Mateja Breg Valjavec, PhD
Assistant to the Chief Executive
Head of the Department of Geographic Information Systems
+386 1 4706 541
+386 1 425 52 53
mateja.breg@zrc-sazu.si
Research interests
Education
B. Sc. in Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, 2005
Ph. D. in Karstology, Graduate school, University of Nova Gorica, Slovenia
Research fields
- physical geography, geomorphology, karst, dolines, sediments, vegetation
- land degradation, human impacts, protection of karst, bioindication
- geoinformatics, GIS, remote sensing, Lidar, digital terrain model, electrical resistivity tomography
- geodiversity, geoheritage, geotourism
Other activities
- Head of the Scientific Committee; Symposium on Geographical Information Systems in Slovenia (2022–)
- Member of Editorial Board, Acta Geographica Slovenica (2019)
- Member of Editorial Board, Geography of Slovenia Book Series (2013 –)
- Deputy Member of the Statistical advisory committee of the statistic of natural resources and environment, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (2008 –)
- Member of the International Scientific Committee; European SCGIS Conference 2016
- Member of the International Scientific Committee; Natural Hazards 2018
- Member of the national board of Geomorphological Society of Slovenia (2019–)
Presentations:
- Bioindication of human-induced land degradation in potential karstic microrefugia. Plenary lecture: IGU thematic conference, Koper 2019.
- Karst depressions : geoheritage hotspots on karst surface. Karst hydrogeology - research trends and applications. 27th International Karstological School "Classical Karst", Postojna 2019.
- Recognising karst geodiversity using LIDAR data : case study of doline. Naučni skup 125 godina od publikovanja monografije Das Karstphänomen Jovana Cvijića. Beograd 2018.
- Interpretation model of karst geoheritage in Dinaric Karst. Geotrends. Wrocław 2017.
- Changing river courses and national borders. Geobalcancia Conference, Skopje 2017.
- Modeling of habitat types in karst landscape with high resolution satellite imagery and digital terrain model. 36th International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, Berlin 2015.
- Applicability of historical aerial photographs in landscape change studies on Isonzo Front. (Re)discovering the Great War : multidisciplinary research of modern conflicts : Ljubljana - Kobarid 2015.
- Detection of filled dolines by 3D surface modelling. Karst forms and processes, 20th International Karstological School "Classical Karst", Postojna 2012.
Recognitions and awards
Award »Exellent in Science 2023« (Slovenian Research And Innovation Agency)
Award "Excellent trainee" (International UNESCO Centre for Karst Research,Guilin, China, 2018).of UNESCO, Guilin, China, November 2018)
Melik Award for young scientist (Slovenian Association of Geographers, 2015)
Selected publications
- Breg Valjavec, M., Čarni, A., Žlindra, D., Zorn, M., Marinšek, A. 2022: Soil organic carbon stock capacity in karst dolines under different land uses. Catena 218.
- Breg Valjavec, M., Dunato Pejnović, N., Draženović, M., Čonč, Š., Polajnar Horvat, K., 2022: The transboundary approach to landscape geointerpretation : challenges in interpretive planning and geoconservation. Geoheritage 14/4,
- Čarni, A., Čonč, Š., Breg Valjavec, M., 2022. Landform-vegetation units in karstic depressions (dolines) evaluated by indicator plant species and Ellenberg indicator values. Ecological indicators 135.
- Čonč, Š., Oliveira, T., Belotti, E., Bufka, L., Černe, R., Heurich, M., Breg Valjavec, M., Krofel, M., 2024: Revealing functional responses in habitat selection of rocky features and rugged terrain by Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) using LiDAR data. Landscape ecology 39.
- Čahojová, L., Breg Valjavec, M. Jakob, A, , Čarni, A. Response of vulnerable karst forest ecosystems under different fire severities in the Northern Dinaric Karst mountains (Slovenia). Fire ecology 20.
- Breg Valjavec, M., Zorn, M., Čarni, A., 2018: Bioindication of human-induced soil degradation in enclosed karst depressions (dolines) using Ellenberg indicator values (Classical Karst, Slovenia). Science of the total environment 640/641.
- Breg Valjavec, M., 2014: Study of filled dolines by using 3D stereo image processing and electrical resistivity imaging. International journal of speleology 43. Florida.
- Breg Valjavec, M., 2012: Geoinformatic methods for the detection of former waste disposal sites in karstic and nonkarstic regions : (case study of dolines and gravel pits): dissertation. Nova Gorica.
Graphical summary of the article awarded the Excellent in Science award:
Selected projects
Connectivity concept in karst: the doline-cave coupling in the context of human impacts (September 1, 2020 - August 31, 2023)
Integrative crossborder conservation of Natura 2000 plant species and their habitats (INTERREG • April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2026)
Innovative ecosystem-based plan to adapt to climate change in the Karst. Promoting Fire-resilient forestry supported by Industry 5.0 (INTERREG • April 15, 2024 - April 14, 2026)
Preservation and valorisation of the natural and cultural heritage and development of sustainable tourism in the cross-boarder carst landscape (INTERREG • September 1, 2017 - February 29, 2020)
INCOME - Improved management of contaminated aquifers by integration of source tracking, monitoring tools and decision strategies (applied project • January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012)
Remote sensing of landfills (postdoctoral research project • October 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015)
Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2021)
Integrative crossborder conservation of Natura 2000 plant species and their habitats (INTERREG • April 1, 2024 - September 30, 2026)
Innovative ecosystem-based plan to adapt to climate change in the Karst. Promoting Fire-resilient forestry supported by Industry 5.0 (INTERREG • April 15, 2024 - April 14, 2026)
Preservation and valorisation of the natural and cultural heritage and development of sustainable tourism in the cross-boarder carst landscape (INTERREG • September 1, 2017 - February 29, 2020)
INCOME - Improved management of contaminated aquifers by integration of source tracking, monitoring tools and decision strategies (applied project • January 1, 2009 - June 30, 2012)
Remote sensing of landfills (postdoctoral research project • October 1, 2013 - June 30, 2015)
Geography of Slovenia - national research programme (research programme • January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2021)