Announcements

A message from the webinar Chair:
It is a pleasure to welcome you to this webinar, entitled “Leveraging AI: Integrating Remote Sensing, GIS, and Machine Learning for Natural Disaster Resilience”, and hosted by Remote Sensing, Drones, Land, IJGI, and Geomatics. We are excited to bring together a remarkable group of experts and innovators from around the world to tackle a critical challenge of the modern era: building resilience against natural hazards through the power of advanced technology.
Natural hazards, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and droughts, have profound impacts on communities and lead to devastating financial and human losses. In this webinar, we will explore the latest technological breakthroughs in this field, where machine learning (ML), remote sensing (RS), and geographic information systems (GISs) are reshaping how we approach these complex challenges. This session will highlight ML methods that can extract meaningful insights from large data sets, transforming raw information into valuable knowledge. GISs add a vital dimension to these insights, acting as powerful tools for spatial analysis and visualization. In addition, given recent advances in deep learning, ensemble methods, evolutionary algorithms, and explainable AI (XAI), the capabilities of hazard prediction and preparedness have never been more promising.
Our aim is to foster connections, spark new ideas, and explore how these innovative approaches are transforming hazard mapping, monitoring, and assessment. Thank you for being part of this crucial journey. I hope you have an inspiring day filled with insights, collaboration, and discovery.
Warm regards,
Dr. Paraskevas Tsangaratos

Date: 11 December 2024 at 9:00 a.m. CET | 4:00 p.m. CST Asia | 10:00 a.m. EET 
Webinar ID: 843 0771 3005
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-30

Register now for free!

 

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Paraskevas Tsangaratos, Department of Geological Studies, School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National University of Athens, Athens, Greece;
• Prof. Dr. Raffaele Albano, School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy;
• Dr. Haoyuan Hong, School of Geographic Sciences, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China;
• Dr. Dimitrios Loukidis, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Relevant Special Issues:
“Assessing Natural Hazards through Advanced Machine Learning Methods and Remote Sensing Technology: 3rd Edition”
Guest Editors: Dr. Paraskevas Tsangaratos, Dr. Wei Chen, Dr. Ioanna Ilia and Dr. Haoyuan Hong
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024

“Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for Global Challenges: Current Technologies and Future Prospects”
Guest Editors: Dr. Bashar Alsadik, Prof. Dr. Francesco Nex, Prof. Dr. Fabio Remondino and Dr. Jesús Balado Frías
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024

“Advances in Remote Sensing and GIS for Natural Hazards Monitoring and Management”
Guest Editors: Dr. Adrianos Retalis and Dr. Dimitrios D. Alexakis
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024

“Artificial Intelligence for Soil Erosion Prediction and Modeling”
Guest Editors: Dr. Nikiforos Samarinas, Dr. Nikolaos L. Tsakiridis, Dr. Nikolaos Tziolas and Dr. Ioannis N. Daliakopoulos
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 3 April 2025

Relevant Article:
“Geospatial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technique for Urban Mapping in Coastal Regions of South Aegean Volcanic Arc Islands”
Authors: Pavlos Krassakis, Andreas Karavias, Paraskevi Nomikou, Konstantinos Karantzalos, Nikolaos Koukouzas, Stavroula Kazana, Issaak Parcharidis
Geomatics 2022, 2(3), 297-322; https://doi.org/10.3390/geomatics2030017

MDPI will attend the Second World Geography Conference, which will take place from 22 to 24 of November 2024 at the Shanghai International Procurement Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China.

To promote the study of geography in China, specifically that of major global issues and different countries’ regional geography, the Chinese Geographical Society, the East China Normal University, the China National Innovation and Development Strategy Research Association, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences successfully held the First World Geography Congress in Shanghai in November 2022. The congress, with the theme of “Geography and Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” conducted in-depth exchanges and reached a broad consensus, releasing the “Declaration of the World Geography Congress” which called for holding said congress every two years. After careful consideration, the Second World Geography Congress is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from 22 to 24 of November 2024.

We welcome you to visit MDPI’s booth, where you will be able to have face-to-face exchanges with our representatives, learn more about our open access publishing services, and acquire gifts.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Remote Sensing;
• Climate;
• Atmosphere;
• Geographies;
• Geosciences;
• Oceans;
• Energies;
• Sustainability;
• Resources;
• Clean Technologies;
• Land;
• Environments.

If you plan to attend this conference, we invite you to visit our booth and converse with our delegates at the conference venue. We are excited to meet you in person and will address any questions that you may have. For further details about this conference, please visit the following website: http://www.wgeoc.com/.

