Socio-cultural models as an important element of the site selection process in rural waste management

The problem of waste management in rural areas has not been the subject of detailed specific researches since most of the research has been directed towards the study of means, mechanisms and procedures of waste elimination in urban settlements. The reason for the reduced scope of research in this field lies in the fact that rural settlements cannot be considered as "grateful" subjects due to usual deficiency of specific data (population number, fluctuations, amount of waste, waste composition, methods of waste elimination, etc.). In addition, for several decades the villages have primarily eliminated waste spontaneously. This has proven difficult to research because of the variations of methods applied to each specific locale, as well as different environmental variables. These criteria are based on patterns of behavior, customs and habits of the local population, but they also insist on absolute participation of local stakeholders in waste management. On the other hand, although Serbia has a legislative frame which is fully harmonized with European laws, there is a problem within unclearly defined waste management system which is oriented mainly on rural areas. The reason for this is the fact that waste management in rural areas is the part of regional waste management, and does not operate independently from the system in "urban" areas. However, since rural areas require the construction of recycling yards, this paper will present a new methodology, which equally valuates techno-economic criteria and social criteria in determining waste elimination locations. This paper will also point out varieties of actors in the process of waste elimination in rural areas, as well as the possibility of their participation

Legislative and policy in energy efficient designing and renewable energy sources: Application in Serbia

This paper analyzes political and legislative frames in the field of energy efficient building and renewable energy sources in planning and implementation in Serbia. „Development strategy until 2015.“ is reviewed in concise portrait. This strategy maps a way for the application of energy services of much higher quality than ones offered at a present day. It reviews relevant laws concerning the subject, as well as institutions, programs and their implementation. Basic principles of energy policy in Serbia and their achievement are also given by that strategy. Serbia's energy policies are designed to allow new legislative, structural, organizational, institutional, and economic frames and visions of unification of Serbian energetics into regional and Pan-European integrations. One of the key factors is the inclusion of sustainable development and energy efficient design concerned policies. Application of these, almost completely neglected, energy sources, for which there is high potential in Serbia, would allow preservation of primary energy sources and local environment. This potential hasn't seen significant research, and therefore, neither the technical improvement. Apart from that, one of the goals of wider application of renewable energy sources is lowering the poverty level. This helps avoiding the already used “dirty development” method

Micro-location analysis in municipal solid waste management – comprehensive use of GIS in the Serbian villages

The problem of waste management in rural areas In Serbia has not been the subject of detailed specific researches, since most of the research has been directed towards the study of means, mechanisms and procedures of waste elimination in urban settlements. The reason for the reduced scope of research in this field occurs in the fact that rural settlements can not be considered as adequate subjects due to usual deficiency of specific data (population number, fluctuations, quantities of waste, waste composition, methods of eliminating waste, etc.). In addition, for several decades villages in Serbia have eliminated waste primarily spontaneously. This has proven difficult to research because of the variations of methods applied to each specific locale, and the different environmental variables. Unlike the existing, plan-based criteria for defining locations for waste elimination (i.e. hypsometry, slope angles, distance from waster-reservoirs, watercourses, infrastructure, natural and cultural assets, etc.), in villages these criteria are based on the patterns of behavior, customs and habits of the local population, as well as participation of local stakeholders in waste management. On the other hand, there is a significant problem in the absence of the Serbian and European legislation in this field. This paper will point to the possibility of changing the common practice in selection the location for waste management in rural areas, as well as some new methodological procedures (socially based GIS). The European theory and practice recognize new concepts of landfill sites selection in rural areas based on interdisciplinary research using multi-criteria analysis and model-based approaches to site selection, based on pre-defined location criteria and parameters (geographical, geomorphologic, hydrological, etc.). This paper will present the results of a research conducted in rural communities located in the Stara Planina Mt. Nature Park in Serbia. Through testing the initial hypothesis on the differences, but also correlations, between the criteria of open landfills created in rural areas and the location conditions given by theoretical parameters, as well as scientific bases (deterministic model), a location-specific model, corresponding to the research polygon, has been created for the simulation and evaluation using the GIS environment and with the support of the AHP and SAW methodologies. The research has been conducted using the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst software with the aim to stress the importance of using mathematical and geo-statistical analysis in the planning practice

METAVERSE – A Powerful New Instrument for Urban Planning or Yet Another Unfulfilled Tech-Promise?

