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Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Earth Science and Medical Geology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 27027

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zihao Zheng

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Guest Editor

School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: nighttime light remote sensing; light pollution; ecological assessment; human footprint
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Qifei Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: urban waterlogging; hydrological monitoring; ecological assessment; landscape modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The sustainable development fundamentals of human society represent a favorable ecological environment. Instead, the pressures and intrusions brought on by quick social and economic development have recently led to a string of increasingly serious environmental crises. Thus, the ability to rapidly and reliably monitor environmental changes and assess related ecological restoration efforts is essential for environmental protection and regulation. Compared to labor-intensive field surveys, remote sensing-based ecological monitoring and assessment provides an alternative approach, especially for the study of spatial and temporal dynamics of ecological environment across multiple scales. Moreover, the qualitative and quantitative interpretation of time-series satellite images to simulate and analyze the amount, quality, dynamics, feedback, and interactions of ecological factors in an evolving landscape has emerged as a hot topic in current ecological studies.

Despite the considerable attention paid to remote sensing-based habitat assessment, it remains loaded with possibilities and challenges as sensors, computational models, and platforms are continuously upgraded. Properly optimizing the capabilities of remote sensing observations to clarify the drivers and trends of ecological dynamics is also valuable for the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This Special Issue intends to make scientific contributions to remote sensing-based regional or global ecological environmental assessments. Particularly, papers focused on ecological model construction, ecological environmental assessment, and driver analysis are welcomed for this Special Issue.

Dr. Zihao Zheng
Dr. Qifei Zhang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

ecological assessment
ecological index
remote sensing
environmental dynamics
sustainable development

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 13494 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Ecological Environment Quality Evaluation and Territorial Spatial Planning Response: Application to Changsha, Central China

by Chan Lu, Lei Shi, Lihua Fu, Simian Liu, Jianqiao Li and Zhenchun Mo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3753; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043753 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3948

Abstract

Scientific territorial spatial planning is of great significance in the realization of the sustainable development goals in China, especially in the context of China’s ecological civilization construction and territorial spatial planning. However, limited research has been carried out to understand the spatio-temporal change in EEQ and territorial spatial planning. In this study, Changsha County and six districts of Changsha City were selected as the research objects. Based on the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) model, the spatio-temporal changes in the EEQ and spatial planning response in the study area during 2003–2018 were analyzed. The results reveal that (1) the EEQ of Changsha declined and then rose between 2003 and 2018, showing an overall decreasing trend. The average RSEI declined from 0.532 in 2003 to 0.500 in 2014 and then increased to 0.523 in 2018, with an overall decrease of 1.7%. (2) In terms of spatial pattern changes, the Xingma Group, the Airport Group and the Huangli Group in the east of the Xiangjiang River had the most serious EEQ degradation. The EEQ degradation of Changsha showed an expanding and polycentric decentralized grouping pattern. (3) Massive construction land expansion during rapid urbanization caused significant EEQ degradation in Changsha. Particularly, the areas with low EEQ were concentrated in the areas with concentrated industrial land. Scientific territorial spatial planning and strict control were conducive to regional EEQ improvement. (4) The prediction using the urban ecological model demonstrates that every 0.549 unit increase in NDVI or 0.2 unit decrease in NDBSI can improve the RSEI of the study area by 0.1 unit, thus improving EEQ. In the future territorial spatial planning and construction of Changsha, it is necessary to promote the transformation and upgrading of low-end industries into high-end manufacturing industries and control the scale of inefficient industrial land. The EEQ degradation caused by industrial land expansion needs to be noted. All of these findings can provide valuable information for relevant decision-makers to formulate ecological environment protection strategies and conduct future territorial spatial planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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17 pages, 6225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Spatio-Temporal Variations of Ecological Risk in the Yellow River Ecological Economic Belt Based on an Improved Landscape Index Method

by Meirui Li, Baolei Zhang, Xiaobo Zhang, Shumin Zhang and Le Yin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1837; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031837 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1473

