Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: The Ecological and Cultural Connation of Landsenses

The construction of a healthy and sustainable living environment requires a systematic integration of multidimensional elements such as the environment, society, and economy. Among these, cultural factors profoundly influence people’s cognition and value orientation towards landscapes, while ecological factors are directly related to the health status and sustainability of ecosystems themselves. Achieving a deep integration of cultural identity inheritance and the maintenance of ecological functions is not only crucial for preserving the long-term resilience and stability of ecosystems, but it also significantly impacts the sustainability of human well-being [1]. In the process of landscape cognition and utilization, people’s behaviors play a significant role in the intrinsic ecological relationships and cultural connections of the landscape. Landscape perception, which includes sensory experiences generated through human–environment interactions, encompasses various dimensions such as vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This provides an important perspective for understanding the underlying mechanisms of human–environment relationships. A systematic understanding and respect for landscape perception is an effective way to optimize land resource protection and utilization strategies, as well as to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Therefore, incorporating landscape perception into the design and planning framework of human settlements holds significant theoretical and practical importance.

Current research frontiers have profoundly revealed a paradigm shift in landscape perception. Environmental neuroscience studies indicate that landscape perception is not merely a simple aggregation of single sensory information, but rather a multisensory interactive process that relies on the neural cognitive system to filter, integrate, and enhance information [2]. This has propelled landscape perception from a singular aesthetic evaluation towards a systematic analysis that integrates dimensions such as ecology, culture, and health [3]. This integrative perspective demonstrates significant practical implications in key areas. For instance, in terms of ecological resilience, the “four-dimensional capabilities” framework of hydrological ecological infrastructure (regulation, buffering, carrying, and symbiosis) provides important theoretical support and implementation pathways for systematic sustainable development [4]. In terms of cultural perception, the value recognition of heritage landscape conservation depends on the perception of “historical authenticity and the spirit of place” [5], while quantitative assessments of cultural ecosystem services in urban ecosystems have strongly evidenced the crucial role of cultural value perception in driving conservation behaviors [6]. Regarding health promotion mechanisms, research shows that the objective characteristics of street environments, such as green view ratios, have a dominant influence on running behavior [7]. It is noteworthy that merely increasing the quantity of urban green space does not significantly improve residents’ mental health [8]; instead, integrating multisensory experience design can effectively enhance the restorative benefits of environmental perception, thereby improving the well-being satisfaction of vulnerable groups [9]. This underscores the importance of multidimensional perceptual interactions.

The theory of landsense ecology breaks through the traditional research paradigm of ecology, using ecological principles to expand multidimensional perceptual interactions into a systematic integration of natural elements, physical senses, psychological perceptions, and socio-economic factors [10]. Empirical research indicates that in typical “landsense carriers” such as urban parks, visual and tactile perceptions significantly influence visitor satisfaction [11], while auditory and olfactory perceptions are also indispensable factors [12]. This further emphasizes that the design of “landsense carriers” effectively promotes public resonance with sustainable visions through the collaborative action of multiple senses [11]. This deep integration of multidimensional perception not only enhances individual health and well-being (such as stress relief and social interaction) but also optimizes ecosystem service functions through “landsense creation,” achieving a harmonious coexistence between humans and the natural living community.

The aforementioned advancements point to a core consensus: constructing a healthy and sustainable living environment requires the integration of cross-scale and multi-entity landscape perception, supported by a theoretical framework built from multidisciplinary perspectives, to promote the deep coordination of ecological processes and cultural practices. Against this backdrop, to systematically address this complex challenge that spans multiple scales and dimensions, this Special Issue focuses on the theme “Towards a Healthy and Sustainable Living Environment: The Ecological and Cultural Connation of Landsenses.” It centers on five major research themes—environmental governance, cultural preservation, health promotion, resilient/restorative landscapes, and community engagement—aiming to provide interdisciplinary theoretical support and practical pathways.

