Institute of Geonics
The Czech Academy of Sciences
Environmental geography
International projects
- The overall objective of ECS is to widen and strengthen the European Citizen Science community through capacity building and awareness raising activities such as the creation of a European Citizen Science Academy and the establishment of a network of 28 ECS Ambassadors.
- SHiFT proposes the creation of a transdisciplinary Hub to address existing challenges in advancing timely societal transformations in the face of climate change. It includes the delivery of a plan of action-focused missions, initiatives, and digital content creation. The Hub comprises a core group of SSH transdisciplinary researchers and practitioners and their extended networks with a focus on unfolding the benefits of engaging with transformation in practice ideas across different social, political, economic, environmental, and technological contexts. Recognising from the onset that these categories have blurred demarcations in practice and exploring the nexus between these and their impact on different systems and regimes.
- NEXUSNET is an international network of researchers collaborating with universities, research institutions, policymakers and the business sector to better understand how the water-energy-food Nexus fosters policy coherence and biophysical interactions in the domains of water, energy and food, supporting the transition towards a circular and low-carbon economy in Europe.
European Citizen Science
Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, 101058509, 2022–2026
RNDr. Jakub Trojan, Ph.D., MBA
Social Sciences and Humanities for Transformation and Climate Resilience (Shift)
COST Action CA21166, 2022–2026
RNDr. Bohumil Frantál, Ph.D.
Network on water-energy-food nexus for a low-carbon economy in Europe and beyond – NEXUSNET
COST Action CA20138, 2022–2025
Mgr. Barbora Duží, Ph.D.
National projects
The INODIN project focuses on developing the application potential of research organizations (ÚTAM, CTU, ÚGN, BUT, CeTTAV) by establishing and deepening cooperation with entities from the application sphere (EXCON, STATOTEST, DIAMO, SKANSKA). The topic of the four-year project is the diagnostics, monitoring and modeling of engineering infrastructure, which is indispensable to our civilization and has a major impact on the living and social environment.
The project investigates manifold urban renewal impacts on routine urban mobility. Urban renewal is viewed as the complete regeneration of a dilapidated area serving a different purpose in the past. The project objective is to analyse the uneven consequences of socio-spatial transformation on regular commuting patterns, accessibility of basic urban functions, and individual daily mobility. The project is theoretically framed by research on urban mobilities and spatial planning narratives of polyfunctional urban redevelopment aimed at mitigating excessive mobility. Using a multi-scalar approach, the project combines quantitative and qualitative methods of social geographic research. Exploring the shifts in mobility strategies and practices of the community affected by the project of urban renewal provides evidence-based results revealing the contexts of unjust mobilities and establishes an argumentative framework for re-conceptualization of access-focused spatial planning concepts which are applied largely via flagship redevelopment projects of under-used premises.
Changes in energy use in the residential sector represent a significant segment of the low-carbon transition. Achieving a step-change in energy efficiency behaviours of households requires enhanced knowledge of behavioural drivers, and translation of this knowledge into effective intervention programs. The proposed project will strive to study, analyse and interpret time-space patterns and predictors of energy behaviour of Czech households. We will explore factors affecting the adoption of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency innovations, temporal activity patterns and rhythms of energy demanding practices, the adaptive strategies to satisfy energy needs (adaptation of lifestyles to new socio-technical systems), resilience strategies in relation to energy poverty risks, and the level of energy literacy. Conceptual bases of behavioural geography, including time-geography and spatial analysis will be used, particularly the time-space context of human behaviour, and the concepts of spatial innovation diffusion, social acceptance of energy innovations and accessibility.
The goal of the project is to provide information on the widest possible spectrum of basic factors of selected sections of the Morava and Dyje streams. The confluence of the Morava and Dyje rivers, designed as a specially protected area, was chosen as a key site. Given the ongoing negotiations and certain controversies, the project would like to provide the basis for an objective and comprehensive assessment of the situation and finding the optimal legislative status. The focus will be on geo- and biodiversity, hydromorphology, connectivity and migration permeability or botanical aspects. At the same time, procedures for suitable and effective revitalization or renaturalization procedures will be proposed. In addition, attention will be paid to Litovelské Pomoraví and Pálava PLAs.
