Abstract: This work analysis an 81 km long 1.85 km wide fluvial valley on Mars (at 2°55’ South and 111°53’ East) for the first time, located near to the so-called Palos carter and Tinto Vallis, called Tinto-B hereafter. The length of the valley is approximately 81 km, and the average width is ~1.85 km, depth ~250 m. The hypsometric curves were created in 5 different buffer sizes on the main valley and the biggest tributary valley. The tributary valley shows a youth stage in the geomorphological evolution opposite to the main valley, which shows a mature stage. The crater statistical analysis based age of the main valley (2.9 Ga) poorly correlates with the early wet period of the red planet, thus, formed somehow later than most Martian valleys. Using the model SIMWE (SIMulated Water Erosion), for the to identify the small-scaled tributary valley systems and the small-scaled erosional landforms showed area elevated drainage density. The highest density of the tributary sections is 29.02 km/km2, and the average is 3.09 km/km2. Considering only the main valley 0.017 km/km2 would have been measured, suggesting dozen(s) early tributaries were heavily eroded.
Keywords: Mars, erosion, SIMWE, fluvial erosion, morphology
Abstract: The transformation of the landscapes due to the anthropogenic activities is increasing worldwide. These changes are also manifested in the change of soil-forming processes. The land cover (LC) changes evaluated according to their influence on anthropogenic features of soils allows to distinguish between LC changes resulting increased and decreased human impact (HI). In our study, we assess the changes of HI on landscapes and its spatial distribution across Hungary. The changes were evaluated by using LC data of four periods between 1990 and 2018 reclassified based on the related anthropogenic soil features. To identify the hotspots of the changes 1×1 grids were applied in which the direction (increasing, neutral or decreasing HI) and frequency (number of landscape patches with LC changes) of changes were evaluated. In our research, the hotspots were identified over the studied four periods. We point out that the spatial distribution of hotspots is very different. The hotspots of the increased human impact are 2,449 cells (643.0 km2) between 1990 and 2018, and the most of it localized in the Pest Plain (67), Csepel Plain (64) and Nagykálló-Nyírség (60). Most of the multiple hotspots are in the outskirts of Budapest to Kiskunlacháza, Bugyi, Délegyháza. As we examine the decreasing hotspot data we found 1,679 cells (1,524.9 km2) between 1990 and 2018. In largest number, they occur on the Kiskunság Sand Ridge (38), Majsa-Szabadka Sand Ridge (37) and Nagykállói-Nyírség (36). Multiple hotspots are located in settlements Izsák, Ásotthalom, Vatta and Nyírmihályi. Regions with numerous hotspots require special management to moderate its negative consequences on soils to consider both increased anthropisation, but also extensification of land use and their consequences.
Keywords: landscape degradation, landscape rewilding, land cover change, soil naturalness changes
Abstract: COVID-19 pandemic starting at the end of 2019, hit hard tourism and hospitality industries throughout the world. As a part of the processes, the most popular P2P accommodation service, the Airbnb also faced a rapid drop in bookings. This study explores and compares the effects of the first wave of the pandemic on the Airbnb markets of 15 cities. The analysis is based on the data retrieved from Insideairbnb.com. Booking trends are compared between 2019 and 2020 and a day-to-day analysis of occupancy rates during the first months of 2020 is also performed. Special attention was paid to the effects of pandemic on different price categories of listings. The results show that the evolution of local pandemic situation had the most significant impact on bookings and occupancy rates in the investigated cities. The characteristics of local markets and the pandemic and economic situation of sending countries had also great influence on the bookings and cancellations. In addition, in some cases the cancellations did not affect the reservations made for the later periods, meaning that tourists hoped for a quick recovery. The effect on price categories was also different from one location to another. The study provides empirical insights to the effects of the disease on P2P accommodations. Furthermore, the future of short-term rentals is also discussed briefly.
Keywords: Airbnb, tourism crisis, geography of pandemic, COVID-19, P2P accommodation, sharing economy
Abstract: This study compares the social sustainability of urban renewal interventions in Hungary and South Africa. The societal and environmental challenges arising from urbanisation and the associated population growth in major urban centres around the world have increased the research and policy foci on urban sustainability and governance. While urban regeneration projects are vitally important to urban sustainability, these interventions have been widely criticised because social sustainability issues have been overlooked or ignored. Therefore, there is a need for governance practices that are applicable to different national and urban contexts. The main aim of this study is twofold: firstly, it provides a literature review on the social sustainability of urban renewal and secondly, it compares urban renewal interventions in two different geographical settings to provide recommendations about public participation and stakeholder involvement, which can contribute to increasing social sustainability of urban renewal projects. To this end, a comparative approach was adopted through the analysis of two urban renewal projects: Magdolna Quarter Programme (Budapest, Hungary) and the Albert Park (Durban, South Africa), the data for which were based on a review of secondary sources, including international literature and policy documents. It was found that although urban renewal serves a city-wide purpose (and not just a local one), the socio-economic impacts of these projects have not yet been adequately explored. Furthermore, to achieve higher urban renewal sustainability, there is a need for impact assessments (with special attention paid to the social effects) to promote public participation and empowerment.
Keywords: urban renewal, public participation, social sustainability, public-private partnership, Hungary, South Africa
Abstract: The availability of health care services is an important issue, however, improving availability of health care services does not necessarily mean better accessibility for everybody. The main aim of this study is to find out how better availability in the care of acute myocardial infarction vary with accessibility of patients’ geographical location within Hungary. We applied statistical analysis and interview techniques to unfold the role of spatiality in the conditions of access to health care. Results of statistical analysis indicate significant health inequalities in Hungary. Decreasing national mortality rates of acute myocardial infarction, has been coupled by increasing spatial inequalities within the country especially at micro-regional level. According to in-depth interviews with local health care stakeholders we defined factors that support access to health care as well as important barriers. The supporting factors are related to the improvement of availability (i.e. infrastructural developments), while geographical distance, lack of material and human resources, or low level of health literacy proved to be the most relevant barriers. Main conclusion is that barriers to accessibility and availability are not only spatial but are also based on individual stages of acute myocardial infarction care. The development of cardiac catheter centres in Hungary has improved the short-term chances of infarction survival, but long-term survival chances have worsened in recent years due to deficiencies in rehabilitation care as well as low level of health literacy.
Keywords: health care, health policy, infarction, health inequality, health literacy, deprivation, Hungary
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