This Special Issue includes a total of eight research papers, primarily exploring the following three core topics:

The Multidimensional Value of Ecological and Cultural Integration

The deep integration of ecology and culture is fundamental to constructing a healthy living environment. Multisensory landscape design, through the interaction of visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli, can significantly enhance the health benefits of public spaces (List of Contributions 1,2). Research indicates that a sound pressure level of 77 decibels is a critical threshold for emotional perception in urban parks; exceeding this threshold can significantly reduce feelings of pleasure while increasing feelings of calmness (List of Contributions 3). This finding not only reveals the complex impact of the sound environment on human emotional responses but also provides a scientific basis for the design of soundscapes in urban parks. Furthermore, biophilic design models confirm that the cumulative effects of multisensory natural experiences on psychological restoration arise from the synergistic interactions of multiple senses, rather than from a linear accumulation of individual sensory stimuli. Combinations of dual sensory interactions—such as visual–auditory, visual–thermal, visual–olfactory, auditory–thermal, and auditory–olfactory—can significantly enhance the overall perception of a space, alleviating and improving people’s emotions (List of Contributions 2).

The ecological wisdom of historical landscapes offers valuable lessons for modern design. The “mountain–water–city” pattern of West Lake, along with its four pillars of historical wisdom—holistic approaches, ecological technology, dynamic management, and landscape aesthetics—has not only optimized ecological functions but also carries profound historical and cultural significance, providing considerable insights for contemporary lake landscape construction (List of Contributions 4). This reflects the dynamic balance between ecological processes and cultural memory, offering theoretical and practical support for building a healthy and sustainable living environment.

The Synergistic Mechanism of Cultural Heritage Preservation and Community Participation

The vibrant transmission of cultural heritage relies on livelihood capital and community involvement. Farmers’ awareness of natural and cultural capital is significantly related to their willingness to protect these assets. In rural heritage sites, farmers serve as the direct guardians and transmitters of cultural heritage. Their methods of utilizing natural capital and their understanding of cultural capital directly influence the preservation status of cultural heritage (List of Contributions 5). Community residents are more likely to actively engage in the protection of cultural heritage only when they genuinely recognize its value and derive tangible benefits from it (List of Contributions 6). This underscores the critical role of community participation in sustainable development. Moreover, the protection of cultural heritage must extend beyond the maintenance of physical spaces. It is essential to construct a composite governance system that integrates “ecological, cultural, and economic” dimensions through economic incentives and local identity. This approach fosters a holistic framework for ensuring the sustainable preservation of cultural heritage while enhancing community resilience and engagement.

Technological Innovation and Interdisciplinary Integration

The introduction of multi-source data and quantitative tools offers a new paradigm for research in human living environment construction. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) model accurately reveals the mechanisms by which landscape features influence human behavior, as well as the significant mediating role of multisensory perception between street space characteristics and public behavior (List of Contributions 7). Moreover, multi-source big data analysis can integrate data resources from various channels and formats, utilizing techniques such as data mining to explore the catalytic effects of landscapes on the potential benefits for broader regional development (List of Contributions 8). Together, these approaches illuminate the complex value of landscapes from both micro-individual and macro-system perspectives. The intersection of landscape history and environmental psychology provides a deeper understanding of how landscape elements affect human psychological perception and emotional experiences, further contributing to the theoretical foundation of restorative landscape design (List of Contributions 1,4).

To realize the vision of a healthy and sustainable living environment, this Special Issue calls for innovative technological methods that integrate advanced technologies such as Multi-sensory Public Participation GIS (MSPPGIS) and machine learning [13]. These technologies can dynamically respond to the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of cultural ecosystem service (CES) needs among different social groups, enabling more precise quantification of how landscape perception drives ecological maintenance and cultural practice behaviors.

Furthermore, this Special Issue aims to inspire broader and deeper academic discussions and practical explorations. We sincerely welcome more scholars to join this field of research to jointly promote theoretical innovation and practical application, injecting sustained momentum into the construction of healthy and resilient living environments, and advancing global research on human living environments to a higher developmental stage.