Dimitra Vagiona

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | AUTH · Department of Spatial Planning and Development Engineering

The task of combining objectives, spatial planning instruments, and climate change adaptation targets is a complex endeavour that varies across countries. There is a call for a universal discussion on how spatial planning should respond to climate change challenges. To address this issue, this article delves into the approaches taken by Greece, Spa...

Solar energy is one of the leading renewable energy sources in terms of installed power capacity on a global scale. Scientific research on the site-selection procedures of solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies is of significant importance, contributing to environmentally sustainable, technically and economically v...

The most efficient way to reduce damage and losses in metropolitan areas with complex functions that are exposed to disaster risks is to reduce their vulnerability, which necessitates an assessment of the urban system’s vulnerability. Regarding the areas located near Seveso establishments, they are characterized by high levels of vulnerability, bot...

Site selection for wind farm projects is a vital issue that should be considered in spatial energy planning. This study explores the deployment of onshore wind farms (OWFs) in Greece and assesses their suitability and sustainability using geographic information systems and multicriteria analysis techniques (the analytical hierarchy process—AHP and...

In recent decades, the tourism industry has played an increasingly important role in countries’ national economies, although, at the same time, a lack of necessary actions has contributed to the environmental and socioeconomic degradation of several travel destinations. Nevertheless, sustainable development is achievable through planning, preventiv...

In the present paper, we introduce a decision-support framework to (a) classify and prioritize the municipalities of a country based on their suitability to host PV energy projects and (b) pinpoint and evaluate suitable technically and economically viable, as well as environmentally and socially sustainable, sites for PV installation in the most su...

The discussion of project success has expanded beyond project management and success criteria. The main cause of the failure to evaluate project performance in construction projects is the absence of a shared definition and a common set of criteria for project success. The aim of this paper is to develop a framework which includes certain success c...

The transition of nations to renewable energy sources is a fact, and the deployment of renewable energy (RE) projects has increased in the last decades. The deployment of energy projects in uninhabited islets (islands) provides a promising opportunity for low-carbon energy transition. Considering the importance of the spatial dimension of RE projec...

To address the adverse impact of climate change, the concept of low-carbon tourism has recently been developed, which promotes a new way of travelling to obtain higher value and travel experience for tourists as well as more social, economic, and environmental benefits for society by reducing carbon emissions caused by tourists’ activities. The pre...

Project success is one of the widely discussed issues inside Project Management field in the last decades. Success criteria (SC) and critical success factors (CSFs) constitute the two fundamental components of project success. The aim of this paper is the identification and evaluation of the SC as well as the CSFs in project success in theory and p...

Offshore solar energy presents a new opportunity for low-carbon energy transition. In this research, we identify and rank suitable Offshore Solar Farm (OSF) sites in the Aegean Sea, Greece, considering various constraints and assessment criteria. The methodology includes two distinct phases. In the first phase, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)...

The public acceptance of Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) is an important issue that is expected to depend highly on their site location. Public involvement in decision-making processes is recommended as it may contribute to the mitigation of opposing, delaying and even blocking OWF projects, as well as increasing future public confidence and support. Th...

This study investigated the prioritization and ranking problem of the appropriate locations at which to deploy solar photovoltaic (PV) farms. Although different Multicriteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods can be found in the literature to address this problem, a comparative analysis of those methods is missing. The aim of this study is to compare...

Wind energy has a key role to the fulfillment of the energy and Greece’s low-carbon policy targets due to multiple benefits that it provides in terms of cost-effectiveness. However, inappropriate siting may lead to uneconomic viable projects. In this work, a site selection methodological framework is developed to determine the wind farm (WF) siting...

In this work, an innovative sustainable spatial energy planning framework is developed on national scale for identifying and prioritizing appropriate, technically and economically feasible, environmentally sustainable as well as socially acceptable sites for the siting of large-scale onshore Wind Farms (WFs) and Photovoltaic Farms (PVFs) in Israel....

Wind energy has a leading role in achieving a low-carbon or completely carbon-free energy sector in the near future. Scientific research on the site-selection aspects of onshore and offshore wind farms is of great importance, contributing to sustainable, technically and economically viable, and socially acceptable wind energy projects. This systema...

The present paper focuses on the efficient development of offshore wind farms in shallow waters in Greece. An integrated spatial energy planning approach is introduced. The proposed methodology is implemented using geographic information system and Statistical Design Institute software and applied at the national spatial planning scale. It consists...