Join us for an engaging webinar! Coastal waterways and the natural systems that surround them are changing at an unprecedented rate due to population growth, the intensification of land use, and climate change. Monitoring the health of coastal waterways as well as natural systems and documenting their pace and pattern of change are both vital for informing coastal management and guiding solutions. In this webinar, Tracking Coastal Change with Geospatial Artificial Intelligence Techniques, we will explore a series of emerging technologies for achieving such coastal monitoring and change assessment tasks. Over the course of a series of short presentations, we will share the scope of the interdisciplinary work being pursued by members of the University of Florida's Center for Coastal Solutions in the rapidly growing space of geospatial AI, in addition to highlighting innovative application examples. These examples will include the exploration of (1) a new deep learning-based method for identifying tidal creeks and wetland features from high-resolution remotely sensed images, (2) an AI-enhanced technique for assessing salt marsh morphology from UAV-derived images, and (3) a neural network classifier that combines remote sensing data with spatiotemporally distributed in situ sample data to monitor blooms of the potentially harmful algae Karenia brevis (or red tide). We will welcome questions to engage and include the audience through the webinar.

Date: 21 November 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. CET | 10:00 a.m. EDT | 11:00 p.m. CST Asia
Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UtOEEZb4T2eLv8sOBAZdqA
Webinar ID: 842 6788 0032
Webinar Secretariat: [email protected]
Webinar announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-28

Register now for free!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Feel free to still register; we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Christine Angelini, Center for Coastal Solution, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, USA;
• Ms. Richa Dutt, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, University of Florida, USA;
• Dr. Daniele Pinton, Civil and Coastal Engineering, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida, USA;
• Dr. Ron Fick, Center for Coastal Solutions, Engineering School for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment, University of Florida.

Relevant Topic Information:
“Advances in Earth Observation and Geosciences”
Topic Editors: Prof. Dr. Diego González-Aguilera and Prof. Dr. Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez

A welcoming message from the webinar’s chair, Prof. Dr. Nicholas B. Comerford: 

Soil sustainability is the goal of soil management, a useful measure of soil sustainability is the maintenance of soil quality, as this assures the continued provision and regulation of soil ecosystem services, including agricultural productivity, continued forest growth, soil biodiversity, and water supply, among other aspects. One of the challenges that can hinder soil quality continuity is soil contamination. Such contamination can come from the use of agricultural chemicals, the activities of industry, and—as we have seen in a recent submission—the outcome of war. 

This Special Issue seeks the submission of research outcomes that outline the challenges that soil quality faces from all forms of contamination. We seek contributions that address soil degradation/contamination from human activity, how human activity affects soil sustainability, and what potential solutions there might be to allow for the maintenance of soil sustainability. 

Date: 15 November 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m. CET | 6:00 a.m. EST | 7:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: https://sciforum.net/event/Land-5
Webinar Secretariat: [email protected] 

Register now for free!

Program:

Registration:

This is a free webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join.  

Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.
Certificates of attendance will be delivered to those who attend the live webinar. 

If you’re unable to attend, register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch. 

Webinar Chair and Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Nicholas B. Comerford, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, USA;
• Dr. Paola Grenni, Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Italy;
• Dr. Dongxue Zhao, Centre for Crop Science, Queensland Alliance for Agricultural and Food Innovation, the University of Queensland, Australia. 

Relevant Special Issue:
“Challenges and Solutions for Sustainable Land: Soil Quality and Contamination”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Nicholas B. Comerford, Dr. Paola Grenni and Dr. Dongxue Zhao
Deadline for manuscript submission: 30 June 2025 

For more information, please see the following website: https://sciforum.net/event/Land-5.

The Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) Young Investigator Award, established in 2023, is designed to recognize outstanding early career scientists who demonstrate exceptional promise and contribute significantly to the field of land science. By fostering collaboration within the scientific community, this award aims to encourage and support the next generation of land science experts.

We are honored to be able to have this conversation with Dr. Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva, a biologist at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) and winner of the Land 2023 Young Investigator Award. As a young researcher, Dr. da Silva’s dedication to advancing scientific knowledge is further evidenced by his contributions to the international scientific community.

In the meantime, we are pleased to share that the Land 2024 Young Investigator Award is open for nominations. This prize will be given to one young investigator to recognize and support their outstanding achievements in the field of land science, encouraging the pursuit of groundbreaking research and fostering collaboration within the scientific community. To learn more about the award and nomination process, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/awards/2960.

Five new journals covering a diverse range of subjects launched their inaugural issue in September 2024. Like other journals in MDPI’s portfolio, these journals are dedicated to sharing the latest research through open access, reflecting our commitment to making knowledge accessible to all.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Editorial Board Members for their dedication to the launch and development of our new journals. Each journal will ensure its high-quality output via excellent editorial and rigorous peer-review processes so that the published articles achieve significant impact and broad visibility.