Pandemic and post-pandemic conditions left significant impacts not only on human life, but also in all of the aspects of human behavior, which consequently led to serious change in human communication. Often overlapping and interference of “real life“, and virtual, contactless communication influenced accelerated adaptation of people to rapid and immediate change of perspectives. This affected regular interaction among people, but also had consequences in different performance of duties such as scientific development in different fields, or any other development-oriented activities. From that new adaptation, METAVERSE was born, as immersive 3D environment in which people synchronously interact with others, and with representations of objects from the physical world. METAVERSE enables interactions with digital environments and physical objects located in different places and enables individuals to interact with other people in remote locations. Within the realm of urban planning, the emergence of the METAVERSE has sparked both excitement and skepticism. Proponents argue that it possesses the transformative power to revolutionize the way cities are designed, managed, and experienced, while skeptics remain cautious, questioning its viability and potential to deliver tangible benefits. This paper aims to critically examine the METAVERSE as a potent instrument for urban planning or yet another instance of unfulfilled technological promises. By analyzing the concept of the METAVERSE and its fundamental principles, this study seeks to uncover its potential applications in urban planning, especially in the field of participation. It explores the integration of virtual and augmented realities, immersive technologies, and advanced data analytics to create interactive and participatory urban design experiences. Ethical concerns regarding privacy, accessibility, and digital equity are addressed, acknowledging the potential for exacerbating existing social disparities. Additionally, technical constraints, economic feasibility, and the need for robust infrastructure are examined to assess the practicality of widespread METAVERSE adoption in urban planning practices. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of whether the METAVERSE represents a truly powerful and transformative tool or merely another fleeting technological mirage in the landscape of urban development

Innovative approaches to waste reduction, reuse and recycling within an integrated urban planning concept

Municipal solid waste is generated through the activities of every economic sector. In the 20th century, the usual methods of waste management were landfilling and incineration. European theory and practice in the past 20 years has recognised new concepts and approaches in Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM). Based on EU directives and national laws, many European countries have already established a Zero Waste concept, with the aim of shifting the current MSWM practices towards sustainable natural cycles, whereby almost all discarded materials become resources for others to use. The Zero Waste concept involves re-use, recycling, and waste reduction and its ultimate goal is the nullification of all waste produced in a specific area. Unfortunately, not all European countries have managed to achieve this goal yet. Most of them have reached the milestone of 40-60% waste recycling (according to the statistics of European Environmental Agency, while others are still in the initial stages). This chapter will describe the step-by-step implementation of innovative approaches to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, using the case study of the municipality of New Belgrade in Serbia. The Serbian context is of particular interest, since almost none of the EU policies on waste reduction have been implemented. Therefore, the chapter will provide a model-approach to efficient MSWM in accordance with recent EU practices, directives, and laws. The model described is of interest to other municipalities that have not yet developed a strategy for sustainable waste management.Editors: Enrico Anguillari and Branka Dimitrijevi

Safety standards of educational institutions − Case study of the High school in Belgrade

Based on the previously adopted strategies and laws on international and national, Serbia is approaching to the implementation of standards on the risk reduction and control of the climate change on the acceptable level. The cities could be considered place with strong vulnerability, so the special attention must be provided in ensuring the resiliency of social infrastructure. Educational institutions are part of the secondary level of social protection in cities whose operation is necessary in terms of natural disasters. The paper will present the methodology in the area of risk management and assessment of educational institutions on the case study of High school in Belgrade and answer the questions - how the functionality of the facility can be obtained/improved, based on the improvement of the safety standards and how the standards could incorporate parameters that could be recognizable in the existing building overview and use

Results of scientific research project „The spatial, environmental, energy and social aspects of developing settlements and climate change – mutual impacts“- facing the climate crisis, proposals and solutions in newer planning practice in Serbia

