Search Results (29)

Assessing a city’s level of smartness according to global indices is a relatively new area of investigation. It is useful in encouraging a rethinking of urban digital strategies, although the different approaches to global smart city rankings have been subject to criticism. This paper highlights the methodological features of constructing the Smart City Index (SCI) from the IMD (International Institute for Management Development) based on residents’ assessments, their satisfaction with electronic services, and their perception of the priority of urban infrastructure areas. The Central European cities of the Visegrad region (Prague/Czech Republic, Budapest/Hungary, Bratislava/Slovakia, Warsaw and Krakow/Poland) were chosen as the basis for an in-depth analysis. The architectonics, i.e., the internal system of constructing and calculating city rankings by SCI, is analyzed. A comparative analysis of the technology indicators (e-services) in five cities of the Visegrad region, presented in the SCI, showed the smart features of each city. The progressive and regressive trends in the dynamics of smartness in the cities in the Visegrad region were identified in five urban spheres indicated in the Index: Government, Activity, Health and Safety, Mobility, and Opportunities. This also made it possible to identify certain methodological gaps in the SCI in establishing interdependencies between the data on the residents’ perception of the priority of areas of life in a particular city and the residents’ level of satisfaction with electronic services. In particular, the structural indicators “Affordable housing” and “Green spaces” are not supported by e-services. This research aims to bridge this methodological gap by proposing a model for evaluating the e-service according to the degree of coverage of different spheres of life in the city. The application of the project, as well as cross-sectoral and systemic approaches, made it possible to develop basic models for assessing the value of e-services. These models can be implemented by municipalities to assess and monitor e-services, as well as to select IT projects and elaborate strategies for smart sustainable city development. Full article

Background: The current food system is unsustainable, making it essential to address the issue globally through adequate policies and sustainable development goals. The European Union aims to dedicate 25% of farmland to organic farming by 2030 to promote sustainable practices. Warsaw is the first Polish city working on an urban sustainable food policy; however, there is limited data on the sustainable food system (SFS) and organic sector available. Objectives: This research examines whether consumers in Warsaw who prefer organic food also display other sustainable characteristics and awareness, reflected in their food choices, dietary habits, and other food-related behaviors. Methods: A household survey (HHS) was conducted as part of the SysOrg project, focusing on evaluating the sustainability of food systems in Warsaw in the areas of diet and organic food. The clusters of respondents, grouped by the self-declared proportion of organic foods in their diets, were analyzed and compared, and in addition, correlation analyses of the share of organic food in diets and other sustainability parameters were performed. Results: The study of 449 respondents indicates that Warsaw is at an early stage of the organic transformation, with the largest group of respondents declaring a 1–10% share of organic products in their diet. There were significant differences in dietary choices, sustainability awareness, and food selection habits and motivations among various consumer groups depending on their organic food share. Conclusions: Overall, this study’s findings highlight a link between organic food consumption and certain sustainable behaviors, suggesting potential for organic consumers’ contribution to a sustainable transformation. The study offers valuable insights into the existing knowledge gap regarding the behaviors of organic and sustainable consumers in Warsaw. Furthermore, despite the non-random nature of the sample limiting the generalizability of findings, it serves as a preliminary resource for other European cities that are formulating food policies and incorporating Green Public Procurement (GPP) into their procurement processes, especially for municipalities within the Visegrad Group. Full article

The article presents an innovative methodology supporting sustainable urban development through the strategic expansion of green infrastructure in Warsaw, based on the 3-30-300 concept. The proposed approach integrates a multi-criteria Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (F-AHP) with Geographic Information System (GIS) tools, enabling objective and precise identification of suitable locations for new parks of at least 1 hectare in size. The analysis considers five key factors: distance from populated areas, land cover and use, surface temperature, proximity to nuisance facilities, and an NDVI index value. The study results demonstrated a significant increase in green space accessibility across the city. In all districts of Warsaw, the number of residential buildings meeting the criterion of a maximum 300 m distance to a park or forest increased—from 2% in Rembertów to 32% in Wilanów. The districts of Ursynów and Wilanów exceeded the 30% green space coverage threshold, while Białołęka reached 29%. These results indicate the real potential to achieve the goals of the 3-30-300 concept, contributing simultaneously to sustainable urban development, improved quality of life, mitigation of the urban heat island effect, increased biodiversity, and enhanced climate change adaptation. Spatial limitations related to high-density development were also identified—many districts lack available space for large parks. A viable solution supporting balanced development may lie in implementing smaller green forms, such as green squares or micro-parks, particularly in areas of planned development. The proposed methodology serves as a practical tool to support land-use management and sustainable spatial planning, addressing contemporary environmental, social, and urban challenges. Full article

