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6 pages, 171 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis

by Beata Calka and Marta Szostak

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 3155; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063155 - 14 Mar 2025

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Abstract

The environment is an important aspect of sustainable development [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

Research

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17 pages, 16180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Net Primary Production Simulation and Influencing Factors Analysis of Forest Ecosystem Based on a Process-Based Model

by Zhu Yang, Xuanrui Huang, Yunxian Qing, Hongqian Li, Libin Hong and Wei Lu

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 10912; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310912 - 25 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 769

Abstract

Accurate assessment of net primary production (NPP) can truly reflect the carbon budget balance of the forest ecosystem. In this study, the boreal ecosystem productivity simulation (BEPS) model was used to simulate the NPP of Saihanba mechanized forest farm in 2020, and the [...] Read more.

Accurate assessment of net primary production (NPP) can truly reflect the carbon budget balance of the forest ecosystem. In this study, the boreal ecosystem productivity simulation (BEPS) model was used to simulate the NPP of Saihanba mechanized forest farm in 2020, and the influencing factors of NPP were analyzed. The meteorological, forest cover, leaf area index (LAI) and other data required for the model, as well as the data for verifying, were from field surveys or downloaded from different sources. The results showed that: (1) Within the scale of the flux tower, the diurnal variation of NPP reached a maximum in June. The monthly average peak value of latent heat flux was in June, and the sensible heat flux was in March. The temperature of the understory canopy was mostly higher than that of the overstory canopy and air temperature. (2) At the regional scale, the total NPP in the study area in 2020 was 4.25 × 10¹¹ g C a⁻¹, with an average of 564.71 g C m⁻² a⁻¹. The annual average NPP of silver birch (Betula platyphylla) was the largest, and the total NPP of northern Chinese larch (Larix principis-ruprechtii) was the largest. (3) NPP was highly sensitive to LAI. Topographic factors had effects on NPP. The average value of NPP was relatively high in the shady slope and the gentle slope. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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25 pages, 5988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Soil Erosion-Prone Areas in the Wadi Haly Catchment, Saudi Arabia Using Morphometric Analysis and Watershed Features

by Bashar Bashir and Abdullah Alsalman

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 10854; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310854 - 23 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1034

Abstract

Soil erosion has several significant impacts on human and environmental activities that make it an important topic with significant worldwide ramifications. Analyzing morphometric indices provides essential insights into watershed geomorphology, which is key to forecasting and assessing diverse natural hazard dynamics. To ensure [...] Read more.

Soil erosion has several significant impacts on human and environmental activities that make it an important topic with significant worldwide ramifications. Analyzing morphometric indices provides essential insights into watershed geomorphology, which is key to forecasting and assessing diverse natural hazard dynamics. To ensure effective and sustainable watershed management and resource distribution, it is essential to identify critical catchments or prioritize sub-catchments. In this study, morphometric analysis and prioritization were applied to 15 sub-catchments within the Wadi Haly catchment to identify the one most susceptible to soil erosion. This research focuses on the analysis of 15 sub-catchments within the Wadi Haly catchment in Saudi Arabia, utilizing GIS tools alongside various parameters to guide both short- and long-term catchment management. A combined parameter, developed from several morphometric indices for each sub-catchment, was used to classify the Wadi Haly catchment into three levels of soil erosion risk. The results show that sub-catchments 1, 7, 11, 12, and 13, with areas of 694.1 km², 517.87 km², 677.99 km², 200.39 km², and 326.55 km², respectively, are contributing significantly to erosion in the region. In contrast, sub-catchments 3, 8, 9, 10, and 15 exhibit minimal erosion impact. To mitigate severe erosion, strategies such as contour farming, terracing, the use of filter strikes, as well as various structural or non-structural interventions could be applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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21 pages, 5815 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of the 3-30-300 Green City Concept: Warsaw Case Study

by Bartłomiej Wyrzykowski and Albina Mościcka

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(22), 10566; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142210566 - 16 Nov 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1387

Abstract

In recent years, the “3-30-300” concept by Professor Cecil Konijnendijk has been gaining popularity, outlining what makes a city “green” and what we should strive for. This concept suggests that from every apartment, at least three trees should be visible, 30% of the [...] Read more.

