Scientific Research Activities at the Faculty of Geography – University of Belgrade
The Faculty of Geography in Belgrade, in addition to educational work, actively fosters scientific research as the basic framework of development and modernisation of higher education teaching. Within its scientific research, the Faculty performs and develops scientific research independently or in cooperation with other scientific institutions both nationally and internationally, in the fields of fundamental and applied research, development of projects, spatial plans, studies and detailed reports. The contents and findings of scientific research and professional activities are in compliance with the purpose and objectives of accreditation of higher education institutions. The acquired skills and obtained results are included in the educational process. The Faculty provides, innovates and maintains scientific research equipment in the labs, establishes international cooperation, develops the information system, publishes scientific books, monographs and publications and organizes international and domestic scientific gatherings in order to encourage the academic staff to be actively involved in scientific research and to publish the achieved results.
The scientific research at the Faculty of Geography is characterized by openness and interaction in solving numerous problems and so the staff of the Faculty are researchers and associates in various projects and numerous scientific tasks. The programme of scientific research at the Faculty of Geography – University of Belgrade entails fundamental and applied studies in the fields of geography, spatial planning, demography, geospatial and environmental science and tourism. In the future, the Faculty will encourage the scientific research activities of importance to the inclusion of Serbia in contemporary integration and scientific trends in Europe and in the world and it will develop cooperation with the corresponding scientific institutions in Serbia and abroad by signing cooperation agreements on scientific research projects of common interest.
The previous scientific research activities of the Faculty of Geography in Belgrade can be best defined by the fact that in the last 120 years a large number of international and national projects have been delivered and financed by state institutions and the economy. Apart from development of projects, the Faculty has been in charge of or part of development of spatial plans for various purposes, numerous studies and detailed reports. The following text presents a comprehensive overview of projects, spatial plans and studies the Faculty was involved in between 1975 and 2012.
1. Rivers of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1975-1977)
2. Basic Speleological Map of Serbia 1:100000. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1978-1985)
3. Geography of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1981-1984)
4. Geographic Changes in the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1984-1989)
5. Regional Geographic Characteristics and Problems of Regional Development of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1986-1990)
6. Geographical Consequences of Natural Disasters in Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1986-1990)
7. Geographical Phenomena and Processes in Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1991-1995)
8. Problems of Border Areas. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1993-1996)
9. Cadastre of Air Pollutants of Pancevo. Contracting party: Federal Ministry of Environment (1994)
10. Basic Principles of Preservation, Planning and Enhancement of Agricultural Land of Serbia. Contracting party: Agricultural Land Fund of Serbia, 1995
11. Demographic Processes in Raska Region (1995–2000)
12. Physical and Geographical Processes in Carpathian-Balkan Mountains of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1995-2000)
13. Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science of the Republic of Serbia (1996)
14. Encyclopaedia of Urban Settlements of Serbia. Contracting party: The Faculty of Geography – University of Belgrade (1997-2000)
15. Geographical Development Principles of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia (2000-2005)
16. Atlas of the Environment of Yugoslavia. Contracting party: Federal Ministry of Science and Technological Development (2000)
17. Strategy of Spatial Development of Selters Spa. The Faculty of Geography – University of Belgrade Contracting party: Assembly of the City of Belgrade (2001)
18. Strategy of Spatial Development of Kosjeric Municipality. Contracting party: Kosjeric Municipality Assembly (2004)
19. Spatial Plan of Smederevo Municipality. Contracting party: Directorate for Urban Planning Smederevo (2003/04)
20. PLANET CENSE – Working Team on North-South Corridors, EU Commission (2004)
21. TEMPUS project JEP -19106 – Landscape Education for a New Neighbourhood of Europe (2004 – 2008)
