Institute of Geography
3D technology and machine learning methods for remote environmental monitoring and assessment of river health
3D technológie a metódy strojového učenia pre environmentálny monitoring a hodnotenie kvalitatívneho stavu riek
| Duration: |
1.9.2024 - 30.6.2028 |
| Program: |
SRDA |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Rusnák Miloš PhD. |
| Annotation: | Riparian zones are among the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. They are shaped by underlying physical processes associated with river flow, including erosion and deposition of sediment, periodic inundation, and groundwater-surface water exchange. High-resolution point cloud topography data offers new opportunities for detailed assessment and monitoring of streams, from the catchment areas to detailed local
studies. Three-dimensional morphology of stream can be mapped at a resolution that can also be used to infer process, volumetric changes detection, species monitoring, channel bathymetry, flow velocity or automatic grain size calculation of gravel-bed and submerged channel. The project proposal focuses on the development of the protocol for seamless 3D point cloud generation with biophysical properties of the riverine ecosystem consisting of
species composition and properties for assessment and understanding in-channel properties and evaluation of hydromorphological quality. For analyses will be selected study location with a length of more than 2 km of river length, so we not focus on a really detailed study. Also, river systems with different channel widths and river systems that are selected for revitalisation will be preferred. Monitoring this habitat is a critical element of the Water framework directive (2000/60/EÚ) and national environmental assessments of river channels. A complex approach for the assessment physical structure of habitat type is necessary for river management and good qualitative status of water bodies. Finally, we produce a workflow design with an automatic procedure stored in program language with open access to process multiple sensors to a seamless 3D point cloud model of the river channel and stored as a scalar field (SF) in the point cloud. |
Automated grain size measurements and mapping in the fluvial environment from drones using Structure from Motion image analyses
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| Duration: |
1.1.2025 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: |
DoktoGrant |
| Project leader: |
MD Ashraf MSc. |
Unveiling Housing Affordability: A Comprehensive Exploration Across Slovak Regions
Demaskovanie dostupnosti bývania: hĺbkový výskum slovenských regiónov
Detection of landscape diversity and its changes in Slovakia based on remote sensing data in the context of the European Green Deal
Detekcia diverzity krajiny Slovenska a jej zmien na báze údajov diaľkového prieskumu v kontexte Zelenej dohody EÚ
| Duration: |
1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Szatmári Daniel PhD. |
| Annotation: | The Project is focused on the development of innovative approaches to the processing and visualisation of satellite data in the research of landscape diversity. The output of the Project will be the proposal of methodology for automated classification of landscape diversity by a set of indicators of the agricultural landscape composition, indicators of the agricultural landscape configuration, and indicators of changes in the landscape mosaic. The methodical procedure will be verified in selected experimental sites with various landscape types. Results of the Project will be applicable to monitoring the implementation of measures stipulated by the European Green Deal and other EU Strategy Documents. |
Species-rich Carpathian grasslands: mapping, history, drivers of change and conservation
Druhovo bohaté lúky a pasienky Karpát: mapovanie, história, príčiny zmien a ochrana
| Duration: |
1.7.2022 - 30.6.2026 |
| Program: |
SRDA |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Pazúr Róbert PhD. |
| Annotation: | European agriculture is at a crossroads. Continuing the industrial intensification of agricultural production and the associated abandonment of marginal land equals continuing the direct negative environmental impacts on landscape quality and further loss of biodiversity. The second available option is adopting the quality of the landscape and its sustainability as essential criteria for optimization and management of agricultural production. The main aim of our transdisciplinary project is to support this second option with practical scientific knowledge on environmental and societal potentials regarding sustainable grassland management in the Carpathians using traditional agricultural practices, as well as on which social and institutional features might help embedding such management within the modern Slovak economy. The main objectives of the project are: 1) to identify and map biodiversity-rich grassland areas in the Carpathians and related local environmental and social factors; 2) identify and map areas with high environmental and social potential for successful grassland restoration in Slovakia; and 3) propose a national strategy for state and non-governmental support regarding ecological restoration, conservation and management of the identified grassland areas. We intend to reach such a comprehensive and practical understanding through a collaborative combination of the latest available earth observation data for the Carpathian region, analytical methods and tools, but also pioneering field research; all in parallel on behalf of the scientific fields of botany, ecology, geography, remote sensing and social anthropology. The planned outputs of the project – scientific studies and the proposal of a national strategy to support species-rich grasslands – can, in addition to direct use by contracted domestic recipient organisations (MoE SR and BROZ), also serve as a template for applied research focusing on ecological grassland restoration in Europe and beyond. |
