ANALYSIS OF ANTHROPIC PRESSURE INDICES IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF BRAȘOV, PROCESSED/HIGHLIGHTED BY MEANS OF GIS

Transcription

1 Annals of Valahia University of Targoviste. Geographical Series (2017), 17(2): DOI: /avutgs ISSN (Print): , ISSN (Online): Copyright by Department of Geography. Valahia University of Targoviste ANALYSIS OF ANTHROPIC PRESSURE INDICES IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF BRAȘOV, PROCESSED/HIGHLIGHTED BY MEANS OF GIS Unucok Atilla Alexandru 1 Valahia University of Târgoviște, Department of Geography St. Lt. Stancu Ion, no , Târgoviște, Romania, atilla.unucok@yahoo.com Abstract Metropolitan areas represent large urban centers, made up of a metropolis and adjacent areas of influence. In general, one or several cities are polarizing centers which inspire a name to the metropolitan area as the most important component of the city. The human pressure may be analyzed using anthropic pressure indices. They are calculated according to the relation between the surfaces with different types of occupation and the number of population overlapping such occupied areas. The data used in calculations may be found in official statistics and in international environmental monitoring programs. Such program is Copernicus which provides the Corine Land Cover data relating to use of land in Europe. To calculate and analyze anthropic pressure indices one may use GIS applications which process the Corine Land Cover data and create maps that expose changes occurred at visual level. Keywords: Brasov, Metropolitan Area, Anthropic Pressure, Human Pressure Indices, Corine Land Cover 1. INTRODUCTION The historical evolution of the practice and theory in urban management and planning shows that, prior to their industrialization, cities were organized somehow in an organic and automatic manner. However, population growth, various activities initiated in cities and profound changes inside them, transformed the previous rules dominantly applicable to spatial structures and led to a juxtaposition of cities to unprecedented environmental, social, economic and political issues. Since then theorezation in the sector of land use planning and city management has become the center of several scientific and academic studies. (Lalehpour, 2016, Hammond et al. 1995). Over the past years the Metropolitan Areas met with issues regarding urban population growth, uses of land, change of land coverage (Cîmpianu and Ema 2013), habitat fragmentation, deforestation (Andronache et al. 2017, Draghici et al. 2017, Pintilii et al. 2017) and loss of natural vegetation (Grigorescu and Geacu, 2017, Geacu et all. 2012, Ionus et al. 2011). As an example, rapid expansion of metropolitan urban areas of Milan in 1950 turned this metropolitan region into one of the main metropolitan areas in Europe, which instantly entailed significant changes in landscape (Sanesi et al., 2017). The years following the fall of the communist regime meant both attaching more attention to environmental changes and attempting to minimize them by implementation of numerous protection and management policies in relation to what environment represents (Bălteanu et al., 2013) The anthropic pressure indices applied in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov enabled implementation of an advanced technology due to the dynamics of the continuously changing area under study which also benefits from a strong economy that develops on account of some industrial areas that have not gone yet through modernizations which lay the basis of a good functioning in terms of environment protection (Popescu and Corbos, 2010). In addition, the rather large surface of 152

2 the Metropolitan Area of Brașov has an influence on the environment due to the density of the population and the presence of the three landform levels. One way to identify anthropic intervention in a territory is represented by calculation of some synthetic landscape artificialization assessment indices. They indicate quantitative levels resulting from different statistical data ratios (Dumitrașcu, 2006). To carry out the analysis of indices, to compare and highlight the aspects which generate environment degradation in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov and to locate it, we used a various range of information sources. 2. METHODOLOGY The starting point was the literature, namely a series of papers on other regions in România which constituted the methodological bases of the paper. Most titles relate to some papers published after 2000 and apply investigation methods in the foreign literature existing on Romanian territory. In addition to bibliographic titles, we used numerous graphic and cartographic materials such as Austrian maps (over 100 years old, made by military staff of the Hapsburg empire), topographic maps 1: (made in 1980 by the Military Topographic Division), geological map 1: , Brașov sheet made by the Geological Institute. They all facilitated an analysis of the evolution of the geographic space developed and directly influenced by the City of Brașov. Additionally, we have used statistical data provided by the National Institute of Statistics ( which we integrated into the data used to calculate some environmental ratios. Another important source of information was represented by the official websites of the Administrative Territorial Units under the Metropolitan Area of Brașov and the website of Metropolitan Agency for Sustainable Development Brașov. Most data were taken over in a vector format and, after being integrated into the database, they provided comparable numerical data, whereas for older cartographic documents it was necessary to use a large series of vectorizations, to create numerical and text attributes, and only subsequently to use data in spatial analysis. For an accurate monitoring of changes in the vegetal coverage we have used information offered by CORINE LAND COVER Project, we have taken over data from the Corine Land Cover program between 1990 and 2012 available on These data were useful in examining the changes in the vegetal coverage occurred in the metropolitan area between All these data were integrated in a data base used for analyses presented in the paper. Both the data base and the spatial analyses were generated by means of the ArcGis platform. 3. RESULTS The landscape stands for a basic structure of the natural and cultural heritage which contributes to enhancement of identity and human welfare. A mode to identify the anthropic intervention in a territory is constituted by calculation of some landscape artificialization assessment indices. They indicate quantitative values resulting from different statistical data ratios (Dumitrașcu, 2006). The ratio is a value characteristic of an empirically or perceptively perceived reality (Kurtz, Jackson and Fisher 2001, cited by loge, 2013). It helps us simplify a reality, understand or justify some relations, argument a position (Pătroescu et al, 2009, Iojă, 2013). The ratio pinpoints and simplifies a reality, helps us to understand and justify some relations, argument a position (Pătroescu et al. 2009). The environmental ratios and indices have to be adapted to the specificity of the administrative system and to the accessibility and availability of the data required to determine them (Heink & Kowarik, 2010, Ioge, 2013). 153

