explores factors undermining their effectiveness Given these circumstances, the study aims to establish an optimal balance of interests between external and internal beneficiaries by taking into account interests, as well as reducing transaction uncertainty by considering their interests and mitigating transaction uncertainty through the optimization of market regulators in the context of interregional resource-intensive markets typical of northern regions. The analysis reveals that the condition of a single market equilibrium is compromised due to the influence of exogenous factors and the endogenous formation of institutional mechanisms that coordinate agent actions amid uncertain collaborations. Contrary to the neoclassical approach, which focuses on competitive pricing without altering the market structure, an alternative perspective posits that spatial externalities induce endogenous mechanisms characteristic of Chamberlin-type market structures. The study expands the understanding of uncertainty causes within the theory of incomplete contracts, incorporating social system costs into transaction costs in line with the neo-institutional concept. This conceptual framework enables the exploration of spatial entities as meso-economic systems, with a specific emphasis on the organizational and geographical characteristics of northern territories. The research evaluates four institutional zones governing economic management practices in northern regions. Through competence enhancement and optimization of market regulator design, the study demonstrates the feasibility of achieving a balance of interests between external and internal beneficiaries by strengthening institutional capital, thereby reducing social system costs. The proposed system of organizational and institutional measures enhances local institutional practices within the existing institutional matrix without violating antimonopoly legislation, as its focus is on restoring competitive conditions and reducing the costs of operating the social system.

The Border as a Humanized Space: (Un)making Territoriality and Spatiality of State Boundary

ABSTRACT The classical notion of the border essentially denotes a state boundary as a spatial and territorial entity that connects and separates two states in terms of a physical lineup. However, many scholars believe in its fixity while others point out its mobility. Some think of the border as a vibrant space while others look at it as zones of limited statehood. Some advocate the idea of the border to overcome the social and political division while others sense the border in terms of territoriality to retain the division. Some researchers look upon it as a form of practice terming it “borderscape” while others say the border is a method to understand intersectionality. Some focus on the border as a force for controlling people and goods across borders. Given the background, the paper intends to redefine and retheorize the border proposing an alternative lens to see its humanitarian role in rescuing and saving lives in atrocious and deadly conditions with the case of the Rohingya experience in the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. This paper argues that the border is not only a territorial and spatial entity with strict authority, power and force but also a humanized space for people in atrocious conditions.

Legibility of Built Space and the Method for Determining Architecturally Conditioned Spatial Identity – MAPPI

There is no space without people and no people without space. The very theory of genius loci (the spirit of a place) highlights the importance of spatial identity, as it is precisely this prerequisite for the formation of awareness of belonging to a certain community. Urban theory, which deals with the morphological composition of the built space, focuses on recognizing existing morphological patterns and reacts to these patterns depending on the different levels of development of thought doctrines or individual interpretations of the researcher. On the other hand, the gestalt spatial-architectural theory focuses on the meaning of an individual particle and its influence on other building blocks within its spatial context. The question arises of the relationship between the patterns of the built space and their building blocks; of the relationship between urban composition and individual architecture - buildings. To intertwine these two levels of reading space, the Method for determining Architecturally Conditioned Spatial Identity (MAPPI) was developed. Using the MAPPI method, we systematically monitor and check qualitative and quantitative data about the building/settlement. The intertwining of two levels and the diversity of data verification offers a different view of the interdependence between the building/settlement, from which the possibility of determining a spatially conditioned identity arises. This can be achieved by recognizing contemporary trends in architectural identity and key changes in recent decades, as well as based on existing classifications of architectural typology. In this way, it is possible to redefine settlement and architectural typologies, their characteristics, and their spatial distribution. The various tools used in the MAPPI method are designed so that, through partial automation and data synthesis, they facilitate the determination of closed spatial entities. The applicability of the MAPPI tools and method was verified on the example of the Prebold settlement.