Springs located in urban historic areas are important for groundwater management, the protection of green spaces, and the preservation of park functions and urban structure. This article presents the results of a study of selected Warsaw springs in the city center under conservation protection, focusing on their hydrogeological characteristics, hydrogeochemical analysis, and pressures associated with urban development. Field and laboratory analyses, as well as hydrodynamic modeling, made it possible to assess the quantity and quality of water from the springs. Hydrodynamic studies showed that the area of the spring recharge zone of 13.77 ha is characterized by an average time of water exchange of approx. 26 years and a low infiltration recharge, an average of 18 mm/year. Hydrogeochemical analyses showed that spring water has a complex, multi-ion hydrogeochemical type: Cl-SO₄-HCO₃-Ca-Na, Cl-HCO₃-SO₄-Ca-Na, Cl-HCO₃-Na-Ca, and NO₃-Cl-HCO₃-Ca-Na, including the occurrence of hazardous substances such as PAH and BTEX, PCBs, non-ionic detergents, and heavy metals. The results indicate that urbanization significantly affects groundwater levels and spring recharge areas, which can limit the availability of water in green and recreational areas. The results of the study indicate the need for action to increase groundwater resources through managed aquifer recharge for rainwater management in densely built-up areas. In terms of water quality measures, due to the unsatisfactory chemical water status, the use of spring water for irrigation of urban vegetation or its incorporation into the active recreational infrastructure of the park currently appears to be fraught with considerable risk, hence the need to take protective action in the spring recharge zone through the regular monitoring of groundwater quality, the legal designation of protection zones, and the implementation of policies that support urban water retention. It is necessary to implement pre-treatment solutions (aeration, desalination) or introduce appropriately resistant vegetation. Any type of activity that allows the use of water after treatment will certainly contribute to making the park more attractive as a place of recreation and leisure for residents. Findings from the research can support decisions on protecting green spaces and adapting cities to climate change. Full article

In recent years, the “3-30-300” concept by Professor Cecil Konijnendijk has been gaining popularity, outlining what makes a city “green” and what we should strive for. This concept suggests that from every apartment, at least three trees should be visible, 30% of the city’s surface should be covered with greenery, and the nearest park or forest should be no more than 300 m away. However, the lack of detailed guidelines makes the implementation of this concept a significant challenge. The goal of the research presented here was to adapt this concept for Warsaw (Poland) and assess whether it can be considered a green city. We defined parameters such as the maximum distance for visible trees as 20 m and determined what counts toward the 30% green areas. The results showed that 57.82% of apartments in Warsaw have a view of at least three trees, while only 5.44% do not meet this criterion, and the rest meet it only partially. Parks and forests cover 19.95% of the city, while all green areas combined cover 42.01%. Additionally, 45% of buildings are located within 300 m of a park or forest. Ultimately, full compliance with the “3-30-300” concept applies to 22.19% of buildings, while only 12.66% meet the criteria when considering only parks and forests. This indicates that, while Warsaw is relatively green, not all of its areas fulfill these criteria. Full article

Expanding green areas in cities results in growth in green waste generation. This study presents the findings of an investigation into green waste from selective collection in a large Central European city (Warsaw, Poland), which can be identified as a valuable biomass resource. The research objective was to identify the properties of garden waste from single-family housing to determine valorization opportunities, emphasizing the utilization of GW as a source of energy. The research yielded several findings, including a notable degree of variability in fuel properties, including moisture content (CV = 30%), lower heating value (CV = 14.3%), and ash content (CV = 62.7/56.2%). The moisture content suggests composting, while the fertilizing properties indicate suitability for anaerobic digestion. The instability of the fuel properties, coupled with the elevated levels of chlorine, sulfur, and moisture, constrains the use of garden waste in thermal processes and alternative fuel production. Pyrolysis could be a viable approach for green waste feedstock, offering value-added products depending on the processing conditions and pre-treatment. Nevertheless, implementing a selective collection system is a critical condition for the optimal utilization of bio-waste, facilitating the quality and property control of green and food waste. This is essential for their effective processing, including energy recovery, thereby contributing to the efficient valorization of biomass. Full article

