INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT AND PRIORITIZATION OF TOURISM RESOURCES IN THE NORTH-WEST REGION
Elaboration period: 2019
Beneficiary: North-West Regional Development Agency
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
Registered as a consultancy service, the project aims to highlight the natural and anthropogenic resources, as well as some unconventional tourist attractions in the North-West Region by making a rigorous inventory of the tourism objectives and activities in the territory. It also aims to highlight its potential of attractiveness through a multi-criteria assessment, to rank the main groups of objectives and to prioritize their valorisation, in the wider context of a tourism development strategy of the region. The proposed projects will be part of the vision for the tourism development of the North-West Region for the next programming period (the post-2020 period).
ELABORARE PLAN DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI JUDEȚEAN SĂLAJ [Development of Sălaj County Spatial Plan]
Elaboration period: 2018-2020
Beneficiary: Sălaj County Council
Prepared by: “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning – Centre for Research, Design, Expertise and Consulting, S.C. Urban Team S.R.L., S.C. Quattro Design S.R.L., S.C. F&R Worldwide S.R.L., Babeş-Bolyai University – Faculty of Geography.
Coordinator of the UBB team of experts Professor Pompei Cocean
The Sălaj County Spatial Plan is part of the spatial planning documents elaborated under the aegis of the Centre for Regional Geography and the Faculty of Geography at Babeş-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca. As subcontractor of “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning in Bucharest, the university faces the challenge of carrying out an up-to-date analysis of the implications the natural environment has on the other territorial components (habitats, infrastructure, economy etc.) and the impact of economic activities, corroborated with a SWOT analysis and the formulation of a development vision that would allow the county the opportunity to access funds for various development projects. Despite its central location, and theoretically benefiting from all the advantages derived from such a location, Sălaj County is far from being considered a region with a well-consolidated development. Moreover, the city of Zalău, the main pole of attraction in the county, fails to counterbalance the functions performed by the major neighbouring cities (Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Baia Mare). The natural environment, which largely overlaps hilly areas, delimited by the Meseş and the Plopiş Mountains in the south-west, has led to an agricultural specialization of the county, either we refer to functional agricultural areas or to certain forest areas. Punctual industrial concentrations define primarily the cities and towns of the county (Zalău, Şimleu Silvaniei, Cehu Silvaniei, Jibou), while there are no tourist areas proper except for some local tourist attractions such as the Roman castrum in Porolissum, the wooden churches or certain spa areas.
STUDIU – ANALIZĂ ŞI DIAGNOSTIC PRIVIND POTENŢIALUL DE DEZVOLTARE AGROTURISTICĂ A TERITORIULUI GAL SUD-VEST SATU MARE, ÎN VEDEREA IMPLEMENTĂRII PLANULUI DE DEZVOLTARE LOCALĂ [Analysis and Diagnostic Study on the Agritourism Development Potential of Southwest Satu Mare Local Action Group for the Implementation of the Local Development Plan]
Elaboration period:2014
Beneficiary: Southwest Satu Mare Local Action Group Association
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
Southwest Satu Mare Local Action Group is a specific territorial entity, in which the peripheral location at county, regional and national level - which generates dysfunctions in most of the cases - is counterbalanced by the multiple advantages given by future cross-border interrelations. Romania’s expected entry into the Schengen free-movement area will boost the connections with the local communities in the neighbouring country, diversifying their economic, cultural and trade relations. Multiculturalism, specific to the absolute majority of the localities in this LAG, will turn into a heavily used connection, for mutual benefit. Among these connections, tourism plays a major role, the LEADER Programme having the purpose to fund projects and provide a quality and competitive tourist offer in terms of attractive objectives, access infrastructure, accommodation, leisure and cure.