Abstract

Intense human activities have led to profound changes in landscape patterns and ecological processes, generating certain ecological risks that seriously threaten human wellbeing. Ecological risk assessment from a landscape perspective has become an important tool for macroecosystem landscape management. This research improves the framework and indices of the ecological risk assessment from a landscape perspective, evaluates the land use pattern and landscape ecological risk dynamics in the Yellow River Ecological Economic Belt (YREEB), analyzes the spatiotemporal variation, and identifies key areas for ecological risk management. The results indicate the following: The main land use types in the region are grassland and cropland, but the area of cropland and grassland decreased during the study period, and with the accelerated urbanization, urban land is the only land use type that continued to increase over the 20-year period. The ecological risk in the YREEB tended to decrease, the area of low ecological risk zones increased, while the area of high ecological risk zones gradually decreased. Most areas are at medium risk level, but the risk in central Qinghai and Gansu is obviously higher, and there is a dispersed distribution of local high- and low-risk zones. A total of 37.7% of the study area is identified as critical area for future risk management, and the potential for increased risk in these areas is high. These results can provide a basis for sustainable development and planning of the landscape and the construction of ecological civilization in ecologically fragile areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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19 pages, 3811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Quality Evolution and Its Driving Factors in Yunnan Karst Rocky Desertification Areas

by Shiwen Zhang, Yan Wang, Xuehua Wang, Yang Wu, Chengrong Li, Chao Zhang and Yuhang Yin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(24), 16904; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416904 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1466

Abstract

Rocky desertification is a key element affecting regional ecological quality. Rocky desertification in Southwest China directly affects the ecological security of the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins and also restricts regional economic and social development. In order to clarify the evolution laws and key influencing factors of ecological quality in Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas, a quantitative analysis based on the remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) model was conducted to explore the overall evolution characteristics and change laws of ecological quality in Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas in the past 30 years. The correlation between RSEI, rock outcrop rate (Fr), and driving factors was determined by redundancy analysis. The results showed the following: (1) RSEI in Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas generally showed a decreasing trend, with a fluctuation in the mid-term, followed by a tendency to recover. It fell into three stages: decline, trough, and recovery, with fitting coefficients of −0.121, −0.057, and 0.157, respectively. In contrast, Fr showed an opposite tendency, illustrating the inverse relationship between RSEI and Fr, and the rate of sequential succession was much faster than that of the reverse succession under human measures of intervention. (2) The mean value of RSEI of Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas was generally lower than that of the total Yunnan Province land areas and Yunnan non-karst rocky desertification areas, but the mean value of Fr was generally more than that of both the above-mentioned areas. In addition, the RSEI and Fr of Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas both showed lower stability values than those of both the above-mentioned areas. This generally suggested a low ecological quality and a high degree of desertification under a low stability in Yunnan karst rocky desertification areas. (3) The correlation of RSEI and Fr with driving factors followed the order of topographic factors, soil factors > water factors > anthropogenic factors. Anthropogenic factors were the driving force changing the state of rocky desertification, geological factors such as topography and soil to a larger extent determined the original macroscopic ecological relationship of rocky desertification, and water factors lay between the above two. The findings of this research will provide theoretical support and a basis for the improvement of ecological quality and comprehensive control of karst rocky desertification in Yunnan Province. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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24 pages, 2463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Characteristics of Trade-Offs and Synergies in Ecosystem Services at Watershed and Landscape Scales: A Case Analysis of the Yellow River Basin (Henan Section)

by Haipeng Niu, Mengmeng Liu, Dongyang Xiao, Xiaoming Zhao, Ran An and Liangxin Fan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15772; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315772 - 27 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1509

