Journal Description
Land
Land
is an international and cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed, open access journal on land system science, landscape, soil–sediment–water systems, urban study, land–climate interactions, water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus, biodiversity research and health nexus, land modelling and data processing, ecosystem services, and multifunctionality and sustainability etc., published monthly online by MDPI. The International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE), European Land-use Institute (ELI), Landscape Institute (LI) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Land, and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, SSCI (Web of Science), PubAg, AGRIS, GeoRef, RePEc, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: JCR - Q2 (Environmental Studies) / CiteScore - Q2 (Nature and Landscape Conservation)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 14.8 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 2.7 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
3.9 (2022);
5-Year Impact Factor:
4.0 (2022)
Latest Articles
Urban Ecosystem Services in a Rapidly Urbanizing World: Scaling up Nature’s Benefits from Single Trees to Thriving Urban Forests
Land 2024, 13(6), 786; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060786 (registering DOI) - 2 Jun 2024
Abstract
The rapid advancement of urbanization, evident in the relentless expansion of concrete jungles, poses a significant threat to the delicate balance of ecosystem services [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Ecosystem Services IV)
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Is the Spanish Population Pro-Conservation or Pro-Utilitarian towards Threatened Flora? Social Analysis on the Willingness to Protect Biodiversity
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Jose A. Algarra, María M. Ramos-Lorente and Paloma Cariñanos
Land 2024, 13(6), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060785 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
Conserving biodiversity in the context of global change is a challenge for the sustainability of life as we know it. Scientific protection work, particularly for flora, often lacks interdisciplinary approaches that consider human dynamics. The main objective is to evaluate the level of
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Conserving biodiversity in the context of global change is a challenge for the sustainability of life as we know it. Scientific protection work, particularly for flora, often lacks interdisciplinary approaches that consider human dynamics. The main objective is to evaluate the level of commitment of Spanish society toward the conservation of biodiversity in general and vascular flora in particular. As a secondary objective, it aims to contribute to the transfer between management and the general population. Methodologically, the survey has been used to estimate the willingness to protect threatened flora. The surveyed population is structured on the basis of its commitment to biodiversity conservation into: pro-conservation or pro-utilitarian group. The results are conclusive and indicate a high commitment of the Spanish society to conservation in aspects such as fees or legislative limitations on owners. It also reveals a deficiency in the transfer of the efforts made, from management, to society. It can be concluded that the survey, as a tool, allows us to know the starting social reality, detect weaknesses and deficiencies that allow management to be adapted to that reality, replicate work longitudinally to know the evolution of the measures and, indirectly, bring reality closer, of conservation to the people surveyed (science transfer).
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(This article belongs to the Section Land Systems and Global Change)
Open AccessArticle
Spatiotemporal Changes in Prehistoric Land Use in Upper and Middle Reaches of Yellow River Valley
by
Yajie Luan, Yanyan Yu and Huiyong Yin
Land 2024, 13(6), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060784 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
During the Holocene, the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River valley in China were pivotal areas for agricultural development. Quantitatively reconstructing the spatiotemporal changes in prehistoric human land use is essential for understanding, from a long-term perspective, the interactions among evolutions
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During the Holocene, the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River valley in China were pivotal areas for agricultural development. Quantitatively reconstructing the spatiotemporal changes in prehistoric human land use is essential for understanding, from a long-term perspective, the interactions among evolutions of climate, agriculture, and human activities. Based on 327 archaeological sites and the PLUM (prehistoric land use model), we quantitatively reconstructed human land use changes from 6 to 3 ka BP (thousands of years before the present) in the Tao River valley, the second-largest tributary in the upper reach of the Yellow River valley. The results indicated that regional land use areas increased from 571 km2 to 1468 km2, with spatial expansion from the lower reach to the upper–middle reach of the Tao River valley. A comparison of the five areas distributed across the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River valley revealed two different trends of increasing land use from 8 to 3 ka BP within these areas. The first group (the Wei River and Yiluo River valleys) exhibited rapid and substantial growth before 5 ka BP, while the second group (the Huangshui River and Tao River valleys, and the Yunlin district) showed a much slower and less significant increase before 5 ka BP, but a more obvious increase thereafter. The asynchronous increases in these areas indicate an expansion of land use from the southeastern part of the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River Valley to across the entire region between 8 and 3 ka BP, which was primarily driven by agricultural development and cultural communication.