Urban informal green spaces (IGS) represent valuable reservoirs of biodiversity within urban areas and are increasingly recognized as integral components of green infrastructure. They are perceived as temporary ecosystems, and the management of their vegetation is relatively understudied. The development time of spontaneous vegetation on transformed lands is considered to be in the range of decades, which makes it even more necessary to provide managers with better guidelines for such a long period. Two suggested management approaches for these areas involve: (1) retaining vegetation at various stages of succession (non-forest IGS) and (2) protecting advanced developmental stages (forest IGS), with options for balanced intervention or complete non-intervention. However, the differences in biodiversity between these two types in cities across Central Europe remain unknown, as well as whether the predictors of biodiversity at both local and landscape scales are consistent for non-forest and forest IGS. We examined factors such as habitat continuity, landscape structure, soil quality, and human impact to shed light on pathways for enhancing urban floristic diversity. Conducting extensive botanical surveys in existing informal green spaces (IGS) in Warsaw, we derived various parameters, including the total number of species, Shannon-Wiener biodiversity index, hemeroby, urbanity, share of species from distinct ecological groups, and the number of rare and ancient forest plant species. Tracing habitat continuity from the early 20th century using digitized aerial imagery provided a unique long-term perspective on IGS development. We revealed that no management is pivotal for the conservation of select rare and ancient forest species. On the other hand, partial abandonment with occasional maintenance may enrich species diversity across different successional phases. We uncovered the significant influence of landscape structure and human activity on vegetation species composition within IGS. Notably, IGS proximate to extensive forest landscapes displayed a marked abundance of forest species, alongside a greater prevalence of rare species. However, the presence of other vegetation types in the vicinity did not yield similar effects. Our findings indicate that IGS, when left untouched for decades near forested areas, are valuable for urban biodiversity. As cities across the globe seek sustainable paths, this research underscores the importance of properly understanding and integrating IGS into urban ecological planning. Full article

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used for many years as flame retardants. Due to their physicochemical and toxicological properties, they are considered to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs). BDE-209 is the main component of deca-BDE, the one PBDE commercial mixture currently approved for use in the European Union. The aim of this study was to analyse BDE-209 in surface soil samples from Warsaw and surrounding areas (Poland) as an indicator of environmental pollution with PBDEs, and to characterise the associated health risk. A total of 40 samples were analysed using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-µECD). Concentrations of BDE-209 in soil ranged from 0.4 ng g⁻¹ d.w. (limit of quantification) to 158 ng g⁻¹ d.w. Overall, 52.5% of results were above the method’s limit of quantification. The highest levels were found at several locations with heavy traffic and in the vicinity of a CHP plant in the city. The lowest concentrations were observed in most of the samples collected from low industrialized or green areas (<0.4 to 1.68 ng g⁻¹ d.w.). Exposure to BDE-209 was estimated for one of the most sensitive populations, i.e., young children. The following exposure routes were selected: oral and dermal. No risk was found to young children’s health. Full article

Nowadays, climate change and heat extremes are becoming highly challenging problems in many cities across the globe. One of the solutions to overcome this problem is the use of vegetation, and, in particular, extending the range of overgrown areas, which are sometimes referred to as “urban green areas.” In this paper, the moisture condition and its mitigating effect on Land Surface Temperature in urban areas were examined in Warsaw, Poland, using satellite data. To do so, the so-called “Triangle Method” was employed. The triangle method is based on a Land Surface Temperature–Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (LST-NDVI) scatterplot to calculate the Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI) and its modification–quadratic Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (qTVDI). This article discusses, in detail, the usefulness of the triangle method for the analyses of built-up areas. The drought satellite indices TVDI and qTVDI compared with those of LST, NDVI, and NDBI (Normalized Difference Building Index). The study shows that the triangle method based on LST-NDVI scatterplot analysis is a promising tool for establishing moisture conditions over urban areas and for studying the effect of vegetation impact on urban heat islands. Detailed analysis shows that over an urban area, qTVDI shows better agreement with LST than classic TVDI. Full article

