Awareness of the potential threat posed by drought necessitates the implementation of appropriate procedures to enable effective and systematic actions aimed at mitigating, or at least partially limiting, the impacts of drought events. This paper seeks to analyze the spatial and temporal changes of atmospheric drought in the period 1961–2020 and assesses drought hazards in southwest Bulgaria, which is a region susceptible to periodic water shortages. In this study, the standardized precipitation evaporation index (SPEI), accounting for both precipitation and temperature changes, was used to analyze drought characteristics. The analysis reveals significant temporal changes and spatial differences in drought patterns across southwest Bulgaria. The northeastern part of the region, including the Sofia district, exhibits the lowest risk of drought, while the central part of the region shows a tendency toward moderate and occasional low drought events. Some stations, particularly in the southern part of the region, consistently experienced more severe drought conditions (Blagoevgrad and Sandanski), as indicated by negative SPEI values in different time scales (3, 6, and 12 months). Results indicate an increased frequency of droughts during 1990–2020 compared to 1961–1990, which was driven by climate change and human activities. Across all stations and in both SPEI time scales, the period from the early to mid-1990s was characterized by significant droughts. The study of drought hazards using short-term and long-term SPEI analysis reveals different levels of drought risk and increased hazard from the northern to southern parts of the study area. The share of areas with a high drought hazard exceeds 40% of the territory in the areas with a transitional and continental-Mediterranean climate. Based on the results, the paper highlights the need to integrate drought risk assessments with regional planning to improve agricultural resilience and water resource management in response to anticipated droughts, especially in drought-prone areas such as southwest Bulgaria.

The present study is focused on examining the changes of key weather parameters using detailed daily data for the period 1985-2021 in an area of interest situated in Rila mountain in Bulgaria which is a territory that is prone to wildfires. Using this long-term horizon, the research defines the main climate factor trends and relates them with real events of wildfires by using the Angström index and statistical methods with focus on outlining specific weather conditions that indicate fire risk. As a result, the Angström index was proven to be a reliable source for determining the potential weather conditions for fire occurrence in the area of interest, part of protected area BG0000496 Rilski manastir. Low relative humidity was identified as the main factor influencing fire occurrence in the reviewed real wildfire events. Specific range and behavior of the key weather parameters, influencing wildfire occurrence were detected. These findings could be a good source of information when elaborating a forest fire prevention system and may help for appropriate prioritization of factors and management of resources.

A specific feature of the period of transition in Bulgaria in the field of urban planning is that a large part of the newly developed urbanized territories was transformed from their previous purpose (mainly agricultural lands) via detailed urban plans that were very fragmented. When changing the purpose of the land in this way, the procedure is significantly easier than with an Urban master plan, but this leads to many negatives. Thus, the territory becomes significantly fragmented when it comes to the purpose of the properties. This leads to environmental consequences that are overlooked by the officials in charge. One such example is the basis of our present study - the attempt to destroy the Boyana Marsh so that the land can be used for building a residential complex. In this study we examine the application and integration of various types of geospatial technologies for the purpose of land use change detection and monitoring of endangered territories that should be protected. We examine the processes of collecting primary historical spatial data and their combination with two UAV field surveys carried out specifically for this purpose. Based on the collected data, specific analyzes of the affected territories were made. The data and all results are presented in a web application that aims to promote the case study and help garner wider public support for the initiative “Save the Boyana Marsh”.

The present research investigates the possibilities of the available online resources and GIS analytic tools to facilitate integrating the spatial context in urban and regional planning by testing a GIS-based location analysis that uses widely available data for identifying an appropriate site for National Children’s hospital in Bulgaria. The elaborated methodology is easy to use, employs accessible online resources, and could be applied in different scales. The aim is to produce a comprehensible instrument that could be adopted by public authorities and used for informed political decision-making. A series of geospatial analyses are used to evaluate the potential location and its alternatives based on transport accessibility, population density in the service area, and public transport connectivity. The analyses are based on the online resources of Google Maps that are used to evaluate the transport accessibility to all the possible locations using different perspectives. The pedestrian access to public transport is also calculated to assess the different modes of transport available. To assess the locations according to the transport accessibility of the population, tools from ArcGIS Pro Network analyst are used. Accessibility is considered from the patient's perspective. The results are analyzed to make a supposition of the alternatives and to come up with a conclusion about whether the already chosen location is a sensible choice from a transport accessibility perspective. The outcomes of the research could help policymakers understand some of the spatial complexities associated with the demand and the accessibility dimensions of healthcare access. The article emphasizes the significance of integrating the spatial context in urban and regional planning and the possibilities of the new technologies to facilitate that task. This methodology for location analysis could be also used for other public services and urban-related matters.

In the context of dynamic environmental changes, accurate geospatial information is fundamental for evidence-based decision-making in land-use planning. As urban areas undergo rapid structural transformations, characterizing their spatial morphology becomes essential for assessing ecosystem conditions and identifying pressure points within the urban–rural gradient. Drawing on the indicators for ecosystem condition and pressure recommended by the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services (MAES) framework, reflecting their trends, this study presents a methodology for comprehensive geospatial mapping of urban and peri-urban morphology, using the Functional Urban Area (FUA) of Burgas, Bulgaria, as a case study. The approach enables multi-scale spatial analysis (regional and local), integrates the structure and functions of urban ecosystems, and reveals the spatial heterogeneity of complex socio-economic systems. At the regional level, ecosystems within the FUA were identified using the national land-use/land-cover database. At the local level, within the city of Burgas, urban morphology was classified by combining building and land-cover types into 14 distinct urban morphological zones (local climate zones—LCZs) using high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based orthophotos. This precise spatial data allowed for a detailed assessment of the balance between pervious and impervious surfaces within each LCZ. By integrating Google Earth Engine (GEE) data, the appropriate conditions and pressure indicators in the case study are assessed. Regional ecosystem pressure is effectively captured through the spatial distribution of the Final Pressure Index (IPr). Concurrently, the Urban Ecosystem Performance Index (UEPI) highlights sharp spatial polarization, with critical stress concentrated in the industrial and port zones of the urban core. The results provide policy-makers and stakeholders with critical insights into current pressures and environmental changes in urban and peri-urban ecosystems, offering a robust foundation for evidence-based management and climate change adaptation strategies.