Abstract

The changes and interrelationships of ecosystem services at different global and regional scales have been actively investigated. Clarifying the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services from a multi-scale scientific perspective is vital to improve the coordinated and sustainable development of the watershed and ecological protection. As an important ecological barrier region of the Yellow River Basin, the Henan section provides a variety of important ecosystem services. This study analyzes the characteristics of land use changes in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) from 1990 to 2020. Based on the InVEST model, four ecosystem services—water production, soil conservation, carbon storage and food supply have been evaluated. The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to further reveal the spatial and temporal characteristics of the trade-offs and synergies at different levels of each service. The results showed that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the basin was dominated by farmland conservation. The construction land area mainly exhibited an inflow behavior, while other land use types were mainly related to outflow. (2) From 1990 to 2020, the water yield, soil conservation and carbon storage first increased and then decreased, while food supply gradually increased. The spatial distribution of these ecosystem services was lower in the southwest and slightly higher in the northeast and farmland had the highest capacity of water production and food supply, while woodland had the highest capacity for soil conservation and carbon storage. (3) The Spearman rank correlation coefficient indicated that the trade-offs for the ecosystem services in the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) dominated before 2000, and the synergies gradually strengthened after 2000. (4) There were clear spatial heterogeneities in the ecosystem services of the basin; for instance, the functions in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River Basin (Henan section) were mainly trade-offs, while the higher elevations in the middle reaches exhibited synergistic relationships. This study aims to clarify the trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services at the different levels. Based on our findings, countermeasures and suggestions for ecological protection and management are proposed to promote the coordinated development of social economy and ecological protection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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18 pages, 4848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Expansion Was the Main Driving Force for the Decline in Ecosystem Services in Hainan Island during 1980–2015

by Jia Geng, Mingsheng Yuan, Shen Xu, Tingting Bai, Yang Xiao, Xiaopeng Li and Dong Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15665; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315665 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1696

Abstract

Hainan Island is one of China’s most ecologically diverse areas. Human activities and climate change have recently influenced Hainan Island’s ecosystem services. Therefore, scientific methods are urgently needed to investigate the characteristics of these services’ spatial and temporal variations and their driving mechanisms for maintaining Hainan Island’s biodiversity and high-quality ecological conservation. Based on multivariate remote sensing and reanalysis data, this study analysed the spatial and temporal variations in water retention, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and oxygen release services on Hainan Island during 1980–2015 using various ecosystem service models such as INVEST, CASA and RULSE. Then, we analysed different ecosystem service drivers using a random forest model. The results indicated that (1) from 1980 to 2015, the change characteristics of different ecosystem types (arable, forest, and grassland) decreased, and the proportion of decrease was 0.98%, 0.55% and 0.36%, respectively. Built-up and water increased significantly, and the proportion of increase reached 1.46% and 0.51%, respectively. (2) Hainan Island’s functions of water retention, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, and oxygen release services decreased from 23.31 billion m3, 2.89 billion t, 9.68 million t and 56.05 million t in 1980 to 23.15 billion m3, 2.79 billion t, 9.42 million t and 55.53 million t in 2015, respectively. The high value area was mainly distributed in Hainan Island’s central mountainous area, and the low value area was mainly distributed in the lower-elevation coastal area. (3) In the past 35 years, urban expansion has been the leading factor in the reduction of Hainan Island’s ecosystem service capacity. However, its central nature reserve and other forms of ecological protection have improved its ecosystem service capacity, which has alleviated the overall declining trend of its amount of ecosystem service functions. (4) The driving forces for the spatial distribution of Hainan Island’s ecosystem services were analysed using a random forest algorithm, which indicated that its spatial distribution was mainly driven by rainfall, soil moisture, actual evapotranspiration, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature. This study is expected to help planners develop effective environmental policies to accommodate the potential ecological risks associated with urban expansion during the construction of Hainan Island’s future free trade port while filling the gaps in existing studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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19 pages, 10754 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Typical Ecosystem Types by Integrating Active and Passive Time Series Data of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, China

by Changlong Li, Yan Wang, Zhihai Gao, Bin Sun, He Xing and Yu Zang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 15108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215108 - 16 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1373