The temperature of a city’s surface is influenced by many factors, including human-dependent ones that can be shaped, such as the urban density, the condition of urban vegetation, the presence of urban water bodies, and soil moisture. Knowledge on this subject allows for improving the urban climate through better planning and construction of urban infrastructure and adapting cities to climate change and avoiding deadly heat waves increasingly threatening European cities. So far, mainly the first three factors have been studied particularly well, while there is no in-depth research on the impact of soil moisture on a city’s climate in the literature. This article fills this gap by analyzing the impact of all the abovementioned factors on the temperature of the city’s surface in Warsaw, a large European urban agglomeration, located in a temperate climate zone. Due to the exceptionally large war damage to Warsaw during World War II, rapid postwar reconstruction, and significant expansion, the city is characterized by a very large diversity of urban development density and a much larger amount of green areas compared to most large cities, such as old Western European agglomerations. The scientific novelty of the work is also the fact that the soil moisture content was analyzed using the TVDI/qTVDI (Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index Estimation) indexes obtained by using the so-called triangle methods in NDVI-LST space, based on satellite observations. Such analyses have not been performed so far in urban areas, while in the article, many new results were obtained on this subject. For example, Pearson’s correlation coefficients between LST, NDBI, NDVI, and qTVDI calculated for the entire area of Warsaw on 8 August 2020 were 0.78, 0.45, and −0.35, respectively. Another important aspect of the work is that it includes comparative studies of the impact of the abovementioned factors on the temperature of the Earth’s surface at the level of different city districts. As a result, it was possible to more effectively study the impact of the abovementioned factors on the temperature of the Earth’s surface at the scale of local administrative units. Thanks to the obtained results, urban planners will be able to reduce urban hazard risks caused by climate change. Full article

Building plots, understood as land properties intended for development, are an important object of commercial transactions. Their prices are determined by several factors, such as location, state of development, distance from important urban centres, and proximity to green areas. It is certain that, especially with regard to building plots intended for single-family housing, the proximity of natural areas, especially forest areas, is becoming increasingly important. The Otwock region, with a forest cover of more than 30%, has numerous undeveloped lands that are or could be development plots. This article concerns an analysis of transactions involving undeveloped development land of selected communes in the Otwock region. On the basis of an analysis of prices of real estate transactions from 2011 to 2016 from four municipalities of the Otwock region and a spatial visualisation of the plots, the relationship of price (m²) with physical characteristics (technical development, shape, area), distance from a large city (Warsaw), and distance from a railroad line stop and landscape values (landscape type, distance to the forest, number of landscape components) was determined. Statistical analyses used regression and correlation analysis. The preferences of 519 people interested in buying/selling real estate in the Otwock region were also investigated, and for this purpose, we cooperated with real estate offices and municipal offices. The results of the survey strongly indicate that forest landscapes increase the attractiveness of building plots, which in turn leads to higher prices on the market. The results of the study show that there is a relationship between the price of a property and its distance to the forest, the nature of the forest boundary, and the number of landscape elements. The forest landscape is one of the most important factors determining the attractiveness of a building plot. Proximity to a forest, especially forests under a form of protection, is an important value for prospective land plot buyers. The views of respondents varied considerably due to socio-demographic characteristics, mainly the age and education of respondents. Full article

The increased migration of people from rural areas to cities has prompted researchers to take an interest in the problem of the quality of life (QOL) of the urban population in different contexts. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the level of satisfaction of Warsaw residents with urban infrastructure (SUI) and their QOL, the impact of the SUI on the perception of a neighborhood as an ideal place to live and the relationship between the amount of green areas and and the SUI of Warsaw residents and their QOL. The quantitative survey was conducted using the CAWI method on a sample of 381 adults. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to measure QOL, the scale used in earlier surveys was used to assess SUI, areas of of Warsaw with different amounts of green space were distinguished using cluster analysis. The study showed a relationship between the SUI declared by residents and their QOL, mainly in the environmental domain. The discriminant analysis showed that satisfaction with greenery is one of the most important determinants of the subjective perception of a neighborhood as an ideal place to live. There was no direct effect of the amount of green areas in objective terms on the QOL of Warsawians, but a relationship was noted between the amount of green areas and SUI, with the highest level of satisfaction noted for the Green-balanced Cluster, characterized by the most favorable combination of quality and utility of urban area. Full article

