Stanislav Martinát

LOCATION MATTERS! EXPLORING BROWNFIELDS REGENERATION IN A SPATIAL CONTEXT (A CASE STUDY OF THE SOUTH MORAVIAN REGION, CZECH REPUBLIC)

Abstract In this paper the authors attempt to answer the question of which location and site-specific factors have a decisive influence on the successful regeneration of brownfields. Using data from the South Moravian Region (Czech Republic), we analyze the spatial and functional distribution of brownfields, and test the correlation between the development potential of municipalities and the distribution of the brownfields that have already been regenerated. We then compare the structure and characteristics of existing and regenerated brownfields to identify significant drivers and barriers in the regeneration process. The findings indicate that regenerated brownfields are more likely located in municipalities with a higher local development potential (represented by the rate of local business activities, spatial peripherality - proximity to the regional centre and the main road network, and the quality of local infrastructure). It is also demonstrated that the large size of brownfields, their previous industrial use and the existence of contamination are not determinative barriers for regeneration if the brownfields are located in attractive areas and their ownership relations are not complicated. Shrnutí Článek se snaží odpovědět na otázku, které lokalizační a specifické faktory mají rozhodující vliv na úspěšnou regeneraci brownfields. S využitím dat za Jihomoravský kraj, autoři analyzují prostorovou a funkční distribuci brownfields, testují souvislost mezi rozvojovým potenciálem obcí a rozmístěním již regenerovaných brownfields a porovnávají strukturu a charakteristiky existujících a regenerovaných brownfields, aby identifikovali signifikantní katalyzátory a bariéry procesu regenerace. Výsledky ukazují, že regenerované brownfields se mnohem častěji nachází v obcích s vyšším rozvojovým potenciálem, který je reprezentován zejména mírou lokální podnikatelské aktivity, periférností (blízkostí k regionálními centru a napojením na hlavní silniční síť) a kvalitou lokální infrastruktury. Také se potvrdilo, že velikost brownfileds, jejich předchozí industriální využití a existence kontaminace nepředstavují rozhodující bariéry, pokud se nachází v atraktivní lokalitě a nemají komplikované vlastnické vztahy

The Path From Passivity Toward Entrepreneurship Public Sector Actors in Brownfield Regeneration Processes in Central and Eastern Europe

Europeanization research dealing with the environmental transition in Eastern Europe has focused on the roles of state actors in adopting European regulations. Less well understood are the framings and roles of public administration actors when European Union regulations do not prescribe specific institutional changes. This article offers a micro perspective on the framings and roles of such actors in several cases of brownfield regeneration. Actors can play a proactive role, thereby fostering change, or they can play a moderately active or a passive role. We identify three moments—defining brownfield problems, mobilizing networks, and leading by example—which together define an entrepreneurial path. Along this path, actors can evolve from passivity toward entrepreneurship, but stasis and regression are also possible. Using qualitative data from the project TIMBRE (Tailored Improvement of Brownfield Regeneration in Europe), we illustrate different moments along this path for public sector actors in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania.

A Model for the Identification of Areas Favourable for the Development of Tourism: A Case Study of the Šumava Mts. and South Bohemia Tourist Regions (Czech Republic)

Abstract A basis for the identification of potential tourist development areas was defined as a combined use of the model of area load by visitors, the territorially-located database of tourist attractions, and the perception of their attractiveness by visitors. A distinctive inequality was identified in the area load and the distribution of tourist attractions. The areas of development were determined on the basis of a difference between the relative attendance and the relative attractiveness of the partial territorial units of a regular hexagonal network, sized approximately 3 km2, with a concurrent requirement of above-average total attractiveness Shrnutí Základem pro identifikaci potenciálních rozvojových oblastí se stalo kombinované využití modelu zatíženosti oblasti návštěvností, územně lokalizované databáze atraktivit cestovního ruchu a percepce míry jejich atraktivnosti návštěvníky oblasti. Identifikována byla výrazná nerovnoměrnost v zatížení oblasti cestovním ruchem a nerovnoměrnosti v rozmístění atraktivit cestovního ruchu. Rozvojové oblasti byly určeny na základě rozdílu relativní návštěvnosti a relativní atraktivity v dílčích územních jednotkách pravidelné šestiúhelníkové sítě, jejichž přibližná rozloha je 3 km2, a při současně splněném požadavku na nadprůměrnou hodnotu celkové atraktivnosti.

Actor networks and the construction of applicable knowledge: the case of the Timbre Brownfield Prioritization Tool

This article deals with experiences acquired during the process of developing the Timbre Brownfield Prioritization Tool (TBPT). Developing a decision support tool that takes into account the expectations and experiences of its potential users is similar to creating applicable knowledge by the joint action of scientists and heterogeneous actors. Actor network theory is used to explore the construction of this form of applicable knowledge as a process of actor network creation. Following the French sociologist Callon, networks are seen to be initiated and carried out by a group of scientists (tool developers) via four moments of translation, called problematization, interessement, enrolment and mobilization. Each step in the construction of the TBPT—from the initial research question to the final model—can be linked in retrospect to changing configurations of actor networks. Based on the experiences of the tool developers in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Romania, we illustrate how these configurations varied across space and time. This contribution emphasizes the ability to correlate gains in knowledge with the more visible changes in the scope of actor networks in order to highlight achievements but also limitations in acquiring applicable knowledge.