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(This article belongs to the Topic New Advances in Paleolithic Sites and Early Human Settlement)
Open AccessArticle
Potential and Influencing Factors of Urban Spatial Development under Natural Constraints: A Case Study of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
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Yukui Zhang, Tao Lin, Junmao Zhang, Meixia Lin, Yuan Chen, Yicheng Zheng, Xiaotong Wang, Yuqin Liu, Hong Ye and Guoqin Zhang
Land 2024, 13(6), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060783 (registering DOI) - 1 Jun 2024
Abstract
As urbanization in China progresses, urban spatial development is transitioning from rapid expansion to more intensive and compact growth. This study examined the role of physical geography and environmental factors in shaping the urban spatial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
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As urbanization in China progresses, urban spatial development is transitioning from rapid expansion to more intensive and compact growth. This study examined the role of physical geography and environmental factors in shaping the urban spatial development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Based on the current natural conditions, we selected evaluation indices from topography, hydrogeology, climatic conditions, and natural disasters. These indices were used to create a carrying capacity and suitability evaluation system for development land under natural constraints. Finally, the spatial development potential of the city was finalized by taking into account the current state of the built-up area of the city. Meanwhile, we employed the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector and assessed the impact of 14 natural factors on the spatial development of urban built-up areas. In 2020, the GBA had 52,168.77 km2 of land suitable for construction, of which 34,241.13 km2 was highly suitable (61.29%) and 17,927.64 km2 was moderately suitable (32.09%). At the Bay Area level, 90.15% of the development potential remains untapped; at the city level, Zhaoqing City has the highest potential at 99.56%, while Macao has the lowest at 26.83%. Key factors influencing urban development include silty sand content, annual average relative humidity, and cumulative temperature above 0 °C, with varying impacts across different urban scales. At the Bay Area level, the silty sand content, annual average relative humidity, and cumulative temperature above 0 °C are the main influencing factors on the spatial development of urban built-up areas; at the city level, the main factors are annual average relative humidity and cumulative active temperature above 0 °C. This study reveals the important influence of natural environmental factors on urban spatial development, which is conducive to promoting sustainable development of land resources in GBA.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatiotemporal Data Analytics and Modeling of Land Systems: Shaping Sustainable Landscape)
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Holocene Vegetation Dynamics Revealed by a High-Resolution Pollen Record from Lake Yangzonghai in Central Yunnan, SW China
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Min Wang, Qifa Sun, Hongwei Meng, Linpei Huang, Huayong Li, Hucai Zhang and Caiming Shen
Land 2024, 13(6), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060782 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Long-term regional vegetation dynamics is essential for the understanding of past land cover changes. High-resolution pollen analysis of a 1020 cm core from a large lake, Lake Yangzonghai (YZH), in central Yunnan, SW China, was conducted to reveal regional vegetation dynamics in the
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Long-term regional vegetation dynamics is essential for the understanding of past land cover changes. High-resolution pollen analysis of a 1020 cm core from a large lake, Lake Yangzonghai (YZH), in central Yunnan, SW China, was conducted to reveal regional vegetation dynamics in the lake catchment over the past 13,400 years. Pollen record, principal component analysis (PCA) of pollen percentages of major arboreal taxa, and plant abundances estimated from the “Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites” (REVEALS) model show five successional stages of vegetation dynamics since 13,400 cal. a BP: regional vegetation with high coverages in the lateglacial (13,400–11,400 cal. a BP) was dominated by evergreen broadleaved forest (EBF) and deciduous broadleaved forest (DBF), together with some grass meadows and marshes; pine forest and alder forest expanded in the early Holocene (11,400–9000 cal. a BP) when vegetation coverages were still high; regional vegetation with low coverages was dominated by sweetgum forest, together with some pine forest during the mid-Holocene (9000–4200 cal. a BP); more pine forest, grass meadows and marshes occupied the lake catchment during the late Holocene (4200–800 cal. a BP), when vegetation coverages were higher than the average of the past 13,400 years; regional vegetation with low coverage was dominated by grass meadows and marshes, great deforestation happened in the last 800 years. Regional vegetation dynamics over the past 13,400 years in the Lake YZH catchment was the result of regional vegetation response to climate changes during the lateglacial and early–mid Holocene, and to human activities mainly during the late Holocene.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollen-Based Reconstruction of Holocene Land-Cover)
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Long-Term Response of Floodplain Meadow Normalized Difference Vegetation Index to Hydro-Climate and Grazing Pressure: Tamir River Plains, Mongolia
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Lkhaakhuu Nyamjav, Soninkhishig Nergui, Byambakhuu Gantumur, Munkhtsetseg Zorigt and Roland Jansson
Land 2024, 13(6), 781; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060781 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
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The greenery of floodplain meadows in arid regions, such as Mongolia, is influenced by climate, hydrology, and land use. In this study, we analyzed the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) of two floodplain meadows located along the South Tamir and Tamir Rivers using