In recent years, the “3-30-300” concept by Professor Cecil Konijnendijk has been gaining popularity, outlining what makes a city “green” and what we should strive for. This concept suggests that from every apartment, at least three trees should be visible, 30% of the city’s surface should be covered with greenery, and the nearest park or forest should be no more than 300 m away. However, the lack of detailed guidelines makes the implementation of this concept a significant challenge. The goal of the research presented here was to adapt this concept for Warsaw (Poland) and assess whether it can be considered a green city. We defined parameters such as the maximum distance for visible trees as 20 m and determined what counts toward the 30% green areas. The results showed that 57.82% of apartments in Warsaw have a view of at least three trees, while only 5.44% do not meet this criterion, and the rest meet it only partially. Parks and forests cover 19.95% of the city, while all green areas combined cover 42.01%. Additionally, 45% of buildings are located within 300 m of a park or forest. Ultimately, full compliance with the “3-30-300” concept applies to 22.19% of buildings, while only 12.66% meet the criteria when considering only parks and forests. This indicates that, while Warsaw is relatively green, not all of its areas fulfill these criteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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22 pages, 14205 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Geomorphic Signatures in Relative Tectonic Activity Assessment of a Red Sea Coastal Basin between Al Farrah and Heelan, Saudi Arabia

by Bashar Bashir and Abdullah Alsalman

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(12), 4980; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14124980 - 7 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1004

Abstract

This work used an analysis of the geomorphic indices to effectively assess the relative tectonic activity of a Red Sea coastal region in Saudi Arabia between Al Farrah and Heelan. This approach is useful in examining topographical and geomorphological signatures in different landscapes. [...] Read more.

This work used an analysis of the geomorphic indices to effectively assess the relative tectonic activity of a Red Sea coastal region in Saudi Arabia between Al Farrah and Heelan. This approach is useful in examining topographical and geomorphological signatures in different landscapes. Through a detailed investigation of geomorphic indices, the study basin’s active and inactive characteristics may be observed and distinguished. The applied indices include a rock strength index, stream length gradient index, hypsometric integral index, drainage basin analysis index, mountain front sinuosity index, and valley floor width-to-valley floor height ratio index. The results obtained from this study are discussed and presented as a unique index of relative tectonic activity (Rta), which is divided into three different classes: low, moderate, and high tectonic activity. There have been few studies of active tectonics in the study basin along Saudi Arabia’s eastern Red Sea coast, making it an excellent choice to evaluate and simulate the relative activity based on large-scale basin analysis. The study basin exhibits variable classes of tectonic activity resulting from the Red Sea extension event. The idea that areas with anticipated relatively high rates of tectonic activity are coupled with indicators of Rta index values is examined in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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15 pages, 2950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Spatial Resolutions on Nature-Based Solution Suitability Mapping for Europe

by Joy Ommer, Jessica Neumann, Saša Vranić, Milan Kalas, Laura Sandra Leo, Silvana Di Sabatino and Hannah Louise Cloke

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4608; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114608 - 27 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1099

Abstract

Flooding events, like in Germany in 2021, highlight the need for re-naturalising banks of rivers and streams to naturally mitigate future flooding. To identify potential areas for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), the NBS Toolkit—a decision-support tool for Europe—was developed within the H2020 OPERANDUM project. [...] Read more.

