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Volume XX |
Biogeography, Environment

Comparative analysis on the role of vegetation in controlling the potential effects of gas stations on residential areas

1, 2, 2,

Abstract: When considering human activities with potential negative effects in urban environment, gas stations are a hot topic. For over one century their presence increased associated to the number of vehicles used in cities, and frequently they are associated with residential areas – where the highest number of users are present. Acknowledging their potential effects, gas stations are a response to a high demand in cities – that of mobility. This is especially relevant in Central and Eastern Europe cities (such as Bucharest), which continue to be dominated by cars and alternative models of transportation are present in lower proportions. In the present study we started from extracting with field observations the present characteristics of gas stations in Sector 4 of Bucharest. We applied 31 field observation sheets using Survey 123, containing information about their emplacement and accessibility, the presence and structure of vegetation, etc. We compared results to those of 120 questionnaires applied to the population. Our results revealed the important role the presence of vegetation has on reducing the negative effects of gas stations (both observed and perceived), the differences between populations living in the proximity of gas stations and other residents, and also the fulfilment of legal requirements. We consider our results to be extremely relevant and useful instruments for urban planners and decision-makers in their efforts of improving the quality of life and wellbeing in cities.

Keywords: , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2021.032.iDates:
Received: 19-04-2021 Accepted: 20-05-2021 Printed: 30-06-2021 Online: 13-09-2021
Affiliations:
  • 1 Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Bd. N. Balcescu, No. 1, Sector 1, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
  • 2 Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Bd. N. Balcescu, No. 1, Sector 1, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • mihairazvan.nita@g.unibuc.ro
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0316, within PNCDI III - Evaluating the role of nature-based innovations for healthy cities.
Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XVII |
Environment

Indicators for evaluating the role of green infrastructures in sustainable urban development in Romania

1,, 1, 1, 1, 2

Abstract: Urban green infrastructures are now considered key elements in improving residents’ quality of life and creating an appropriate framework for the development of sustainable cities. One of the most efficient method to evaluate the state and performance of urban green infrastructure is using different types of indicators. The indicators for evaluating the benefits, ecosystem services and the role of green infrastructures for the process of sustainable development represent important tools for decision and policy makers. Indicators provide information that can be easily interpreted by decision and policy makers and they facilitate the process of planning, monitoring and evaluation of green infrastructure in urban areas. The focus of our study is to establish which indicators are used for underlining the structural and functional diversity of urban green infrastructures. This paper aims to highlight the indicators and indices being used in Romanian urban areas for measuring their sustainability that include green infrastructures, in the wider understanding of the concept. Throughout the paper, different examples of indicators and indices are provided, emphasizing that by using the proper set of indicators and indices, city authorities can tag a sustainable development label for certain areas. However, an unbiased assessment using some sets of indicators and indices are not always providing unbiased or realistic outcomes.

Keywords: , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2018.106.iDates:
Received: 20-01-2018 Accepted: 15-04-2018 Printed: 30-06-2018 Online: 06-12-2018
Affiliations:
  • 1 Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, Romania
  • 2 Simion Mehedinţi Doctoral School, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • nitamihairazvan@yahoo.com
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Copyright: © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume XIV |
Human and economic geography, Regional geography

Mapping the differences in online public information by local administrative units in Romania

1,, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2

Abstract: We evaluated the differences existing in the public information presented by local administrative units in Romania by analyzing the websites of 3175 local administrative units based on a standard database which contains 17 indicators (grouped into three categories: identification, content and administrative support). We used descriptive statistics for analyzing results and ArcGis 10 for mapping the geographical patterns of distribution. 2769 local administrative units (87.09%) have a dedicated website, but the information presented on them are scarce, and in a direct connection with its rank in the network of settlements. The unbalance between content indicators and the administrative support indicators reveals a politicization of the websites, detrimental to public information and participation. The lowest values of online public information (<20%) are present in counties with a high proportion of profound rural settlements or a particular ethnical distribution of population.

Keywords: , , ,
Full article 10.5775/fg.2067-4635.2015.229.dDates:
Received: 15-10-2015 Accepted: 30-11-2015 Printed: 30-12-2015 Online: 05-02-2016
Affiliations:
  • 1 Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies, University of Bucharest, 1 Nicolae Bălcescu Blvd., Sector 1, CP 010041, Bucharest, Romania
  • 2 Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 1 Nicolae Bălcescu Blvd., Sector 1, CP 010041, Bucharest, Romania
Corresponding author:
  • mihairazvan.nita@g.unibuc.ro
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research and Innovation, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-0434 - Developing a model for evaluating the potential of urban green infrastructures for sustainable planning.
Copyright: © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.
Volume IX |
Environment

Indoor Air Quality in Bucharest Housings in the Framework of Present Environmental Changes

1,, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1

Abstract: The indoor air quality represents one of the factors conditioning housing quality in urban residential spaces. The paper analyses the spatial and temporal distribution of parameters defining the indoor air quality from representative housings in Bucharest, correlated with their influence factors. The characterisation of permanent, seasonal and circumstantial influence factors was realised using the US EPA (1991) and WHO (2006) methodologies. Between November 2008 and February 2010 there were applied questionnaires for appreciating the dimension of influence factors inside and outside the housings. In the same time, for determining the values of representative indicators analysing the indoor air quality, measurements were realised in selected housings. From analysing the obtained results, it can be stated that in the indoor habitat of most residential spaces from Bucharest, the quality of air is unsatisfactory, values of human comfort recommended by international legislation being exceeded at indicators such as: volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide or particulate matter. The building’s ventilation systems are mostly dismantled or not functioning, and as a result the thermal isolation of buildings only aggravates these problems as it isn’t compensated with an improvement of the ventilation systems. The significant expansion of areas affected by Sick Building Syndrome, which are economically, ecologically and/or sanitary inefficient, in the framework of recent environmental changes, it requires an integrated approach of problems concerning the air quality management in Bucharest residential spaces.

Keywords: , , , , , , ,
Full article Dates:
Printed: 01-11-2010 Online: 21-11-2010
Affiliations:
  • 1 University of Bucharest, Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies 1, Bd. Nicolae Bălcescu, Sector 1, Bucharest, 010041
Corresponding author:
  • ccmesi@yahoo.com
Citation:
APA 6 | Harvard 2008 | Turabian 6 | MLA 7
RIS | BibTeX
Acknowledgements: The observations were carried out in the framework of the PN II IDEI 1012/2008 - "Methodology for integrated assessment of environmental quality in residential spaces from metropolitan zones" projects. We address our acknowledgements to the collective of the Centre for Environmental Research and Impact Studies (CCMESI), for the permission of using the necessary equipments and the research reports from previous studies.
Copyright: © 2010 The Author(s). Published by Forum geografic.
Provided under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License.
Open Access article.

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