We invite you to explore and learn more about these new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Nejat Düzgüneş, University of the Pacific, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	biological therapy and stem-cell therapy; drug therapy; chemotherapy; radiation and other nonsurgical therapeutic strategies | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Magda Tsolaki, Greek Federation of Alzheimer’s Disease, Greece; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University, USA; Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	ice as a mineral; atmospheric ice; sea ice; freshwater ice; ice sheets; ice caps and ice shelves | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Francisco Epelde, Hospital Universitari Parc Tauli, Spain; University Autonoma of Barcelona, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	hospital management; hospital facilities; hospital services; hospital risk management; health law | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Nicola Ferri, University of Padova, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	lipids in cells and whole organisms; lipid structure and function; lipid products and processes; dietary lipids and nutrition | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

As a leader in open access publishing, MDPI is eager to explore new collaboration opportunities, including the launch of new journals and the transfer of existing ones. At present, MDPI publishes over 400 journals, more than 160 of which have established partnerships with academic organizations. Additionally, we publish 19 association journals.

In order to enhance exchange and cooperation with scientific researchers and share the results of open science, MDPI invites experts and scholars from various fields to submit proposals for new journal collaboration opportunities. If your proposal is approved, you could take on the role of Editor-in-Chief, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, or Editorial Board Member of the journal. This position allows you to manage the manuscript review process alongside our editorial department, participate in calls for papers, strengthen your network with scholars in the field, expand scientific research cooperation, enhance your personal and academic influence internationally, and play a leading role in academia.

Once the new journal is online, MDPI will provide a variety of promotional channels to market the journal internationally.

MDPI will offer various promotional channels to enhance its visibility and promote it internationally.

How can you determine the theme of a new journal?

• Assess research hotspots/academic frontiers;
• Assess pioneers in the field/key research directions of universities;
• Determine whether MDPI has already established a journal in the field.

You can browse MDPI’s existing journals at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals.

Advantages of collaborating with MDPI:

• MDPI is a global leader in open-access publishing with extensive academic resources.
• MDPI offers a professional publishing team that provides comprehensive support throughout the publishing process.
• MDPI’s diverse promotional platforms and channels help journals quickly increase their international visibility and influence.

We invite you to submit new journal proposal here, and contribute to academic development! In addition, if your institution (university, institute, college, national key laboratory, society, etc.) intends to establish a journal, you can also submit a draft to MDPI on its behalf.

MDPI journals frequently grant travel awards to empower junior researchers to showcase their latest research at academic conferences, thereby amplifying their impact within their research fields.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 103 recipients of MDPI's 2023 Travel Awards from different countries and territories for their exceptional presentations. These outstanding individuals were selected by the journal editors based on the strength of their research proposals and the anticipated impact of their presentations at academic conferences. We commend their exceptional contributions and wish them continued success in their academic endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about the list of awardees, please visit the following pages:

• Biology and Life Sciences;
• Chemistry and Materials Sciences;
• Engineering;
• Environmental and Earth Sciences;
• Medicine and Pharmacology;
• Public Health and Healthcare;
• Others.

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

This webinar, hosted by MDPI journals Agronomy (ISSN: 2073-4395), Climate (ISSN: 2225-1154), Crops (ISSN: 2673-7655), Grasses (ISSN: 2813-3463), Horticulturae (ISSN: 2311-7524), Land (ISSN: 2073-445X), and Plants (ISSN: 2223-7747), is open to all who enjoy conducting research on a variety of innovative strategies, such as precision agriculture, regenerative farming, and sustainable land management practices.

Our distinguished speakers will delve into the pivotal roles that diverse stakeholders play in shaping effective policy frameworks for a low-carbon transition in agriculture. By fostering collaboration among governments, farmers, and researchers, we can unlock pathways to a more sustainable and resilient food system that will serve not only our current needs but also those of future generations.

We encourage you to share any thought-provoking topics or speaker suggestions that could enhance our discussions and drive meaningful change in the agricultural sector.

Keywords: sustainability; climate change; agriculture; innovation; policy
Date: 4 October 2024 at 16:00 CEST | 10:00 EDT | 22:00 CST Asia
Webinar ID: 865 5083 9741

Register now for free!

Program:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email on how to join this webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will let you know when the recording is available to view.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Ibrahim Khalil (Chair), UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland;
• Prof. Dr. Matt Bell, Department of Animal and Agriculture, Hartpury University, Hartpury, UK;
• Dr. Katja Klumpp, The Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRAE), Clermont-Ferrand, France;
• Prof. Dr. Bruce Osborne, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science, and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland.

Relevant Topic:
“Reframing Strategies for a Low Carbon Future in Agricultural Systems”
Topic Editors: Dr. M. Ibrahim Khalil and Prof. Dr. Bruce Osborne
Abstract submission deadline: 31 October 2024
Manuscript submission deadline: 31 December 2024

For more information about this webinar, please visit the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/topics-27.

Conference: American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2024
Date: 9–13 December 2024
Location: Washington, D.C., USA

MDPI will be attending the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2024, which will be held from 9 to 13 December 2024 in Washington, D.C., USA.