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The greenery of floodplain meadows in arid regions, such as Mongolia, is influenced by climate, hydrology, and land use. In this study, we analyzed the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) of two floodplain meadows located along the South Tamir and Tamir Rivers using LANDSAT images. Our goal was to observe NDVI spatial changes, variations, and mean values in mid-August every six years from 1991 to 2015 and to identify the factors driving these differences. To achieve this, we conducted variance analysis to identify changes in NDVI and implemented Principal Component Analysis to determine the influence of hydro-meteorological factors and grazing intensity. Our findings indicate a significant decrease in greenness, as measured by pixel-scale NDVI, during the late summer period. This decrease was consistently observed, except for a series of harsh winters that followed relatively dry summers, resulting in a disastrous event called dzud, which led to the death of livestock. The decrease in NDVI was amplified by lower precipitation in June, higher temperatures and wind speed in July, and increased precipitation in August, along with a higher frequency of days with convective rain. Our findings have important implications for managing grazing in Mongolia’s grasslands, promoting sustainable land use, and mitigating sandstorms. The variance and average values of NDVI at the pixel level can serve as reliable markers of sustainable pasture management in areas where other vegetation measures are limited.
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Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity of Eco-Environmental Quality in Yanhe Watershed (China) Using the Remote-Sensing-Based Ecological Index (RSEI)
by
Lingda Zhang, Quanhua Hou, Yaqiong Duan and Sanbao Ma
Land 2024, 13(6), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060780 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
The long-term impacts of climate change and human activities have resulted in the Yanhe watershed, a typical watershed in the Loess Plateau region, exhibiting a high degree of vulnerability and significant heterogeneity in ecological environmental quality. This has led to environmental degradation and
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The long-term impacts of climate change and human activities have resulted in the Yanhe watershed, a typical watershed in the Loess Plateau region, exhibiting a high degree of vulnerability and significant heterogeneity in ecological environmental quality. This has led to environmental degradation and complex socio-ecological challenges. Consequently, there is an urgent need to carry out research on the spatial and temporal differentiation patterns of ecological environment quality. By utilizing remote sensing data spanning 21 years, this study evaluated the evolutionary trends and consistency of ecological environment quality (EEQ) within the Yanhe watershed based on the remote-sensing-based ecological index (RSEI). Furthermore, it examined global and local spatial autocorrelation of the RSEI by constructing a hexagonal grid, thereby revealing the spatiotemporal characteristics of EEQ at different scales within the Yanhe watershed. The results were as follows: (1) The EEQ has exhibited an overall upward trend in the past two decades, while it has displayed significant fluctuations; (2) the Global Moran’s I values for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020 were 0.18, 0.32, and 0.21, respectively, indicating a presence of spatial autocorrelation within the RSEI; (3) the overall EEQ of the Yanhe watershed will continue to improve, although the ecological quality in certain areas remains unstable due to local natural conditions and human activities. This research not only contributes to the technical framework for analyzing the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of EEQ but also provides actionable insights for ecosystem restoration and sustainability within the Loess Plateau watershed. Our work advances the understanding of ecological dynamics in semi-arid regions and offers a model for assessing ecological quality in similar environmental contexts.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Remote Sensing and GIS for Monitoring Land Use Change and Its Ecological Effects)
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The Territorial Cohesion through Interisland Transport: An In-Depth Analysis of the Azores Autonomous Region
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Rui Alexandre Castanho, José Ángel Hernández Luis, Pedro Pimentel and Gualter Couto
Land 2024, 13(6), 779; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060779 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
This study investigates inter-island accessibility in the Azores Islands (Portugal), a region marked by unique territorial fragmentation and significant distances between islands. Recognizing the pivotal role of sea and air transport in fostering the socioeconomic development of the archipelago by enhancing resident mobility
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This study investigates inter-island accessibility in the Azores Islands (Portugal), a region marked by unique territorial fragmentation and significant distances between islands. Recognizing the pivotal role of sea and air transport in fostering the socioeconomic development of the archipelago by enhancing resident mobility and attracting tourism, we address the challenges posed by the region’s low demographic and economic influence and the pronounced imbalances among islands. The methodological approach involves the examination of various accessibility parameters, with a specific focus on hourly operations identified as presenting the most unfavorable ratios of time availability in the destinations. We analyze inter-island sea and air schedules during the winter season, emphasizing their relevance for residents engaged in travel for business, health, administration, and related purposes. We have mainly analyzed the air schedules since it was possible to make the round trip on the same day on only two maritime routes, although these have also been considered. Regarding the study outcomes, they reveal that despite positive efforts to implement air public service obligations (PSO), which mandate specific frequencies, seat allocations, and rate caps, among other examples, the limited attention given to adapting operating hours based on demand undermines the effectiveness of these measures. Contextually, this lack of adjustment results in substantial inconvenience for travelers, particularly those engaged in round-trip operations on the same day, a common scenario in inter-island mobility. In more than 70% of the operational routes, suitable travel times at the destination are significantly compromised.