Urban structure is an important factor that shapes the process of urban ventilation and pollution dispersion. With proper planning of the urban spatial layout, city breathability can be effectively regulated, contributing to urban air quality improvement. This paper investigates the development and current management of urban systems of green and open spaces in four Polish cities: Gdańsk, Warsaw, Poznań and Wrocław, with a particular focus on the planning aspects of urban ventilation and air quality management. The initial GIS-based comparison of historical plans and the current spatial layouts of the cities show that these systems, consciously shaped at the beginning of the twentieth century, remain clearly identifiable. However, in some locations, the continuance of these systems was interrupted by later investments. The next step was to develop GIS procedures to effectively map the spatial distribution of selected urban form indicators that are related to urban ventilation, especially the frontal area index. The results made it possible to determine the main features of the current ventilation systems and to identify some of the local problem areas. The last phase of the study was to conduct a local-scale analysis of these problem areas. With this study, the applicability of various analysis and simulation tools for the purpose of improving city breathability by appropriate integrated planning and design decisions was demonstrated. The presented approach, taking into account the city- and micro-scale interactions, should be used in current planning practice to preserve the historically developed ventilation systems. Full article

The amount of green is relatively low in most cities. Often, the cause of this situation is urban policy which favours developers. Far-reaching urbanization results in various environmental and social problems. In those circumstances, a need for the wider revitalization and reorganization of urban space becomes even more important and necessary. Our article is a review. It discusses the significance of community gardens in Poland due to people’s limited access to private gardens and the growing development of housing estates in cities. In recent decades, cities have developed rapidly in Poland. However, this development was often uncontrolled because very compact building patterns were applied in new housing estates. As a result, in many places the urban tissue lacked common public space. Urban planners adopted a new approach to public goods, including green spaces, and reconsidered the development of cities. Common space was found to be fundamental for the development of the identity of individual neighbourhood groups and, consequently, for social changes. Community gardens are an example of changes introduced to the urban landscape as a consequence of considering common space significant. As a result, local residents can integrate and change their attitude to public space, which is perceived as part of the community. Users gain a sense of community, solidarity, and shared responsibility. The community garden becomes a reason for neighbourhood residents to integrate despite the fact that they may differ in their political views, background, and age. Community gardens are established in a similar way all over the world. However, there might be local differences in the legal system, people’s mentality, and access to land. Community gardens are a new phenomenon in Poland. They are established mainly in big cities, e.g., in Warsaw, Kraków, and Poznań. Community gardens have numerous advantages. Their users are physically active, and they are thus at lower risk of chronic and non-infectious diseases. They grow vegetables and thus change their eating habits. In addition, community gardens reduce stress. Due to gardening, users feel better, broaden their social contacts, participate in cultural events, and enrich their diet. This article shows how the intensive development of housing estates in Poland affects the availability of green areas. The advantages of community gardens in Poland and other countries, methods of plant cultivation and how community gardens functioned during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed. With this short review, we want to broaden the knowledge about community gardens as their development in Poland is different than in other countries and to encourage their establishment due to the decreasing amount of green space and dense urban development. Full article

Sustainable City solutions can become an essential element of the development of contemporary urban communities. This development path can also provide opportunities for organisations operating in cities and metropolises. An inherent feature of the organisation which a city constitutes is that it enables the people who make it up to cooperate. Climate packages, including the Green Deal and Fit for 55, are implemented in Europe, while in Poland decarbonisation processes are underway. The main challenges in this area include, on the one hand, a search for savings of energy consumed, and, on the other hand, a reduction in pollution resulting from the use of transport or heat or energy sources. Cities and metropolises will become green only when they manage to cope with these problems. The article aims at showing various facets of sustainable smart city management. With relations, information and knowledge gaining importance as the key organisational resource, cities have become, as organisations, an essential element of contemporary societies and organisations. In recent times, the harmful emissions from heating installations have drawn the attention of the public opinion in Poland. Polish municipalities distribute heat which mostly comes from local, most often district heating systems where energy is generated on a wide scale from coal combustion. This study compares the results of an air quality survey and those of a case study to assess the potential for the implementation of an automated heat control system in cities. On the basis of solutions implemented in the Warsaw Metropolis, the possibility of their implementation in the Upper Silesian (GZM) and Poznań Metropolises, too, was also assessed. Throughout Poland, there is a large potential for the application of innovative smart technologies in district heating systems to reduce the levels of harmful emissions. These reductions, which are still possible, could translate into a significant improvement in the attractiveness and competitiveness of municipalities. Finally, practical recommendations are being provided. Full article