Stable vortex waves generation by a flexible antenna made of highly conductive graphene film

Electromagnetic waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM and vortex waves) attract much attention due to their specific characteristics and prospects for use in wireless communication, biomedical engineering, and imaging. Vortex waves are complex spatial entities; therefore, their stable generation is a quite complicated task, especially in the radio frequency and terahertz wave domains, considering that the corresponding antennas must be precisely adjusted. Such adjusting is very difficult to achieve for flexible antennas, which are now being actively introduced into practice. Here, we propose a design of a flexible antenna that is able to stably generate waves carrying OAM even when being subjected to some bending. The antenna is composed of a ring-shaped resonator made of a highly conductive graphene film deposited on a thin polydimethylsiloxane substrate. The antenna is operated on two mutually orthogonal degenerate TMm1 modes excited by two supply strip lines to generate vortex waves with a desired topological charge. We verify this ability numerically and in a microwave experiment on two antenna prototypes deriving the OAM mode purity by changing the bending radius of the antenna bearing surface, giving it either positive or negative curvature. The obtained experimental results confirm that the antenna has good performance and can be used for flexible electronic devices and communication systems.

Reinforced Imitative Graph Learning for Mobile User Profiling

Mobile user profiling refers to the efforts of extracting users’ characteristics from mobile activities. In order to capture the dynamic varying of user characteristics for generating effective user profiling, we propose an imitation-based mobile user profiling framework. Considering the objective of teaching an autonomous agent to imitate user mobility based on the user’s profile, the user profile is the most accurate when the agent can perfectly mimic the user behavior patterns. The profiling framework is formulated into a reinforcement learning task, where an agent is a next-visit planner, an action is a POI that a user will visit next, and the state of the environment is a fused representation of a user and spatial entities. An event in which a user visits a POI will construct a new state, which helps the agent predict users’ mobility more accurately. In the framework, we introduce a spatial Knowledge Graph (KG) to characterize the semantics of user visits over connected spatial entities. Additionally, we develop a mutual-updating strategy to quantify the state that evolves over time. Along these lines, we develop a reinforcement imitative graph learning framework for mobile user profiling. Finally, we conduct extensive experiments to demonstrate the superiority of our approach.

The Space Between Us: Questioning Multi-Spatial Justice in the Upcoming Indonesia’s Capital

Land is not only defined as an object of ownership by certain community groups, especially indigenous communities. Land has intrinsic value inherent in the way of life and culture, thus affecting the quality of life. This article examines the potential implications of the land acquisiton process in the prospected Nusantara Capital in regards to the fulfillment of the right to an adequate standard of living. It is reviewed by engaging multi-spatial justice within the context of city development and urban transformation with learning lessons from Brasilia and Jakarta. Utilizing a qualitative socio-legal approach, the research employs systematic and structural interpretation of various legal instruments. It incorporates the concept of multi-spatial justice as part of a critical legal geography and urban sociology theory to understand the potential of segregation and gentrification in the Nusantara Capital. The results highlight three key aspects. Firstly, the concept of multi-spatial justice underscores the need to consider diverse spatial entities and their equitable treatment. Secondly, analyzing the State Capital Law reveals both promising and concerning aspects of spatial justice. While it aims to balance development and inclusivity, inconsistencies within the law's provisions raise concerns about potential injustices. Lastly, the study anticipates future inequities between local and urban spatials due to unequal land compensation. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing procedural and substantive fairness in land acquisition, fostering inclusive urban development, and aligning legal instruments with principles of multi-spatial justice.

GeospatRE: extraction and geocoding of spatial relation entities in textual documents

ABSTRACT Spatial information extraction from textual documents and its accurate geo-referencing are important steps in epidemiology, with many applications such as outbreak detection and disease surveillance and control. However, inaccuracy in extraction of such geospatial information will result into inaccurate location identification, which in consequence may produce erroneous information for outbreak investigation and disease surveillance. One of the problems is the extraction of geospatial relations associated with spatial entities in the text documents. In order to identify such geospatial relations, we categorized them into three major relations: 1) Level-1, e.g. center, north, south; 2) Level-2, e.g. nearby, border; 3) Level-3, e.g. distance from spatial entities e.g. 30 km, 20 miles, 100 m, etc., respectively. This work introduces a novel approach for extracting and georeferencing spatial information from textual documents for accurate identification of geospatial relations associated with spatial entities to enhance outbreak monitoring and disease surveillance. We propose a two-step methodology: (i) Extraction of geospatial relations associated with spatial entities, using a clause-based approach, and (ii) Geo-referencing of geospatial relations associated with spatial entities in order to identify the polygon regions, using a custom algorithm to slice or derive the geospatial relation regions from the place name and their geospatial relations. The first step is evaluated with a disease news article dataset consisting of event information and obtaining a precision of 0.9, recall of 0.88 and F-Score of 0.88 respectively. The second step entails using a qualitative evaluation of shapes by end-users. Promising results are obtained for the experiments in second step.