Geographica Pannonica

What do they know? Is Climate Change Education Necessary in Primary Schools in Serbia

2024-07-03T14:33:01+02:00

Climate change is a global crisis exacerbated by human activity and a matter of urgent con- cern. There is a significant knowledge gap among primary school students in Serbia, as the topic of climate change is barely covered in the curriculum. This study examines their aware- ness, knowledge and attitudes. Of the participants, 96.6% are aware of climate change,

but their knowledge and attitudes vary considerably. Some 80.10% expect climate change to have a significant impact on humans through floods (90%), droughts and tempera-
ture increases (85% each). Further results show that schools are a key source of information (35.10%), followed by television (30.10%) and the internet (14.90%). In summary, this study highlights the need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary climate education to address dif- ferent levels of awareness, encourage informed and proactive responses and engage young voices in discussions about climate change.

The Impact of the Economic and Social Shocks (Crises) of the 2000s on Gross Value Added in Central-Eastern Europe

2024-07-03T14:33:01+02:00

Territorial economic and social disparities remain a major problem for the European Union today, especially in Eastern Europe. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of the eco- nomic and social shocks of the 2000s (the economic and financial crisis of 2008-09 and the COVID-19 pandemic) on the economies of four Central Eastern European countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary). The study presents county-level differences in gross value added with classical descriptive statistics, inequality indices, convergence analyses and spatial autocorrelation. The results show that the impact of the shocks of the 2000s var- ies across counties, which led to different paths of recovery. Spatial autocorrelation is signif- icant, but patterns remain stable through the period of exogenous shocks.

A Parametric Approach for Evaluating Solar Panel Insolation in Urban Areas: Courtyard Design Case Study

2024-07-03T14:33:01+02:00

Stand-alone solar panel orientation (tilt and azimuth angles) for potential locations in built- up urban areas, significantly influences the level of insolation received by the panel. One way to maximize energy production involves finding the optimal orientation for each lo- cation to ensure the highest insolation for a certain number of solar panels in urban areas. The general rule used in practice is to orient the panels towards the south and calculate the horizontal tilt angle based on the latitude. However, in built-up urban areas, a more com- prehensive analysis of other factors is needed, such as solar radiation levels, weather data, and shading cast by nearby buildings. In this research, a parametric approach aimed at de- termining the optimal orientation of stand-alone solar panels for a predefined set of poten- tial locations is designed. Input parameters are the geometry of nearby buildings, solar pan- el shape, and weather data for the urban location. The approach’s adaptability to different geographic locations and urban environments is achieved by adjusting input data. Compar- ative analysis between insolation values with the optimal orientation of solar panels and those commonly employed in practice is used for evaluation. The proposed approach is ap- plied to determine the tilt and azimuth angles of fixed stand-alone solar panels in urban courtyards in order to improve decisions regarding the distribution of solar panels in urban planning practice. This study examines solar panel insolation in simplified geometrical rep- resentations of some urban areas with courtyards.

Shift-Share Analysis of Local Economy’s Competitiveness: Case Study of the Varaždin-Koprivnica Region, Croatia

2024-07-03T14:33:01+02:00

This study researches local economy’s competitiveness in the Varaždin-Koprivnica Region (North-Western Croatia) in the period between 2009 and 2020. Shif t-share method has been used which measures the deviation between the regional development and the de- velopment of total national area and tends to explain whether it is the result of exogenous or endogenous conditions. Data on the number of employed people and Gross Value Added were used as points of reference for the competitiveness. The results showed the above av- erage regional development which is the result of the influence of endogenous or local con- ditions indicating that the region has competitive advantages. Manufacturing is the most competitive activity. The analysis revealed intra-regional disparities as well.

GIS-based Multi-criteria Assessment of Areas Suitable for the Construction of a Repository for Low and Intermediate Kevel Radioactive Waste in Slovenia

2024-07-03T14:33:01+02:00

This study evaluates the site selection for a new repository for low and intermediate lev-
el radioactive waste in Slovenia. The ordered weighted average method is used in combi- nation with the TOPSIS method to evaluate the current site and its alternatives considering eight criteria and five constraints. The results show that 52.37% of the country’s area falls into five suitability classes for the two decision alternatives, while others do not fulfil the cri- teria at all. In both cases, the most suitable areas are located in the north-eastern part of Slovenia. The current site tends to be less suitable (categorised as moderately suitable and very unsuitable) and should be reassessed by the relevant stakeholders.