3 The concept of index emerges as early as the beginning of the 18 th century. The first index was created by the Anglican bishop Fleetwood and was used in an economic analysis (Țarcu, 1998, cited by Cheval et al., 2003). Therefore, in order to identify the environmental issues of the Metropolitan Area of Brașov, we have used data provided by the three ecometric indices: naturality index, environmental transformation index and human pressure index. In relation to the naturality index in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality, one may notice major changes occurred in the timeframe studied ( ). In 1990 (fig. 1.), most part of the Metropolitan Area of Brașov falls under the category of landscapes which have a stronglyaffected ecological balance. The landscapes on the borderline of ecological balance or with a slightly-affected ecological balance are located in the administrative territorial units of the suburbs of the Metropolitan Area or even in areas of higher altitude. As a result, the access to the forest land of those regions was not favorable and the natural areas remained intact. Figure 1. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Naturality Index Map (1990) Throughout the years which followed the fall of the communist regime, a policy of forestation and ecologization of degraded areas was implemented. Consequently, in 2000 (fig. 2.), one may observe that most administrative territorial units benefit from a landscape with a relatively stable ecological balance or even a balance close to the initial one. These changes also occur as a result of declaring some areas protected, such as the Conservation Area Mount Tâmpa or the Conservation Area Stejerișul Mare (Geacu et al., 2012). 154

4 Figure 2. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Naturality Index Map (2000) In 2012 the process of ensuring a natural character of the landscape is continuous, therefore (fig. 3.), the forest land in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality is on the rise and there are many landscapes with an ecological balance bordering the initial one. Figure 3. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Naturality Index Map (2012) In the Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality, in 1990, one may see that of the 18 communities only 6 had am enhanced space anthropization (fig. 4.). This is mainly the consequence of the industry existing on the territory of the Administrative Units at that time and the desire to 155

5 expand the farming land in the communist era. One may also notice that the significantlyanthropized spaces were mainly located around the central pole, Brașov municipality and the limit of Brașov Hollow. Figure 4. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Environmental Transformation Index Map (1990) After the fall of the communist regime ( ) the number of the Administrative Territorial Units which were significantly-anthropized dropped dramatically, while in 2000 in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov, the only significantly-anthropized Administrative Territorial Unit was Ghimbav. This was mostly due to the disappearance of heavy polluting industry. Figure 5. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Environmental Transformation Index Map (2000) 156

6 As one may observe, the timeline brought no changes in the environmental transformation index. Nevertheless, there were some alterations in the landscape level. This is the period when numerous industries emerged, however these industries saw the light in a controlled manner and the pollution level was much lower. Figure 6. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Environmental Transformation Index Map (2012) The human pressure on the environment is the synthetic ratio of its quality and of the landscape artificialization degree. The man pressures nature to a significant extent, this pressure is different from space to space, from society to society. Figure 7. Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality. Human Pressure Index Map (2015) 157