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(This article belongs to the Section Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues)
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Spatial–Temporal Variations of the Gross Ecosystem Product under the Influence of the Spatial Spillover Effect of Urbanization and Ecological Construction in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China
by
Lin Ji, Yuanjing Qi, Qun’ou Jiang and Chunhong Zhao
Land 2024, 13(6), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060778 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
Abstract
Rapid development of urbanization and intense human activities had a profound influence on the ecosystem service functions. As an integrated monetary index for the evaluation of final ecosystem services, the gross ecosystem product (GEP) is widely used in the quantification of ecosystem service
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Rapid development of urbanization and intense human activities had a profound influence on the ecosystem service functions. As an integrated monetary index for the evaluation of final ecosystem services, the gross ecosystem product (GEP) is widely used in the quantification of ecosystem service value (ESV). This study initially assessed and analyzed the spatial distribution of the GEP at the county-level scale using multisource data spanning 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Then, the spatial transfer characteristics of the GEP were measured. Finally, the study employed spatial panel econometric models and the geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to investigate the spatial effect of urbanization and ecological construction on the GEP. The results indicated that: (1) In 2020, the GEP in the Yangtze River Delta Region was RMB 15.24 trillion, and the GEP per unit area was RMB 42.58 million per square kilometer. It exhibited a cumulative decrease of RMB 298.72 billion from 2000 to 2020. (2) The spatial transfer efficiency of the GEP in urban agglomerations showed a clear decline trend. During the period of 2000–2020, over 96% of county-level units exhibited a decline with RMB 90,076,103.17/km2, indicating a consistent downward trend from the central regions towards the periphery. (3) Based on the decomposition effects of the spatial Durbin mode, urbanization and the ecological construction indicator showed spatial spillover effects on the GEP, but their impact mechanisms varied substantially. Among them, the urbanization rate (UR), population density (PD), and the proportion of impervious land (ILP) had the largest negative effect on the GEP, and a 1% rise in ILP locally resulted in a 0.044% decline in the local GEP and a 0.078% rise in the GEP of neighboring units. And the area of ecological land had a positive effect on the GEP of both local and neighboring areas. Those conclusions can offer evidence in favor of encouraging ecologically responsible building practices and sustainable growth in urban agglomerations.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Earth Observation-Based Ecosystem Services in Support of Planet SDGs)
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Low Residents’ Satisfaction with Wetland Leisure Demand in Typical Urban Areas of the Semi-Arid Region in Western China: Spatial Variations and Their Causes
by
Ziyu Zhang and Biao Zeng
Land 2024, 13(6), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060777 (registering DOI) - 31 May 2024
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Wetlands, as a crucial component of urban green spaces, provide important leisure services for residents. Construction of wetlands has increased with the rapid urban expansion and population growth in China over recent decades, especially in semi-arid regions with scarce water resources. However, the
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Wetlands, as a crucial component of urban green spaces, provide important leisure services for residents. Construction of wetlands has increased with the rapid urban expansion and population growth in China over recent decades, especially in semi-arid regions with scarce water resources. However, the residents’ satisfaction with wetland leisure demand remains unclear. This study evaluated the residents’ satisfaction with wetland leisure demand by a framework of physical calculation, taking Yinchuan City, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in the semi-arid region of Western China as a case study area. Spatial variations in residents’ satisfaction and their causes were revealed by a supply–demand relationship between the population capacity of wetlands and the total population of communities under a framework of physical calculation. The results indicated that 4.22% of the study area, which covered 7.38% of the total population, was fully satisfied with wetland leisure demand. Residents’ satisfaction in the urban area as a whole is low at 0.49, with a concentric distribution pattern increasing as the distance from the central urban area increases. The high population density and scanty wetlands mainly induced a relative-low residents’ satisfaction in the central urban area, accounting for 12.02% of the area and 32.70% of the population. Meanwhile, a relative-high residents’ satisfaction in the outer ring of the central urban area accounting for 59.10% of the area and 20.63% of the population was primarily due to the adequate capacity of wetlands. Medium residents’ satisfaction was mainly attributed to the road network density, which partially transferred local wetland leisure demand to adjacent areas. Wetland constructions and internal structural optimization to improve the capacity for leisure in densely populated central urban areas could provide a feasible path to alleviate unbalanced conditions. These results could deepen the understanding of supply–demand dynamics in the wetland leisure service and provide valuable information for optimizing wetland allocation in urban construction in semi-arid regions.