The expansion of coal mining in the depression areas – a way to development? - See more at: http://www.humangeographies.org.ro/81-toc#sthash.MADTV1Ic.dpuf

The coal has been mined in the Karvina area for more than 150 years. During the course of time mining areas were continuously extended at the expense of the settled areas. At the beginnings the mining was limited, but later, namely under conditions of centrally planned economy in the period between 1950s and 1980s, it was heavily intensified. Then, as a result of economic restructuring of the Czech Republic mining was reduced in the region to be re-developed in the last decade again. The expansion of coal mining has been continuously affecting the socio-economic structure of local popula- tion (huge working immigration, industrialisation, construction of mass housing for miners - miners dormitories, later housing estates etc., displacement of settlements), surrounding landscape (subsidence of terrain, undermining, hydrologi- cal changes and formation of artificial lakes, occurrence of plenty of post-mining brownfields after the reduction of mining etc.), but also contemporary outward, image and socio-spatial structure of cities (dominance housing in housing estates, effects of communists spatial urban planning etc.). Currently, negotiations about expansion of coal mining are in progress in this region, namely the city parts of Karvina (Stare Město) and Orlova (Výhoda) should be affected. In the introductory parts of this paper social, economical and environmental aspects of coal mining on the development of regions and con- nected problems are discussed and both cities are shortly presented. The questionnaire survey focused on perceptions of after-mining renewal and potential expansion of mining in the area of cities of Karvina and Orlova was conducted (n=1000). As the most important predictor that influences perception of mining and renewal, employment in mining com- panies has been identified. The higher education respondents achieved, the higher level of opposition against mining was manifested. The correlation was also found between the level of income and the agreement with expansion of mining. It can be concluded that employees of mining company, less educated population and people with higher income agreed with economic development of the city that is based on mining.

The importance of vulnerable areas with potential tourismdevelopment: a case study of the Bohemian forest and SouthBohemia tourism regions

The significance of the vulnerability of nature-rich areas with high development potential for tourism was studied using three types of data: 1) spatial distribution of tourist attractions, 2) the appeal level of these attractions, and 3) the number of visitors. The Bohemian Forest and South Bohemia were chosen as study areas. Nine types of landscape spatial appeal were identified in the study area. Two most important types were defined based on their appeal where there are rare relic features in the natural environment dominated by the presence of peat bogs and natural habitats with scrub undergrowth or virgin forests. These types were also found in the areas with the greatest potential for tourism development. However, these areas are also the most important from the point of view of nature conservation and landscape protection in Central Europe.

Brownfields: A Geographical Perspective

The issues of remediation, regeneration and redevelopment of underused, abandoned, derelict and often contaminated lands and premises (so-called “brownfields”) have recently become one of the greatest challenges for municipal planners and developers. Brownfields are results of economic restructuring processes in many countries; they are perceived as potential hazards to human health and the environment, burdens degrading the value of surrounding properties, barriers to local development and contributors to urban sprawl, grounds for neighbourhood crime and other illegal activities, etc. (see e.g. Greenberg et al., 2000; Susilawati, Kelsey, 2012).

Local development in the post-mining countryside? Impacts of an agricultural ad plant on rural community

The paper focuses in its first part on theoretical aspects and preconditions of the acceptance of the facilities for generating renewable energy with an emphasis on rural areas. Benefits and barriers of the relation between the rural development and renewable energies in conditions of the Czech Republic are discussed. By means of two questionnaire surveys (2013, 2015) the acceptance of the local anaerobic digestion (AD) plant by its local population was researched in the second part of the paper. It was found out that the level of the acceptance of projects for generation of renewable energy by local population varies in time, and a strong attention has to be devoted not only to planning and construction of the AD plant, but also to the operation of this facility so that undesirable impacts on quality of life of local population are minimized. Key-words: Renewable sources of energy, AD plants, Acceptance, Rural regions, Czech Republic.

Teaching Energy Poverty

In many European countries, rising energy prices and depleting resources decrease the affordability of electric and heat energy for poor households (e.g. Scarpellini et al. 2015; Kolokotsa and Santamouris 2014)). The topic has been taken up in parts of the political arena in Europe following the UK’s example (Bouzarovski et al. 2012),especially in those countries where the affordability of energy has decreased drastically, such as in Greece (see Vatavali and Chatzikonstantinou in this volume) or Bulgaria, where skyrocketing energy prizes contributed to the fall of the government in 2013 (Parkinson, 2013). As Grosmann et al. (2014) and Haas (in this volume) show, the political debate in other countries such as Germany did not focus on the problems of households being overburdened by energy costs.

How local population perceive impact of brownfields on the residential property values: some remarks from post-industrial areas in the Czech Republic

Brownfields are an integral part of contemporary cities in Central Europe. It is obvious that the occurrence of brownfields influences the value of residential properties that are located in their neighbourhoods. In our research, we focused on the problem of perception of brownfields and ways how the perception of these sites affects prices of local real estate. Set of questionnaire surveys was conducted in three case study municipalities (Karvina, Orlova, Detmarovice in the Czech Republic) to ascertain factors that cause the specific perception of brownfields in municipalities that are heavily affected by the heavy industry and mining. It was found that brownfields are perceived quite negatively here and local population believes that the occurrence of brownfields significantly affects local residential property values. More polarized opinions of the population have been ascertained in case of Karvina, where plenty of brownfields are located within the settled part of the city. A key finding of our survey is that spatial distribution of brownfields within the particular city is of crucial importance while thinking about the impact of brownfields on the residential property values.