STUDIU – ANALIZĂ ŞI DIAGNOSTIC PRIVIND POTENŢIALUL DE DEZVOLTARE AGROTURISTICĂ A TERITORIULUI GAL ZONA SĂTMARULUI, ÎN VEDEREA IMPLEMENTĂRII PLANULUI DE DEZVOLTARE LOCALĂ [Analysis and Diagnostic Study on the Agritourism Development Potential of Sătmar Area Local Action Group for the Implementation of the Local Development Plan]
Elaboration period:2014
Beneficiary: Microregional Development Association of the Communities in Sătmar Area
Project Manager: Lecturer Nicoleta David
In the context of achieving the desiderata of this project in the territory (rational, sustainable exploitation and efficient use of the local natural and human resources, with the production of added value in the immediate interest of the local community; development of the local economy and, thereby, the increase in the number of jobs and the provision of an income able to raise the standard of living; social affirmation – its defining domains such as education, public health, culture and religious groups benefiting, directly and indirectly, from the material advantages emerged; conservation of the material and spiritual heritage of ethnographic origin; environmental protection and conservation), of attenuating or eliminating the sometimes striking dysfunctions and disparities existent at the level of the spatial micro-system of the component communes or at the level of LAG Sătmar Area in its entirety, certain premises are created for the emergence of territorial cohesion, which is a major objective of the EU development policies, intensely discussed and highlighted in its recent documents. However, it assumes, as mandatory conditions, the prior achievement of the economic and social cohesion by eliminating disparities and dysfunctions existent in the structure of the spatial system, at the level of the communities that compose it.
STRATEGIA DE DEZVOLTARE A COMUNEI AITON [Development Strategy for the Commune of Aiton 2014-2050]
Elaboration period: 2013
Beneficiary Mayoralty of Aiton
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
Commune of Aiton is an excellent example of bipolar rural system, consisting of two neighbouring settlements, Aiton and Rediu, with a relatively close economic and social potential. The binary structure was formed on a unique natural substratum, with an array of facilities, but also with numerous restrictions that stand out especially in times of economic mutations, the present one being relevant in this regard. The relative isolation in relation to the polarizing structures of the regional territory and the natural resources focused only on the fertility of the agricultural land pose some obstacles to the elaboration of a short, medium and long-term development strategy, putting to test both the skill and the vision of the territorial analyst. They offer instead the stimulating occasion to innovate in the field, to make fertile correlations and inter-conditionings between the geographical and social factors, to highlight the latent resources of the respective territory, and to identify the opportunities generated by the spatial context in which the microsystem of Aiton evolves.
PLAN DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI ZONAL INTER-ORĂŞENESC-SINAIA, BUŞTENI, AZUGA, PREDEAL, RÂŞNOV, BRAŞOV (POIANA BRAŞOV) [Sinaia – Azuga – Buşteni – Predeal – Râşnov – Braşov - Poiana Braşov Inter-municipal Spatial Plan]
Elaboration period: 2009-2011
Beneficiary Ministry of Regional Development and Housing
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The study is a medium and long-term guiding document, in accordance with the current legislation, which has as ultimate goal to formulate a territorial plan and development strategy based on the identification of territorial dysfunctions, identification of proposals to address specific problems and revitalization of the area by integrating the local projects and initiatives that converge towards this purpose. The existing informational fund was selectively consolidated by the diagnostic function of the mutations within urban structures, identified by critically evaluating the literature in the field and by analysing to date the state of functionality of the territorial system components.
PLAN DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI ZONAL VALEA HÂRTIBACIULUI, JUDEŢUL SIBIU-RECONFIGURAREA RELAŢIEI URBAN-RURAL ÎN CONTEXTUL COEZIUNII TERITORIALE & ANALIZA STRATEGICĂ DE MEDIU PENTRU PLANUL DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI ZONAL VALEA HÂRTIBACIULUI, JUDEŢUL SIBIU [Zonal Spatial Plan of the Hârtibaciu Valley, Sibiu County – Reconfiguration of the Urban-Rural Relationship in the Context of Territorial Cohesion]
Elaboration period: 2009
Beneficiary Ministry of Regional Development and Housing
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
Located right in the heart of Romania, the Hârtibaciu Valley is characterized, contrary to the positional advantages available, by an increased ruralism, becoming a territory of profound isolation. Apart from this aspect, the individualisation of a mental space of its own, the superposition over the Hârtibaciu Plateau, defined by the presence of protected areas, or the community initiatives for establishing a socio-economic development micro-association to serve their interests are prerequisites that support this area to become a programme region. The study has obstinately aimed at going beyond the current territorial state and at presenting, in a justified and objective manner, a set of directions, measures and targets, individualized for the main areas of action (environment, social and human resources, economy, technical infrastructure, settlement network, built heritage, etc.).