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Open AccessReview
Geoinformation Technology in Support of Arctic Coastal Properties Characterization: State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Outlook
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George P. Petropoulos, Triantafyllia Petsini and Spyridon E. Detsikas
Land 2024, 13(6), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060776 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Climate change is increasingly affecting components of the terrestrial cryosphere with its adverse impacts in the Arctic regions of our planet are already well documented. In this context, it is regarded today as a key scientific priority to develop methodologies and operational tools
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Climate change is increasingly affecting components of the terrestrial cryosphere with its adverse impacts in the Arctic regions of our planet are already well documented. In this context, it is regarded today as a key scientific priority to develop methodologies and operational tools that can assist towards advancing our monitoring capabilities and improving our decision-making competences in Arctic regions. In particular, the Arctic coasts are the focal point in this respect, due to their strong connection to the physical environment, society, and the economy in such areas. Geoinformation, namely Earth Observation (EO) and Geographical Information Systems (GISs), provide the way forward towards achieving this goal. The present review, which to our knowledge is the first of its kind, aims at delivering a critical consideration of the state-of-the-art approaches exploiting EO datasets and GIS for mapping the Arctic coasts properties. It also furnishes a reflective discussion on the scientific gaps and challenges that exist that require the attention of the scientific and wider community to allow exploitation of the full potential of EO/GIS technologies in this domain. As such, the present study also serves as a valuable contribution towards pinpointing directions for the design of effective policies and decision-making strategies that will promote environmental sustainability in the Arctic regions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Research Approaches & Practices Towards Sustainable Land Management, Preservation & Restoration (Second Edition))
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Predicting Land Cover Using a GIS-Based Markov Chain and Sea Level Inundation for a Coastal Area
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Colleen Healey, Eman Ghoneim, Ai Ning Loh and Yalei You
Land 2024, 13(6), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060775 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
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New Hanover County, North Carolina, has been experiencing rapid population growth and is expected to continue this growth, leading to increased land use and development in the area. The county is also threatened by sea level rise (SLR) and its effects because of
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New Hanover County, North Carolina, has been experiencing rapid population growth and is expected to continue this growth, leading to increased land use and development in the area. The county is also threatened by sea level rise (SLR) and its effects because of its coastal location and frequent occurrences of major storms and hurricanes. This study used a land change modeler to map the land cover change throughout the county over a period of 20 years, and predicted land cover distribution in the area in the years 2030 and 2050. Statistics revealed that the developed land in the area increased by 85 km2 between 2000 and 2010, and by 60 km2 between 2010 and 2020. Such land is predicted to increase by another 73 km2 by 2030, and 63 km2 by 2050. This increase in development is expected to occur mainly in the central area of the county and along the barrier islands. Modeling of SLR illustrated that the northwestern part of New Hanover County along the Cape Fear River, as well as the beach towns located on the barrier islands, are estimated be the most affected locations. Results indicate that sections of major highways throughout the county, including I-140 near downtown Wilmington and US-421 in Carolina Beach, may be inundated by SLR, which might delay residents during mandatory evacuations for emergency situations such as hurricanes. Some routes may be unusable, leading to traffic congestion on other routes, which may impede some residents from reaching safety before the emergency. Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach are estimated to have the highest levels of inundation, with 71.17% and 40.58% of their land being inundated under the most extreme SLR scenario of 3 m, respectively. The use of the present research approach may provide a practical, quick, and low-cost method in modeling rapidly growing urban areas along the eastern United States coastline and locating areas at potential risk of future SLR inundation.