22. Challenges of Urban Governance: Planning Efforts, Cooperation and Participation. Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office (ASO), number 1-38-2005, (2005-2006)
23. UN HABITAT-SIRP PROJECT (2005-2008)
24. SPA-CE.net (Network of scientific institutions engaged in spatial planning in the area of Central and South East Europe, 2006)
25. Environmental Action Plan for the Construction of the First Phase of Inner Semi-ring Road of Master Plan. Contracting party: Directorate for Construction Land and Construction of the City of Belgrade (2007)
26. Spatial Development Strategy of Grocka Municipality. Contracting party: Grocka Municipality Assembly and Ministry for Capital Investment of the Republic of Serbia (2008)
27. Analytical Basis for Spatial Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Serbia. Republic Agency of Spatial Planning (2009)
28. Intensity of Mechanical and Chemical Erosion and Accumulation in Eastern Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Serbia (2006-2010)
29. Natural, Demographic and Economic Potential of Revitalization of Rural Settlements. Contracting party: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Serbia (2006–2010)
30. Geo-System Foundations of Spatial and Functional Organization of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Serbia (2006-2010)
31. The Role of Strategic Planning, EU Comparative Date and GIS for Spatial Development of Central European Cities: the Case of Ljubljana and Belgrade (2010)
32. Population Development Issues in Border Regions – Experiences of Serbia and Slovenia. Bilateral project (Serbia, Slovenia), (2010-2012)
33. Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Republic Agency for Spatial Planning (2010) 34. Detailed Regulation Plan of Infrastructure Wind generator Field Complex “Cibuk” in Mramork, Kovin Municipality. Contracting party: Company “Wind Energy Balkan Group” (2010)
35. Local Waste Management Plan of the City of Belgrade 2011-2020. Contracting party: Belgrade City Administration – Secretariat for Environmental Protection (2011)
36. Spatial Plan of Negotin Municipality. Contracting party: Negotin Municipal Assembly (2011)
37. Spatial Plan of Grocka Municipality. Contracting party: Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade (2012) 38. Spatial Plan of Sopot Municipality. Contracting party: Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade (2012)
39. Regional Spatial Plan for the Danube and Branicevo Districts. Contracting party: Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Serbia, Republic Agency for Spatial Planning (2012)
40. Spatial Plan for the Special-Purpose Area Beljanica-Kucaj. Contracting party: Republic Agency for Spatial Planning (2012 )
41. Regional Spatial Plan for Administrative Districts of Sumadija, Pomoravlje, Raska and Rasina. Contracting party: Republic Agency for Spatial Planning, Government of the Republic of Serbia (2013)
42. Regional Spatial Plan for the Danube and Branicevo Districts. Contracting party: Republic Agency for Spatial Planning (2013)
43. Interregional cooperation on elaboration of concept for spatial planning of the Danube Region – Danube region + (DONAUREGIONEN+), 2011-2012
44. Development programmes of revitalization of rural settlements in Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia (2011–2015)
45. Development Problems and Tendencies of Geospatial Systems of the Republic of Serbia. Contracting party: Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia (2011–2014)
46. ERASMUS Intensive Programme “Permaculture Design Course – ASPERN Seestadt” (2012)
47. Recent Situation, Intensity and Consequences of Degradation of the Riverbanks of Kolubara in the Territory of Obrenovac Municipality. Contracting authority: City of Belgrade – City Administration of the City of Belgrade, Secretariat for Environmental Protection (2012-2014).
48. Detailed regulation plan for infrastructure wind park complex “Nikine Vode” in Plavna, Negotin Municipality. Contracting party: Company “VAT energija” Novi Sad, 2013.
49. Several strategic environmental assessments for spatial and urban plans
50. Several environmental impact assessment studies for particular objects and projects
In the course of teaching and scientific research, the Faculty cooperates with many scientific institutes, related faculties and other institutions: the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijic”, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA) in Belgrade, Military Geographical Institute, the Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia (IAUS), the Yugoslav Institute for Urban Development and Housing (JUGINUS), the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Geokarta in Belgrade, PUC “Gradsko Zelenilo Beograd” and others. In the area of teaching the Faculty traditionally cooperates with the faculties of the University of Belgrade (of Architecture, Biology, Forestry, Law, Medicine, Agriculture, Transport and Traffic Engineering and others), but also with the faculties of sciences in Novi Sad, Pristina (temporarily located at Kosovska Mitrovica), Nis, Banjaluka and Eastern Sarajevo.