Abstract

The identification of ecosystem types is important in ecological environmental assessment. However, due to cloud and rain and complex land cover characteristics, commonly used ecosystem identification methods have always lacked accuracy in subtropical urban agglomerations. In this study, China’s Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) was taken as a study area, and the Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data were used as the fusion of active and passive remote sensing data with time series data to distinguish typical ecosystem types in subtropical urban agglomerations. Our results showed the following: (1) The importance of different features varies widely in different types of ecosystems. For grassland and arable land, two specific texture features (VV_dvar and VH_diss) are most important; in forest and mangrove areas, synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) data for the months of October and September are most important. (2) The use of active time series remote sensing data can significantly improve the classification accuracy by 3.33%, while passive time series remote sensing data improves by 4.76%. When they are integrated, accuracy is further improved, reaching a level of 84.29%. (3) Time series passive data (NDVI) serve best to distinguish grassland from arable land, while time series active data (SAR data) are best able to distinguish mangrove from forest. The integration of active and passive time series data also improves precision in distinguishing vegetation ecosystem types, such as forest, mangrove, arable land, and, especially, grassland, where the accuracy increased by 21.88%. By obtaining real-time and more accurate land cover type change information, this study could better serve regional change detection and ecosystem service function assessment at different scales, thereby supporting decision makers in urban agglomerations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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18 pages, 5006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Daily Spatial Precipitation Estimation by Merging Multi-Source Precipitation Data Based on the Geographically Weighted Regression Method: A Case Study of Taihu Lake Basin, China

by Yi Pan, Qiqi Yuan, Jinsong Ma and Lachun Wang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113866 - 25 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1275

Abstract

Accurately estimating the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation is crucial for hydrological modeling. However, precipitation products based on a single source have their advantages and disadvantages. How to effectively combine the advantages of different precipitation datasets has become an important topic in developing high-quality precipitation products internationally in recent years. This paper uses the measured precipitation data of Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation (MSWEP) and in situ rainfall observation in the Taihu Lake Basin, as well as the longitude, latitude, elevation, slope, aspect, surface roughness, distance to the coastline, and land use and land cover data, and adopts a two-step method to achieve precipitation fusion: (1) downscaling the MSWEP source precipitation field using the bilinear interpolation method and (2) using the geographically weighted regression (GWR) method and tri-cube function weighting method to achieve fusion. Considering geographical and human activities factors, the spatial and temporal distribution of precipitation errors in MSWEP is detected. The fusion of MSWEP and gauge observation precipitation is realized. The results show that the method in this paper significantly improves the spatial resolution and accuracy of precipitation data in the Taihu Lake Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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14 pages, 3537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics and Sensitive Distance Identification of Light Pollution in Protected Areas Based on Muti-Source Data: A Case Study of Guangdong Province, China

by Benyan Jiang, Shan Li, Jianjun Li, Yuli Zhang and Zihao Zheng

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12662; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912662 - 03 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2009

Abstract

Ecosystems in protected areas (PAs) are facing new challenges from light pollution. Timely assessment of light pollution in protected areas and exploration of its characteristics are positively valuable for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. As the province with the largest number of nature reserves and the richest biodiversity in China, Guangdong’s protected areas have faced more severe light pollution threats in recent years along with rapid urbanization. Hence, in this study, the temporal trends and spatial distribution of light pollution changes, the correlation between light pollution and human activities, and the sensitive distance induced by light pollution in PAs of Guangdong Province from 2000 to 2018 were analyzed based on nighttime light (NTL) remote sensing data, land-use data, and POI data. The results show that: (1) Overall, the light pollution within the PAs increased significantly in these years, with the mean value of NTL (MNTL) increasing from 8.04 to 15.21 nanoWatt/cm²/sr. The number of PAs affected by light pollution was 900 in 2018, accounting for 83% of the total. (2) From the perspective of spatial distribution, the PAs in the Pearl River Delta suffered from the highest intensity of light pollution. Specifically, the MNTL of PAs within the Pearl River Delta was 5.8 times and 2.8 times higher than that in northern Guangdong in 2000 and 2018, respectively. (3) There is a significant correlation between human activities and NTL in PAs within 100 km, and the most sensitive distance is within 40 km, especially the sensitivity within 20 km is much higher than that between 30–40 km. The findings of this study will provide a reference for the implementation of external lighting control and guidance measures to mitigate light pollution in protected areas in Guangdong Province. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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21 pages, 2987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of China’s Rural Land Marketization on Ecological Environment Quality Based on Remote Sensing

by Zihao Li, Xihang Xie, Xinyue Yan, Tingting Bai and Dong Xu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12619; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912619 - 02 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1430