REACTUALIZARE PLAN DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI JUDEŢEAN -PATJ- JUDEŢUL MARAMUREŞ [Update to the County Spatial Plan – Maramureş County]
Elaboration period: 2009
Beneficiary Maramureş County Council
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The spatial plan was based from the outset on a thorough analysis of the current state, a predominance of diagnosis scenarios, and extensive and complex prognoses of territorial development. Apparently framed in a previously established pattern (county level), Maramureş County stands out due to several particular features. Their rational management will be able to ensure a sustainable territorial development. Maramureş County is guarded by high mountain ranges, with diverse geological structures, and is consolidated on the bottom of several depressions (e.g. Maramureş, Târgu Lăpuş), which contain a mosaic of metalliferous and non-metalliferous mineral resources. It is drained by the tributaries of the Tisa and the Someş rivers and is characterized by a mountain climate, favourable for winter sports, and by a depression climate, favourable for settlements and for agricultural land use, as well as by some very rare fauna and flora species. Therefore, Maramureş County is characterized by a natural support highly favourable for socio-economic development. Moreover, the natural component has become a sine qua non condition for the assertion of the other territorial resources, both human and economic. The permanent interrelation between the natural factors and the human component is characterized by a high degree of inhabitation, the creation of specific habitats (see the individuality of villages!), cattle raising, the cultivation of plants suitable to the existing soil conditions, and the individualisation of several ethnographic mental areas.
PLAN DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI ZONAL - PATZ - MĂRGINIMEA SIBIULUI [Zonal Spatial Plan – Mărginimea Sibiului]
Elaboration period: 2009
Beneficiary Reuniunea Mărginenilor Association
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
Mărginimea Sibiului, as optimal framework for the manifestation of territorial cohesion due to the presence of a clearly outlined mental space, represents a spatially well-defined region located in the middle of Romania, which can benefit from all the necessary levers that can turn it into a genuine programme region. Taking as its starting point an objective analysis of the current situation, without omitting the natural and human resources or the technical infrastructures of the territory, the social, economic, and environmental aspects, all seen through the magnifying glass of dysfunctions, this territorial unit meets the needs of the beneficiaries, primarily of the local community, by formulating several practical and strategic goals meant to solve the dysfunctions of Mărginimea Sibiului.
STRATEGIA DE DEZVOLTARE ECONOMICO-SOCIALĂ A COMUNEI SĂRMĂŞAG (JUDEŢUL SĂLAJ) [Economic and Social Development Strategy for the Commune of Sărmăşag - Sălaj County]
Elaboration period: 2008
Beneficiary Mayoralty of Sărmăşag
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The commune of Sărmăşag falls into the category of micro-scale territorial units, characterized by certain specific elements that make it special in the investigator’s option. Thus, it benefits from an excellent geographical location, about 30 km from the main surrounding urban centres (Zalǎu, Şimleul Silvaniei, Tǎşnad), a favourable feature in terms of spatial interrelations. Unfortunately, this location is ignored by the local development strategists. The above-mentioned locality should have become a polarising centre, ranking lower than the urban centres, but with doubtless supra-communal influence.