- Funding: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project code: SS07010065
Period: 2024–2026 - Project leader: Charles University -
Faculty of Science: Mgr. Jaroslav Kukla, Ph.D., RNDr. Jakub Lysák Ph.D., RNDr. Daniel Vondrák Ph.D., RNDr. Jakub Trubač Ph.D., RNDr. Lucie Juřičková Ph.D.
Project partner: Institute of Geonics of the CAS: Mgr. František Kuda Ph.D., Mgr. Eva Nováková, Mgr. Kristýna Schuchová Ph.D. Aims: 1) Target and explore the previously known caves in the area of interest. Carry out an inventory of all known caves and mapping of important caves as well.
2) Carry out an evaluation of the number of visitors and documentation of the human influence on the cave environment and carry out year-round temperature measurements in selected caves.
3) Conduct a paleontological survey and search for natural archives with Quaternary fossils in caves and analyze them afterwards.
4) Conduct a survey of the locations selected using the lidar terrain map with the aim of discovering new caves and including them in the inventory.
5) Create a comprehensive database of caves and supplement the JESO database and summarize the research results in scientific publications.
- Funding: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic - NAKI III
Project code: DH23P03OVV065
Period: 03/2023–12/2027 - Project leader: Institute of Geonics of the CAS: Prof. RNDr. Jaromír Kolejka, CSc., doc. RNDr. Karel Kirchner, CSc., Mgr. Tomáš Krejčí, Ph.D., Mgr. Eva Nováková a RNDr. Jakub Trojan, MSc, MBA, Ph.D.
- Project partner: University of Hradec Králové: Mgr. Ing. Libor Lněnička, Ph.D., RNDr. Tomáš Burda, Ph.D., Ing. Veronika Židová, Ph.D.
The industrial revolution has brought many changes to, until that time, undisturbed natural and cultural landscape. Changes in the industrial period meant a significant interference in the landscape and its successive conversion and function changes. Sugar production and sugar industry respectively, connected with sugar beet growing, represent one of the most significant landscape interferences. The development of this branch in the Czech lands dated to the 1830s and was enabled by good climatic and soil conditions, as well as after the initiation of the branch in the previous era of the Napoleonic wars. Animpressive boom of this industry followed and lasted interrupted for almost 150 years. Up to 271 sugar mills operated in the time of maxima in the Czech lands, which were accompanied by both the relevant infrastructure and fields with a characteristic terrain location, dimensions, position in relation to the sugar factory and spatial structure. In the interwar period, the territory of the Czech Republic was a key exporter of sugar in the world, which, however, still bears traces of unknown to the public. However, contemporary post-industrial period brings gradual downturn of this branch, which is amplified by dilapidation of unused industrial grounds changed into brownfields. In the context of failing sugar industry in the Czech Republic we propose a project, which main goal is identification of rural landscapes changed by the sugar industry in the period of industrial revolution in the second half of the 19th century.
The main goal is to be accomplished consecutively via specific goals:
1. Finding out and assessment of their contemporary state in the perspective of intactness to the state of period of sugar production highest prosperity.
2. Selecting areas and heritage objects of sugar industry requiring respect and awareness of both public and experts, and/or specific protection.
3. Compilation of the management proposal of the best-preserved areas and objects of the sugar industry as a specific cultural heritage.
4. Selection and application of appropriate ways of informing the public about the values of the sugar mill landscape (interactive map with attached database, movable specialized exhibition, professional monograph)..
- Funding: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (ETA programme)
Project code: TL03000007
Period: 2020 – 2023 - Project leaders: Tomas Bata University in Zlin (project leader), Institute of Geonics of the CAS (RNDr. Jakub Trojan MSc, MBA, Mgr. Barbora Duží, Ph.D., Mgr. Stanislav Martinát, Ph.D.), Masaryk University in Brno, Mendel University, Research Institute of Geodesy, Topography and Cartography, v.v.i., Association of Private Agriculture of the Czech Republic, private company Envipor, s.r.o.