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Urban Spatial Image Acquisition and Examination Based on Geographic Big Data
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Xiaowen Zhou, Hongwei Li, Jian Xu and Qingzhen Sun
Land 2024, 13(6), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060774 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
This study proposes a two-dimensional analytical framework based on urban spatial form and spatial service perspectives, utilizing data on buildings and points of interest (POIs). It integrates fishnet analysis, kernel density analysis, the categorization of POI functionalities, and mixture calculations to enhance our
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This study proposes a two-dimensional analytical framework based on urban spatial form and spatial service perspectives, utilizing data on buildings and points of interest (POIs). It integrates fishnet analysis, kernel density analysis, the categorization of POI functionalities, and mixture calculations to enhance our understanding of urban spatial form and function. Taking the main urban area of Zhengzhou as an example, this study identifies image elements that can describe urban spatial characteristics through the results of two-dimensional analysis and enriches the city image in the form of a portrait. The experimental findings demonstrate that the elements of the annular layer, functional landmarks, ring line boundaries, and special districts can fully convey the spatial picture of Zhengzhou City. The performance of the four types of image elements has a high degree of matching with the content of the urban spatial planning of Zhengzhou City, which can effectively identify the urban multi-center structure and development pattern. This paper explores and tests the development status of the city from a new perspective, which can provide an effective reference for the future planning and sustainable development of the city.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in RS&GIS-Based Urban Planning)
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Distribution and Variation of Soil Water and Salt before and after Autumn Irrigation
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Yin Zhang, Qingfeng Miao, Ruiping Li, Minghai Sun, Xinmin Yang, Wei Wang, Yongping Huang and Weiying Feng
Land 2024, 13(6), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060773 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Autumn irrigation is a key measure for alleviating soil salinity and promoting sustainable agricultural development in the Hetao Irrigation district; however, only a part of farmland is irrigated in autumn during the non-growth period of crops, which leads to the redistribution of soil
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Autumn irrigation is a key measure for alleviating soil salinity and promoting sustainable agricultural development in the Hetao Irrigation district; however, only a part of farmland is irrigated in autumn during the non-growth period of crops, which leads to the redistribution of soil water and salt between autumn-irrigated land (AIL) and adjacent non-autumn-irrigated land (NAIL) after autumn irrigation. To explore the distribution and variation of soil water and salt in different positions of AIL and NAIL after local autumn irrigation and reveal the interaction range between AIL and NAIL, field experiments were carried out for two years in typical test areas. The results showed that compared with non-autumn irrigation, autumn irrigation improved the distribution uniformity of soil water and salt profiles in both horizontal and vertical directions; after autumn irrigation, the water content of the soil at the nearest sampling point to the boundary in the AIL increased the least, but the desalination rate was the greatest, while the water and salt contents of the soil within 45 m from the sampling points to the boundary in the NAIL both increased significantly. NAIL received the drainage of AIL and made the groundwater level after the rise in AIL fell quickly back, but unreasonable autumn irrigation caused the groundwater level of AIL to remain at a high level before freezing, exacerbating the risk of groundwater carrying salts to the surface soil during the freezing and thawing period, detrimental to the growth of crops in the next spring. The research results are of great significance to the rational use of farmland water resources and the improvement of soil salinization in cold and dry areas.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Monitoring and Modelling at Different Scales)
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The Patrimonialization of Traditional Salinas in Europe, a Successful Transformation from a Productive to a Services-Based Activity
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Katia Hueso-Kortekaas and Jesús-F. Carrasco-Vayá
Land 2024, 13(6), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060772 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
Traditional inland salinas in Spain and Portugal are often located in rural, isolated areas with low agricultural value, and very few have survived in coastal areas under high land use change pressure. Before the advent of efficient transportation networks, about 500 small inland
