Pere Serra Ruiz

Latent sprawl, divided Mediterranean landscapes: urban growth, swimming pools, and the socio-spatial structure of Athens, Greece

Although Mediterranean cities have inherent differences on a local scale, together they offer a kaleidoscopic overview of distinctive morphologies and patterns of socio-spatial segregation. In this study, we explore the distribution of residential swimming pools as indicators of the use of land and water at the metropolitan scale, in relation to recent changes in the socio-spatial structure of a large Mediterranean city (Athens, Greece). Our results indicate a polarized spatial distribution of swimming pools, still considered a luxury affordable only for a minor segment of the Greek population. The analysis highlights the spatial linkages between concentration of residential pools, class segregation and low-density settlements, indicating that the socio-spatial structure of Athens remains characterized by persistent disparities between rich and poor neighborhoods. Comparison with another Mediterranean city (Barcelona) demonstrates the peculiarity of Athens’ recent development as reflected in the fragmented and polarized urban structure. The study provides an alternative reading of recent Mediterranean urban growth by considering pools as a “landmark” for urban sprawl, producing contested landscapes of localized social segregation.

Soil erosion and degradation in a rapidly expanding industrial area of Eastern Mediterranean basin (Thriasio plain, Greece)

This study investigates soil erosion in a rapidly expanding industrial region of Eastern Mediterranean basin (Thriasio plain, Greece), controlling how geomorphology, topography, soil drainage and vegetation cover shape the local erosivity rate. Our results show that Thriasio plain is characterized by medium–low classes of soil vulnerability in the actual environmental conditions. However, in an ‘extreme conditions’ scenario, areas with sharp slope, a branched hydrographical network and low vegetation cover are classified at high vulnerability to soil erosion. A field study has been implemented considering extreme natural conditions (January 2004) driven by rapid snow melting determining an exceptionally high volume of water flooding down to the sea through a seasonal stream. This episode was considered a ‘natural experiment’ when assessing extreme soil erosion conditions. Based on theoretical calculations and field measurements, our results confirm the estimated value of soil erosion under the ‘extreme conditions’ scenario illustrated above.

Metodología para el análisis de las transformaciones paisajísticas de áreas rurales mediterráneas: evolución, causas y consecuencias en el nordeste de Cataluña

The paper presents a methodology for analysing the landscape dynamics of Mediterranean rural areas using four tools: historical accounts, satellite remote sensing, multivariate regression and landscape indices. The first step involves in historical analysis to