Land | August 2024 - Browse Articles

25 pages, 2952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecosystem Health Assessment of the Manas River Basin: Application of the CC-PSR Model Improved by Coupling Coordination Degree

by Ruiming Xiao, Yuxuan Qiao, Xiaobin Dong, Huize Ren, Xuechao Wang, Peng Zhang, Qiaoru Ye and Xiaomin Xiao

Land 2024, 13(8), 1336; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081336 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 681

Abstract

In the context of high-quality development, scientifically and objectively assessing regional ecosystem health (EH) is important for ecological civilization. However, the commonly used EH assessment framework typically neglects intrinsic connections, mutual adaptability, and coordination among interrelated indicators. The coupling coordination model was utilized [...] Read more.

In the context of high-quality development, scientifically and objectively assessing regional ecosystem health (EH) is important for ecological civilization. However, the commonly used EH assessment framework typically neglects intrinsic connections, mutual adaptability, and coordination among interrelated indicators. The coupling coordination model was utilized to improve the classic pressure–state–response assessment (PSR) model. The carbon footprint, water footprint, landscape pattern, and response status of the Manas River Basin were used to construct a medium-scale regional EH assessment framework linking natural ecosystems with human socioeconomic elements. A quantitative assessment was conducted on the EH conditions of the Manas River Basin from 2000 to 2020. Over the past 21 years, the EH conditions of the Manas River Basin have fluctuated upward. The ecosystem health index (EHI) increased from 0.18 to 0.37. Compared with the conventional PSR model, the coupling coordination pressure–state–response model (CC–PSR) better reflected the fluctuations in EH conditions caused by “pressure”, “state”, and “response” level changes. In the early stage (2000–2006), increasing human activity strongly pressured the regional ecosystem, limiting EH improvements. The increase in “pressure” was reflected in the increasing trends of the water footprint, carbon footprint, and ecological footprint. During the middle to late period (2009–2020), as the “response” level improved, the regional EH condition continued to increase, and the EHI stabilized between 0.29 and 0.38. Ecosystem resilience improvements and human afforestation projects enhanced the “response” level, but their impacts were noticeably delayed. Over the past 21 years, regional landscape diversity, landscape connectance, and landscape contagion have remained high. The well-maintained landscape pattern has laid the foundation for consolidating and improving the regional EH. The EHI is increasing; its fluctuations stem from periodic fluctuations in the regional water yield and carbon sequestration capacity, which are constrained by the basin climate and vegetation coverage. This study provides a scientific model for basin EH assessment. Full article

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19 pages, 5970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Land Use Structure Based on the Coupling of GMOP and PLUS Models: A Case Study of Lvliang City, China

by Zhen Wang, Anya Zhong and Quanzhi Li

Land 2024, 13(8), 1335; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081335 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 773

Abstract

Reasonable land use planning and management efficiently allocates land resources, promotes socio-economic development, protects the ecological environment, and fosters sustainable development. It is a crucial foundation for achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Optimizing land use is key to land use planning [...] Read more.

Reasonable land use planning and management efficiently allocates land resources, promotes socio-economic development, protects the ecological environment, and fosters sustainable development. It is a crucial foundation for achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Optimizing land use is key to land use planning and management. Four scenarios are established: an economic development scenario (EDS), an ecological protection scenario (EPS), a natural development scenario (NDS), and a coordinated development scenario (CDS). This study simulates land use patterns under these scenarios through the coupling of the GMOP and PLUS models. It analyzes the land use efficiency transformation index, landscape ecological index, comprehensive land use benefits, and ecosystem service value (ESV) for each pattern. The optimal land use pattern is determined by balancing these factors. The results indicated that under the CDS, the areas of wasteland, grassland, forest land, water bodies, construction land, and unused land in Lvliang City were 6724.29 km², 6664.74 km², 6581.84 km², 126.94 km², 1017.33 km², and 0.42 km², respectively. This represented the optimal land use plan for Lvliang City. The plan minimized human interference with the landscape pattern, achieved the highest land use efficiency transformation index, and reached a reasonable balance between land use benefits and ESV. The research findings provide valuable insights and decision support for regional land use planning, territorial space planning, and related policy formulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applying Earth Observation Data for Urban Land-Use Change Mapping)

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20 pages, 2856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pursuing Urban Sustainability in Dynamic Balance Based on the DPSIR Framework: Evidence from Six Chinese Cities

by Xueying Yang, Zhongqi Yang, Lili Quan and Bin Xue

Land 2024, 13(8), 1334; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081334 - 22 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 624

Abstract

Amidst the mounting global challenges associated with climate change and resource depletion, achieving sustainable development is paramount. Focusing on cities as vital scenarios for pursuing sustainability, this research measured urban sustainability and identified its obstacles. Employing the DPSIR (Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response) framework, we establish a [...] Read more.

Amidst the mounting global challenges associated with climate change and resource depletion, achieving sustainable development is paramount. Focusing on cities as vital scenarios for pursuing sustainability, this research measured urban sustainability and identified its obstacles. Employing the DPSIR (Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response) framework, we establish a metric system with 25 indicators to assess the urban sustainability of six innovation zones in China and identify their developmental impediments to sustainability with an obstacle model. The core findings of the study are as follows: First, over the five-year period, all six cities demonstrated a consistent increase in their urban sustainability levels except for Shenzhen, which experienced a decline from its top position among these cities due to a decrease in its score from 0.44296 to 0.36942 in 2017. Second, there was consistent urban sustainability progress in five cities, with the exception of Shenzhen, from 2016 to 2020. Third, inadequate government response emerges as a primary obstacle across all six cities, marked by shortcomings in public expenditure, R&D investment, and healthcare. Every year, all six cities experienced more than 60% obstacle degrees in terms of response, with the exception of Shenzhen in 2016. The urban sustainability pursuit model we developed bridges urban sustainability theory with practical interventions, promoting adaptive governance. In addition, this study provides scholars and policymakers with a comprehensive approach to gauging urban sustainability, recognizing obstacles, and designing strategies for a sustainable urban future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Development of Urban-Rural System and Sustainable Land Management)

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13 pages, 3014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Dynamics in Bird Species Assembly in the Coastal Wetlands of Sicily (Italy): A Multilevel Analytical Approach to Promote More Satisfactory Conservation Planning

by Alessandro Ferrarini, Claudio Celada and Marco Gustin

Land 2024, 13(8), 1333; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081333 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 679

Abstract

The Sicilian wetlands (Italy) are seriously threatened by human activities and ongoing climate change. The loss of these wetlands as migratory stepping stones could severely hamper the migratory flow of many bird species along the central Mediterranean. Targeted actions for the conservation of [...] Read more.