In the present article, a new methodological framework for the efficient and sustainable exploitation of offshore wind potential was developed. The proposed integrated strategic plan was implemented for the first time at national spatial planning scale in Greece. The methodological approach is performed through geographical information systems (GIS...

The deployment of offshore wind power technologies is becoming increasingly important towards the sustainable development of regions. In Greece, wind energy is provided at the time being, only by onshore plants and the interest in investigating the top choices for offshore wind applications in terms of environmental, economic, social and technical...

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the green (from rainfall) and blue (from irrigation) evapotranspiration of the most widespread crops (olives, citrus, soft and hard wheat, watermelons/melons, barley, grapes, vegetables, winter/summer and spring potatoes, fodder crops, rest annual crops) in the geographical area of Rhodes island. While the soils...

The distance between theory and practice in the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) process is particularly noticeable. The development of an integrated, comprehensive and systematic approach guided by the related literature is considered to be an ideal condition for enhancing the value of SEA and increasing its effectiveness. The aim of the p...

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the water footprints (WFs) of all the main crops on Rhodes island at a municipal unit (MU) scale, as well as for the area of the island as a whole. WF estimations are made with a distinction of rainfed and irrigated crops, using CROPWAT 8.0. Rainfed crops and the drip irrigation method are predominant in the stu...

Project success criteria are dependent variables that measure the successful outcome of a project, while project success factors are the independent elements of a project that can increase the likelihood of success. In other words, success criteria are used to measure success whilst success factors facilitate the achievement of success. The purpose...

The environmental degradation, because of various factors, such as climate change, human activities, increase of population globally, etc. have brought on pressures on the fresh water supplies that vary on time and space. Consequently, economic, environmental, and social tools have emerged known as footprints, in an effort to examine and measure th...

This paper presents a methodological framework for evaluating marine areas in Greece for the purpose of identifying the most adequate sites for Hybrid Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Systems (HOWiWaES), with special focus on the HOWiWaES’ environmental impact assessment evaluation. Nine evaluation criteria that reflect various environmental, economic...

Since wind power is one of the most promising sources of Renewable Energy (RES), the number of wind farms installed around the worldis constantly increasing. The aim of this paper is to develop a mechanism for determining and evaluating the suitability of areas for sitingwind farms, using a combination of Multi-criteria Data Analysis and Geographic...

The present research study develops and implements an integrated methodology for the evaluation and prioritization of appropriate sites for sustainable offshore wind-farm development at a regional level. The methodological framework includes the application of several siting criteria (technical, spatial, economic, social and environmental) proposed...

Strategy is distinguished as a widely discussed issue inside the scientific world. Strategic Planning constitutes an appropriate and systematic method of strategy formulation and implementation. Characteristic models of Strategic Planning are initially presented in this paper in order to analyze the characteristics and differentiations in different...

The deployment of Hybrid Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Systems (HOWiWaES) towards the simultaneous exploitation of the corresponding offshore renewable energy sources, may efficiently address the common challenge of the offshore wind and the wave energy sector to reduce their costs, with multiple additional benefits. A prerequisite at an early stag...

Tourism in Greece is one of the main economic inflows of the country. Moreover, within the recent period of economic crisis, tourism development should be considered and planned with great attention in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. The main aim of this paper is to identify and implement an appropriate set of tourism indicators for th...

Geography and energy are two major scientific fields. From one side Geography is the science which answers fundamental questions of spatial behavior of all environmental and human phenomenon and from the other side energy is actually the «fuel» of economic and social development for many countries and regions especially after industrial revolution....

The main aim of the current investigation is the application of the twelve-step strategic planning model to a country-specific example, namely, Greece. Initially, the model is described on a company level, and its terms are then adapted to the national level. A brief analysis of Greek economic situation is also given. The application of the twelve-...

There is a recent interest in the way heuristic factors affect the flow of decision-making and the contribution of Social Psychology discipline is considered as a necessary field to evaluate the usage of communicative rationality. The implications of complexity and uncertainty in the modern society affect participatory urban planning nowadays. Our...

The aim of this research is to provide a common methodology for setting environmental performance (EP) values in various projects/activities and involve public in the decision-making process. To hierarchically evaluate the contribution of every environmental component to the environment of the study area, the assessor evaluates the existing as well...