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The aim of the proposed project is land owners (including municipalities) energising; and rising their responsibility for land management in order to enhance landscape resilience in the context of climate change. The project:
- Sumarises the soil state of the art - Identifies the key motivations of land owners (incl. municipalities) to responsible ownership of land.
- Finds the solutions for the presumed and real obstacles for more responsible land management conversion.
- Clusters the land owners, communicates with them in order to support their position in the tenure agreement negotiation process with the farmers.
- Develops the informational web portal with the citizen science involvement and efortless plof of land and crop tracing.
Innovative methods of material diagnostics and monitoring of engineering infrastructure to increase its endurance and durability (INODIN)
MŠMT OPJAK, 2025-2028
Mgr. Petr Klusáček, Ph.D.
Urban space renewal as a path to socially just mobilities? A multi-scalar approach
The Czech Science Foundation GA CR, 25-18063S, 2025-2027
Mgr. Jiří Malý, Ph.D.
Hidden geographies of low-carbon transition: Czech households´ energy behaviour and adaptive responses on energy poverty risks
The Czech Science Foundation GA CR, GA24-11885S, 2024-2026
RNDr. Bohumil Frantál, Ph.D.
Confluence of Moravia and Dyje - present and future
Technology Agency of the Czech Republic – Prostředí pro život, SS07010025, 2024-2026
Prof. RNDr. Jaromír
Kolejka, CSc.
The Caves of Bohemian Switzerland NP and Elbe Sandstone PLA: interdisciplinary research for nature conservation purposes using modern methods
Inventory of the landscape heritage of the sugar industry in the Czech lands and support for general public awareness of its presence in the current landscape
Strengthening rural resilience via empowerement of local stakeholders and land owners
Closed Research Projects
- Funding: Czech Science Foundation GA CR
Project code: GA20-13713S
Period: 2020 – 2022
Project leader: Mgr. Jiří Malý, Ph.D. - In urban theory and practice, the concepts of compact and polycentric city are promoted in order to mitigate negative effects of the urban sprawl and to reach sustainable development. Although both spatial planning concepts employ urban morphology and space of flows as fundamental operational categories when describing multi-layered urban processes, they stem from different theoretical perspectives. Unclear meanings and ambiguous definitions of these concepts are related to their scale-dependency and to different analytics of spatiotemporal urban configurations. Inconsistent conceptualizations are reflected in planning imaginations and urban planning practice as the combined application of both spatial visions is accompanied by incomprehension, blurred terminology and procedural complications. By using qualitative and mainly quantitative methods, the aim is to analyse the multiple relationships between both concepts. The resulting interpretative framework would shed light on essential principles of compact and polycentric city concepts and the possibilities of their integration.
- Funding: Czech Science Foundation GA CR
Project code: GA20-11782S
Period: 2020 – 2022
Project leader: Mgr. Stanislav Martinát, Ph.D. - With growing pressure on land, conflicting values and rationalizations may result in land use conflicts and globally pose fundamental dilemmas for decision-makers. Taking the socio-geographical stance, we focus on local land use conflicts - the situations where strategies and policies meet varying perspectives at a local level. Using the Czech case study, we aim at different priorities (brownfield regeneration, energy landscapes, flood management and rural development) that are frequently encountered in similar territorial settings and create local land use conflicts. First, we will conduct a country-wide quantitative analyses of the extent and dynamics of conflicting land use transitions. Second, we will apply the process-tracing based on documentary data, semi-structured questionnaires with stakeholders and face-to-face questionnaires in local communities to explore rationalizations leading to land use decisions in case studies. Finally, we aim to establish a typology of local land use conflicts and suggest the regionally-based guiding principles for their adaptive management.
