Annals of Valahia University of Targoviste Geographical Series
Latest Publications

Abstract The entrepreneurial sector can play an important role in increasing the functional complexity of the territorial systems with tourist functionality, by increasing the capacity of adapting the local economy to the changes caused by the economic crises. The study aims to analyze the dynamics of the entrepreneurial sector, for the period 2000-2016, and to identify the changes in the entrepreneurial profile, in the territorial systems with tourist functionality from Romania. To quantify this dynamics, a database was created, at the territorial administrative unit level, with the main economic indicators (number of companies, number of employees, turnover and profit). The database was also used for the development of trend matrices on the evolution of the above indicators, at the four-digit NACE code (classification of activities in the national economy), and on the evolution of the ranks held by each economic sector for the analyzed period. The result highlight the importance of the entrepreneurial sector, in the dynamics of local and regional economies of the territorial systems with tourist functionality.

Abstract The green economy emerges differently depending on each region particular features, as well as local economic strengths and weaknesses; solar energy however, represents the way regional and local natural potentials are valorized. The current paper brings to our attention aspects related to the economic and legislative factors influencing the use and territorial distribution of solar energy, as a component of the Romanian renewable energy industry at all territorial levels: the national characteristics of the use of renewable energy resources are highlighted through the analysis of dynamics of official statistical variables (National Institute of Statistics); at regional and county levels, the analysis highlights the territorial differences in the use of solar energy; analysis at local level reveals the environmental and socio-economic effects of the of solar energy use (i.e. photovoltaic parks), as indicated by the information provided by a questionnaire survey carry out in Giurgiu County (case study).

Abstract Disability is a medical term in India and the person with impairment is considered to be disabled. India is still following the medical model of disability which is the oldest model of disability and highly criticized for providing a narrow definition for disability. Based on this model, Census of India 2011 has given eight categories of disabled population. This study is based on secondary sources of data from Census of India 2011 and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The principal objective of this paper is to understand and analyze the regional variation of disabled population of India and the location of national institutions for the disabled. Research reveals that the highest disability concentration is found in the central zone and the eastern zone of India. Moreover, types of disabled population also show a spatial pattern like seeing disabled population are concentrated in the eastern zone of India and speech disabled population are concentrated in the western zone of India. Further the result of study reveals that the number of institutes for the disabled are insufficient and the location does not align with the spatial pattern of types of disabled. The researcher suggests that there is a need for more national institutions to set up and location of the institutions must align with the spatial pattern of the types of disability.

Abstract Recently, a novel data mining technique, Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) has begun attracted attention from several hydrological researchers because their application is relatively new in modelling hydrological processes. The power of this approach has been proven in variety learning problems such as financial analysis, species distributions modelling, and doweled pavement performance modelling. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the performance of MARS model in capture the rainfall-runoff processes at river catchment of Malaysia. Pahang River has been selected as area of study. 30-years data set of daily rainfall and runoff at upstream tributaries of Pahang River were used to developed and validate the capability of MARS model in flood prediction. The effect of different length of record data to performance of MARS model was also examined by arranged the data into 5-years data set, 10 years data set, 20 years data set, and 30 years data set. All these data sets used 1-year data of 2003 for validation process while the others were applied for calibration. Simulation results showed that MARS model was able to learn the rainfall-runoff processes in Pahang River catchment and the model performance improved due to the longer period of data.

Abstract Topsoil erosion and mass soil losses from hillslopes have negatively affected water quality, vegetation health, local ecosystems, and livelihood. Studies have stated the effectiveness of vegetation in significantly reducing top-soil erosion and enhancing slope stability. This study aims to better understand the application of erosional models in Haiyuan of Ningxia, a semi-arid region of China. The study site is comprised of 20 experimental plots with 11 vegetation covers and 5 slope gradients in design, which were compared to the benchmark of bare land with each slope gradient. Meteorological data and soil hydraulic measurements were collected from 2005 to 2012, and runoff and sediment load were measured by concrete basins at the base of the slopes, which mainly occurred during the summer storms. Multi-plots provide different combinations of vegetation covers and slopes to identify the driving factors of topsoil erosion during rainfall-runoff events and to examine the threshold behavior of their inter-relationship. In order to determine which models were most applicable to this area, the results of RUSLE and CSLE were applied to the data and compared to the known results.