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Traditional inland salinas in Spain and Portugal are often located in rural, isolated areas with low agricultural value, and very few have survived in coastal areas under high land use change pressure. Before the advent of efficient transportation networks, about 500 small inland and ca. 250 coastal saltworks existed there. During the 20th century, these sites were gradually abandoned in favor of industrial salt from mines or larger coastal salinas. Only a few were able to transform a productive activity into a multifunctional, services-oriented landscape. This contribution discusses the recovery and patrimonialization processes of nine inland salinas in Spain and Portugal protected as monuments, plus three other successful cases in Denmark, France, and Slovenia. With an indicator-based tool, the degree of patrimonialization of each site was quantified. In recent decades, these cultural landscapes have invested in gastronomy, wellness, tourism, and innovation, transforming a cultural landscape in decline into a living landscape for the future. The different stages in their patrimonialization process have been characterized, helping identify the hinges and tipping points at which a traditional productive activity in danger can evolve into a consolidated heritage-based successful initiative. Good practices have been detected and described. Potential pitfalls and challenges in patrimonialization were also identified, serving as early warning signs. Although focused on traditional salinas, the results of this study may help manage and preserve similar cultural landscapes in Europe. Some ideas for future management and research on productive cultural landscapes are provided.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use in Archaeology)
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Rapid Estimation of Soil Erosion Rate from Exhumed Roots (Xiaolong Mts, China)
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Miklós Kázmér, Keyan Fang, Yunchao Zhou and Zoltán Kern
Land 2024, 13(6), 771; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060771 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Soil erosion is a challenge worldwide, including in China. The dendrogeomorphic method was applied, for the first time, at Xiaolong Mts in Gansu Province to obtain a quantitative estimate of the soil erosion rate. The dataset built in this pilot study allowed the
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Soil erosion is a challenge worldwide, including in China. The dendrogeomorphic method was applied, for the first time, at Xiaolong Mts in Gansu Province to obtain a quantitative estimate of the soil erosion rate. The dataset built in this pilot study allowed the identification of exhumation texture in exposed roots between 1967 and 2002. The calculated mean erosion rate estimates (Era) ranged from 2.6 to 16.5 mm yr−1 and showed an increase with the slope steepness (s). The best fitting linear model (Era = 0.043(±0.017) × s + 3.09(±1.04); R² = 0.20; R²adj = 0.16; F = 6.18; p = 0.02) could be used in future research to determine and to map soil denudation in this part of the Xiaolong Mts. Notable associations were found between erosive rainfalls and root exhumation events. Daily (Rx1day) and 5-day (Rx5day) precipitation totals of 56 and 73 mm, respectively, seem to be critical thresholds which if exceeded will always induce root exhumation in the same year or in the consecutive season in the forest of the Xiaolong Mts in the studied period.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Progress in Land Degradation Processes and Control)
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Open AccessArticle
Quantitative Analysis Method of the Organizational Characteristics and Typical Types of Landscape Spatial Sequences Applied with a 3D Point Cloud Model
by
Yijing Wang, Yuning Cheng, Sisi Zlatanova and Shi Cheng
Land 2024, 13(6), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060770 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
(1) Background: Sequential landscape changes give people experiences of dynamic beauty, and the key to creating spatial sequences lies in the organization of spatial changes. The purpose of this study is to use a 3D point cloud model to achieve a refined description
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(1) Background: Sequential landscape changes give people experiences of dynamic beauty, and the key to creating spatial sequences lies in the organization of spatial changes. The purpose of this study is to use a 3D point cloud model to achieve a refined description of spatial sequences’ organizational characteristics from information acquisition to description and explore the quantitative interpretation methods of typical sequence organizational characteristics. (2) Methods: The proposed model contains three main steps: data acquisition and extraction, characteristic index system construction and data processing, and quantitative characterization analysis. A typology research method that combines quantitative induction with qualitative statistical verification is proposed. (3) Results: Seventy-two spatial sequence point cloud models of study cases are obtained; 4 indicators are established; 3 typical organization types are summarized, namely fluctuating, reversal and moderate type; and the characterization factors and threshold intervals for each sequence organization type are analyzed to validate the type classification result. (4) Conclusions: This research improves the accuracy of spatial data, the comprehensiveness of sequence organization characterization factors, and the reliability of classification results. It supplements the existing spatial sequence theoretical knowledge system and provides parameters that can be referred to in practical design.