The Faculty of Geography – University of Belgrade has organized, independently or in cooperation with other institutions, numerous international and domestic scientific gatherings, conferences, congresses and symposiums.
1. First Yugoslav Geographical Congress, Belgrade, spring 1927
2. 100th anniversary of the birth of Jovan Cvijic. Belgrade, 12-16 October, 1965
3. Environment and Man, Belgrade, 1973
4. Geography and Tourism Practice. Bukovicka spa, 28-29, October, 1973
5. Development Issues of Our Mountains and Mountain Villages, Belgrade, 1974
6. 10th Yugoslav Geographical Congress. Belgrade, 15-20 September, 1976
7. Development and Application of Geographic Science in Serbia during the last nine decades. 10- 11 October 1984, Belgrade
8. Geographical Issues of Border Regions of Our Country. Vranje, 1987
9. The Fourth Congress of Yugoslav Geomorphologists. Pirot, 20-23 June
10. Geographical Issues of Border Regions of Serbia, Negotin, 1990
11. Geographical Issues of Border Regions of Serbia, Zajecar, 1992
12. Contemporary Problems of Geography Teaching, Herceg Novi, 4-5 February 1993
13. Geographical Issues of Border Regions of Serbia, Belgrade, 1994
14. Theoretical and Methodological Issues of Geography Teaching. Herceg Novi, May 1996
15. GIS – current situation and perspectives. Belgrade, 14-15 March 1996 (First Yugoslav congress on GIS technologies)
16. Social and Geographical Processes in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and their Educational Actualization. Herceg Novi, 1999
17. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic, November 2001
18. 14th Yugoslav Geographical Congress. Belgrade, 20-24 September 2001
19. Modern Tendencies in Cartography), Belgrade, October 2001
20. Revitalization Issues of Border Regions of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Srpska, Belgrade, 2002
21. Belgrade and its Region. Obrenovac, 2003
22. Decentralization, Local government and Spatial Planning, Belgrade, October 31 – November 2, 2002 (seminar)
23. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic, 16-18 October 2003
24. Local Government in Planning and Development of Space and Settlements, Zlatibor, May 2004
25. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic, April 2005
26. Serbia and Modern Processes in Europe and the World, Tara, 26-27 May, 2005
27. The First Congress of Serbian Geographers. Sokobanja, 19-22 September 2006
28. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic, April 2007
29. Serbia and the Republic of Srpska in Regional and Global processes, Banja Luka, 200.
30. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic, April 2009
31. Local Government in Planning and Development of Space and Settlements, Ivanjica, may 2010
32. Geographical Research and Cross-Border Cooperation within the Lower Basin of the Danube, Craiova, September 23-26, Romania, 2010
33. An international scientific meeting / Territorial Aspects of Development of Serbia
and Neighbouring Countries. Divcibare, 29-30 October 2010
34. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic, April 2011
35. The Third Congress of Serbian Geographers. Banjaluka, 12-13 October 2011
36. Local Government in Planning and Development of Space and Settlements, Zlatibor, March 2012
37. Geographical Research and Cross-Border Cooperation within the Lower Basin of the Danube, Eger, September 20-23, Hungary, 2012.
38. Problems and Challenges of Contemporary Geographic Science and Teaching), Brzece, Kopaonik, December 2012
39. Problems and Practice of Tourism development – on the 50th anniversary of tourism in Serbia, November 30 – December 1, Belgrade, 2012
40. Planned and Normative Protection of Space and Environment, Subotica- Palic 2013.
Information technologies have become an integral part of all activities at the Faculty, and considering the complexity of scientific research and the manner of teaching process, the information and telecommunication infrastructure of the Faculty has become one of the most complex infrastructures at Belgrade University. Early in 1997 one of the first internet/intranet web applications was launched with the possibility of distribution of vectoral maps via internet by using web browsers. That was undoubtedly the first such application in Serbia.