7 The national average value of this index for România is 0.68 ha/inhabitant, whereas the county value oscillates between 0.5 and 1.4 ha/inhabitant (Pătru-Stupariu, 2012). In the Metropolitan Area of Brașov Municipality (fig. 7.), the only administrative territorial unit on the borderline of natural balance safeguarding is Brașov. The other administrative territorial units are moderately-balanced or significantly-misbalanced. It is worth mentioning that no administrative territorial unit is classified as an extremely-misbalanced landscape. Most administrative territorial units in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov have a human pressure index close to national average (0.68 ha/inhabitant), oscillating between 0.41 and 1.00 ha/inhabitant. 4. CONCLUSIONS In the period under analysis, i.e , one may see a positive evolution of the landscapes from south to north. This is owed to the fact that the southern landform is mountainous whereas the northern one is represented by predominantly horizontal surfaces which favored a continuous growth of agriculture (Bod sugar beet) and construction of buildings. Nevertheless, one can see that in the early hours of communism fall, most landscapes of the Administrative Territorial Units in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov were classified as landscapes with a significantly-affected balance and even landscapes with an extremely-affected balance. This aspect is chiefly the result of the desire to expand and capitalize as much farming land as possible, since during communism deforestations were out of question, compared to what takes place nowadays. Another important aspect which led to improvement of the situation in the Metropolitan Area of Brașov was the heavy industry which went through a dramatic decline after communism. In relation to the Metropolitan Area of Brașov the ecometric indices reflecting the landscape vary from locality to locality and from period to period. Therefore, Ghimbav locality is the most affected area in all aspects, because of both narrow surface and geographical position (in the surrounding area of Brașov Municipality). In addition, one may observe that all indices applying to the period under study, i.e , have a positive evolution, starting from the naturality index up to the environmental transformation index. The human pressure index for 2015 shows the landscape artificialization degree. Even the localities which never exceeded the critical threshold, had however tendencies to do so in that period. By exceeding the limit of some indices, artificializations become harmful to society and nature. Artificiality is favorable to society only to the extent to which it integrates to nature and becomes a natural part of it, increasing comfort and welfare of mankind and helping to preserve and revitalize what is natural (Ionescu et al., 1989). Nonetheless the environmental indices and ratios need to be adapted as to be accessible and available for data which is required to understand and use them. REFERENCES Andronache I., Fensholt R., Ahammer H., Ciobotaru A.M., Pintilii R.D., Peptenatu D., Drăghici C.C., Diaconu D.C., Radulović M., Pulighe G., Azihou A. F., Toyi M.S., Brice Sinsin B., (2017) Assessment of Textural Differentiations in Forest Resources in Romania Using Fractal Analysis, Forests, 8(3), 54; doi: /f Bălteanu D., Dragotă C.S, Popovici A., Dumitrașcu M., Kucsicsa Gh., Grigorescu I. (2013), Land use and crop dynamics related to climate change signals during the post-communist period in the south oltenia, Romania, Institute of Geograpghy, Romanian Academy Cîmpianu C., Ema C., (2013), Landscape dynamics analysis in Iasi Metropolitan Area (Romania) using remote sensing data, Cinq Continents, 3.7, pp

8 Drăghici C.C., Andronache I., Ahammer H., Peptenatu D., Pintilii RD, Ciobotaru AM, Simion AG, Dobrea RC, Diaconu DC, Vișan MC, Papuc RM (2017), Spatial evolution of forest areas in the northern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, Acta Montanistica Slovaca 22 (2), pp Dumitrașcu M. (2006), Modificări ale peisajului în Câmpia Olteniei, Edit. Academiei Române, București Geacu S, Dumitrascu M, Maxim I. (2012), The evolution of the natural protected area network in Romania, Rev. Roum. Géogr./Rom. Journ. Geogr 56(1), pp Grigorescu I., Geacu S. (2017), The Dynamics and Conservation of Forest Ecosystems In Bucharest Metropolitan Area. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, Volume 27: Hammond, A, Adriaanse A, Rodenburg E., Bryant D, Woodward R, (1995), Environmental indicators: a systematic approach to measuring and reporting on environmental policy performance in the context of sustainable development, No /H225, Washington, DC, World Resources Institute Iojă C., (2013), Metode de cercetare și evaluare a stării mediului, Edit. Etnologică, București Ionescu Al., Săhleanu V., Bindiu C., (1989), Protecția mediului înconjurător și educația ecologică, Edit. Ceres, București Ionuș O, Licurici M, Boengiu S., Simulescu D., (2011), Indicators of the Human Pressure on the Environment in the Bălăcița Piedmont, Forum Geografic. Studii și cercetări de geografia și protecția mediului, vol. 10, issue 2, pp Lalehpour Manjieh, (2016), Recognition of management structure and spatial planning in Tehran metropolitan area. Journal of Urban Management, 5(1), 3-15 Pătroescu M, Niță M., Iojă C., Vânău G., (2009), The ecological footprint indicator for analysing the environmental impact of residential surfaces in metropolitan areas. Case Study: Bucharest Metropolitan Area, CITIES 3.0 Pătru-Stupariu I, (2012), Modelare structurală și funcțională a peisajelor, suport de curs, Universitatea din București, ( Pintilii R.D., Andronache I., Diaconu D.C., Dobrea R.C., Zelenáková M., Fensholt R., Peptenatu D., Draghici C.C. and Ciobotaru A.M., (2017) Using Fractal Analysis in Modeling the Dynamics of Forest Areas and Economic Impact Assessment: Maramureș, County, Romania, as a Case Study, Forests, 8, 25; DOI: /f Popescu, R.I., Corbos R.A., (2010), The role of Urban Tourism in the strategical development of Brasov Area. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, 5.7, pp Sanesi Giovanni, Colangelo, G., Lafortezza, R., Calvo, E., & Davies, C. (2017), Urban green infrastructure and urban forests: A case study of the Metropolitan Area of Milan. Landscape Research, 42(2),