ANALIZĂ PRIVIND STADIUL ACTUAL AL TENDINŢELOR DEZVOLTĂRII TERITORIALE ÎN BAZINUL ROMÂNESC AL RÂULUI TISA [Analysis of the Present State of Territorial Development Trends in the Romanian Tisa Basin]
Elaboration period: 2007
Beneficiary Ministry of Regional Development, Public Works and Housing
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
Specialists in territorial planning, geographers and urban planners alike had the difficult task to scan the Romanian sector of the Tisa River catchment area in order to identify and analyze its particular structural and functional features, namely those features that facilitate or not its integration into the geosphere of the entire Tisa River basin (along with the Hungarian, Ukrainian, Slovakian and Serbian sectors). And this was not an easy task, given its area of more than 71,000 km2, the number of population, the physico-geographical and economic complexity, etc. The study findings are related to the analysis of cross-border interrelations, the elaboration of the SWOT analysis and, hence, foreshadowing the future development directions based on this analysis.
STRATEGIE DE DEZVOLTARE LOCALĂ PENTRU MUNICIPIUL CRAIOVA [Local Development Strategy for the Municipality of Craiova]
Elaboration period: 2006
Beneficiary Mayoralty of Craiova
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The socio-economic development strategy of the Municipality of Craiova (which can be applied to any urban entity) is based on the findings of the previous introspections dedicated to the analysis of the existing situation and dysfunctions, as well as on the SWOT analysis elaborated by the planning institution. It was then completed by the local actors with useful suggestions and proposals, namely by those called upon to apply this strategy, who formed specialized working groups from the very beginning of the analysis. The parameters of the strategy derive primarily from the needs to eliminate the existing dysfunctions and to optimize the structure and functions of the territorial system of Craiova, but also from the scientifically formulated projection of its future becoming. Our proposals, far from being too bold, sum up those interventions that concentrate the most fertile valences, the most complex and beneficial impact for optimizing the urban organism. An innovative strategy must emerge from the anonymity of the ordinary and must become a ferment capable to catalyse the energies of a certain place in order to support its permanent development and affirmation. And this is certainly the case of the proposed strategy that Craiova, one of the top Romanian cities, fully deserves.
PLAN DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI ZONAL - PATZ - PERIURBANUL MUNICIPIULUI BISTRIŢA [Zonal Spatial Plan – The Peri-urban Area of Bistriţa]
Elaboration period: 2005
Beneficiary Ministry of Transport, Construction and Tourism
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The introspections meant to examine the “status” of a territory in order to elaborate the sustainable development strategy have different degrees of complexity, in close correlation to the size of the spatial entity under analysis (region, area, site) and to the diversity of levels that interact. The planning study, here applied to a special territorial structure, however, extremely widespread and characteristic known as peri-urban area, aims to emphasize the development potential of the respective area, no matter of its location (in this case, the peri-urban area of the Municipality of Bistriţa), indispensably taking into account, as a sine qua non condition, the current status, together with the emphasis of the existing dysfunctions. The importance and viability of this study is concentrated in the accuracy of highlighting the structure and functions of the peri-urban territorial system, of elaborating those sectoral development strategies able to activate the entire potential of the area and to transform it in a competitive player on the regional, national or international market, in an as short time as possible.
RELAŢIILE TRANSFRONTALIERE ALE JUDEŢULUI SATU MARE CA PREMISĂ A INTEGRĂRII EURO-REGIONALE [The Cross-border Relations of Satu Mare County as Premise for Euroregional Integration]
Elaboration period: 2004
Beneficiary Satu Mare County Council
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The study represents an analysis of the cross-border area of Satu Mare County, highlighting the features of the natural and anthropogenic components of the cross-border area, the opportunities and the potential offered by the geographical location of the county, and the potential risks that might generate conflicts and dysfunctions in the cross-border relations. On this basis, a series of proposals and solutions were identified to optimize activities in the cross-border region, with focus on the four specific areas of collaboration: institutional collaboration on regional development, economic collaboration, cultural and educational collaboration, nature and environmental protection.