Genealogy of modern geographical thought in Slovakia: interference of autochthonous and allochthonous conditionalities
Genealógia moderného geografického myslenia na Slovensku: interferencia autochtónnej a alochtónnej podmienenosti
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
Prof. RNDr. Ira Vladimír CSc. |
| Annotation: | The project is based on the need to implement a comprehensive analysis of the development of modern geographical thought in Slovakia. In terms of time, it is the period from the establishment of geography in Slovakia as a modern academic discipline in the 1920s to the present. The main goal of the project will be to investigate the continuities and discontinuities of geographical thought in Slovakia as a result of creative reflection on the conditions of allochthonous and autochthonous provenance. The partial result should be the identification of schools of geographical thought in Slovakia in terms of their originality and contribution to the development of geographical thought in a supranational context. The identification and justification of the original contribution of Slovak geography to the world geographical thought should also be one of the results. |
Assessment of human impact and climate change to the transformation of river channels using novel 3D geodata
Hodnotenie transformácie vodných tokov vplyvom človeka a zmeny klímy prostredníctvom presných 3D geodát
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Rusnák Miloš PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project focuses on applying modern 3D technology to identify the dynamics of the river system in Slovakia. The river systems are the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. In this project, we focus on the response of river systems to climate change and human impact based on analyses of modern 3D technology such as drones (UAV), aerial lidar or satellite data (Sentinel, PlanetScope). The project proposal focuses on detecting individual sediment fluxes based on their physical connection from the source to accumulation zones through quantitative analyses of elevation models (DEM) and connectivity indices. These dynamics will be compared by the physical properties of rivers (morphology and vegetation), which reflects changes in the quality and spatial structure of the fluvial ecosystem. A comprehensive approach for assessing sediment transport is necessary for good river management and good quality status of water bodies. |
Comprehensive Analysis of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Slovakia
Komplexná analýza spustnutej poľnohospodárskej pôdy na Slovensku
Marginalized Roma concentrations in the context of natural hazards and social inequality
Marginalizované rómske koncentrácie v kontexte prírodných hrozieb a sociálnej nerovnosti
| Duration: |
1.7.2023 - 30.6.2027 |
| Program: |
SRDA |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Kidová Anna PhD. |
| Annotation: | Marginalized Roma concentrations in environmentally unstable areas (floods, landslides, contamination) together with their social status and population trend represent a very current research challenge in the context of increasing society's resilience, especially to flood risk. The present project responds to this challenge and the research focuses mainly on the analysis of: i) flood exposure of Roma settlements, whether due to the impact of morphological changes in river channels or evolution trends of segregated Roma settlements, ii) vulnerability of marginalized Roma concentrations to flood risk due to their social status, iii) public policies in terms of their effectiveness to help Roma communities in settlements to cope with the negative consequences of flood hazard, iv) the natural environment around Roma settlements in the context of its impact on flood risk compared to the rest / majority population. Research will be carried out at national, regional and local levels. Methodologically, the project is based on data obtained by multitemporal analysis of remote sensing data, morphometric analysis of georelief, data on socio-economic and spatial-functional relationships and data obtained from field research. |
From digital topography and morphometric indices to uplift/erosion rates
Od digitálnej topografie a geomorfometrických indexov k erózno-výzdvihovým rýchlostiam
| Duration: |
1.1.2025 - 31.12.2028 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Prokešová Roberta PhD. |
