This study takes the Cangshan World Geopark as the research object, focusing on the needs and preferences of tourists. Through a questionnaire survey method, 562 valid samples were collected, and the principal component analysis method was used to systematically explore tourists’ preferences for the service types, thematic information, and media forms of the geological park interpretation system. The study found that tourists have significantly higher preferences for basic park guide services, natural environment-related interpretation themes, and multimodal audio-visual interpretation media. They also have dual needs of geological science popularization and local culture experience. Optimizing the interpretation system that meets tourists’ needs can not only enhance tourists’ geological park tour experience and knowledge acquisition efficiency, but also strengthen tourists’ awareness of geological heritage protection and local culture identification, thereby promoting the sustainable development of ecological tourism and community support in world geological parks.
The outcomes of watercourse revitalization are mostly evaluated as positive, depending on the implementation of the given revitalization. A potential negative aspect of watercourse revitalization was investigated via the example of an important source of groundwater for drinking purposes in Brezova nad Svitavou. The aim of the research was to assess whether revitalization of the watercourse in the section upstream of the offtake point was appropriate. The assessment used long-term data from the watercourse operator as well as our own shortterm monitoring. The results indicate that in this section, the risk of contamination from surface water into groundwater significantly outweighs other benefits of revitalization. Therefore, a partial, modified revitalization was proposed, which in the assessed section maintains and regenerates the existing separation between the watercourse and the groundwater. At the same time, however, it enables the formation of river sediment in the trough as a natural environment for the development of zoo- and phytobenthos and related higher organisms.
While land finance is a recognized institutional driver of urban expansion, the nonlinear and spatially heterogeneous dynamics of this fiscal mechanism remain underexplored. This study integrates geospatial explainable artificial intelligence (GeoXAI) with econometric models to decode the spatiotemporal evolution of the land finance-urban expansion nexus across 204 Chinese cities (2005-2020). By overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, we reveal that the impact of land finance on urban expansion is profoundly nonlinear, transitioning from a mitigating effect to a powerful reinforcing driver over time. Furthermore, this fiscal stimulus exhibits stark spatial disparities, with positive spatial interactions diffusing from coastal regions to inland second-tier cities. Ultimately, this research provides a novel methodological paradigm for spatial policy evaluation and extends the theoretical understanding of land urbanization for the emerging economies. These findings offer actionable insights for implementing zoned regulations and polycentric governance to curb inefficient urban sprawl driven fiscal incentives.
This study examines pedestrian accessibility to public transport stops through a twodimensional framework integrating horizontal (network-based walking distance) and vertical (elevation difference) components. The analysis deliberately isolates the walking access stage and does not assess service frequency, travel time, or network performance. The framework is applied to Liberec and Zl & iacute;n, two medium-sized Czech cities with hilly terrain and contrasting urban structures. For built-up areas, network walking distances and elevation differences to the nearest stop were calculated and combined into a synthetic horizontal-vertical accessibility typology. Results show that both cities have generally favourable proximity to stops, but terrain substantially modifies accessibility patterns, especially in Liberec. The combined framework identifies short-but-steep and far-but-flat areas that remain hidden when distance and elevation are evaluated separately. The study offers a transparent, transferable approach for assessing pedestrian stop accessibility in topographically complex urban environments and provides a spatially explicit basis for further accessibility analysis.
In this paper we performed flood frequency analysis by using L-moments and annual maximum series data from two hydrological stations on the Rasina River (Brus and Bivolje), for the 1961-2020 period. Homogeneity testing confirmed that the basin can be considered hydrologically homogeneous (V-i = 0.38 < 1). Five probability distributions - Normal, Log-Normal, Gumbel, Pearson Type III, and Log-Pearson Type III - were tested to identify the best-fit model. An L-moment ratio diagram and Z-statistics indicate that all distributions satisfy the test criteria, with Log-Pearson Type III showing the best overall fit for the region (Z = 0.09). Goodness-of-fit tests (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Cramer-von Mises, and x(2)) confirmed Log-Pearson Type III as the best fit at the Brus station and Pearson Type III at the Bivolje station. Theoretical flood quantiles were calculated for various return periods (T-year floods). Mann-Kendall trend analysis indicated a significant decreasing discharge trend at Bivolje (-1.28 m(3)/s per year).