AGU’s annual meeting, the largest gathering of Earth and space scientists, convenes 25,000+ attendees from 100+ countries to share research and connect with friends and colleagues. Scientists, educators, policymakers, journalists and communicators attend AGU24 to better understand our planet and environment, opening pathways to discovery, generating greater awareness to address climate change, driving greater collaborations to lead to solutions and opening the fields and professions of science to a whole new age of justice equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Water;
• Remote Sensing;
• Atmosphere;
• Sustainability;
• Geosciences;
• Land;
• Minerals;
• Earth;
• Fire;
• IJGI;
• Hydrology;
• Geomatics;
• Drones;
• GeoHazards. 

If you are planning to attend the conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website at https://www.agu.org/annual-meeting.

We are delighted to extend our warmest congratulations to Prof. Dr. Maria Ignatieva, Editorial Board Member of Land (ISSN: 2073-445X), on receiving the 2024 IFLA President’s Award. This distinguished award, presented by the IFLA President on the 4th of September 2024 at the IFLA 60th World Congress in Istanbul, recognizes outstanding individuals for their significant contributions and profound impact on the field of landscape architecture worldwide through their voluntary efforts within IFLA.

This award is a testament to Prof. Dr. Ignatieva’s unwavering dedication to advancing landscape architecture. Her extensive research, innovative practice, and commitment to fostering global collaboration continue to shape the future of sustainable and biodiverse urban landscapes and inspire the next generation of landscape architects.

To learn more about this award and Prof. Dr. Ignatieva's accomplishments, please visit the following link: https://www.iflaworld.com/ifla-presidents-award-2024.

To further enhance the quality of Land and the papers published in it, under the guidance of our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Christine Fürst, the journal has updated and revised its aims and scope. The original scope and the updated version are listed below:

For more detailed information, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/about.

Land Editorial Office

MDPI will attend the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2024 (BES 2024) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Liverpool, UK, from 10 to 13 December 2024.

The British Ecological Society was established in 1913 and has been fostering the science of ecology ever since. The society has 7,000 members around the world and brings people together across regional, national and global scales to advance ecological science. Membership is open to anyone, anywhere. The British Ecological Society is the oldest ecological society in the world and its annual meeting is Europe’s largest conference dedicated to ecology. More than 1,500 delegates from over 50 countries across six continents attended the 2023 meeting in person or online.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Sustainability;
• Land;
• Animals;
• Birds;
• Forests;
• Diversity;
• Climate;
• Plants.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit: https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/events/bes-annual-meeting-2024/.

MDPI will be attending the 2024 China Geography Conference in Nanjing, China, which will take place from 26 to 28 September 2024. The conference will focus on the theme of “Development and Innovation of Chinese Geography”, review the theory and practice of Chinese geography, summarize the latest achievements in geographical theory, methods, technology, and application in recent years, and discuss important scientific issues such as China’s geography and ecological environment, resource utilization, and sustainable development under global changes and new development patterns. Discussing the innovation of geography in the new era, promoting the overall improvement of the teaching and research level of Chinese geography, and serving the latest needs of national economic and social development in the new era are also a focus of the conference. If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth; our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions you may have.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Land (leading);
• Quaternary (leading);
• Remote Sensing;
• Geographies;
• IJGI;
• Hydrology;
• Sustainability;
• Earth.

MDPI’s Best PhD Thesis Awards are granted to promising young scholars whose PhD theses are deemed exceptional within their respective research fields. These awards aim to encourage young scholars to continue their outstanding accomplishments and further contribute to their field.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 54 winners of the 2023 Best PhD Thesis Awards and wish them success with their future research endeavors.

MDPI will continue to provide support and recognition to the academic community. To learn more about all the awardees and their research projects in your field of study, please visit the following pages:

About MDPI Awards:

To reward the academic community, especially young researchers, and enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help raise the influence of talented individuals who have been credited with outstanding achievements and are making a significant contribution to the advancement of their fields.

To explore more MDPI awards, please click here.

MDPI’s Young Investigator Awards recognize promising early career scientists, acknowledge their contributions, and foster collaboration within the scientific community. We are proud to announce the recipients for 2023, who were carefully selected by the journals’ esteemed Award Evaluation Committee.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 79 winners of MDPI’s 2023 Young Investigator Awards for their excellent contributions in their research field. We look forward to seeing these rising stars continue to contribute to the advancement of science.

MDPI will continue to support and recognize the academic community. To explore details about the awardees by field, please visit the individual pages listed below:

Congratulations to all the winners for their exceptional contributions and dedication to advancing scientific research.

About MDPI Awards:
To support the academic community, particularly young researchers, and to enhance communication among scientists, MDPI journals regularly offer various awards to researchers in specific fields. These awards, serving as a source of inspiration and recognition, help to elevate the profiles of talented individuals who have made outstanding achievements and are making significant contributions to advancements in their respective fields.