The Sicilian wetlands (Italy) are seriously threatened by human activities and ongoing climate change. The loss of these wetlands as migratory stepping stones could severely hamper the migratory flow of many bird species along the central Mediterranean. Targeted actions for the conservation of the avifauna require thorough knowledge of the utilization that waterbirds make of these habitats. Aiming to inform planning for more satisfactory bird habitat management and bird diversity preservation along the Mediterranean migratory bird flyway, in this study, we inventoried the avian metacommunity of the coastal wetlands in Sicily during the most critical period of the year (July–September) and used a multilevel analytical framework to explore the spatiotemporal dynamics in bird species assemblages. We recorded 73 bird species, of which almost 90% were migratory and 30 belonged to Annex I of the Birds Directive. At the metacommunity level, we found that all the biodiversity metrics were low in July and approximately doubled in the successive sampling sessions (August–September), where they showed little if any change. At the community level, we detected two main clusters of wetlands with regard to species richness, of which one (wetlands Baronello, Gela, Gornalunga, and Roveto) was characterized by higher levels of species richness in nearly all the sampling dates. The pattern of species richness in the Sicilian wetlands was most similar between the first and second half of August, while July was very dissimilar from all the other sampling dates. At the guild level, we found a significant increase during July–September in the number of the species belonging to the “Mediterranean” migration guild and the “divers from the surface” and “surface feeders” foraging guilds. At the species level, we detected a significant temporal sequence of the occurrence of waterbird species: two species were only early dwellers in July, ten species were only late dwellers in September, and twenty-six species made use of the Sicilian wetlands all summer long. The spatial distribution of the waterbird species differed significantly between any pair of sampling dates. Overall, the Little Grebe, the Spotted Redshank, and the Little Tern were the bird species with the highest site infidelity; by contrast, the Black Stork, the Broad-billed Sandpiper, the European Golden Plover, the Common Shelduck, and the Black-necked Grebe changed their spatial distribution among wetlands the least during July–September. Our study allowed us to detect (1) the wetlands and (2) the waterbird species to which the priority for conservation should be assigned, as well as (3) the exact time span during July–September when conservation measures should be mandatory, and not only advisable. These results provide a broader insight of the space–time patterns in bird species assembly in the coastal wetlands of Sicily during the critical summer period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing)

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23 pages, 1682 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review of Modeling Approaches at the Freshwater and Saltwater interface in Coastal Aquifers

by Mamoon Ismail, Soni M. Pradhanang, Thomas Boving, Sophia Motta, Brendan McCarron and Ashley Volk

Land 2024, 13(8), 1332; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081332 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 972

Abstract

Around 40% of the world’s population depends on coastal aquifers for freshwater supply but natural and anthropogenic drivers threaten groundwater availability. Of these drivers, saltwater intrusion (SWI) is one of the most critical and is increasingly affecting coastal areas worldwide. Interest in coastal [...] Read more.

Around 40% of the world’s population depends on coastal aquifers for freshwater supply but natural and anthropogenic drivers threaten groundwater availability. Of these drivers, saltwater intrusion (SWI) is one of the most critical and is increasingly affecting coastal areas worldwide. Interest in coastal aquifers has significantly increased, as demonstrated by the growing number of publications in which researchers describe various approaches to illuminate the importance of coastal aquifers, specifically with regard to SWI. The state of research and knowledge of the coastal SWI issue has been reviewed herein. The review includes a discussion of select geophysical and field methods and tools which can inform the numerical modeling of coastal aquifers. MODFLOW was identified as the most often used numerical modeling platform. Further, while many research sites, particularly in the United States, were identified where field studies and geophysical methods, mostly geoelectric ones, added important value to the numerical modeling of the SWI process in the coastal zone, in some regions of the world, data scarcity was identified as the main challenge. Overall, numerical modeling, combined with geophysical methods, is a valuable tool for studying SWI and managing coastal water resources. Full article

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24 pages, 21090 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Machine-Learning Models for Soil Moisture Estimation Using High-Resolution Remote-Sensing Data

by Ming Li and Yueguan Yan

Land 2024, 13(8), 1331; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081331 - 22 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1384

Abstract

Soil moisture is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and ecosystem functioning, and it has a significant impact on agricultural production, climate change and natural disasters. Despite the availability of machine-learning techniques for estimating soil moisture from high-resolution remote-sensing imagery, including synthetic [...] Read more.

Soil moisture is an important component of the hydrologic cycle and ecosystem functioning, and it has a significant impact on agricultural production, climate change and natural disasters. Despite the availability of machine-learning techniques for estimating soil moisture from high-resolution remote-sensing imagery, including synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data and optical remote sensing, comprehensive comparative studies of these techniques remain limited. This paper addresses this gap by systematically comparing the performance of four tree-based ensemble-learning models (random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM), and category boosting (CatBoost)) and three deep-learning models (deep neural network (DNN), convolutional neural network (CNN), and gated recurrent unit (GRU)) in terms of soil moisture estimation. Additionally, we introduce and evaluate the effectiveness of four different stacking methods for model fusion, an approach that is relatively novel in this context. Moreover, Sentinel-1 C-band dual-polarization SAR and Sentinel-2 multispectral data, as well as NASADEM and geographical code and temporal code features, are used as input variables to retrieve the soil moisture in the ShanDian River Basin in China. Our findings reveal that the tree-based ensemble-learning models outperform the deep-learning models, with LightGBM being the best individual model, while the stacking approach can further enhance the accuracy and robustness of soil moisture estimation. Moreover, the stacking all boosting classes ensemble-learning model (SABM), which integrates only boosting-type models, demonstrates superior accuracy and robustness in soil moisture estimation. The SHAP value analysis reveals that ensemble learning can utilize more complex features than deep learning. This study provides an effective method for retrieving soil moisture using machine-learning and high-resolution remote-sensing data, demonstrating the application value of SAR data and high-resolution optical remote-sensing data in soil moisture monitoring. Full article

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22 pages, 36205 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Scenario Analysis of Urban Vitality Driven by Socio-Ecological Land Functions in Luohe, China

by Xinyu Wang, Tian Bai, Yang Yang, Guifang Wang, Guohang Tian and László Kollányi

Land 2024, 13(8), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081330 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 639

Abstract

Urban Vitality (UV) is a critical indicator for measuring sustainable urban development and quality. It reflects the dynamic interactions and supply–demand coordination within urban systems, especially concerning the human–land relationship. This study aims to quantify the UV of Luohe City, China, for the [...] Read more.

Urban Vitality (UV) is a critical indicator for measuring sustainable urban development and quality. It reflects the dynamic interactions and supply–demand coordination within urban systems, especially concerning the human–land relationship. This study aims to quantify the UV of Luohe City, China, for the year 2023, analyze its spatial characteristics, and investigate the driving patterns of socio-ecological land functions on UV intensity and heterogeneity under different scenarios. Utilizing multi-source data, including human mobility data from Baidu Location-Based Services (LBSs), Landsat-9, MODIS, and diverse geo-information datasets, we conducted factor screening and comprehensive assessments. Firstly, Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) were employed to identify typical activity patterns, and the Urban Vitality Index (UVI) was calculated based on Human Mobility Intensity (HMI) data. Subsequently, a framework for quantity–quality–structure assessments weighted and aggregated sub-indicators to evaluate the Land Social Function (LSF) and Land Ecological Function (LEF). Following the screening process, a Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) was applied to analyze the scale and driving relationships between UVI and the land assessment sub-indicators. The results were as follows: (1) The UV distribution in Luohe City was highly uneven, with high vitality areas concentrated within the built-up regions. (2) UV showed significant correlations with both LSF and LEF. The influence of LSF on UV was stronger than that of LEF, with the effectiveness of LEF relying on the well-established provisioning of LSF. (3) Artificial Surface Ratio (ASR) and Corrected Night Lights (LERNCI) were identified as key drivers of UV across multiple scenarios. Under the weekend scenario, the Green Space Ratio (GSR) and the Vegetation Quality (VQ) notably enhanced the attractiveness of human activities. (4) The impacts of drivers varied at the urban, township, and street scales. The analysis focuses on factors with significant bandwidth changes across multiple scenarios: VQ, Remote-Sensing-based Ecological Index (RSEI), GSR, ASR, and ALSI. This study underscores the importance of socio-ecological land functions in enhancing urban vitality, offering valuable insights and data support for urban planning. Full article

