Mateusz Jankiewicz (p)

Lamia Enab

The paper presents an analysis of the impact of changes in the economic structure on the achievement of environmental sustainability in countries worldwide. The ongoing transformations of the modern economy, particularly digital transformation, lead to changes in the production structure of countries. More and more countries are focusing on the development of the service sector, which results in modifications to the economic structure and subsequently affects the achievement of sustainable development (SD). The analysis is conducted using data from 124 selected countries (52 developed and 72 developing) for the years 2015-2020. The environmental situation of each country is calculated using the composite indicator, using ecological indicators from the set of characteristics defined by the United Nations to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The composite indicator assesses the environmental sustainability with one value calculated with the values of specific diagnostic variables. In turn, the economic structure is characterised by the share of value added by agriculture, industry, and services in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The relationship between changes in the economic structure and environmental sustainability is verified using the spatio-temporal sensitivity model, which is further enhanced with the factor of spatial dependence between neighbouring units. In the analysis, the proximity of countries is defined based on two criteria: the common border criterion and the ecological similarity criterion measured by ecological footprint (EF) values. The crucial part of the research is to examine the differences in the influence of modifications to the economic structure on environmental sustainability between developed and developing countries.

Lamia Enab (p)

Andre Carrascal-Incera

This research aims to study the impacts of urban sprawl on soil resources in Tours Metropolitan Area and the possibility of applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce its impact. The research focuses on the long-term study of improving the urban planning, with the objective of understanding the importance role of applying Artificial Intelligence applications in reducing the major impacts of urban sprawl especially on the soil resources. The study involves a combination of Artificial Intelligence applications, for example, analyzing various factors by using Artificial Intelligence algorithms, such as soil quality, land topography, and ecological sensitivity, to optimize land-use planning, also use AI-powered predictive modelling to assess the potential impact of urban development on soil resources. This involves considering factors like population growth, economic trends, and environmental conditions to forecast where sprawl might occur and identifying areas with vulnerable soil resources, moreover implementing Artificial Intelligence-driven systems to assist in designing smart zoning regulations that prioritize the conservation of valuable soil resources. Artificial Intelligence can help identify areas suitable for development while safeguarding critical soil and environmental assets. The collected data is analyzed using analytical and descriptive methods and models. The expected outcomes of the research are significant contributions to the field of urban planning in general and urban sprawl in particular, including a deeper understanding of the benefits and the importance role of applying Artificial Intelligence in minimizing soil degradation, monitoring and predicting soil erosion, developing new Artificial Intelligence applications that can be a part of Tours Metropolitan urban sprawl solution, and filling a critical gap in the existing literature by offering a comprehensive analysis that combines the understanding of the impact of urban sprawl on soil resources with innovative solutions derived from Artificial Intelligence. This research addresses important questions that are currently crucial for Tours Metropolitan Area, such as soil mitigation and environmental survey, and addresses several scientific questions related to the study of reducing urban sprawl impacts and improving soil resources using Artificial Intelligence technologies.

Andre Carrascal-Incera (p), Esteban Fernandez-Vazquez

Bernardo Campolina

The pace in which certain jobs with specific skills are demanded is changing rapidly. The so-called twin transition, comprising both digital and green transformations, is undoubtedly reshaping the economies, changing the way industries perform, and affecting the future of work across Europe. As the adoption of advanced digital technologies and low-carbon practices accelerate, the demand for new skills and knowledges increases, while other skills become outdated fast. The extent to which different countries, regions and sectors are exposed to these transformations is quite heterogeneous depending on their sectoral specialization and their capacity to adapt to these new technologies, creating disparities between the economies and polarization in the labour markets.
This paper uses the OECD’s Intercountry Input-Output Tables for the year 2019 to analyse the exposure of the European countries, sectors, skills and knowledges to the twin transition. We extend the multiregional and multisectoral model, that accounts for trade spillovers between countries, with the information from European Commission’s ESCO (European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations) to provide labour demand by different categories. Additionally, to match both databases we use the European Labour Force Survey to connect the total employment by economic activity and occupations.
Finally, by simulating the forecasted evolution of the different economic activities, we estimate shifts in labour market demands allowing us to identify the most vulnerable occupations, the number of jobs at risk in each country and sector, as well as the future demand for emerging skills. We believe that this type of analysis can provide valuable insights for policymakers and can serve as the basis for the design of tailored training programs.

Bernardo Campolina (p), Ana Hermeto Oliveira, Lucas Carvalho, Frederico Jyme Jr, Ana Paula Nunes, Lívio Miguel Santos

Lukasz Damurski

This article seeks to analyze the regional impact of the digitalization of public services in Brazil. A methodological evaluation tool was developed, which allows the economic, social and environmental impacts of the digital government solutions initiative to be measured. To this end, two case studies were simulated: Applying for an old-age pension (National Social Security Institute) and Obtaining a passport (Federal Police). The simulations carried out indicate that the implementation of digital government in Brazil has significant economic, social and environmental impacts. It can be seen that the reduction in time dedicated to travel and face-to-face services is a fundamental factor in the composition of the impacts, especially those of an economic nature. In terms of environmental impacts, digitalization reduces deforestation and CO₂ emissions, in line with green transition policies. However, environmental trade-offs need to be considered, such as the increase in emissions related to greater demand for data storage and more advanced devices. Despite the limitations, the results reinforce the role of digital government as a strategic tool for formulating inclusive, sustainable and evidence-based public policies, promoting greater efficiency and a positive impact on society. It is suggested that the model be improved with additional variables, such as age, income and modes of transportation.

Lukasz Damurski (p), Anna Kierzkowska , Michał Ciesielski, Aleksandra Pilch (p)

Mateusz Jankiewicz

One of the manifestations of the growing presence of the ICT in urban space is the virtualization of services. Depending on the relationship between offline and online channels this process is referred as conversion (when the whole facility is transferred to the Internet) or hybridization (when some components of a facility are offered online but others remain available offline). Due to its elusive character, the impact of virtualization on urban areas is often underestimated by the local planning authorities. As such it requires a systematic research approach, outlining the key challenges and proposing particular recommendations for urban governance practitioners.
In this paper we will present preliminary findings from the foresight for urban services in Europe. The main objective of this part of the study is to define the list of stakeholders who are in charge of the virtualization processes and analyse the relationships between them.
The so-called ‘stakeholder mapping’ has been used for distinguishing urban services actors. It involves the identification of particular groups, their interests, possible impacts and influences, as well as their interactions within the process. Stakeholder mapping is not a one-time process though – it requires constant monitoring and revision in order to capture the versatility and dynamics of virtualization phenomena. A stakeholder map can help to visualise different qualities and affiliations of stakeholders, considering legitimacy, resources, and networks that are crucial for the issue at stake.
In this study we have defined a general list of individuals, institutions and organizations who are related to the urban services sector, and in particular to the virtualization phenomena. We have conducted a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with carefully selected respondents in order to get a general picture of the stakeholder ecosystem. It involves: (i) public authorities of various levels (national, regional, local) who are in charge of urban governance and spatial decision-making processes; (ii) private companies providing both online and offline urban services (like shops, banks, restaurants etc.); (iii) private companies providing ICT services to urban services providers (like developers, graphic designers etc.); (iv) researchers specialized in urban services sector studies; (v) urban planners and spatial managers.
As a result, we have obtained a comprehensive description of the stakeholders involved in the virtualization processes and a general overview of relationships between them. The findings may be useful for future research on the expected changes in urban areas and for urban policy-making.