STRATEGIE DE DEZVOLTARE ECONOMICO-SOCIALĂ A MICROREGIUNII TĂŞNAD [Economic and Social Development Strategy for Tăşnad Microregion]
Elaboration period: 2003
Beneficiary Mayoralty of Tăşnad
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The specialists of the Faculty of Geography, with a good knowledge of the territory including all its natural or anthropogenic elements, targeted to highlight those resources and peculiarities of the territory under analysis that can support its current and future development and can provide opportunities in the permanent competition with its neighbouring territories. As a result, the inventory of the soil and underground natural resources, as a fundamental premise of any development, is closely related with the analysis of the human resources in the microregion, the human factor being the driving factor directly involved in the management of the former. The human being produces by itself for itself and, therefore, a harmonious interrelation between its possibilities and its desiderata is highly required. Another aspect of the strategy is the focus on the technical infrastructure of the territory (access roads, power supply, water supply and sanitation, gas supply, etc.) for it ensures the force lines for the concentration and dispersion of energy, goods and means in any territorial system. Without them, the optimal functioning of the territorial system is impossible. In addition, the technical infrastructure reflects itself in a versatile manner, both in the economic and especially in the social field, where it defines certain quality standards, mandatory for the current civilization.
PLANUL DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI REGIUNII DE NORD-VEST (PATR). COORDONATE MAJORE [North-West Region Spatial Plan. Major Coordinates]
Elaboration period: 2002-2003
Beneficiari: Bihor County Council, Bistriţa-Năsăud County Council, Cluj County Council, Maramureş County Council, Satu Mare County Council, Sălaj County Council, North-West Regional Development Agency
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The comprehensive and complex analysis of the regional territory, illustrated in this case for the North-West Development Region, becomes a conglomerate of immediate, practical solutions, but also a reference point for the future planning activities. The detailed knowledge of the territory, the spatial vision that emerges from the pages of this study and the identification of the interrelations between the different components of the region (technical infrastructure, the competitive economic aspects, the complex social and human resources, and the state of the environment) are conditions for the success of this planning model.
STUDIUL RISCULUI ANTROPIC ÎN BAZINUL HIDROGRAFIC AL ARIEŞULUI (AFERENT JUDEŢULUI CLUJ) [Study of Anthropogenic Risk in the Arieş River Catchment Area (Corresponding to Cluj County)]
Elaboration period: 2000-2001
Beneficiary Cluj County Council
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The study is divided into seven chapters, analysing sequentially the geomorphological risk phenomena, climate and weather risk phenomena, hydrological risk phenomena, mitigation of human risks related to the biotic and edaphic components, demographic and social risks, economy of the lower catchment area of the Arieş River, and the human-generated environmental risks.
PLANUL DE AMENAJARE A TERITORIULUI INTERJUDEŢEAN (PATIJ). ZONA DE CONTACT INTERJUDEŢEANĂ CLUJ, BIHOR, BISTRIŢA-NĂSĂUD, MARAMUREŞ, MUREŞ, SATU MARE, SĂLAJ [The Inter-county Spatial Plan. Cluj, Bihor, Bistriţa-Năsăud, Maramureş, Mureş, Satu Mare, and Sălaj Inter-county Contact Area
Elaboration period: 1997-1999
Beneficiari: Bihor County Council, Bistriţa-Năsăud County Council, Cluj County Council, Maramureş County Council, Mureş County Council, Satu Mare County Council, Sălaj County Council
Project Manager: Professor Pompei Cocean
The organization of the geographical space in a territorial unit such as the inter-county borderland requires a systemic approach, with the highlight of the natural and anthropogenic conditionings, the trends and directions of energy, matter and interests flows. The emphasis of aspects that govern the phenomenology of these border spaces cannot be achieved unless the complexity of the natural, economic and social processes that define the major lines of activities and its own landscape is accepted from the very beginning. Based on these realities of the inter-county contact areas, the project has set three overall goals, temporarily divided into three phases, namely: 1. Analysis of the Current Situation (1997); 2. Identification and Analysis of Dysfunctions (1998); 3. Functional Optimization Programmes (1999).
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