The purpose of this study is the examination of the concept of ‘Quality of Life’ as well as a thorough analysis of the relevant approaches for evaluation in an urban environment. It is a complex approach of the quality of life (Quality of Life) that is pursued, as it is combined with multi-criteria decision-making methods, for a full investigation...

The beginning of the shift of urban planning towards the creation of urban green spaces has been observed during the 20th century due to the urbanization and the degradation of the environment. The percentage of green areas for the Municipality of Thessaloniki reaches 2.19 m(2)/prs. Therefore, the need for more green spaces despite their size is ma...

The monitoring of an appropriate indicator set may provide useful directions and guidelines in order to assure a harmonious co–existence of tourism activities and ecological processes in protected areas. However, when developing a synthetic indicator there is always a balance to be struck between ease/cost of measurement and policy significance. Th...

This study examines the evaluation of Urban Quality of Life focusing on the subjective dimension, investigating individual and urban factors, to represent the spatial variability of life satisfaction and overall well-being. Moreover, objective indicators are identified and suggested for the assessment of Qol through a quantitative approach. KEYWO...

The island of Rhodes is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece. However, the lack of tourism development planning has led to an overexploitation of resources and to gradual environmental degradation. The aim of this paper is to present a set of proposals concerning the sustainable development of the island. A general analysis of the...

This study aims to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) based methodology for managing and analyzing Road Traffic Accident Data in Greece, in order to resolve the current data management problems, and to support the decision making process, in the field of Road Safety. In Greece, Road accident data are being collected by many different ent...

Biofuels represent a possibility to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the transport sector. In this context the sustainability of biofuels, especially so called 1 st generation biofuels led to controversial discussions in the past. Biofuels from waste and residues represent a well suited but quantitative limited alternative due to their...

Wind energy offers significant potential for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Most applications have been developed onshore but the planning and siting conflicts with other land uses have created considerable interest and motivated research to offshore wind energy establishments. In this paper, a systematic methodology in order to investigate t...

The aim of the present paper is to investigate the feasibility and the type of method for oil production in the offshore area of Katakolo in western Greece. The strategic development of oil production analyzed herein is based on the following five factors: (1) social conditions of the area, (2) geological- geophysical conditions and oil deposit, (3...

EXTENDED ABSTRACT Urbanization is steadily increasing and many cities worldwide are becoming less able to accommodate the growing population. Many problems such as congestion, pollution, low-quality housing, social fragmentation, noise, inadequate infrastructures contribute to a declining quality of life. The main objective of the sustainable city...

Tourism constitutes one of the largest and rapidly growing industries in the world and meanwhile it represents one increasingly important source of income. The first attempts to develop the tourism sector in Greece were performed almost one million years ago and special attention was attributed to the largest islands with historical value and an ad...

This paper surveys the main issues in literature on real estate market and environment. The real estate business is one of the basic economic sectors in the world. However, it is worldwide accepted that the real estate market is affected and formed not only by economic and productive factors, but, also, by various qualitative characteristics of the...

The renewable energy resources are internationally recognized as a way towards sustainability and independency from fuel oils. European Union has given some directions about the percentage of demanding energy that must be covered by renewable energy resources. The exploitation of renewable energy resources is necessary in order to achieve the energ...

Efforts to satisfy increasing demand have often been concentrated principally on constructing new water systems, thus increasing the supply of water. The relationship between water abstraction and water availability has turned into a major stress factor in the exploitation of water resources. There is a wide recognition nowadays that there is a nee...

Infectious diseases continue to be an important public health problem world-wide. The cost of outbreaks in developing countries is predominantly one of human misery with death being all too common. In developed countries also, they carry with them a substantial cost in economic, as well as sociological, terms. Access to sufficient water and food of...

Water management has been the focus of research, not only because of water scarcity, but also as a result of its sharing across national boundaries. Approximately 40% of the global population lives in tranboundary water basins, shared by more than one country, emphasizing the need for concerted management of transboundary water bodies and harmoniza...

The present paper presents the main results of a research project. It deals with consumers' perception of water issues in the industrial sector, and examines and analyses water use patterns, water conservation methods and water pricing issues. Issues presented are the contribution of water to production processes, water consumption levels, water co...

The prevalence and diversity of Salmonella spp., filamentous fungi, and yeasts and their correlation with fecal pollution indicators (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, enterococci) and total heterotrophic bacteria counts were investigated in 95 water samples from the northern Greek rivers Aliakmon and Axios. Salmonella spp. were isolated in 27.4% o...