- Funding: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (ETA programme)
Project code: TL02000222
Period: 2019 – 2022 - Leaders: Mgr. Petr Halas, Ph.D. (project leader, Institute of Geonics of the CAS); Ing. Jan Šebesta, Ph.D. (co-investigator, Mendel university in Brno); Mgr. Marek Havlíček, Ph.D. (co-investigator, The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, public research institution)
- The aim of the project is to prepare collection of landscape paintings and old photographs from various parts of Moravia and the adjacent part of Bohemia with their exact topographic locations, from which were created. Based on photographic documentation of present state of scenes and vegetation survey and with the help of old maps and historical floristic data there will be interpreted landscape and vegetation changes of studied sites. As the outputs will be prepared three formats of traveling exhibitions and audiovisual production (4 documentary programs from the places of artist’s inspiration), which will be provided to the public by information boards and QR codes in the field and also by project websites of participating institutions and individual application guarantors.
- Outcomes of the project:
1) Journalism documentaries - open in new window [in Czech, 30 min] - Funding: Czech Science Foundation GA CR
Project code: 19-23870S
Period: 2019 – 2021 - Research team: Doc. RNDr. Josef Navrátil, Ph.D., Mgr. Petr Klusáček, Ph.D., Mgr. Stanislav Martinát, Ph.D., Mgr. Tomáš Krejčí, RNDr. Robert Osman, Ph.D.
- The project is devoted to the problem of abandoning of agricultural properties that occurred after 1989. This type of abandoned properties forms the largest share of
abandoned properties in the Czech Republic. Plenty of them have found new use and some are still utilized for agricultural purposes. The number of successful and “permanent”
re-uses is not so big; in majority cases we should rather talk about extensive use. Systematic and deepening of knowledge on trajectories of (un-)usage of agricultural
properties is currently on the edge of attention of researchers. However, the project offers important research potential in deepening of knowledge about changes of rural
structures. The project will focus on various types of countryside in the South Moravian Region, the Vysocina Region and the South Bohemian Region. In the project, the
database of agricultural properties operating in 1989 will be developed and their re-use will be followed. Evaluation of this database will be connected to quantitative
and qualitative research among stakeholders in case study area
The main aim of the project is to understand the complexity of geographical and social patterns that are responsible for different ways of the development of agricultural properties in the post-communist rural space. - Publications in ISI/WOS Journals:
Navrátil, J., Martinát, S., Krejčí, T., Pícha, K., Klusáček, P., Škrabal, J., Osman, R. (2019): The fate of socialist agricultural premises: To agricultural ‘brownfields’ and back again? Moravian Geographical Reports, 27(4): 207–216. Doi: 10.2478/mgr-2019-0016
Geodiversity within urban areas: perception, function, potential
- Funding:
Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (ETA programme)
Project code: TL02000219
Period: 2019 – 2021 - Project leader: Mendel University in Brno
Project partners: Institute of Geonics of the CAS (RNDr. Lucie Kubalíková, Ph.D.), Technical University in Liberec, Archaia Brno - The project is focused on the evaluation of geodiversity functions and potential within urban areas from the tourist, recreation and education point of view with a special regard to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. The complex analysis and assessment will be accompanied by proposals of specific activities designed for rational and sustainable use of particular geodiversity sites. These proposals will include geo-paths as an alternative tool for promoting natural and cultural heritage within towns and cities, workshops focused on the role of geodiversity within urban areas, audiovisual materials about geodiversity and geoheritage etc. The results and outputs of the project will contribute to the development of urban geotourism as a new, sustainable form of tourism and will be used by nature conservation institutions and organisations (e.g. Department of the Environment of Brno Municipality Office, Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic).