To find out more about MDPI awards, please click here.

In recent years, the utilization of drones has increased globally, with fresh applications and uses continually emerging. In remote, rural regions, drones have the potential to perform a wide range of tasks, including surveillance via cameras or other sensors; this enables them to act as mobile gateways and provide connectivity or facilitate the transportation of goods to challenging, remote locations. While many of these applications are closely associated with primary sector activities such as agriculture and livestock, their adaptability extends to various other industries and urban areas.

This webinar will present three referent European projects associated with the development of rural areas, and it will use drones as the main thread. The scope of drone utilization in rural regions is extensive, spanning sectors such as agriculture, forestry, livestock, other industrial domains, environmental monitoring, and the assessment of water quality in rivers and lakes. Drones also play a vital role in firefighting efforts and provide assistance to the population, particularly elderly individuals.

We are privileged to feature recognized industry and academic experts who will share their experiences and insights regarding the effective leveraging of these technologies to achieve enhanced results and elevate the productivity of drones. So, whether you are a researcher, applied scientist, commercial drone user, or simply interested in the development of drones, we invite you to join us for this webinar.

Additionally, CHAMELEON, ICAERUS and SPADE are the organizations working with us for this webinar. Kindly find more information about the organizations below:

• CHAMELEON is a Horizon Europe Project that aims to optimize production and identify potential problems in agriculture, livestock, forestry and rural areas. For more information, kindly visit https://chameleon-heu.eu;
• ICAERUS is an EU-funded project that aspires to advance the use of drones in agricultural production, forestry and rural communities. For more information, kindly visit https://icaerus.eu/;
• SPADE is a project funded by the European Union within the Horizon Europe program, with 21 partners from 10 European countries. For more information, kindly visit https://spade-horizon.eu/.

Date: 19 September 2024 at 02.00 p.m. CEST | 8:00 a.m. EDT | 8:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 892 0367 9034
Webinar Announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/Topics-26

Register now for free!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available.

Webinar Chairs and Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Diego González-Aguilera (Chair), Cartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, University of Salamanca, Hornos Caleros, Avila, Spain;
• Prof. Dr. Pablo Rodríguez-Gonzálvez (Chair), Department of Mining Technology, Topography and Structures, University of León, Avda. Astorga, Ponferrada, Spain;
• Dr. David Sánchez-Jiménez, Departamento de Ingeniería Cartográfica y del Terreno, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain;
• Dr. Costas T. Davarakis, Nydor System Technologies AE, Athens, Greece;
• Dr. Vasilis Psiroukis, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece;
• Ms. Esther Vera Moreno, Noumena, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes 690, Barcelona, Spain.

Relevant Special Issues:

“Aerial and Drone LiDAR Data for Geomorphological Mapping, Landform Extraction and Landscape Evolution”
Guest Editors: Dr. Dario Gioia, Dr. Nicodemo Abate, Dr. Giuseppe Corrado, Dr. Antonio Minervino Amodio and Prof. Marcello Schiattarella
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2024

“UAV Agricultural Management: Recent Advances and Future Prospects”
Guest Editors: Dr. Hamdi Zurqani and Dr. Alessandro Matese
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2024

“Geographic Information Technologies and the New Challenges of Globalization in a Changing Environment”
Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Ana Nieto Masot, Prof. Dr. Gema Cárdenas and Dr. José A. Gutiérrez Gallego
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024

“Spatial Information for Improved Living Spaces”
Guest Editors: Dr. Ivana Ivánová, Dr. Yongze Song and Prof. Dr. Sisi Zlatanova
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025

Relevant Papers:

“Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Agro-Terrestrial Surveys Comparison for Generating Digital Elevation Surfaces for Irrigation and Precision Grading”
by Richard A. Pickett, John W. Nowlin, Ahmed A. Hashem, Michele L. Reba, Joseph H. Massey and Scott Alsbrook
Drones 2023, 7(11), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/drones7110649
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/7/11/649

“Recent Advances in Crop Disease Detection Using UAV and Deep Learning Techniques”
by Tej Bahadur Shahi, Cheng-Yuan Xu, Arjun Neupane and William Guo
Remote Sens. 2023, 15(9), 2450; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092450
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/9/2450

“Review of Remote Sensing Approaches and Soft Computing for Infrastructure Monitoring”
by Aggeliki Kyriou, Vassiliki Mpelogianni, Konstantinos Nikolakopoulos and Peter P. Groumpos
Geomatics 2023, 3(3), 367-392; https://doi.org/10.3390/geomatics3030021
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7418/3/3/21

“Analysis of Landscape Character Assessment and Cultural Ecosystem Services Evaluation Frameworks for Peri-Urban Landscape Planning: A Case Study of Harku Municipality, Estonia”
Fiona Nevzati, Martti Veldi, Mart Külvik and Simon Bell
Land 2023, 12(10), 1825; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101825
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1825