Abstract

The market entry of rural collective operating construction land (MERCOCL) is an important way for the Chinese government to promote the marketization of rural land. However, the impact of China’s Rural Land Marketization on the ecological environment quality (EEQ) remains to be understood. Understanding these mechanisms is necessary for regional sustainable development and rational resource allocation. Therefore, a universal assessment model of China’s regional EEQ was built based on the Landsat 5/8 and the national ecological index (EI) provided by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment at the national district and county scale. A total of 229 counties (32 pilot counties and other counties in the pilot cities) in China from 2011 to 2018 were taken as the research object. This paper empirically studied the evolution process, driving mechanism and spatial heterogeneity of EEQ from the perspective of MERCOCL. The study shows that China’s EEQ presented a spatial distribution pattern of “high in the south, low in the north, high in the east and low in the west”. When a county implemented the MERCOCL policy, its EEQ index increased by 0.342, with the improvement effect occurring in the second year after the MERCOCL implementation. Regarding the mechanism, MERCOCL mainly improved the EEQ by promoting industrial structure optimization and increasing urban population aggregation. From the perspective of spatial heterogeneity, the improvement effect of MERCOCL on EEQ was more significant in regions with lower economic development levels and latitudes (southern China). This study will facilitate an understanding of the impact of China’s rural land marketization on the EEQ and provide scientific data support for government departments to formulate sustainable urban development policies that meet local conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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21 pages, 4766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Ecological Environment Quality of the Kuye River Source Basin Using the Remote Sensing Ecological Index

by Qiang Liu, Feihong Yu and Xingmin Mu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912500 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3700

Abstract

Landsat remote sensing images obtained from 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 were analyzed. The normalized vegetation index (NDVI), moisture index (WET), land surface temperature (LST), and normalized building-soil index (NDBSI) were extracted based on the four aspects of greenness, humidity, heat, and dryness. The Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI) was calculated using principal component analysis to quantitatively analyze and dynamically monitor and evaluate the ecological environment changes in the Kuye River Basin over the past 20 years. From the perspective of spatial and temporal distribution, the ecological and environmental quality of Kuye River Basin had a downward trend from 2000 to 2020. The overall RSEI grade was medium or poor, and the average RSEI decreased. The proportion of excellent and good grade watershed areas decreased, whereas that of medium, low, and poor grade watershed areas increased over the study period. Spatially, RSEI decreased gradually from southeast to northwest. The degraded areas were mainly distributed in urban areas with frequent human activities. Conversely, the superior eco-environmental quality areas were mainly distributed in eastern sections of the watershed. Compared with 2000, the eco-environmental quality of the Yulin urban area and Shenmu County in the southern section of the watershed are worsening. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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19 pages, 1772 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Changes in the Ecosystem Services Value in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Shanghai from 2000 to 2020

by Yuan Gong, Mengmeng Cai, Lei Yao, Linsong Cheng, Chunxu Hao and Zheng Zhao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12080; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912080 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1648