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(This article belongs to the Section Land Planning and Landscape Architecture)
Open AccessEditorial
Integrating Remote Sensing and Geospatial Big Data for Land Cover and Land Use Mapping and Monitoring
by
Linda See, Myroslava Lesiv and Dmitry Schepaschenko
Land 2024, 13(6), 769; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060769 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
The last few decades have seen an explosion in the availability of remotely sensed and geospatial big data, which are defined by the 3 Vs: a large volume of data; a variety of different forms of data; and the rapid velocity of data
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The last few decades have seen an explosion in the availability of remotely sensed and geospatial big data, which are defined by the 3 Vs: a large volume of data; a variety of different forms of data; and the rapid velocity of data arrival [1] [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrating Remote Sensing and Geospatial Big Data for Land Use Mapping and Monitoring)
Open AccessArticle
The Mechanism of Socio-Spatial Evolution in Rural Areas Driven by the Development of the Planting Industry—A Case Study of Yuezhuang Village in Shandong Province, China
by
Liyao Wang and Guiqing Yang
Land 2024, 13(6), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060768 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Rural industrialisation in China, which has historically been restricted by urban–rural dual development policies, has been largely encouraged since the Rural Revitalisation Strategy released in 2018. Industrialisation has deeply influenced socio-spatial evolution by providing job opportunities and promoting the construction of infrastructure and
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Rural industrialisation in China, which has historically been restricted by urban–rural dual development policies, has been largely encouraged since the Rural Revitalisation Strategy released in 2018. Industrialisation has deeply influenced socio-spatial evolution by providing job opportunities and promoting the construction of infrastructure and public services, accelerating the two-way flow of urban–rural factors in rural areas. However, this may lead to social and spatial issues, such as social inequalities and unsuitable living conditions, to some extent. This research aims to investigate how the socio-spatial evolution of rural areas was influenced by rural industrialisation and the two-way flow of urban–rural factors. The cherry planting industry and an active “industrial centre”, Yuezhuang Village, in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China, were selected for the empirical study. This research analysed the evolution of the cherry planting industry, the formulation of rural social networks, and the spatial adaptation of the two using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods, followed by a discussion on the current rural planning policies in China. The results show that the cherry industrial chain largely extended the planting areas, and the categories of land use generally increased in Yuezhuang Village over the 30 years studied. The average output value per mu (mu is unit of area measurement used in China, where it is officially standardised. It corresponds to 1/15 of a hectare, or about 666.67 m2). In 2021 was 25 times larger than that in 1996. The population involved in industrial activities increased to over 5000 people countrywide from the initial 17 households. The results also show that urban–rural factors, such as capital, population, techniques, and information, rapidly accelerated in the annual peak season of the cherry industry. This research indicates that small-scale, characteristic, and traditional agriculture could become one of the main driving forces in urban–rural integration and may contribute to sustainable and inclusive rural communities and urban–rural partnerships. This provides the theoretical mechanism of socio-spatial interaction in rural industrialisation in China based on the empirical case study.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Territorial Impact Analysis of Rural Policies: Approaches, Methods and Results from a Multidisciplinary Point of View)
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Carbon Emissions and Intensity of Land Use: A Rural Setting Analysis in Ningde City, China
by
Fengzeng Lin, Yu Shao, Haibo Guo, Ruihong Yan, Chen Wang and Bolun Zhao
Land 2024, 13(6), 767; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060767 (registering DOI) - 29 May 2024
Abstract
Carbon emissions and land use intensity serve as crucial indicators of land management. This paper proposes a methodological framework to elucidate the sustainability of carbon emissions in rural areas via a coordination model, scrutinizes the correlation with land use intensity, and investigates the
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Carbon emissions and land use intensity serve as crucial indicators of land management. This paper proposes a methodological framework to elucidate the sustainability of carbon emissions in rural areas via a coordination model, scrutinizes the correlation with land use intensity, and investigates the significance of influential factors. The study focuses on village-level units within Ningde City, and finds the pronounced spatial heterogeneity characterizing the distribution of carbon emissions across different villages: (1) Villages exhibiting high levels of carbon emissions are predominantly concentrated in the southeast region, whereas those with low carbon emission levels are primarily clustered in the northwest region. The majority of the villages serve as net carbon emission sources. (2) Spatial disparities exist in the impact of land use intensity on economic benefits from carbon sources, ecological benefits from carbon sinks, and carbon emission sustainability. (3) Significant variations exist in the influence of factors affecting land use intensity, economic benefits of carbon sources, ecological benefits of carbon sinks, and the sustainability of carbon emissions in rural areas. These findings could guide governments in implementing distinct land use control policies and provide a framework for assessing carbon emission sustainability within land management strategies.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Sustainability from the Viewpoint of Carbon Emission)
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