“Assessment of Ecosystem Service Value in Response to LULC Changes Using Geospatial Techniques: A Case Study in the Merbil Wetland of the Brahmaputra Valley, Assam, India”
by Durlov Lahon, Dhrubajyoti Sahariah, Jatan Debnath, Nityaranjan Nath, Gowhar Meraj, Pankaj Kumar, Shizuka Hashimoto and Majid Farooq
ISPRS Int. J. Geo-Inf. 2023, 12(4), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi12040165
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/12/4/165

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Land Planning and Landscape Architecture” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “Participatory Design of Urban Green Spaces to Improve Residents’ Health”
by Bram Oosterbroek, Joop de Kraker, Sandra Akkermans, Paola Esser and Pim Martens
Land 2024, 13(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010088
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/88

2. “Integration of Climate Change Strategies into Policy and Planning for Regional Development: A Case Study of Greece”
by Stavros Kalogiannidis, Dimitrios Kalfas, Olympia Papaevangelou, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, Katerina-Navsika Katsetsiadou and Efthymios Lekkas
Land 2024, 13(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030268
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/268

3. “The Landscape of Tranquility in Sweden: Lessons for Urban Design from Crowdsourced Data and Deep Learning”
by Yijun Zeng, Brian Deal, Susan Ask and Tianchen Huang
Land 2024, 13(4), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040501
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/501

4. “Exploring Urban Service Location Suitability: Mapping Social Behavior Dynamics with Space Syntax Theory”
by Saleh Qanazi, Ihab H. Hijazi, Isam Shahrour and Rani El Meouche
Land 2024, 13(5), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050609
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/609

5. “Transformative Impact of Technology in Landscape Architecture on Landscape Research: Trends, Concepts and Roles”
by Xiwei Shen, Mary G. Padua and Niall G. Kirkwood
Land 2024, 13(5), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050630
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/630

6. “Evaluating Urban Green Space Inequity to Promote Distributional Justice in Portland, Oregon”
by Evan Elderbrock, Kory Russel, Yekang Ko, Elizabeth Budd, Lilah Gonen and Chris Enright
Land 2024, 13(6), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060720
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/720

7. “Practicing Multilevel Governance: The Revision of the Piedmont Regional Territorial Plan”
by Elena Todella, Francesca Abastante and Giancarlo Cotella
Land 2024, 13(6), 755; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060755
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/755

8. “Mining versus Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas: Traditional Land Uses of the Anisininew in the Red Sucker Lake First Nation, Manitoba, Canada”
by Chima Onyeneke, Bruce Harper and Shirley Thompson
Land 2024, 13(6), 830; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060830
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/830

You can find more information about Land and the “Land Planning and Landscape Architecture” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/Land_Plan_Architecture.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Land Systems and Global Change” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “Analysis of Land Suitability for Maize Production under Climate Change and Its Mitigation Potential through Crop Residue Management”
by Nikolaos Karapetsas, Anne Gobin, George Bilas, Thomas M. Koutsos, Vasileios Pavlidis, Eleni Katragkou and Thomas K. Alexandridis
Land 2024, 13(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010063
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/63

2. “The Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism Operators, Trail Experience and Land Use Management in British Columbia’s Backcountry”
by Courtney W. Mason and Pate Neumann
Land 2024, 13(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010069
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/69

3. “The Effects of Vegetation Structure and Timber Harvesting on Ground Beetle (Col.: Carabidae) and Arachnid Communities (Arach.: Araneae, Opiliones) in Short-Rotation Coppices”
by Jessika Konrad, Ralph Platen and Michael Glemnitz
Land 2024, 13(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020145
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/2/145

4. “Geoinformation Technology in Support of Arctic Coastal Properties Characterization: State of the Art, Challenges, and Future Outlook”
by George P. Petropoulos, Triantafyllia Petsini and Spyridon E. Detsikas
Land 2024, 13(6), 776; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060776
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/776

You can find more information about Land and the “Land Systems and Global Change” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/Land_Systems_and_Global_Change.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Landscape Ecology” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “Policy Evaluation and Monitoring of Agricultural Expansion in Forests in Myanmar: An Integrated Approach of Remote Sensing Techniques and Social Surveys”
by Su Mon San, Navneet Kumar, Lisa Biber-Freudenberger and Christine B. Schmitt
Land 2024, 13(2), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020150
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/2/150

2. “A 20-Year Ecotone Study of Pacific Northwest Mountain Forest Vulnerability to Changing Snow Conditions”
by Todd R. Lookingbill, Jack DuPuy, Ellery Jacobs, Matteo Gonzalez and Tihomir S. Kostadinov
Land 2024, 13(4), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040424
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/424