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20 pages, 1671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Maize Productivity and Soil Fertility: Insights from Tillage, Nitrogen Management, and Hydrochar Applications

by Waleed Iqbal, Ahmad Khan, Aftab Jamal, Emanuele Radicetti, Mohamed Farouk Elsadek, Mohammad Ajmal Ali and Roberto Mancinelli

Land 2024, 13(8), 1329; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081329 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 780

Abstract

Enhancing soil fertility and maize productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage practices, nitrogen management strategies, and acidified hydrochar on soil fertility and maize productivity. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with split-split [...] Read more.

Enhancing soil fertility and maize productivity is crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of tillage practices, nitrogen management strategies, and acidified hydrochar on soil fertility and maize productivity. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with split-split plot arrangement and four replications. Main plots received shallow tillage and deep tillage. Subplots were treated with nitrogen (120 kg ha⁻¹) from farmyard manure (FYM) and urea, including control, 33% FYM + 67% urea (M_U), and 80% FYM + 20% urea (M_F). Acidified hydrochar treatments H₀ (no hydrochar) and H₁ (with hydrochar, 2 t ha⁻¹) were applied to sub-sub plots. Deep tillage significantly increased plant height, biological yield, grain yield, ear length, grains ear⁻¹, thousand-grain weight, and nitrogen content compared to shallow tillage. M_U and M_F improved growth parameters and yield over the control. Hydrochar effects varied; H₁ enhanced yield components and soil properties such as soil organic matter and nitrogen availability compared to H₀. Canonical discriminant analysis linked deep tillage and M_U/M_F nitrogen management with improved yield and soil characteristics. In conclusion, deep tillage combined with integrated nitrogen management enhances maize productivity and soil properties. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate tillage and nitrogen strategies for sustainable maize production along with hydrochar addition. These insights guide policymakers, agronomists, and agricultural extension services in adopting evidence-based strategies for sustainable agriculture, enhancing food production, and mitigating environmental impacts. The implication of this study suggests to undertake long-term application of hydrochar for further clarification and validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tillage Methods on Soil Properties and Crop Growth)

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22 pages, 48079 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighborhood Effects of Blue Space in Historical Environments on the Mental Health of Older Adults: A Case Study of the Ancient City of Suzhou, China

by Zihan Yang, Jianqiang Yang and Shenglan Chen

Land 2024, 13(8), 1328; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081328 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 830

Abstract

With the rapid aging of the global population, China’s old urban areas, especially historical urban areas, are facing a more severe aging situation. In the context of heritage protection, the development and regeneration of historical urban areas are restricted. They usually face the [...] Read more.

With the rapid aging of the global population, China’s old urban areas, especially historical urban areas, are facing a more severe aging situation. In the context of heritage protection, the development and regeneration of historical urban areas are restricted. They usually face the aging and decay of housing, infrastructure, and public service facilities, which are harmful neighborhood environmental factors to the health development of older adults. Since the World Health Organization adopted “healthy aging” as a development strategy to deal with population aging, the mental health of older adults has become an increasingly important public health issue. A growing body of research demonstrates the positive impact of blue spaces (including oceans, rivers, lakes, wetlands, ponds, etc.) on older adults’ mental health, yet evidence on the potential of blue spaces in a historical environment to promote mental health among older adults remains limited. Therefore, exploring the neighborhood impact of blue space on the mental health of older adults has become a new entry point to provide an age-friendly environment for older adults in the ancient city. This study uses multi-source data such as community questionnaire data, remote sensing images, urban street view images, and environmental climate data of the ancient city of Suzhou, to extract a variety of blue space quantitative indicators, and uses the hierarchical linear model and mediation effect model to explore the neighborhood impact of blue space exposure in the historical environment on older adults, to try to explore the impact path and formation mechanism behind it. The result is that exposure to neighborhood blue space in Suzhou’s historic urban area is significantly related to the mental health of older adults. Additionally, neighborhood blue space exposure improves the mental health of older adults by relieving stress and promoting physical activities and social interaction. The health effects of neighborhood blue space exposure vary among elderly groups with different age and income stratifications, and have a greater impact on the healthy lifestyle and mental health of older adults in younger and lower-income aging groups. Based on a multidisciplinary theoretical perspective, this study enriches the empirical literature on the impact of blue space on the mental health of older adults in historical environments and provides a scientific basis for the regeneration planning of “healthy neighborhoods” and “healthy aging” in historical urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Services and Residents’ Perceptions: Integrating and Innovating across Disciplinary Perspectives)

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17 pages, 3943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Water–Carbon–Ecological Footprint and Its Spatial–Temporal Changes in the North China Plain

by Keyi Lyu, Jin Tian, Jiayu Zheng, Cuiling Zhang and Ling Yu

Land 2024, 13(8), 1327; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081327 - 22 Aug 2024

Viewed by 696

Abstract

The North China Plain (NCP) serves as the main grain production land in China, functioning as a critical region for ensuring China’s food security. To address the multifaceted challenges confronting food security in the NCP, the study embarked on a comprehensive analysis of [...] Read more.

The North China Plain (NCP) serves as the main grain production land in China, functioning as a critical region for ensuring China’s food security. To address the multifaceted challenges confronting food security in the NCP, the study embarked on a comprehensive analysis of the synergistic interactions between agricultural water usage, carbon emissions, and ecosystem health. By proposing footprint family indicators and using the bottom-up IPCC coefficient approach, this study quantitatively evaluates the spatial–temporal changes of water–carbon–ecological footprints in NCP from 2003 to 2020. Furthermore, a coupling coordination degree model that focuses on the coordination of water–carbon–ecological footprints is established. The findings are as follows: (1) The total water footprint in the NCP showed a striking increasing trend with an increase of 1.52 × 10¹¹ m³, and the carbon footprint increased by 1.27 × 10⁹ t, with significant ecological impacts. (2) The NCP’s ecological footprint exhibited an “M”-shaped trend. The land structure maintained stable with negligible changes in the proportion of ecological footprints. (3) The coupling degree between the footprints of water, carbon, and ecology in the NCP is high, revealing a noteworthy interaction effect. This research can provide data support for effective resources allocation and sustainable social–economic development, offering reasonable insights for China to formulate more scientific policies of green transition in land use and ecological civilization construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Management Practices for Enhancing Ecosystem Services: Cases and Experiences)

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14 pages, 12988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Walking Tours as a Tool for Assessing Place Attachment and Community Responses to Regional Environmental Change

by Frances Simmons, Benjamin D. Hennig and Matthias Kokorsch

Land 2024, 13(8), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081326 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 952

Abstract

Understanding a community’s place attachment is vital for effective land-use planning and disaster risk management that aligns with local needs and priorities. This study examines the methodologies employed to grasp these values, emphasising the significance of meaningful participatory approaches. It sheds light on [...] Read more.