In 2000 a modern computer lab with thirty computers was donated to the Faculty of Geography by Public Company “PTT Srbija”, which provided technical conditions for better engagement in the area of Geographical Information System (GIS). The lab supports the scientific research that requires GIS and it is part of the teaching process as well. ICT lessons and GIS lessons are conducted there for students of undergraduate, masters and doctoral studies of the Faculty of Geography.
In cooperation with the Assembly of the City of Belgrade the Faculty has organized numerous courses for the city authorities and public companies founded by the City of Belgrade. These courses ranged from basic computer using courses to advanced courses of GIS technology.
Having identified the Faculty of Geography as a serious partner, with great scientific and educational capacities, large world software companies such as Microsoft, Oracle and Intergraph established cooperation and donated valuable software to the Faculty. With these donations, the Faculty got a possibility of making the students acquainted with the most recent trends in the software industry. Furthermore, specialized courses for data bases organized according to the methodology of Oracle company prepare the students for obtaining worldwide recognized industrial certificates in the area of information technologies. All this has qualified the computer lab to take part in relevant GIS projects such as “Establishing GIS Service of Belgrade Waterworks” and forming a GIS data base that will be used in managing public transportation system in Belgrade. Staying up-to-date, the Faculty has been involved in remote sensing, satellite imagery analysis and finding new applications for LIDAR technology in geography, spatial planning and the environment.
International cooperation
The Faculty of Geography has close cooperation with numerous universities in Serbia and abroad, with various institutions in need of the findings of our studies and their application. International cooperation was established when Jovan Cvijic defended his doctoral thesis in Vienna and has existed since the Geographical Institute was founded in Belgrade. It has been intensified recently and is based on participation in international projects, joint scientific research, partnership through academic networks, students’ mobility, our teachers as visiting professors and lecturers at domestic and foreign universities. The experts from European countries have also visited our Faculty and given lectures for academic staff and students. The intensity of this cooperation was highly dependant on the current social and political situation. During the last decade, the intensity of international cooperation has increased due to various activities and the Faculty has signed cooperation agreements with numerous universities both in Serbia and abroad.
1. Protocol on cooperation with the French Institute for Urban Planning, Paris, 2002-2006
2. Protocol on cooperation with the Faculty of Science in Banjaluka – signed in 1997
3. Protocol on cooperation with the University in Trieste, 1998
4. Protocol on cooperation with the University in Athens, 1998
5. Protocol on cooperation with DATAR – signed for the period 2002-2006
6. Naval Hydrographic Institute, Lepetane – Kumbor – signed in 2003
7. The Faculty of Architecture, the Slovak University of Technology – signed in 2004
8. Protocol on cooperation with TUW, Vienna – signed in 2005
9. International Cooperation Agreement in the Area of University Teaching and Scientific Research with the University in Eastern Sarajevo
10. Cooperation Agreement with the Faculty of Geology and Geography , University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria, signed on February 9, 2009
11. Cooperation Agreement with the Institute of Geography, University of Bamberg, Germany – signed on June 19, 2009
12. Cooperation Agreement with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Institute of Geography, University “St. Kiril and Metodij”, Skopje (Republic of Macedonia) – October 28, 2009
13. Cooperation Agreement with the Faculty of Geography, Moscow State University, Moscow (Russia) – signed on December 12, 2009
14. Agreement on Business and Technical cooperation with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) from Vienna (Austria) – signed on December 19, 2010
15. Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with the Department of Human Geography, Faculty of Humanities, Koper – signed in December 2010
16. Cooperation Agreement with the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria, Sofia – signed on March 14, 2011
17. Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with the University of Ljubljana 2008- 2010
18. Cooperation Agreement with the Association of European Schools of Planning, AESOP, signed in 2001
19. Contract with the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Ljubljana to publish an internationally important monograph “Challenges of Spatial Development of Ljubljana and Belgrade”
20. Cooperation Agreement with the Faculty of Sciences in Banjaluka, signed on October 21, 2011
21. Cooperation Agreement with the University of Craiova – Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Geography (Romania) – signed on March 7, 2013