3. “Spatial Heterogeneity Impacts of Urbanisation on Open Space Fragmentation in Hong Kong’s Built-Up Area”
by Peiheng Yu, Yan Zhang, Mingqing Han, Esther H. K. Yung, Edwin H. W. Chan and Yiyun Chen
Land 2024, 13(4), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040457
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/457

4. “Integration of Acceptability Analyses into an Adaptive Landscape Co-Design and Management Approach—The Acceptability and Landscape Design Cycle (ALDC)”
by Maria Busse, Jana Zscheischler, Nico Heitepriem and Rosemarie Siebert
Land 2024, 13(4), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040513
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/513

You can find more information about Land and the “Landscape Ecology” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/Landscape_Ecology.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “How Can Drones Uncover Land Degradation Hotspots and Restoration Hopespots? An Integrated Approach in the Mount Elgon Region with Community Perceptions”
by Hosea Opedes, Shafiq Nedala, Caspar A. Mücher, Jantiene E. M. Baartman and Frank Mugagga
Land 2024, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010001
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/1

2. “Forest Tales? Unravelling Divergent Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) Maps and State Narratives in Vietnam’s Northern Uplands”
by Thinh An Nguyen, Hung Le, Patrick Slack, Margaret Kalacska and Sarah Turner
Land 2024, 13(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010071
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/71

3. “Research on the Spatial Disparities and Convergence of Guangdong’s Urban Economy Based on Industrial Agglomeration and Industrial Proximity”
by Xiaojin Huang, Renzhong Guo, Weixi Wang, Xiaoming Li and Yong Fan
Land 2024, 13(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010073
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/73

4. “Inequalities and Injustices of Urban Green Regeneration: Applying the Conflict Analysis Perspective”
by Annegret Haase
Land 2024, 13(3), 296; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030296
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/296

5. “Land Fragmentation and Heirs Property: Current Issues and Policy Responses”
by Kurt Smith and Frederick Cubbage
Land 2024, 13(4), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040459
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/459

6. “The Importance of Spatial Configuration When Restoring Intensive Production Landscapes for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service Multifunctionality”
by Daniel Richards, Thomas R. Etherington, Alexander Herzig and Sandra Lavorel
Land 2024, 13(4), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040460
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/460

7. “A Review on the Use of Geodesign Processes in Managing Flood Vulnerability”
by Bo Pang and Brian Deal
Land 2024, 13(6), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060723
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/723

You can find more information about Land and the “Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/Socio-Economic.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “A Proposed Typology of Farming Systems for Assessing Sustainable Livelihood Development Pathways in the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan”
by Azamat Azarov, Roy C. Sidle, Dietrich Darr, Vladimir Verner and Zbynek Polesny
Land 2024, 13(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020126
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/2/126

2. “Seminatural Grasslands: An Emblematic Challenge for Nature Conservation in Protected Areas”
by Daniela Gigante, Simone Angelucci, Federica Bonini, Federico Caruso, Valter Di Cecco, Domizia Donnini, Luciano Morbidini, Mariano Pauselli, Bernardo Valenti, Andrea Tassi et al.
Land 2024, 13(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030386
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/386

3. “Structure and Carbon Capture of a Temperate Mixed Forest across Altitudinal Gradients in Northern Mexico”
by Luis U. Castruita-Esparza, Raúl Narváez-Flores, Mélida Gutiérrez, Aldo S. Mojica-Guerrero, Gerónimo Quiñones-Barraza and Javier Hernández-Salas
Land 2024, 13(4), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040461
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/461

4. “Impacts of Soil Management and Sustainable Plant Protection Strategies on Soil Biodiversity in a Sangiovese Vineyard”
by Sara Del Duca, Stefano Mocali, Francesco Vitali, Arturo Fabiani, Maria Alexandra Cucu, Giuseppe Valboa, Giada d’Errico, Francesco Binazzi, Paolo Storchi, Rita Perria et al.
Land 2024, 13(5), 599; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050599
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/599

5. “Quality and Establishment of Some Water-Conserving Turfgrass Species for Sustainable Development and Some Ecosystem Services in Arid Urban Environments”
by Fatemeh Kazemi, Mahmood Reza Golzarian and Seyedeh Maliheh Rabbani Kheir Khah
Land 2024, 13(6), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060721
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/721

6. “Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Green Infrastructure for Mitigating Diffuse Agricultural Contaminant Losses”
by Yvonne S. Matthews, Paula Holland, Fleur E. Matheson, Rupert J. Craggs and Chris C. Tanner
Land 2024, 13(6), 748; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060748
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/748

7. “Conservation Management Practices for Biodiversity Preservation in Urban Informal Green Spaces: Lessons from Central European City”
by Piotr Archiciński, Arkadiusz Przybysz, Daria Sikorska, Marzena Wińska-Krysiak, Anderson Rodrigo Da Silva and Piotr Sikorski
Land 2024, 13(6), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060764
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/764