Understanding a community’s place attachment is vital for effective land-use planning and disaster risk management that aligns with local needs and priorities. This study examines the methodologies employed to grasp these values, emphasising the significance of meaningful participatory approaches. It sheds light on the challenges encountered due to COVID-19 restrictions, which prevented direct face-to-face engagement with community members. To address this issue, researchers devised “digital walking tours” as an alternative to traditional walking transect methods, aiming to investigate the relationship between place attachment and perceptions of the landscape in Patreksfjörður, a small fishing community in the Westfjords, during the pandemic. The evaluation of this method demonstrated its suitability for conducting comprehensive and cost-effective community consultations. Participants expressed enjoyment and found the technology (online video calls and StreetView imagery) user-friendly and engaging. To further enhance the method, several recommendations are proposed, including the integration of virtual tours with in-person methods whenever feasible, incorporating additional sensory input, adopting a slower pace, and offering more opportunities for participants to divert to personally significant locations. Other contextual considerations encompass the use of participants’ native language and the facilitation of digital walking tours with pairs or small groups of participants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Landscape Governance in the Age of Social Media (Second Edition))

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29 pages, 2927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Transportation Assessment Index (SusTAIN) Framework for Mixed-Use Neighborhoods in India

by Swati Bahale and Thorsten Schuetze

Land 2024, 13(8), 1325; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081325 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 677

Abstract

Neighborhood sustainability assessment (NSA) systems assess neighborhood sustainability through different themes. Most NSA systems originated from developed countries, with limitations in assessing micro-level transportation infrastructure. The NSA systems lack alignment with Indian regulations and policies and have limitations in assessing informal transportation modes, [...] Read more.

Neighborhood sustainability assessment (NSA) systems assess neighborhood sustainability through different themes. Most NSA systems originated from developed countries, with limitations in assessing micro-level transportation infrastructure. The NSA systems lack alignment with Indian regulations and policies and have limitations in assessing informal transportation modes, affordability, and street-vending-related issues. This research developed the sustainable transportation assessment index (SusTAIN) framework to assess mixed-use neighborhoods in India and overcome the limitations of NSA systems. The method was to identify and evaluate qualitative and quantitative indicators and sub-indicators from NSA systems, Indian transportation regulations and policies, and transportation system studies from the literature. Indicators were integrated into the four subthemes of (i) accessibility, (ii) mobility nodes and network, (iii) external factors associated with mobility, and (iv) land-use and socioeconomic factors’ assessment. The authors evaluated the framework through the Geographical Information System (GIS), site surveys, and benchmark values from the literature. This research demonstrated the interrelationship of indicators and the sub-indicators between them. Finally, the authors discussed the SusTAIN composite index formation method. The framework is vital for the local application of national sustainable urban development policies. The SusTAIN framework application enables local governments to evaluate the transportation sustainability of neighborhoods and identify potential optimization areas. Full article

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20 pages, 4389 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Impacts of Climate and Land Use Changes on Water Yield in the Ebinur Lake Basin

by Xinxin Yang, Xinchen Gu, Pei Zhang, Jing Liu, Wenjia Zhang and Aihua Long

Land 2024, 13(8), 1324; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081324 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 792

Abstract

The Ebinur Lake Basin is an ecologically sensitive area in the arid region of northwest China. In recent years, the ecological environment in the basin has continued to deteriorate, and the ecosystem function has been seriously degraded. However, among the functions of the [...] Read more.

The Ebinur Lake Basin is an ecologically sensitive area in the arid region of northwest China. In recent years, the ecological environment in the basin has continued to deteriorate, and the ecosystem function has been seriously degraded. However, among the functions of the ecosystem in the Ebinur Lake Basin, the water production function is considered to be the core upholding the ecological equilibrium and security of the basin. Water production can reflect the environmental service function, which is essential for the economic vitality and ecological well-being of the basin. The factors that impact water yield are diverse; moreover, of these, climate change and land use conversion are particularly significant. Therefore, understanding how these changes affect water yield will help to formulate proper water management strategies in the basin. Using the InVEST model, this study examined how the water yield evolved and was distributed across the Ebinur Lake Basin between 2000 and 2020 while considering both the temporal and spatial dimensions. Using this foundation, the scenario analysis approach was utilized to explore the impact of climate change and land use conversion on water yield by controlling the variables, and the response of the water yield to climate and land use change was discussed. It was concluded that water yield was on an upward trend from 2000 to 2010, was on a downward trend from 2010 to 2020, and declined from 2000 to 2020 as a whole. Regarding the water yield distribution, higher-water-producing areas were found predominantly in the northwest and southeast and along the higher-altitude rim of the basin. Among the various land categories, the primary types were grassland and unused land, both of which equally and substantially contributed to the water yield, contributing over 85% to the overall water yield. The response of the water yield varied significantly among various land use types when their areas changed, and the land conversion over this period contributed to a slight decline in water yield across the basin. The influence of climate change on water yield in the Ebinur Lake Basin during the study period surpassed that of land use by a wide margin, constituting more than 86% of the total impact. This study can provide relevant information for relevant policies and decisions on the optimal allocation of land use in the Ebinur Lake Basin and can provide scientific development for the comprehensive evaluation of water resources and sustainable development of the basin. Full article

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17 pages, 9186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Landscape Reconstruction with Earth-and-Timber Medieval Stronghold—Immersive Geovisualization

by Jakub Zawadzki and Beata Medyńska-Gulij

Land 2024, 13(8), 1323; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081323 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 502

Abstract

This study focuses on the problem of reconstruction and immersive visualization of cultural heritage objects such as medieval strongholds. Geomatics-specific methods were applied, based on the use of reference data such as maps, topographic databases, LIDAR, aerial photography, and three-dimensional modeling. Search and [...] Read more.

This study focuses on the problem of reconstruction and immersive visualization of cultural heritage objects such as medieval strongholds. Geomatics-specific methods were applied, based on the use of reference data such as maps, topographic databases, LIDAR, aerial photography, and three-dimensional modeling. Search and transformation of reconstructed historical data were also carried out according to various historical–geographical–archaeological theories. The result of the work was the creation of a desktop application that presents the interactive landscape reconstruction as an immersive geovisualization of a typical medieval Eastern European earth-and-timber stronghold in two time periods and in its current state. Conclusions include the changes in land topographical levels, demonstrating how the topographical level has changed over time, and data identification to categorize and process it in order to visualize cultural heritage objects such as medieval strongholds in today’s landscape. Full article

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20 pages, 11250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Trade-Offs and Synergies of Production–Living–Ecological Functions and Their Drivers: The Case of Yangtze River Urban Agglomerations in China

by Liang Zheng, Yajing Wang, Hui Yang, Yuzhe Bi, Lei Xu and Ying Wang

Land 2024, 13(8), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081322 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 517

Abstract

Urban agglomerations are products of urban development, and their regional spaces and functions are more diverse than other cities, which have very high spatial and functional complexity. It is important to clarify the relationships between production–living–ecological (PLE) functions in urban agglomerations to achieve [...] Read more.

