Recent Deforestation Pattern Changes (2000-2017) in the Central Carpathians:A Gray-Level Co-Occurrence Matrix and Fractal Analysis Approach

The paper explores the distribution of tree cover and deforested areas in the Central Carpathians in the central-east part of Romania, in the context of the anthropogenic forest disturbances and sustainable forest management. The study aims to evaluate the spatiotemporal changes in deforested areas due to human pressure in the Carpathian Mountains, a sensitive biodiverse European ecosystem. We used an analysis of satellite imagery with Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (Landsat-7 ETM+) from the University of Maryland (UMD) Global Forest Change (GFC) dataset. The workflow started with the determination of tree cover and deforested areas from 2000–2017, with an overall accuracy of 97%. For the monitoring of forest dynamics, a Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix analysis (Entropy) and fractal analysis (Fractal Fragmentation-Compaction Index and Tug-of-War Lacunarity) were utilized. The increased fragmentation of tree cover (annually 2000–2017) was demonstrated by the highest values of the Fractal Fragmentation-Compaction Index, a measure of the degree of disorder (Entropy) and heterogeneity (Lacunarity). The principal outcome of the research reveals the dynamics of disturbance of tree cover and deforested areas expressed by the textural and fractal analysis. The results obtained can be used in the future development and adaptation of forestry management policies to ensure sustainable management of exploited forest areas

Kolmogorov compression complexity may differentiate different schools of Orthodox iconography

The complexity in the styles of 1200 Byzantine icons painted between 13th and 16th from Greece, Russia and Romania was investigated through the Kolmogorov algorithmic information theory. The aim was to identify specific quantitative patterns which define the key characteristics of the three different painting schools. Our novel approach using the artificial surface images generated with Inverse FFT and the Midpoint Displacement (MD) algorithms, was validated by comparison of results with eight fractal and non-fractal indices. From the analyzes performed, normalized Kolmogorov compression complexity (KC) proved to be the best solution because it had the best complexity pattern differentiations, is not sensitive to the image size and the least affected by noise. We conclude that normalized KC methodology does offer capability to differentiate the icons within a School and amongst the three Schools

Functionality in the limits of new administrative-territorial units in Romania

The study aims to examine the applicability of national legal provisions regarding the establishment of new administrative units such as the commune type in the context of ensuring accessibility and superior functionality territory. The research was conducted at the level of 3181 administrative units in Romania, based on the indicators of Law 100/2007 such as: the farthest distance from the commune, the average distance between the communes and their center, its population, the population divided by the population of the village Tier 1, population of villages located at a distance of more than 5 kilometers from the commune of residence along with the population under 5 kilometers from the residence. The analysis captures the restrictive nature of the criteria of the national legislation in relation to the current territorial reality, with the certainty that public authorities discourage splitting municipalities. However the results indicate the need to update legislative principles for the establishment of communes and their alignment to the regional development strategies

The Analysis of the Ski Slopes and the Degree of Economic Dependence Induced by Winter Sports Tourism. The Case of Romania

Winter sports are the main attraction for many tourist areas in Romania, contributing significantly to the development of local economies. Based on this, the study aims to analyze the ski areas in Romania, as well as the extent to which they contribute to the sustainable development of the local economy. This is particularly important as, in recent decades, climate change has significantly affected winter sports, especially skiing. Thus, an analysis of the physical characteristics of ski runs in Romania (number, length, width, level difference and slope) is accompanied with an analysis on the dynamics of the share of tourism in the local economy of winter sport locations, based on tourism turnover relative to total turnover in the local economy. Both graphic and cartographic methods were used in this study, based on an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data available for ski slopes in Romania and the host localities. We used ArcGIS 10.6 software for the preparation of graphical representations and other software to process large databases. The research results showed a great diversity regarding counties, localities and ski slopes depending on the characteristic features of ski slopes (number, length, width, level difference and slope). In our study, the evolution of the share of turnover in tourism in terms of total turnover presented several categories of localities based on their economic dependence on winter sports; the impact in this regard was found to be very differentiated between localities

The Use of Sholl and Kolmogorov Complexity Analysis in Researching on the Sustainable Development of Creative Economies in the Development Region of Bucharest‒Ilfov, Romania

Nowadays, creative economies stand as a relevant indicator of the sustainable development of local and regional ones. The study aims to highlight the spatial behaviour of creative economies in the Bucharest‒Ilfov Development Region, the most dynamic and complex regional economy in Romania. In order to assess the spatial dynamics of creative economies in the region, an economic database was created, at the level of the territorial administrative unit, for the two economic indicators considered important for the study, number of employees and turnover, under the auspices of the Classification of National Economy Activities (NACE). The establishment of creative economies was made following the Government Decision no. 859 of 2014, with 66 codes for this sector. Annual cartographic models were developed for each indicator in QGIS (a free and open–source cross–platform desktop geographic information system application that supports viewing, editing, and analysis of geospatial data), for the period 2000–2016. For a relevant analysis of spatial behaviour, we used Sholl and Kolmogorov complexity, which highlighted specific patterns of spatial dynamics that help us to understand the role of creative economies in the sustainable development of regional economies. The results highlighted the role of accessibility corridors in the development of the regional economy

Specificity of Sustainable Structural Dynamics of Local Economy in Romanian Tourist Resorts

The lack of sustainable development strategies of the tourist resorts from Romania caused the structural dynamics of their economy to record large fluctuations under the impact of determinants with unpredictable developments. The spectacular dynamics have led to developments difficult to predict, in many situations that generate environmental conflicts, where the economic pressure has exceeded the support capacity of the natural environment. In this study, we aim to analyze the dynamic relationship between tourism and the other components of the economy, from each resort from Romania. The significant growth of tourism in recent years requires new approaches, relevant for understanding the role of tourism in increasing the complexity of the local economy. Measuring the role of tourism in the development of local economy was achieved by building an economic database for all tourist resorts from Romania (according to Government Decision No. 107 of 2018), at the four-digit NACE code level (Classification of National Economy Activities), for the economic indicators considered relevant: number of companies, number of employees, and turnover and profit, for the period 2000–2016, as well as at territorial administrative unit level. Detailed analyses revealed very different structural dynamics, the spectacular dynamics, lacking a coherent strategic framework, led in all situations to the emergence of environmental conflicts. Tourist resorts in which tourism has become an essential component of economic development have based their development on capitalization of local resources, which led to multiplication effects, materialized in a spectacular evolution of the local economy, and an increasing pressure on the natural environment

The restrictions imposed upon the urban development by the piezometric level. Case study: Otopeni-Tunari-Corbeanca

The objective of the study is to identify the urban development pressure exerted upon the limits imposed by the depth of the phreatic level. The territorial systems from the vicinity of Bucharest registered a momentous dynamics and it enabled the expanding of urbanized areas beyond the limits imposed by the natural conditions. The present research involved the creation of a database concerning the depth of the phreatic level, as well as the identification of the expansion stages undertaken by the urbanized areas. There were applied questionnaires concerning the degree of knowledge regarding the development restrictions for the beneficiaries of built spaces. The spatial layout of the indicators which were used in the research permitted the discovery of some areas where the decision to build something had been taken without analyzing the low depth of piezometric level