Abstract

Land resources are foundational for human survival and development. In contrast, land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics drive considerable changes in ecosystem services. Recently, China witnessed a new stage of rapid urbanization. Therefore, investigating the relationships between ecosystem services value (ESV) and LULC in these areas is highly relevant. Based on the data of land use and socioeconomic development in Shanghai from 2000 to 2020, we adopted a land use/land cover dynamics analysis method and established the ESV per unit area at the city scale, discussed the impact of LULC on ESV spatially and quantitatively, and tested the research process based on the sensitivity analysis of the ESV coefficient. The results show that from 2000 to 2020, the LULC pattern in Shanghai rapidly changed. In particular, the area of cultivated land has shrunk by 123.96 thousand hm², while the construction land has expanded by 141.26 thousand hm², which has led to a decline in ESV of the entire city (especially regarding hydrological adjustment and biodiversity). Nevertheless, although the area of trench and lakes only occupies 1.67–3.16% of the total area of land, its ecological value accounts for an astonishing 23.80–50.70% of the total ESV. At the district level, the primary decline in eco-system services value was noted in the Chongming District in the north and Pudong New Area in the east of Shanghai. However, due to the overall planning of the city and the advantages of its resource endowment, Qingpu District and its surrounding areas in western Shanghai have witnessed improvements in terms of the values of hydrological adjustment, water supply, and environmental purification. This study presents a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of issues regarding ESV in rapidly urbanized areas, thereby providing an important reference for decision-makers regarding the rational layout of cities, sustainable use of land, and management of natural ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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22 pages, 23788 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hazard Classification and Stability Analysis of High and Steep Slopes from Underground to Open-Pit Mining

by Shuai Li, Zeming Zhao, Boyi Hu, Tubing Yin, Gong Chen and Guohui Chen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(18), 11679; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811679 - 16 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2073

Abstract

The stability of high and steep slopes in open-pit mines is closely related to the mine operations and the lives of the surrounding residents, so it is important to ensure the safety and stability of the slopes. Hazard classification and stability analysis of high and steep slopes under different working conditions are studied using the Shizhuyuan non-ferrous metal mine from underground to open-pit mining as a typical example. Firstly, data on rock mechanics parameters were obtained through site investigation and sampling. Then, the slope model of the open-pit mine was established and some slopes were selected in the model for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The strength reduction method and the limit equilibrium method were used to calculate the safety factor under each working condition and point out the potential instability areas. The results show that the selected slopes are safe and stable under all working conditions. Finally, on the premise of maintaining the safety and stability of the mine, the final slope angle was optimized from the original 45°21′35″ to 55°30′41″ to reduce production costs and increase mining efficiency. The final open-pit boundary that meets the stability requirements was eventually obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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21 pages, 2905 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Constructing the Ecological Security Pattern of Nujiang Prefecture Based on the Framework of “Importance–Sensitivity–Connectivity”

by Yimin Li, Juanzhen Zhao, Jing Yuan, Peikun Ji, Xuanlun Deng and Yiming Yang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(17), 10869; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191710869 - 31 Aug 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2011

Abstract

Constructing an ecological security pattern is vital to guaranteeing regional ecological security. The terrain and geomorphology of the alpine valley are complex and sensitive, meaning it is difficult to construct ecological security patterns. Therefore, the study takes Nujiang Prefecture as the study area and builds an “Importance–Sensitivity–Connectivity” (Importance of ecosystem service, eco-environmental sensitivity, and landscape connectivity) framework to carry on the comprehensive evaluation of the ecological security and identification of ecological sources. Furthermore, we constructed an ecological resistance surface using land-use type. Using the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model, the study identifies the ecological corridors and nodes to build ecological security patterns to optimize the ecological spatial structure of Nujiang Prefecture. The results showed that (1) the importance of ecosystem services was higher in the west and lower in the east. The high-sensitive areas of the ecological environment were distributed discontinuously along the banks of the Nujiang and the Lantsang River, and the areas with high landscape connectivity were distributed in patches in the Gaoligong Mountain Nature Reserve and the Biluo Snow Mountain. (2) The overall ecological security was in a good state, and the ecologically insecure areas were primarily distributed in Lanping County and the southeast region of Lushui City. (3) The primary ecological source area was identified to be 3281.35 km² and the secondary ecological source area to be 4224.64 km². (4) In total, 26 primary ecological corridors, 39 secondary ecological corridors, and 82 ecological nodes were identified. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological Environment Assessment Based on Remote Sensing)

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