Land suitability location analysis for housing development using GIS

Application and implementation of location suitability analyses are powered through the use of GIS along with spatial analysis component, which enables the creation of buffers, overlay, termination, proximity analysis, spatial unity, map algebra, reclassification of raster and other operations. In terms of land suitability, GIS helps the user to define which locations are most appropriate or inappropriate for certain developments. Consequently, GIS as a tool becomes more important to provide support for decision makers. This analysis takes into account environmental and socioeconomic factors as determinant of urban land development. This analysis requires first finding spatial, environmental and socio-economic constraints and then finding the land suitable for development of residential areas according to specified criteria’s. Hence, two preliminary results derive mainly from this analysis, such as composite (raster) map of restrictions for housing developments, and composite (raster) map of suitability housing development. Once these two composite maps are completed using specified GIS operations and functions, it is created the final map of site suitability for housing development. In creating the final map several factors had been used in total to establish the restriction model and also many criteria’s divided into five classes for establishing a map of land suitability for residential development in Prishtina city, namely in the study area

Gërmia – od regionalnog parka do zaštićenog krajolika

This study took place in the Gërmia massif (Republic of Kosovo) and presents an overview of the current status of this protected area. The Gërmia Regional Park is one of the 173 protected areas in Kosovo. It received this status in 1987 (GZK, no. 43/87) from the Prishtina municipal assembly and covers an area of 1064 hectares. Its natural values have changed dramatically during the last decades, especially in terms of biodiversity. With the aim of evaluating the current situation of the Park’s biodiversity, its flora, fauna and plant communities were investigated. The biodiversity of Gërmia comprises 610 vascular plant species (excluding weed species), 83 fungi, 14 mosses, 51 lichens, as well as 5 amphibian, 7 reptile, 32 bird, 19 mammal and 110 butterfly species. As a consequence of human activities, many plant and animal species in Gërmia are endangered. Taking into consideration its natural value and the threat factors around the area, it was proposed to extend the protected area to another 1167 hectares, and to harmonize its protection status with the Law of Nature Protection (i.e. to change the category from Regional Park to Protected Landscape (category V according to the IUCN).Istraživanje se odvijalo u masivu Gërmia (Republika Kosovo) i predstavlja pregled trenutnog stanja ovog zaštićenog područja. Regionalni park Gërmia je jedno od 173 zaštićena područja na Kosovu. Taj status je Park dobio 1987. (GZK, no. 43/87) od Skupštine grada Prištine, a pokriva područje od 1064 ha. Tijekom posljednjih desetljeća prirodne vrijednosti Parka su se dramatično promijenile, posebno u smislu biodiverziteta. Istraživani su flora, fauna i biljne zajednice Parka s ciljem procjene trenutne situacije biodiverziteta Parka. Biološka raznolikost Parka obuhvaća 610 vrsta vaskularnih biljaka (ne uključujući korovne vrste), 83 vrste gljiva, 14 vrsta mahovina, 51 vrstu lišajeva, kao i 5 vrsta vodozemaca, 7 vrsta gmazova, 32 vrste ptica, 19 vrsta sisavaca te 110 vrsta danjih leptira. Kao posljedica ljudskih aktivnosti, ugroženo je mnogo biljnih i životinjskih vrsta u Parku. Uzimajući u obzir prirodne vrijednosti i čimbenike ugroze, predlaže se proširivanje zaštićenog područja na novih 1167 ha, i usklađivanje statusa zaštite sa Zakonom o zaštiti prirode (tj. promjena kategorije iz Regionalnog parka u Zaštićeni krajolik (kategorija V prema IUCN-u)

Two Decades (2000–2020) Measuring Urban Sprawl Using GIS, RS and Landscape Metrics: a Case Study of Municipality of Prishtina (Kosovo)

Since the appearance on Earth, human has been constantly operating in nature, exploiting its riches, but also adapting it to its own needs. Both developing and developed countries are constantly concerned about the urbanization process. Urbanization, in order to be positive, must be developed correctly. If such a thing does not happen, then this development will negatively affect both the environment and human health. In order to develop adequate strategies and policies for the most sustainable and effective land use management, it is necessary to quantify, monitor, determine the factors that have influenced this change in land use and the spread mapping of the urban environment. In this study, Landsat satellite images were used to determine the spatial-temporal characteristics of the urban sprawl environment in the Municipality of Prishtina for a period of 20 years (2000-2020). To map the land cover for Prishtina from 2000 to 2020, the Supervised maximum likelihood classification was used using the Landsat ETM + and OLI data archives in ArcGIS 10.5 software. Using landscape metrics and detection techniques after the classification of satellite images, enabled and assisted in the evaluation and analysis of trends and patterns of urban sprawl. The determination of the changes and the analysis made revealed that during the period 2000-2020, in Prishtina, there was an increase of the built areas by 16.46 km2 at the expense of the unbuilt areas. That there has been an increase in urban areas was also confirmed by the results of landscape metrics

Transformation Through CLC with the Continuous Research Techniques - GIS (Open Code) and RS (Geo-Web Services)

Land cover has always been and still it is one of the main challenges in the field of geography. This study will be focused on “experimentation” of one of the most modern techniques of our time, becoming irreplaceable standard for decision-making in matters of land cover and the square method. Here we are talking about the standard named: CORINE Land Cover, a technique for describing the land cover, initiated by the European Union in 1985. More precisely part of this paper will be the principles of this technique and their practical application, by doing a research through these techniques for specific areas. CORINE Land Cover will be used to explain the coverage area while the square method will be used for the division of the research area. The research area has been designed through random method. In this study are given three study areas along the coastline with an area of 100 km2, by making the entire research area of 300 km2. Each “main” area is divided in sub-areas of 100 ha, while each of these sub-areas is divided into smaller squares with equal area of 1 ha