Urban agglomerations are products of urban development, and their regional spaces and functions are more diverse than other cities, which have very high spatial and functional complexity. It is important to clarify the relationships between production–living–ecological (PLE) functions in urban agglomerations to achieve sustainable development. In this study, we took the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River Urban Agglomerations (MRYRUA) as an example to construct an evaluation index system of regional PLE functions in urban agglomerations. Then, the Pearson correlation model and geographically weighted regression were applied to investigate the relationships between PLE functions and their driving forces. The results showed that the PLE functions in the MRYRUA increased from 2008 to 2018, with the level of the ecological function being higher than the production and living functions. The relationships among PLE functions were dominated by synergies in most cities, though trade-offs had become more evident in the last few years for the whole study area. Trade-offs and synergies among PLE functions were influenced by both natural and socioeconomic factors, with the latter having a stronger effect. Our findings provide a reference for understanding the spatial variations and trade-offs among PLE functions in MRYRUA as well as for balancing the development of PLE functions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urbanization and Ecological Sustainability)

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16 pages, 8904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Efficiency of Two Silvicultural Approaches for Soil Erosion Mitigation Using a Novel Monitoring Apparatus

by Pietro Salvaneschi, Antonio Pica, Ciro Apollonio, Teodoro Andrisano, Massimo Pecci, Andrea Petroselli and Bartolomeo Schirone

Land 2024, 13(8), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081321 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 673

Abstract

Soil erosion and hydrogeological risk are critical phenomena gaining increased recognition within the scientific community. Although these occurrences are naturally occurring, human activities can exacerbate their impacts. For example, deforestation consistently amplifies soil erosion. This study examines two distinct forest management strategies aimed [...] Read more.

Soil erosion and hydrogeological risk are critical phenomena gaining increased recognition within the scientific community. Although these occurrences are naturally occurring, human activities can exacerbate their impacts. For example, deforestation consistently amplifies soil erosion. This study examines two distinct forest management strategies aimed at addressing soil erosion: the Banded Standards Method (BSM) and the Scattered Standards Method (SSM). We conducted a field experiment in two test areas located in central Italy, with one area employing the BSM and the other implementing the SSM. Two soil erosion plots were established, representing prototypes of a novel erosion monitoring apparatus called the Natural Erosion Trap (NET), or Diabrosimeter, specifically designed for forest environments. At regular intervals, particularly after significant storm events, sediment and leaf litter accumulated within the erosion plots were collected, dried, and weighed to quantify erosion rates and assess the efficacy of the silvicultural methods under investigation. The results revealed a 30.72% reduction in the eroded material with BSM compared to SSM, underscoring BSM’s ability to mitigate potential hazards and preserve environmental integrity. Full article

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16 pages, 3639 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Dynamics of Land Use/Land Cover Changes between 1974 and 2016: A Study Case of the Bustillos Basin Using Remote Sensing

by Saúl Valencia-Gaspar, Fernanda Mejía-Leyva, María C. Valles-Aragón, Martin Martinez-Salvador, Nathalie S. Hernández-Quiroz, Myrna C. Nevarez-Rodríguez, Pablito M. López-Serrano and Griselda Vázquez-Quintero

Land 2024, 13(8), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081320 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 841

Abstract

Land use and land cover changes (LULC) are one of the main factors in global environmental change, as well as one of the main causes of soil and biodiversity loss. The main objective of this research was to determine the dynamics of land [...] Read more.

Land use and land cover changes (LULC) are one of the main factors in global environmental change, as well as one of the main causes of soil and biodiversity loss. The main objective of this research was to determine the dynamics of land use changes in the Bustillos basin located in the municipality of Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico. The research consisted of the processing and analysis of satellite images from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM5) and Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI8). From the classifications obtained through satellite images, six categories of land use were obtained and later were compared through the use of a cross-tabulation matrix. The results showed that the use of remote sensors applied to the evaluation of the dynamics of land use changes allowed for knowing the changes that occurred in a period of 43 years. To compare the land use of the years 1974 and 2016, maps were obtained with soil covers. This served as the basis for the analysis of the changes that occurred. In this way, it was possible to determine the growth of the urban area (7851.48 hectares) due to the development of economic activity and the increase in population. The category that had a more significant increase was the agricultural areas with a gain in surface of the sub-basin of 28,334.23 hectares. The grassland class lost 21,385.28 hectares; this area was associated with the class of agricultural areas and urban areas. The oak–pine forest had losses of 9150.03 hectares, as well as the pine forest (586.06 hectares). Finally, the class of water bodies lost 228.02 hectares. The results showed that the implementation of dynamic LULC using geographic information systems could be adopted as a planning tool to manage LULC in the Bustillos basin in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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18 pages, 4048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Quality of Children’s Active School Travel Spaces and the Mechanisms of School District Friendliness Impact Based on Multi-Source Big Data

by Chenyu Lu, Changbin Yu and Xiaowan Liu

Land 2024, 13(8), 1319; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081319 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1081

Abstract

With the advancement of child-friendly urban planning initiatives, the significance of Active School Travel Spaces (ASTSs) in shaping urban development and promoting the physical and mental well-being of children has become increasingly apparent. This research focuses on 151 public primary schools in the [...] Read more.

With the advancement of child-friendly urban planning initiatives, the significance of Active School Travel Spaces (ASTSs) in shaping urban development and promoting the physical and mental well-being of children has become increasingly apparent. This research focuses on 151 public primary schools in the central urban area of Lanzhou City. Utilizing the Amap pedestrian route planning API, we establish a walking route network, evaluate the paths using spatial syntax and street view recognition methods, and analyze their influencing factors using a Geographic Detector model. The results show the following: ① The overall friendliness of ASTSs in Lanzhou City is moderate, with 44% of school districts exhibiting low friendliness. ② The distribution of child friendliness in ASTS exhibits a “core-periphery” pattern. Anning District demonstrates higher friendliness compared to Chengguan District and Qilihe District, while Xigu District exhibits the lowest level of friendliness. ③ Different levels of friendliness have different tendencies for access, safety, and comfort. A high degree of friendliness favors comfort. Low friendliness has the lowest requirements for safety and comfort. ④ Population density and transportation convenience exert a significant positive impact on friendliness, while the size of the school district and the centrality of schools have a negative impact. The synergistic effects among these influencing factors notably enhance the explanatory power of friendliness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Big Data in Urban Land Use Planning)

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21 pages, 7728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Urban Ecological Welfare Performance: An ST-LMDI Approach to the Yangtze River Economic Belt

by Jie Yang and Zhigang Li

Land 2024, 13(8), 1318; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081318 - 20 Aug 2024

Viewed by 692

Abstract

Enhancing urban ecological welfare performance is essential for achieving sustainable urban development and fostering a comprehensive regional green transformation. This study develops a quantitative assessment framework for urban ecological welfare performance, grounded in both the welfare of urban residents and their consumption of [...] Read more.