- Outcomes of the project:
1) Cultural functions and services of geodiversity within urban areas (with a special regard on tourism and recreation) online - download [pdf]
2) Geological paths - their use for the regional geography teaching download [pdf]
3) Brno Centre Geopath online - download [pdf]
4) Workshops in Brno and in Liberec (presentations) [zip]
5) Developing urban geotourism in Brno (Czech Republic) online - download [pdf]
6) Old quarries in Brno city: a bridge between natural and cultural heritage (in Czech) online - download [pdf]
7) Educational materials - geodiversity in Brno city (in Czech) download [pdf]
8) A Walk through Geological History of Brno (in Czech) download [pdf]
9) Two Brno Romanesque emporium churches and their relation to other Brno brick architecture. What does crinoid limestone reveal? (in Czech) download [pdf]
10) Urban geotourism in Liberec (geopath, geotourist map, videos - in Czech)
11) Brief Notes on Geodiversity and Geoheritage Perception by Lay Public download [pdf]
12) Urban geotourism development and geoconservation: Is it possible to find a balance? download [pdf]
13) Geo Cultural Aspects of Building Stone Extracted Within Brno City (Czech Republic): a Bridge Between Natural and Cultural Heritage download [pdf]
14) New opportunities for geotourism development at geoarcheological site Holedná Hill (Brno, Czech Republic) download [pdf]
15) Geotourist map of Brno (in Czech) download [pdf]
16) 700 millions years beneath our feet download [pdf]
17) Audiovisual materials – please contact Lucie Kubalíková on Lucie.Kubalikova@ugn.cas.cz
18) Final workshop download [zip] - Funding: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (ETA programme)
Project code: TL01000013
Period: 2018 – 2021 - Project leader: Masaryk University in Brno
Project partners: RNDr. Jakub Trojan MSc, MBA (Institute of Geonics of the CAS) - The project will provide two interconnected packages of strategic tools for management of the removal of barriers within the public space of the city: 1) tools for system decision making (specialized maps, priority list, strategic plan and action plan for removal of barriers), 2) tools facilitating communication - information system (IS) with non-public part (communication of self-government actors) and with the public part (collection of suggestions from the public, procedure of implementation of individual adjustments, justification of unresolved incentives...). The final publication of the "Good examples of barrier-free implementation" project will also include the methodological approach of the entire project and will serve to disseminate all outputs of the project.
- Specialized map of all institutions dealing with the reduction of barriers in Brno
- Specialized map of available data dealing with barriers in Brno space
- Specialized map of priority institutions which should be barrier-free accessible (according to Advisory Board of the Brno City Council for Barrier-Free Brno)
- Specialized map of physical barriers among selected institutions
- The aim of this project is to develop theoretical understanding of the nature and dynamics of the renewable energy development, by analyzing existing social-economic, spatial and landscape patterns and regional differences of the development in four European countries (Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, Hungary), identifying enablers and barriers which hinder a more effective utilization of the realizable potential of specific renewable energy resources, and studying how these barriers and enablers evolve over time. At the same time in order to achieve a space-based study we will study interactions among all different kind of renewables existing in different study areas to analyze institutional contexts and acceptability of energy transition in order to provide indications for efficient energy policies
- Funding: MSMT, INTER-EXCELLENCE, INTER-COST
Project code: LTC18067
Period: 2018 – 2020 - Project leader: Mgr. Eva
Nováková (Institute of Geonics of CAS)
Project partners: RNDr. Jakub Trojan, MSc, MBA, Ph.D. (Tomas Bata University in Zlín) - The project aimed at describing the benefits of research team by joining COST Action CA 15212 Citizen Science (CS). The assets and limitations of CS for the contemporary society were explored primarily from the geographical perspective. The project allowed testing, applying and evaluating methods of CS in research and education, including their impacts for society and quality of life.
- Funding: Czech Science Foundation GA CR
Project code: 17-26934S
Period: 2017 – 2019 - Research team: Mgr. Petr Klusáček, Ph.D., Filip M. Alexandrescu, Ph.D., RNDr. Robert Osman, Ph.D., Mgr. Jiří Malý, Ph.D.
- The project dealt with the recycling of unused space in the post-socialist context, namely in the Czech Republic. The Actor-network theory allowing the perception of action, in our case the perception of recycling spaces as a network mobilization, had been selected as the basic framework of the project. For the purpose of this project, space was understood as the network space operating in categories of the network topology, i.e. the space that was a product of actor-network’s activities. The process of recycling spaces was understood as the emergence of new actor-network, i.e. as translation from one actor-network to another. The project relied mainly on the concepts of "network space" and "translation". The processes of recycling spaces in three different territories were chosen and studied in detail in the empirical part of the project. The main aim of this project was to fill the gap presented within the approaches to the study of the issue of recycling spaces which proceeds rather spontaneously and without strict defined rules and prescript procedures in the post-socialist space.