| Annotation: | The project focuses on the dynamics of Western Carpathian topography and identifies the main controlling factors: vertical tectonic movements (uplift/downlift), lithology, and climate. It applies fieldwork methods of data collection combined with modern digital morphometry and data extraction from high-resolution (1-10m) DEMs. The extracted morphometric parameters and indices will be evaluated by means of statistics and used to map the spatial distribution of relative vertical movement tendencies, identify erosional hot-spots, and relative (proxy) estimates of erosion rates. Available geochronological data will be used to quantify proxy data and determine erosion/eruption rates in natural dimensions. The results will provide an effective basis for new targeted numerical dating to refine erosion/uplift rates. They will also serve as a suitable basis for the assessment of different types
of geohazards, including seismic hazard and landslide and flood risk. |
Peripheral and economically lagging territories: current "status quo" in the context of chances and threats of their sustainable development
Periférne a ekonomicky zaostávajúce teritóriá: súčasný status quo v kontexte šancí a ohrození ich udržateľného rozvoja
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Székely Vladimír CSc. |
| Annotation: | Although peripheral and lagging territories were identified in different ways in the past, several measures aimed at achieving spatial convergence were unsuccessful and spatial polarization in Slovakia is deepening. The causes that can be negatively manifested by feelings of exclusion from the life of society among the affected residents of “problem” territories can be both global and local in nature and can reflect differences in the level and use of uneven territorial capital, as well as the ability to recognize and respond to development impulses from the government, local stakeholders and the civil public community. The aim of the project is to identify alternative opportunities and threats of selected peripheral and economically lagging territories by applying various quantitative-qualitative research procedures with regard to defining sustainable development. It is assumed that the dependence of development on the chosen paths will be confronted with the necessity and risk of their creative destruction. |
Advanced Assessment of Abandoned Agricultural Land in Slovakia
Pokročilé hodnotenie spustnutej poľnohospodárskej pôdy na Slovensku
Regions and changes in their social climate in the crisis and post-crisis period
Regióny a zmeny ich sociálnej klímy v krízovom a post krízovom období
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Michálek Anton CSc. |
| Annotation: | For understanding and solving existing problems and potential impacts of the three currently ongoing crises (pandemic, energy and inflation), it is important to know their differentiated impacts on the social situation of the population in the regions. Social conditions directly reflect the level of economic development, the quality of life of residents and the social climate of regional societies. Due to the significant impact of crises on social conditions in the regions, the project will be focused on the research of two important phenomena, namely income and poverty and their spatial inequalities. Both phenomena will be investigated from the perspective of changes in selected indicators that define and characterise them. The project has the ambition to evaluate the social impacts of crises based on the recorded changes in income and poverty, expand the knowledge of their general and unique effects, and contribute relevantly to the reduction of potential social risks. |
Social and spatial aspects of transport exclusion in Slovakia
Sociálne a priestorové aspekty dopravného vylúčenia na Slovensku
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
Mgr. Rišová Katarína PhD. |
| Annotation: | Transport exclusion is defined as insufficient accessibility to opportunities due to limited mobility of an individual. It is caused by not only external factors, but also by personal characteristics and life conditions of individuals. According to the existing literature, the groups experiencing exclusion in other areas of life are most at risk (e.g. single parents, people with disabilities and the elderly), as well as people with limited opportunities to use a car. Transport exclusion will be examined in the post-socialist environment. From a spatial point of view, peripheral and suburban areas or marginal urban districts are particularly risky, which are characterized by insufficient accessibility to opportunities, which represents a barrier for the future social inclusion of disadvantaged groups. The aim of the research is to analyze various aspects and the level of transport exclusion of disadvantaged groups, as well as to propose solutions for their transport inclusion. |
Scholarships for excellent PhD students (R1) - GGUSAV
Štipendiá pre excelentných PhD. študentov a študentky (R1) – GGUSAV
Using Earth observation for improving crop yield estimation for agricultural statistics in Slovak Republic
Využitie diaľkového prieskumu Zeme na zlepšenie odhadu úrody pre poľnohospodársku štatistiku v Slovenskej republike
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Využitie satelitných snímok pri štúdiu dopadov klimatických zmien a zmien krajinnej pokrývky na povodňové ohrozenie
The total number of projects: 17