Enhancing urban ecological welfare performance is essential for achieving sustainable urban development and fostering a comprehensive regional green transformation. This study develops a quantitative assessment framework for urban ecological welfare performance, grounded in both the welfare of urban residents and their consumption of ecological resources. Employing the spatio-temporal Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model to dissect the ecological welfare performance across 108 key prefecture-level cities within China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt, considering both temporal and spatial dimensions, the analysis reveals a “W”-shaped trajectory in the ecological welfare performance from 2006 to 2022, characterized by pronounced spatial disparities. Particularly in the downstream coastal regions and notably the Yangtze River Delta, advantages in social and economic structures, along with public fiscal outlays, contribute to a superior ecological welfare performance, exhibiting a notable spatial spillover effect. The study introduces six key factors—social benefit, economic benefit, population dispersion, population density in urban areas, urbanization scale, and ecological sustainability—to examine their influence on ecological welfare performance, uncovering substantial differences in the outcomes of temporal and spatial decomposition. Temporal decomposition indicates that economic benefit and urbanization scale are the primary drivers enhancing ecological welfare performance, whereas population dispersion is identified as the primary inhibitor. Spatial decomposition reveals that the determinants of above-average urban ecological welfare vary regionally and undergo dynamic shifts over time. Overall, a holistic understanding of the interplay among economic growth, ecological preservation, and the enhancement of residents’ welfare can inform the development and execution of tailored policies by local governments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Ecosystem Services: 5th Edition)

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24 pages, 24165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land-Use Conflict Dynamics, Patterns, and Drivers under Rapid Urbanization

by Guojian Wang, Jianguo Wang, Lingzhi Wang, Yi Zhang and Wenxuan Zhang

Land 2024, 13(8), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081317 - 20 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1007

Abstract

Conflict over land use is an issue that all countries are experiencing in the accelerated process of urbanization and industrialization. Research on the identification and characterization of land-use conflicts is an important basis for promoting the sustainable development of regional land use. Taking [...] Read more.

Conflict over land use is an issue that all countries are experiencing in the accelerated process of urbanization and industrialization. Research on the identification and characterization of land-use conflicts is an important basis for promoting the sustainable development of regional land use. Taking Hebei Province under the background of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei integration as the research object, this article combines the SCCI model and the LUF model to study the land-use flush in the process of rapid urbanization from the dimensions of land-use landscape conflict and land-use function conflict. The results of this study point out that land-use conflicts in the region have gone through a developmental course of intensification of heavy conflicts, slowing down, and then smoothing out. The exacerbation of land-use conflicts is synchronized with the time pattern of construction and development in the accelerated industrialization and urbanization of Hebei, while the activities of arable land occupation and compensation balance and land ecological management produce lagging land-use conflicts. The spatial pattern is characterized by dispersed and random conflicts in the plains, concentrated conflicts in the mountain stream zones, and stable conflicts in the ecological zones within the mountains in the mountainous areas. The role of externalities and internalities from within the region and in the coordinated development of the region has led to the coexistence of developmental and governance land-use conflicts in Hebei Province, and the geographic environment has a constraining effect on the spatial differentiation of these conflicts. Along with the strong implementation of China’s eco-governance and use-control systems, developmental land-use conflicts from the region will be effectively curbed, but the risk of overlapping developmental conflicts and lagging governance conflicts from coordinated regional development is a key focus for conflict prevention in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Remote Sensing and GIS for Monitoring Land Use Change and Its Ecological Effects)

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16 pages, 8694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial–Temporal Changes and Driving Factor Analysis of Net Ecosystem Productivity in Heilongjiang Province from 2010 to 2020

by Hui Zhang, Zhenghong He, Liwen Zhang, Rong Cong and Wantong Wei

Land 2024, 13(8), 1316; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081316 - 20 Aug 2024

Viewed by 668

Abstract

Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is an important indicator for the quantitative evaluation of carbon sources/sinks in terrestrial ecosystems. An improved CASA model and soil respiration model, combined with MODIS and meteorological data, are utilized to estimate vegetation NEP from 2010 to 2020. A [...] Read more.

Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is an important indicator for the quantitative evaluation of carbon sources/sinks in terrestrial ecosystems. An improved CASA model and soil respiration model, combined with MODIS and meteorological data, are utilized to estimate vegetation NEP from 2010 to 2020. A Theil–Sen trend analysis, a Mann–Kendall test, the Hurst index, and geographical detector methods were employed to analyze the spatiotemporal variations in NEP in Heilongjiang Province and its driving factors. The results show the following: (1) The overall NEP in Heilongjiang Province exhibited a fluctuating upward trend from 2010 to 2020, with a growth rate of 4.74 g C·m⁻²·yr⁻¹, and an average annual NEP of 404 g C·m⁻²·yr⁻¹. Spatially, NEP exhibits a distribution pattern of “low from east to west to high from north to south in the central region”, with 99.27% of the area being a carbon sink. (2) Significant regional differences were observed in the spatial trend of NEP changes, with 78.39% of regions showing increasing trends and 17.53% showing decreasing trends. Future NEP changes are expected to continue, with regions showing a persistent increase (58.44%), potential decrease (19.95%), potential increase (5.65%), and persistent decrease (11.88%). (3) The geographical detector results indicate that altitude is the dominant factor affecting NEP, followed by slope, temperature, population density, etc. The interaction-detector results show that the interaction between each factor shows an increasing trend, and the interaction between any two factors is higher than that of a single factor. The research results can provide scientific references for reducing emissions, increasing sinks, and protecting ecosystems in Heilongjiang Province. Full article

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21 pages, 3161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards the Wall or the Bridge? A Case Study of Host–Guest Symbiosis in a Chinese Heritage Tourism Site

by Hui Tao, Xiaoying Chen, Yehong Sun and Zhe Wang

Land 2024, 13(8), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081315 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1299

Abstract

The close connection between community residents and tourists in heritage tourism sites strengthens the relationship between people and places. To explore the mechanisms of host–guest interaction and the driving factors of residents’ willingness to participate in tourism in heritage tourism destinations, this study [...] Read more.

The close connection between community residents and tourists in heritage tourism sites strengthens the relationship between people and places. To explore the mechanisms of host–guest interaction and the driving factors of residents’ willingness to participate in tourism in heritage tourism destinations, this study adopts a mixed-method approach combining qualitative research and quantitative analysis. The results of the study show that host–guest symbiosis in heritage tourism destinations goes through four stages: identity qualification, bodily co-presence, common focus, and emotional solidarity. Quantitative research (SEM) reveals the impact of residents’ welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding towards tourists on the sense of community belonging, as well as the subsequent response of willingness to participate in tourism. Through the analysis of the host–guest interaction mechanisms and symbiotic relationships in heritage tourism sites, the key emotional factors influencing residents’ participation in tourism are revealed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Co-benefits of Heritage Protection and Urban Planning)

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19 pages, 8516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variations in Fingerprinting Sediment Sources in a Watershed Disturbed by Construction

by Baicheng Zhu, Longxi Cao, Sen Yang, Heping Pan, Fei Liu and Yaping Kong

Land 2024, 13(8), 1314; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081314 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 646

Abstract

Engineering construction disturbs the Earth’s surface and exacerbates soil erosion, resulting in sediment contributions at the watershed scale, the spatiotemporal variation of which remains to be clarified. Based on a typically disturbed catchment, soil samples were collected from sources such as forests, grasslands, [...] Read more.