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Publications in ISI/WOS Journals:
- Alexandrescu, F., Osman, R., Klusáček, P., Malý, J. (2020): Taming the genius loci? Contesting post-socialist creative industries in the case of Brno's former prison, Cities, accepted for publication 20 Dec 2019. Doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2019.102578
- Osman, R., Šerý, O., Alexandrescu, F., Malý, J., Mulíček, O. (published online 3 Dec 2019): The establishment of inter-municipal cooperation: the case of a polycentric post-socialist region, Geografisk Tidsskrift-Danish Journal of Geography, Doi: 10.1080/00167223.2019.1693903
- Klusáček, P., Alexandrescu, F., Osman, R., Malý, J., Kunc, J., Dvořák, P., Frantál, B., Havlíček, M., Krejčí, T., Martinát, S., Skokanová, H., Trojan, J. (2018): Good governance as a strategic choice in brownfield regeneration: Regional dynamics from the Czech Republic, Land Use Policy, 73, 29-39. Doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.01.007
- Navrátil, J., Krejčí, T., Martinát., S., Pasqualetti, M. J., Klusáček, P., Frantál, B., Tocháčková K. (2018): Brownfields do not “only live twice”: The possibilities for heritage preservation and the enlargement of leisure time activities in Brno, the Czech Republic, Cities, 74, 52-63. Doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2017.11.003
Citizen Science to promote creativity, scientific literacy, and innovation throughout Europe
(COST Action CA1521, 2016–2020)
- The main aim of this Action was to bundle capacities across Europe to investigate and extend the impact of the scientific, educational, policy, and civic outcomes of citizen science with the stakeholders from all sectors concerned (e.g., policy makers, social innovators, citizens, cultural organizations, researchers, charities and non-governmental organizations), in order to gauge the potential of citizen science as enabler of social innovation and socio-ecological transition. Currently, 34 member countries signed the MoU, and members of 38 countries registered at the webpage and feel part of this Citizen Science Action, contribute to workshops, host young scientists, or develop scientific papers.
- Funding: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic - NAKI II
Project code: NAKI II - DGB 16P02B014
Period: 2016–2020 - Leaders: Doc. Ing. Ivo Machar, Ph.D. (principal leader, The Faculty of Science of Palacký University in Olomouc); Doc. RNDr. Karel Kirchner, CSc. (leader, Institute of Geonics of CAS)
- European cultural landscape with its historical values is a reflection of cultural identity development at both national and regional level. The cultural landscape is also a space for conservation and sustainable development of many key elements of cultural identity. The main objective of the project was to support the sustainable development of regional cultural identity through applied research of cultural heritage in the landscape of the historical territory of the Archdiocese of Olomouc (ADO). Partial project objectives were to (1) propose sustainable management of sacred monuments that protect a part of the natural heritage of Europe, which is bound by its existence to sacred monuments in the landscape, and thus to contribute to the removal of barriers between historical monuments preservation and nature protection in the conservation of cultural heritage; (2) employ applied research of the ADO cultural landscape using methods of historical geography for the presentation of selected types of minor and technical monuments in the landscape through educational application software and an exhibition; (3) identify intangible cultural heritage of the ADO landscape (landscape aesthetics, hunting as a national cultural monument) using innovative approaches to applied research, and direct the results of this research towards practical use of the potential economic benefits of the spiritual heritage of the ADO landscape.
- Funding: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic - NAKI II
Project code: NAKI II - DG16P02B042
Period: 2016–2020 - Project leader: Doc. RNDr. Jaromír Kolejka, CSc.
