Institute of Geography

Uncovering the Associations between Human Big Five Personality Traits and Built Environment Characteristics from Street View Imagery

Human–environment interactions, a classic topic in geography, suggest that individuals and their environments might shape each other. Yet the specific mechanisms underlying these interactions regarding human personality traits have not been explored. This study examines the assoc...

Mechanical properties and fracture failure characteristics of fractured limestone under coupled freeze-thaw and cyclic loading

<title>Abstract</title> The Central Asian Orogenic Belt possesses abundant mineral resources. As mining activities extend into high-altitude cold regions, the safety and stability of rock engineering projects, such as open-pit mine slopes, have become increasingly prominent. This...

Casting light on the workings of illegal fishing markets

About 3.5 million fishing vessels ply the world’s oceans, providing livelihoods and food for millions of people. Sound management is key to fisheries’ sustainability, but illegal fishing, along with fishing overcapacity generally and environmental change, are putting many fisheri...

Ensuring Sustainable Development in Arid Regions: Assessing Sustainability Thresholds and Investment Needs in Western Kazakhstan

Western Kazakhstan is one of the most climate-vulnerable macro-regions in Central Asia. Intensifying aridification, acute water scarcity, and active land degradation are already undermining its ecosystems and an economy built heavily on oil and gas. Yet investment in the region i...

Improved forecasting of spring flood volume and low-flow discharge in the Buktyrma river (Kazakhstan) using hydrometeorological and soil–water indicators

Abstract Accurate forecasting of spring flood volume and low-flow discharge is essential for water resources management and flood risk mitigation, particularly in mountain basins with snow-dominated hydrology. This study proposes an enhanced statistical approach to predict these...