Engineering construction disturbs the Earth’s surface and exacerbates soil erosion, resulting in sediment contributions at the watershed scale, the spatiotemporal variation of which remains to be clarified. Based on a typically disturbed catchment, soil samples were collected from sources such as forests, grasslands, spoil heaps, and exposed slopes. Sediment deposition was sampled in 2022 and 2023 along the main channel and fingerprinting technology was employed to calculate the relative contributions of different sources. The results indicated that the optimal composite fingerprints comprising Na₂O, Li, Sr, and Ce could effectively resolve the contributions of different sources. Natural sources were the main sediment contributors, but the average contribution decreased from 72.96% to 58.73% over two periods. In contrast, the contribution of spoil heaps and exposed slopes increased from 27.04% to 41.27% and the area percentage increased from 0.18% to 0.30%. The spoil heap represents the relatively large area of disturbance and its contact length with the river determines the sediment contribution rates, which varied spatially in a quadratic trend along the channel. Meanwhile, the sediment contribution of relatively small and dispersed exposed slopes could be quantified using a linear equation of the disturbance weighting indicator (DWI) composed of disturbed area and flow distance. These results would be helpful in assessing the environmental impact of engineering disturbances and optimizing mitigation measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Land, Soil and Water)

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19 pages, 10217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Progress in Remote Sensing and GIS-Based FDI Research Based on Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

by Zifeng Li

Land 2024, 13(8), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081313 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 977

Abstract

Foreign direct investment (FDI) by transnational companies (TNCs) is the primary indicator of urban globalization. The initial publication on the topic of remote sensing and geographic information system-based urban globalization research was published in 1981. However, the number of publications on this topic [...] Read more.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) by transnational companies (TNCs) is the primary indicator of urban globalization. The initial publication on the topic of remote sensing and geographic information system-based urban globalization research was published in 1981. However, the number of publications on this topic remains relatively limited. Despite some advances in the field in recent decades, there is currently no comprehensive review of related research, and it is not clear how the different perspectives and views have been developed. Furthermore, previous literature reviews on the utilization of remote sensing and GIS technology in urban development have predominantly employed quantitative methodologies, which has resulted in a paucity of qualitative analysis. In order to address these shortcomings, this paper employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative analyses. This entails the utilization of a combination of the scientometric method and a qualitative literature review method. The findings are as follows: (1) The number of publications is still relatively limited, and research in this area is still in its infancy. (2) Some of the articles are evidently interdisciplinary in nature. (3) Progress has been made in terms of geographic visualization of FDI, macro-environmental research at different scales, global value chains, the micro-geography of TNCs, and globalization of the geo-information industry. (4) The spatial and temporal development pattern, location, and accessibility of FDI have constituted a significant area of research interest in the past. Similarly, the relationships between FDI and regional development, urban growth, land use, and environmental change have emerged as prominent research directions. China’s Belt and Road Initiative is an emerging popular topic. (5) In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of papers employing multi-source data and multi-method approaches. (6) The extent of research collaborations between countries is relatively limited, with the majority of such collaborations occurring within the past five years. Finally, based on these research findings, this paper suggests future research directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in RS&GIS-Based Urban Planning)

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17 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Industrial Intelligence on China’s Urban Land Green Utilization Efficiency

by Chunyan Zhao, Linjing Wang and Chaobo Zhou

Land 2024, 13(8), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081312 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 709

Abstract

Against the backdrop of the fourth technological revolution, industrial intelligence (INDI) represented by industrial robots has rapidly developed. This evolution provides favorable opportunities for precise decision-making in pollution control and achieving China’s “dual carbon” goals. Previous studies have mainly discussed the economic effects [...] Read more.

Against the backdrop of the fourth technological revolution, industrial intelligence (INDI) represented by industrial robots has rapidly developed. This evolution provides favorable opportunities for precise decision-making in pollution control and achieving China’s “dual carbon” goals. Previous studies have mainly discussed the economic effects of INDI from the perspective of the labor market. This study shifts its focus to examining the impact of INDI on the land green utilization efficiency (LGUE) in cities. Using the panel data of Chinese cities spanning 2009–2021, this study empirically tests the effect and transmission mechanism of INDI on LGUE. We find that urban INDI significantly enhances LGUE. In terms of its transmission mechanism, INDI drives improvements in urban LGUE through technological progress, energy structure optimization, and industrial structure upgrading. Urban infrastructure construction and financial agglomeration level can further strengthen the positive impact of INDI on LGUE. In addition, the improvement in LGUE due to INDI is more significant in non-resource-based and large-sized cities than resource-based and small and medium-sized cities. Therefore, each region should enhance the integration of intelligent technology with traditional industrial manufacturing. Doing so is essential to establish comprehensive assessment indicators that balance environmental protection and economic growth, strengthen regional information infrastructure construction, ensure steady financial flow, and support green development initiatives across regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Land Environmental and Policy Impact Assessment)

20 pages, 15846 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling the Control of Groundwater on the Development of Colliery Spoil Tip Failures in Wales

by Lingfeng He, John Coggan, Patrick Foster, Tikondane Phiri and Matthew Eyre

Land 2024, 13(8), 1311; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081311 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 647

Abstract

Legacy colliery spoil tip failures pose a significant hazard that can result in harm to persons or damage to property and infrastructure. In this research, the 2020 Wattstown tip landslide caused by heavy rainfall was examined to investigate the likely mechanisms and developmental [...] Read more.

Legacy colliery spoil tip failures pose a significant hazard that can result in harm to persons or damage to property and infrastructure. In this research, the 2020 Wattstown tip landslide caused by heavy rainfall was examined to investigate the likely mechanisms and developmental factors contributing to colliery spoil tip failures in Welsh coalfields. To achieve this, an integrated method was proposed through the combination of remote sensing mapping, stability chart analysis, 2D limit equilibrium (LE) modelling, and 3D finite difference method (FDM) analysis. Various water table geometries were incorporated into these models to ascertain the specific groundwater condition that triggered the occurrence of the 2020 landslide. In addition, sensitivity analyses were carried out to assess the influence of the colliery spoil properties (i.e., cohesion, friction angle, and porosity) on the slope stability analysis. The results indicate that the landslide was characterised by a shallow rotational failure mode and spatially constrained by the critical water table and an underlying geological interface. In addition, the results also imply that the landslide was triggered by the rise of water table associated with heavy rainfall. Through sensitivity analysis, it was found that the properties of the colliery spoil played an important role in confining the extent of the landslide and controlling the process of its development. The findings underscore the detrimental effects of increased pore pressures, induced by heavy rainfall, on the stability of colliery tips, highlighting the urgent needs for local government to enhance water management strategies for this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Landslides Analysis and Management: From Data Acquisition to Modelling and Monitoring II)

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20 pages, 4477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revetment Affects Nitrogen Removal and N₂O Emission at the Urban River–Riparian Interface

by Zihao Man, Changkun Xie, Ruiyuan Jiang, Jin Wang, Yifeng Qin and Shengquan Che

Land 2024, 13(8), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081310 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 525

Abstract

River–riparian interface (RRI) plays a crucial role in nitrogen removal and N₂O emissions, but different revetment constructions can significantly alter the associated outcomes. Identifying which type of revetment can reduce N₂O emissions while still removing nitrogen is a key [...] Read more.