Flooding events, like in Germany in 2021, highlight the need for re-naturalising banks of rivers and streams to naturally mitigate future flooding. To identify potential areas for Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), the NBS Toolkit—a decision-support tool for Europe—was developed within the H2020 OPERANDUM project. The tool builds on suitability mapping, which is progressively adopted for pre-assessing areas for Nature-Based Solutions. The NBS Toolkit operates with European open-source data, which is available at different spatial resolutions. In this study, we performed a GIS-based analysis to examine the impact of different resolution data on the resulting suitability maps. The results suggest that for large-scale measures such as riparian forest buffers, coarser resolutions are sufficient and may save processing time and capacities. However, fine resolution datasets can bring added value to urban suitability mapping and are of greater importance for small-scale, local Nature-Based Solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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16 pages, 11019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk of Tree Fall on High-Traffic Roads: A Case Study of the S6 in Poland

by Tomasz Kogut, Dagmara Wancel, Grzegorz Stępień, Małgorzata Smuga-Kogut, Marta Szostak and Beata Całka

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(11), 4479; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14114479 - 24 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1252

Abstract

Modern technologies, such as airborne laser scanning (ALS) and advanced data analysis algorithms, allow for the efficient and safe use of resources to protect infrastructure from potential threats. This publication presents a study to identify trees that may fall on highways. The study [...] Read more.

Modern technologies, such as airborne laser scanning (ALS) and advanced data analysis algorithms, allow for the efficient and safe use of resources to protect infrastructure from potential threats. This publication presents a study to identify trees that may fall on highways. The study used free measurement data from airborne laser scanning and wind speed and direction data from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management in Poland. Two methods were used to determine the crown tops of trees: PyCrown and OPALS. The effect of wind direction on potential hazards was then analyzed. The OPALS method showed the best performance in terms of detecting trees, with an accuracy of 74%. The analysis showed that the most common winds clustered between 260° and 290°. Potential threats, i.e., trees that could fall on the road, were selected. As a result of the analysis, OPALS detected between 140 and 577 trees, depending on the chosen strategy. The presented research shows that combining ALS technology with advanced algorithms and wind data can be an effective tool for identifying potential hazards associated with falling trees on highways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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29 pages, 11862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Remote Sensing-Enabled Urban Growth Simulation Overlaid with AHP-GIS-Based Urban Land Suitability for Potential Development in Mersin Metropolitan Area, Türkiye

by Ezgi Sahin, Muzaffer Can Iban and Suleyman Sefa Bilgilioglu

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 3484; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14083484 - 20 Apr 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2513

Abstract

This study delves into the integration of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) techniques to identify suitable areas for urban development in six districts within the Mersin Metropolitan Area of Turkey. The specific aim is to generate an urban land [...] Read more.

This study delves into the integration of analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and geographic information system (GIS) techniques to identify suitable areas for urban development in six districts within the Mersin Metropolitan Area of Turkey. The specific aim is to generate an urban land use suitability map, in order to facilitate informed decision-making for urban development. Drawing on open Landsat satellite imagery and employing the random forest (RF) algorithm, the study spans a fifteen-year period, over which land use/land cover (LULC) changes are measured. Furthermore, a novel approach is introduced by incorporating the urban land use suitability map into an urban growth simulation model developed using a logistic regression (LR) algorithm. This simulation forecasts urban growth up to 2027, enabling planners to evaluate potential development areas against suitability criteria. Findings reveal spatial patterns of land suitability and projected urban growth, aiding decision-makers in selecting optimal areas for development while preserving ecological integrity. Notably, the study emphasizes the importance of considering various factors such as topography, accessibility, soil capability, and geology in urban planning processes. The results showcase significant proportions of the study area as being moderately to highly suitable for urban development, alongside notable shifts in LULC classes over the years. Additionally, the overlay analysis of simulated urban growth and land suitability maps highlights areas with contrasting suitability levels, offering valuable insights for sustainable urban growth strategies. By overlaying the urban land suitability map with a simulated LULC map for 2027, it is revealed that 2247.3 hectares of potential new urbanization areas demonstrate very high suitability for settlement, while 7440.12 hectares exhibit very low suitability. By providing a comprehensive framework for assessing urban land suitability and projecting future growth, this research offers practical implications for policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders involved in Mersin’s development trajectory, ultimately fostering more sustainable and resilient urban landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GIS-Based Environmental Monitoring and Analysis)

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