Military Geographical Institute

nema

This study introduces the Normalized Difference Gamma Ray Index (NDGRI), a novel spectral composite derived from Sentinel 2 imagery for mapping elevated natural gamma radiation in semi-arid and arid basins. We hypothesized that water-sensitive spectral indices correlate with gamma-ray hotspots in arid regions of Mongolia, where natural radionuclide distribution is influenced by hydrological processes. Leveraging historical car-borne gamma spectrometry data collected in 2008 across the Sainshand and Zuunbayan uranium project areas, we evaluated twelve spectral bands and five established moisture-sensitive indices against radiation heatmaps in Naarst and Zuunbayan. Using Pearson and Spearman correlations alongside two percentile-based overlap metrics, indices were weighted to yield a composite performance score. The best performing indices (MI—Moisture Index and NDSII_1—Normalized Difference Snow and Ice Index) guided the derivation of ten new ND constructs incorporating SWIR bands (B11, B12) and visible bands (B4, B8A). The top performer, NDGRI = (B4 − B12)/(B4 + B12) achieved a precision of 62.8% for detecting high gamma-radiation areas and outperformed benchmarks of other indices. We established climatological screening criteria to ensure NDGRI reliability. Validation at two independent sites (Erdene, Khuvsgul) using 2008 airborne gamma ray heatmaps yielded 76.41% and 85.55% spatial overlap accuracy, respectively. Our results demonstrate that NDGRI effectively delineates gamma radiation hotspots where moisture-controlled spectral contrasts prevail. The index’s stringent acquisition constraints, however, limit the temporal availability of usable scenes. NDGRI offers a rapid, cost-effective remote sensing tool to prioritize ground surveys in uranium prospective basins and may be adapted for other radiometric applications in semi-arid and arid regions.

This paper investigates how governance frameworks shape sustainable tourism outcomes in protected areas by comparing Tara National Park (Serbia) and Triglav National Park (Slovenia). Both parks, established in 1981 and classified under IUCN Category II, exhibit rich biodiversity and mountainous terrain but differ markedly in governance structures, institutional integration, and local community engagement. Using a qualitative, indicator-based methodology, this research evaluates ecological, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. The findings reveal that Triglav NP demonstrates higher levels of participatory governance, tourism integration, and educational outreach, while Tara NP maintains stricter ecological protection with less inclusive management. Triglav’s zoning model, community council, and economic alignment with regional development policies contribute to stronger sustainability outcomes. Conversely, Tara NP’s centralized governance and infrastructural gaps constrain its potential despite its significant conservation value. This study highlights the importance of adaptive, inclusive governance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within protected areas. It concludes that hybrid approaches, combining legal rigor with participatory flexibility, can foster resilience and sustainability in ecologically sensitive regions.

Abstract This study integrates the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) modelling with multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) analysis to assess and evaluate the spatial suitability for small hydropower development. The SWAT model is employed to perform a comprehensive hydrological analysis of the study area, which enables a precise characterisation of the hydrological dynamics within the catchment, ensuring that the derived data accurately reflects the physical realities of the region, which, in turn, enhances the reliability of subsequent spatial analyses. The outputs from the SWAT analysis are subsequently utilised as critical inputs for the MCDM analysis. This analysis integrated various spatial and environmental factors, including terrain slope, soil type, land cover, proximity to existing infrastructure, and potential ecological impacts. Integrating these diverse datasets allows the development of comprehensive grid and vector databases and maps delineating areas within the catchment most suitable for small hydropower development. These maps identify optimal locations and balance ecological sensitivity with socio-economic considerations, ensuring that growth is sustainable and beneficial to local communities. The findings from this integrated approach provide valuable insights for regional planners and policymakers, offering a scientifically grounded basis for the strategic development of small hydropower projects. This research significantly contributes to advancing spatial planning methodologies in Serbia, highlighting the importance of integrating advanced hydrological modelling with sophisticated decision-support tools in contemporary environmental management and infrastructure development.