- The Czech pre-industrial landscape is dated to the period before the main wave of the industrial revolution, now before the year 1850. It bears the signs of relatively uninterrupted socio-economic and cultural development of the time from mid-17th century with regard to local natural conditions. Its surviving relics are not recorded in the Czech Republic except declared and planned landscape conservation zones. Especoally numerous smaller areas with a characteristic spatial structure of arable land, roads, buildings, lakes and forested areas were not covered. Project objectives: (1) The inventory of pre-industrial areas within the historical borders of Moravia will be completed on the comparison of adequate historical mapping documents with the latest cartographic products; (2) The identifyied areas will be classified and recorded in three size categories, each in three quality categories respecting registers in successful regions of Western Europe; (3) The completed text, graphic (maps, images) and tabular documentation of each registered entity will include proposed measures designed to the further care and management of such areas; (4) The documentation will be made available to affected municipalities and public in electronic form on approval by the Ministry of Culture; (5) The touring regionally adaptable museum exhibition on the theme of "Ancient landscape in current Moravia in xx region" shall be drawn; (6) Methodological and regional knowledge will be transformed into an electronic didactic learning, respectively educational material for schools and the public use.
- Funding: Czech Science Foundation
Project code: 16-04483S
Period: 2016–2018 - Leaders: Drs. Dan Van der Horst PhD. (Institute of Geonics of CAS), RNDr. Bohumil Frantál Ph.D. (Department of Geography at The Faculty of Science of Palacký University in Olomouc)
- The aim was to develop theoretical understanding of the diverse nature and social-spatial dynamics of renewable energy development in conditions of the Czech Republic, to analyse spatial patterns and to identify and classify social barriers that impede effective utilization of realizable potential of underused homeland renewable energy resources. The research was focused on three key sectors in terms of relevance for the likely future development: wind energy, solar energy, and production of biomass and biogas. Analytical results were synthesised through the theoretical lens of institutional change and adaptive governance, which helped to better understand the given processes and to develop adaptive strategies that enable stakeholders and communities involved to avoid or mitigate social conflicts during the expected future expansion of renewable energy developments.
- This extensive international project was based on the identification of research gaps and innovation needs in spatial planning, provided by surveying more than 500 stakeholders from across Europe in a unique critical bottom-up approach, to ensure that research needs reflect the demands of end-users. Based on this, The Europeans’ Strategic Research Agenda for Integrated Spatial Planning, Land Use and Soil-Sediment-Water Management was developed, being designed to attract research funding by public and private parties and to ensure that knowledge is widely applied by public sector bodies, SMEs and large enterprises, wishing to innovate and contribute to a greener, more socially cohesive, smarter and competitive Europe. The European Commission is using the project results as support documents for the identification of research needs.
- Funding: Grant Service of the company - Lesy České republiky (Forest of the Czech Republic)
Period: 2015 - 2018 - Leaders: Doc. Mgr. Aleš Bajer, Ph.D. (principal leader, Mendel University in Brno); Doc. RNDr. Karel Kirchner, CSc. (leader, Institute of Geonics of CAS)
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Project aimed at optimization of forest management strategies on slopes endangered by landslides as well as with active manifestations of slope deformations and rock falling. A comprehensive assessment of the possibility of forest-planting management interventions was performed with respect to the areas affected by slope movements. Members of the Institute of Geonics focused on the inventory of slope deformations (landslides and rock falling) in selected sites, including their biogeographical characteristics. Links between vegetation and development of slope deformations in selected sites in the Czech Republic were solved.
- The project investigated the inter-relationships between renewable energy production and landscape quality, and the role of public participation for the acceptance of renewable energy systems. Nearly 200 researchers from 34 countries participated on the project activities. The action provided tool-kits to achieve a better understanding of how landscape protection & management as well as renewable energy deployment can be reconciled to contribute socio-environmentally to the sustainable transformation of energy systems and contributed to the consolidation and extension of knowledge from a pan-European perspective using a modular methodological framework. This project prepared enhancement tools science based for decision-making, and developed guidelines for public participation in planning renewable energy systems
- Funding: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic
Project code: TD020259
Period: 2014–2015 - Leaders: Mgr. Petr Klusáček, Ph.D. (Institute of Geonics CAS); Mgr. Marek Havlíček (The Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening)
The project aimed at developing methods of optimization of decision-making processes for brownfields regeneration as a versatile tool used by state and local government, organization involved in regional development and spatial planning, developers, brownfield site owners, or prospective tenants. New methods for verification, objectification and updating existing brownfields databases through the GIS were developed as well.