Abstract Creative economies are today one of the fastest-growing economic sectors and an impressive transforming force, than can contribute to increasing territorial, regional or national competitiveness and, therefore, to economic growth and long-term development. The study aims to analyze the contribution of creative economies to the local and regional economy. Quantification of the role of creative economies in the economic profile was made by creating a database, at the level of administrative-territorial unit, with the main economic indicators (number of companies, number of employees, turnover and profit) for the creative economies, according to the NACE classification (Classification of National Economy Activities), for the period 2000-2016. The database was also used for the evolution of the ranks held by each economic sector for the analyzed period and for the development of trend matrices on the evolution of the above indicators, at the four-digit NACE code. The result highlight the importance of creative sector in the dynamics of local and regional economies of the territorial systems.

Abstract The town of Relizane was built near Oued Mina, upstream of which is erected a dam of Sidi M'hamed Benaouda; while the city was protected in its time by a dike dating from the colonial period. Local authorities have recovered the land near the floodplain by building a new dike replacing the old one. However, flood risks persist on the city. Flood risk management plans for this new area should be provided for better protection of citizens and property.

Abstract Calculation of probable maximum discharge of spring flood are the great practical importance, since it is the basis to plan and design of different hydraulic structures, such as dams, culverts, urban and agriculture drainage systems, etc. Thus, the updating of the methodical approaches and parameters of the empirical formulas which using in the determining of the probable maximum discharge of spring flood at ungauged sites of the river basin is an actual task. In this paper for the Southern Buh River Basin were updated the parameters of the reduction formula and the limiting intensity formula of streamflow which are using to calculated of the probable maximum discharge of spring flood at ungauged basin in Ukraine. The presented results illustrate that parameters of empirical formulas that were calculated according to modern observation series (since the beginning of the observations to 2010) in comparison with previously received (since the beginning of the observations to 1980) have significant changes. We found out that it is due to cyclical of the long-term fluctuations of the maximum streamflow of spring flood in the Southern Buh River Basin. We also illustrated that for the small ungauged basins have the difficulties with the choice of rivers-analogues.

Abstract Landscape dynamics is the result of interactions between social systems and the environment, these systems evolving significantly over time. climatic conditions and biophysical phenomena are the main factors of landscape dynamics. Also, currently man is responsible for most changes affecting natural ecosystems. The objective of this work is to study the dynamics of a typical landscape of western Algeria in time and space, and to map the distribution of vegetation groups constitute the vegetation cover of this ecosystem. as well as using a method of monitoring the state of a fragile ecosystem by remote sensing to understand the processes of changes in this area. The steppe constitutes a large arid area, with little relief, covered with low and sparse vegetation. it lies between the annual isohyets of 100 to 400 mm, subjected to a very old human exploitation with an activity of extensive breeding of sheep, goats, and camels. Landsat satellite data were used to mapping vegetation groups in the Mecheria Steppe at a scale of 1: 300,000. Then, a comparison was made between the two maps obtained by a classification of Landsat-8 sensor Operational Land Imager (OLI) acquired on March 18, 2014, and Landsat-5 sensor Thematic Mapper (TM) acquired on April 25, 1987. The results obtained show the main changes affecting the natural distribution of steppe species, a strong change in land occupied by the Stipa tenacissima steppe with 65% of change, this steppe is replaced by Thymelaea microphylla, Salsola vermiculata, lygeum spartum and Peganum harmala steppe. an absence from the steppe Artemisia herba-alba that has also been replaced by the same previous steppes species. The groups with Quercus ilex and Juniperus phoenicea are characterized by a strong regression that was lost 60% of its global surface and transformed by steppe to stipa tenacissima and bare soil.

Abstract The aim of the study is to find the relationship between the land surface temperature and air temperature and to determine the hot spots in the urban area of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. The analysis was based on images from both moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), located on both Terra and Aqua platforms, as well as on data recorded by the four automatic weather stations existing in the endowment of The National Air Quality Monitoring Network, from the summer of 2017. Correlation coefficients between land surface temperature and air temperature were higher at night (0.8-0.87) and slightly lower during the day (0.71-0.77). After the validation of satellite data with in-situ temperature measurements, the hot spots in the metropolitan area of Bucharest were identified using Getis-Ord spatial statistics analysis. It has been achieved that the “very hot” areas are grouped in the center of the city and along the main traffic streets and dense residential areas. During the day the "very hot spots” represent 33.2% of the city's surface, and during the night 31.6%. The area where the mentioned spots persist, falls into the "very hot spot" category both day and night, it represents 27.1% of the city’s surface and it is mainly represented by the city center.