River–riparian interface (RRI) plays a crucial role in nitrogen removal and N₂O emissions, but different revetment constructions can significantly alter the associated outcomes. Identifying which type of revetment can reduce N₂O emissions while still removing nitrogen is a key issue in urban development. This study constructed three types of revetments along the same river section, and measured soil, vegetation, microbial, denitrification, and N₂O emission characteristics to explore the synergistic effects of revetment types on nitrogen removal and N₂O emissions. The study showed that revetments affected nitrogen removal and N₂O emissions in RRI by influencing denitrification. nirK mainly affected nitrogen removal, while nosZII mainly influenced N₂O emissions. Environmental factors in the permeable revetment led to significantly higher gene abundances of nirK and nosZII compared to those in the natural and impermeable revetments. As a result, the denitrification potential of the permeable revetment (34.32 ± 1.17 mg/(kg·d)) was 22.43% and 8.84% higher than those of the natural and impermeable revetments, respectively. The N₂O emission rate (0.35 ± 0.01 mg/(m²·h)) was 29.22% and 22.19% lower than those of the natural and impermeable revetments, respectively. Permeable revetment could have been the best for the nitrogen removal and N₂O emission reduction. These results provide a theoretical basis and guidance for urban ecological construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Mitigation Potential of Urban Ecological Restoration)

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23 pages, 6463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Role of Environmental Covariates and Pixel Size in Soil Property Prediction: A Comparative Study of Various Areas in Southwest Iran

by Pegah Khosravani, Majid Baghernejad, Ruhollah Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, Seyed Roohollah Mousavi, Ali Akbar Moosavi, Seyed Rashid Fallah Shamsi, Hadi Shokati, Ndiye M. Kebonye and Thomas Scholten

Land 2024, 13(8), 1309; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081309 - 18 Aug 2024

Viewed by 889

Abstract

(1) Background: The use of multiscale prediction or the optimal scaling of predictors can enhance soil maps by applying pixel size in digital soil mapping (DSM). (2) Methods: A total of 200, 50, and 129 surface soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected by [...] Read more.

(1) Background: The use of multiscale prediction or the optimal scaling of predictors can enhance soil maps by applying pixel size in digital soil mapping (DSM). (2) Methods: A total of 200, 50, and 129 surface soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected by the CLHS method in three different areas, namely, the Marvdasht, Bandamir, and Lapuee plains in southwest Iran. Then, four soil properties—soil organic matter (SOM), bulk density (BD), soil shear strength (SS), and mean weighted diameter (MWD)—were measured at each sampling point as representative attributes of soil physical and chemical quality. This study examined different-scale scenarios ranging from resampling the original 30 m digital elevation model and remote sensing indices to various pixel sizes, including 60 × 60, 90 × 90, 120 × 120, and up to 2100 × 2100 m. (3) Results: After evaluating 22 environmental covariates, 11 of them were identified as the most suitable candidates for predicting soil properties based on recursive feature elimination (RFE) and expert opinion methods. Furthermore, among different pixel size scenarios for SOM, BD, SS, and MWD, the highest accuracy was achieved at 1200 × 1200 m (R² = 0.35), 180 × 180 m (R² = 0.67), 1200 × 1200 m (R² = 0.42), and 2100 × 2100 m (R² = 0.34), respectively, in Marvdasht plain. (4) Conclusions: Adjusting the pixel size improves the capture of soil property variability, enhancing mapping precision and supporting effective decision making for crop management, irrigation, and land use planning. Full article

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26 pages, 43149 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting and Optimizing Restorativeness in Campus Pedestrian Spaces based on Vision Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning

by Kuntong Huang, Taiyang Wang, Xueshun Li, Ruinan Zhang and Yu Dong

Land 2024, 13(8), 1308; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081308 - 18 Aug 2024

Viewed by 919

Abstract

Restoring campus pedestrian spaces is vital for enhancing college students’ mental well-being. This study objectively and thoroughly proposed a reference for the optimization of restorative campus pedestrian spaces that are conducive to the mental health of students. Eye-tracking technology was employed to examine [...] Read more.

Restoring campus pedestrian spaces is vital for enhancing college students’ mental well-being. This study objectively and thoroughly proposed a reference for the optimization of restorative campus pedestrian spaces that are conducive to the mental health of students. Eye-tracking technology was employed to examine gaze behaviors in these landscapes, while a Semantic Difference questionnaire identified key environmental factors influencing the restorative state. Additionally, this study validated the use of virtual reality (VR) technology for this research domain. Building height difference (HDB), tree height (HT), shrub area (AS), ground hue (HG), and ground texture (TG) correlated significantly with the restorative state (ΔS). VR simulations with various environmental parameters were utilized to elucidate the impact of these five factors on ΔS. Subsequently, machine learning models were developed and assessed using a genetic algorithm to refine the optimal restorative design range of campus pedestrian spaces. The results of this study are intended to help improve students’ attentional recovery and to provide methods and references for students to create more restorative campus environments designed to improve their mental health and academic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Land Planning and Landscape Architecture)

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13 pages, 1921 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Continuous Decline in Direct Incomes for Farmers Threatens the Sustainability of the Grain for Green Project

by Luqian Li, Xiaobo Hua, Guangshuai Zhao and Erqi Xu

Land 2024, 13(8), 1307; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081307 - 18 Aug 2024

Viewed by 576

Abstract

Understanding the impacts of ecological projects on household livelihoods is important in ensuring their sustainability. However, existing studies typically cover only a limited, discrete temporal point. Insufficient study duration makes it difficult to determine the full impact and dynamics of a project, affecting [...] Read more.

Understanding the impacts of ecological projects on household livelihoods is important in ensuring their sustainability. However, existing studies typically cover only a limited, discrete temporal point. Insufficient study duration makes it difficult to determine the full impact and dynamics of a project, affecting the veracity of the results. Representing one of the world’s largest investments in an ecosystem service programs, the Grain for Green Project (GGP) has an objective of increasing household incomes. Using data from 7112 questionnaires collected through 12 consecutive years (2007–2018) of field survey monitoring, this study examined the long-term impacts of the GGP on household livelihoods in the Beijing–Tianjin Sandstorm Source Control Project area through comparisons between participant households (PHs) and non-participant households (NPHs). The results show that GGP subsidies significantly increased household incomes only during the period 2007–2015, and their share of total household income decreased from 9.21% in 2007 to 1.62% in 2018. Subsidies for GGP cannot compensate farmers for losses due to the reduction in farmland. The above findings suggest that the effect of subsidies diminishes over time. Increased investment in jobs and skills training is needed to consolidate the GGP results. This provides new perspectives and empirical support for the study of international ecological compensation policies and sustainable development. Full article

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Land, Volume 13, Issue 8 (August 2024) – 224 articles

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