- Funding: Ministry of Interior of Czech Republic
Project code: VG3VS/114
Period: 2013–2015 - Leaders: doc. RNDr. Jaromír Kolejka, CSc. (Institute of Geonics CAS); doc. Ing. Petr Rapant, CSc. (VSB – Technical University of Ostrava)
The project was focused on scenarios for GI support of solutions for selected types of emergencies that occur in the Czech Republic. Individual selected scenarios (e.g. flood, forest fire, toxic accidents on the road) documented the use of standard (topographic) and non-traditional (on natural components of territory, population and technical infrastructure) geodata, their interpretation and purposeful generation of derivatives to support decision making in individual stages of coping with crisis situation.
- Funding: European Commission's 7th Framework Programme
Project code: FP7-ENV-2010.3.1.5-2
Period: 2011–2014 - Leaders: Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ (Germany); Mgr. Petr Klusáček, Ph.D. (Institute of Geonics CAS)
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Major areas previously used for military, mining, industrial or commercial purposes are frequently beset by high levels of complex contamination. Regarded as being problematic, many have become brownfields, impeding the development of surrounding communities. In Europe, there are over 20,000 large and complex contaminated sites. These so-called Megasites threaten scarce soil and water resources and cause environmental and health risks as well as economic and social costs. The project Timbre supported end-users in overcoming existing barriers by having developed customized problem- and target-oriented packages of technologies, approaches and management tools for a megasite’s reuse planning and remediation.
- Funding: European Social Fund
Project code: CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0025
Period: 2011–2014 - Project leader: RNDr. Bohumil Frantál, Ph.D.
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The project’s objective was to form an inter-institutional and multi-disciplinary research and development platform capable of international linkage and competitiveness in research of energy industry development and its impacts on landscape; to integrate foreign experiences and elaborate them into a knowledge portfolio and a theoretical-methodological apparatus which will be utilizable for both the further development and improvement of team expert competencies and a general practice. The means of achieving the objective included the internationalization of project team (i.e. an involvement of foreign experts), a transfer of gained experiences by holding common field research activities, an organization of few thematic workshops and conferences, presentations of gained results on conferences, and a preparation of common publications. The educational intention of project was provided by the concept of „education by practical field research“, a fundamental positive of the project was the participation of an experienced foreign expert in the research team. Other activities included a variety of specialized trainings for professionals and managers, tutoring of students, and participation of the partner universities´ students on project research activities.
Compact and polycentric urban forms: Conflicting spatial imaginations?
The nature and dynamics of local land use conflicts in a polyrational arena
Promoting tourism by entering to the landscape paintings and photographs
Between de-agrization and perforated development of rural space: the search for development patterns of post-communist agricultural properties
Strategic tools for building a barrier-free city
Adaptation to sustainable energy transition in Europe: environmental, socio-economic and
cultural aspects (ADAPTAS)
(European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Government of Spain, Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competition, no. CSO2017-86975-R, 2018–2021)
Geography of recycling urban space
Cultural heritage of landscape of the Archdiocese of Olomouc - research, presentation and management
Exploring social-spatial diffusion of renewable energy projects in the Czech Republic: lessons for adaptive governance of energy transition
Integrated Spatial Planning, Land Use and Soil Management Research Action (INSPIRATION)
(Horizon 2020, 2015–2018, grant no. 681256)
The optimization of forest management strategies on slopes endangered by landslides and rock falling – a methodology for forest-planting practices
Renewable Energy and Landscape Quality (RELY)
(Transport and Urban Development COST Action no. TU1401, H2020, 2014–2018)
New methods for improving brownfields regeneration to optimize decision-making processes
Disaster management support scenarios using geo-information technologies
TIMBRE - Tailored Improvement of Brownfield Regeneration in Europe
ENGELA - Energy landscapes: inovation, development and internationalisation of research