Traditional songs are an important aspect of cultural heritage, and consequently an element of local community identity. Bearing in mind the importance of preserving traditional values, the paper explores the possibilities of using traditional songs of the Kosovo-Pomoravlje district in primary music schools solfège teaching. The paper first focuses on the phenomenon of Serbian folk singing and analyzes the cultural context, as well as the specificities of the Kosovo-Pomoravlje folk songs and their classification. Later in the text, the focus moves to the specific possibilities and methodical instructions for the use of the Kosovo-Pomoravlje songs in solfège teaching. The goal of the research is to show how the use of those songs can improve the pedagogical approach to solfège teaching, based on interactive implementation of teaching tasks, contributing, on the one hand, to the understanding and adoption of elements of musical literacy with the further development of musical skills and knowledge and, on the other hand, to the familiarization with the cultural heritage and its preservation.

The climate and thermal comfort of а destination greatly influence the tourism industry. Therefore, this study was focused on researching thermal comfort changes and their impacts on visitors in four highly visited coastal destinations along the eastern Adriatic coast (Pula, Zadar, Split, and Dubrovnik) from 1996 to 2020, using the modified physiologically equivalent temperature index (mPET). The specific objective was to assess how the thermal comfort conditions are distributed spatially and temporally and how they are suitable for beach and sightseeing tourism. Results showed that monthly mean mPET values have increased, except in May. In the summer season, tourists were often exposed to uncomfortable heat stress, especially in the middle of the day. Strong and extreme heat stress frequency significantly increased in all sites except in Pula, particularly in July and August. Prevailing neutral and slightly warm/cold conditions were concentrated in two periods, between April and June and in September and October. The maximum occurrence of optimal climatic conditions for enjoying the beach was in the summer, with a decreasing tendency from May to August. The occurrence of favorable conditions for sightseeing significantly increased in April and November while it decreased from July to September. Although the eastern Adriatic coast is primarily a summer tourist area, a relatively small number of tourists take advantage of the period with optimal thermal comfort. Despite the fact that the number of tourists in the shoulder seasons has increased significantly in the past 25 years, the increasing favorable thermal comfort in the changing climate conditions will make these seasons even more appealing in the future, especially for sightseeing activities. New strategies for adapting to a changing climate are therefore needed.

Food waste represents a global issue with serious economic, environmental, and social implications. This study investigates the impact of food waste on the economic stability of hotels and restaurants in the Republic of Serbia using a structural modeling approach. The survey included 136 managers across 30 hotels in various cities and mountainous regions of the Republic of Serbia. Results indicate a high awareness of the food waste issue and identify key factors affecting the economic stability of these enterprises. Although no significant link was found between biodiversity, climate, and environment, as well as economy with economic stability, a positive relationship between social environment and economic stability was discovered. This research model provides a deeper understanding of the factors shaping food waste management practices in hotels and restaurants, thereby offering guidelines for enhancing the economic stability of these sectors.

This study examines the ways in which firms recover from stagnation or sales decline, with a focus on two key aspects: traditional high-growth companies and growth restarts within the framework of organizational life cycle theory. Analyzing a dataset of 1883 Russian firms from 2013 to 2021, this research employs logistic regression to identify factors that promote growth. These factors include the youth of the firm, investment intensity, and significant sales drops during periods of stagnation. The study introduces a new economic category, termed ‘restarting growth’, which signifies a firm’s sustained expansion following an extended period of stagnation. This category is crucial for identifying factors that increase the likelihood of a company transitioning to growth after prolonged stagnation or production downturn. The findings of this study reveal that firms that are younger, invest more intensively in fixed capital, and have experienced a larger sales drop during a period of stagnation are more likely to transition to growth. These results are juxtaposed with the growth factors characteristic of traditional high-growth companies, as well as with the theoretical approaches explaining growth restarts within the framework of organizational life cycle theory. Such distinctions are pivotal both for academic understanding and practical applications in discerning how companies rebound from crises. Moreover, the research identifies several highly significant factors—indicators that can assist investors in selecting promising firms for financing.

The foundations for the use of ICT in Serbia have already been laid, but the e-business process is not yet well developed. Systematic studies of the impact of the Internet and ICT on competition have not yet been conducted, but the rapid development of these activities as the fastest growing in the Serbian economy indicates that the competition of firms using ICT is quite strong. However, there is a significant difference in the availability of ICT technologies in urban and rural settlements and indicates that digital inequality has not yet been overcome and that all assumptions regarding the (expected) impact of the Internet and the digital economy on faster rural development have not been made. For this reason, it is necessary not only to have a well-thought-out agricultural policy, but also to stimulate the availability of ICT throughout the country, especially in rural areas.