The scientific research project entitled „The Spatial, Environmental, Energy And Social Aspects of Developing Settlements And Climate Change – Mutual Impacts“, financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia in the period from 2011 to 2019, has gathered over 60 researchers from 6 scientific research institutes and faculties in Serbia. The Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia (IAUS) was a project coordinator. This paper shows the way of conducting the scientific research project and presents some of the results, but also the difficulties encountered by researchers over more than nine years of research work. In addition to the official scientific research papers published within this Project (in the international and national journals and in the international and national congress proceedings), the results obtained in this Project have also found their direct implementation in drafting the planning documents in Serbia, as well as in the development of the specific web services/platforms for supporting the process of issuing the approvals on the environmental impact assessment studies and studies in the field related to the use of the solar power potential in urban areas. Added value of this scientific and wider community is the knowledge base established within the project with all relevant scientific and research contributions realized on the Project in the form of an online database that was and still is available to project participants and the entire scientific community in Serbia and worldwide. This paper presents the successfully made projects that have had a scientific research foothold in this Project

Philosophical context and questions about the future of technological revolution in architecture and urbanism: ecological, economic, sociological progress or a step back

This paper elaborates the problems which science and the profession are facing, in relation to the development of new technologies in the function of smart cities in architecture and urbanism, with a special focus on large cities. What high technologies bring to us, and what they deprive us of, is increasingly becoming a sociological and philosophical question. Armies of scientists, experts of various profiles, politicians, journalists and even artists have been engaged in research aimed at mitigating the negative effects of climate change on large cities, increasing their resilience and the ability to adapt to numerous challenges. However, humanity, especially in cities, is reacting inadequately and inefficiently in the face of climate change. Huge funds are spent in different ways, the profits of individual countries, banks and individuals are too high, and the results achieved at the global level are not impressive. On the other hand, the development of new technologies has contributed to the great progress of cities around the world, but it is often a kind of illusion. Reality has been replaced by virtual reality. Economic power, consumerism and profit have become a new ideology in many areas, and it is especially visible in construction. The position of investors and politicians, in fierce competition for prestige and gaining material profit through fast and low-quality construction in cities, is becoming an important segment in the strategy of many, especially developed countries. All this further widens the gap between rich and poor across the planet. New technologies, sustainable development, new concepts in urban planning are visible, but often powerless to face the demands of big capital and economic arguments, which impose a new paradigm not only in planning, but in all spheres of society. Are the experts and scientists numerous enough, well-trained, how much of them believe that can face, stop and resolve some of the negative trends of new technologies, to make the most of positive opportunities and adapt them to sustainable development, is probably one of the biggest dilemmas and challenges of our time. In addition, there are numerous ethical questions in the work of experts and dilemmas - whether it is possible and how to resist such large-capital development and how to justify the paradigm of a sustainable and resilient city

Safety standards of educational institutions − Case study of the High school in Belgrade

Based on the previously adopted strategies and laws on international and national, Serbia is approaching to the implementation of standards on the risk reduction and control of the climate change on the acceptable level. The cities could be considered place with strong vulnerability, so the special attention must be provided in ensuring the resiliency of social infrastructure. Educational institutions are part of the secondary level of social protection in cities whose operation is necessary in terms of natural disasters. The paper will present the methodology in the area of risk management and assessment of educational institutions on the case study of High school in Belgrade and answer the questions - how the functionality of the facility can be obtained/improved, based on the improvement of the safety standards and how the standards could incorporate parameters that could be recognizable in the existing building overview and use

Advantages of combined application of sea with ESIA in strategic planning for sustainable territorial development of tourism destinations

Whereas standard SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) and EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) methodologies aim to assess the impacts of certain activities solely on environmental quality, new tendencies in spatial and environmental planning are directed towards the application of environmental social impact assessment (ESIA), which implies assessment of the impacts on the quality of life, as well as on natural and cultural heritage. In the ESIA procedure, identification and assessment of direct, indirect and cumulative effects of tourism-related and other different activities are of key importance. The paper presents two case studies of ecologically vulnerable tourism destinations to explore whether the application of SEA/ESIA to strategic planning helps control, minimize or avoid negative effects of tourism; in addition, the case studies are analysed to check the efficiency of SEA/ESIA as instruments for coordination between spatial and tourism planning for sustainable territorial development of tourism destinations. The results/findings of the analysed case studies show that the application of combined SEA and adapted ESIA methods contributes to better understanding of the specific problems related to sustainable territorial development of tourism destinations, and provides support to the planning options and solutions aimed at addressing these problems n a more ecologically and socially justifiable manner