You can find more information about Land and the “Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/land_biodiversity_human_wellbeing.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Urban Contexts and Urban–Rural Interactions” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “Ecosystem Services-Based City Ranking in Italy: A Tool to Enhance Sustainable Thinking in Regeneration Strategies”
by Angela Pilogallo, Francesco Scorza and Beniamino Murgante
Land 2024, 13(6), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060891
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/891

2. “A Multicriteria Decision Analysis Model for Optimal Land Uses: Guiding Farmers under the New European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (2023–2027)”
by Asimina Kouriati, Anna Tafidou, Evgenia Lialia, Angelos Prentzas, Christina Moulogianni, Eleni Dimitriadou and Thomas Bournaris
Land 2024, 13(6), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060788
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/788

3. “Assessment and Monitoring of Local Climate Regulation in Cities by Green Infrastructure—A National Ecosystem Service Indicator for Germany”
by Ralf-Uwe Syrbe, Sophie Meier, Michelle Moyzes, Claudia Dworczyk and Karsten Grunewald
Land 2024, 13(5), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050689
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/689

4. “Effects of Affordable Housing Land Supply on Housing Prices: Evidence from 284 Cities in China”
by Xue Han and Changchun Feng
Land 2024, 13(5), 580; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050580
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/580

5. “Community-Scale Classification and Governance Policy Implications for Demographic, Economic, and Land-Use Linkages in Mega-Cities”
by Yonghong Mao, Jie Fan, Daojing Zhou, Yao He, Meng Yuan and Huixin Zhang
Land 2024, 13(4), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040441
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/441

6. “Envisaging the Intrinsic Departure from Zipf’s Law as an Indicator of Economic Concentration along Urban–Rural Gradients”
by Adele Sateriano, Giovanni Quaranta, Rosanna Salvia, Francisco Escrivà Saneugenio, Alvaro Marucci, Luca Salvati, Barbara Zagaglia and Francesco Chelli
Land 2024, 13(4), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040415
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/415

7. “Your Favourite Park Is Not My Favourite Park: A Participatory Geographic Information System Approach to Improving Urban Green and Blue Spaces—A Case Study in Edinburgh, Scotland”
by Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson, Yiyun Wang, Simon Bell, Craig W. McDougall and Catharine Ward Thompson
Land 2024, 13(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030395
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/395

8. “Counteract Soil Consumption through Ecosystem Services and Landscape Restoration for an Efficient Urban Regeneration”
by Celestina Fazia, Kh Md Nahiduzzaman, Baqer Al-Ramadan, Adel Aldosary and Francesca Moraci
Land 2024, 13(3), 323; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030323
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/323

You can find more information about Land and the “Urban Contexts and Urban–Rural Interactions” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/urban_contexts.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Land Innovations: Data and Machine Learning” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “A Proposed Methodology for Determining the Economically Optimal Number of Sample Points for Carbon Stock Estimation in the Canadian Prairies”
by Preston Thomas Sorenson, Jeremy Kiss and Angela Bedard-Haughn
Land 2024, 13(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010114
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/114

2. “A Land Administration Data Exchange and Interoperability Framework for Kenya and Its Significance to the Sustainable Development Goals”
by Clifford Okembo, Javier Morales, Christiaan Lemme, Jaap Zevenbergen and David Kuria
Land 2024, 13(4), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040435
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/435

3. “Bridging Sustainable Development Goals and Land Administration: The Role of the ISO 19152 Land Administration Domain Model in SDG Indicator Formalization”
by Mengying Chen, Peter Van Oosterom, Eftychia Kalogianni, Paula Dijkstra and Christiaan Lemmen
Land 2024, 13(4), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040491
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/491

4. “Extracting Features from Satellite Imagery to Understand the Size and Scale of Housing Sub-Markets in Madrid”
by Gladys Elizabeth Kenyon, Dani Arribas-Bel and Caitlin Robinson
Land 2024, 13(5), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050575
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/575

5. “Towards a Comprehensive Framework for Regional Transportation Land Demand Forecasting: Empirical Study from Yangtze River Economic Belt, China”
by Ke Wang, Li Wang and Jianjun Zhang
Land 2024, 13(6), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060847
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/847

You can find more information about Land and the “Land Innovations: Data and Machine Learning” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/land_innovations_data_machine_learning.

Land Editorial Office

We are delighted to present a list of papers that were published in the Section “Soil–Sediment–Water Systems” in the first half of 2024 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) and have received extensive attention.

1. “Predicting Soil Properties for Agricultural Land in the Caucasus Mountains Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy”
by Elton Mammadov, Michael Denk, Amrakh I. Mamedov and Cornelia Glaesser
Land 2024, 13(2), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020154
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/2/154

2. “Modeling Landscape Influence on Stream Baseflows for Watershed Conservation”
by Timothy O. Randhir and Kimberly B. Klosterman
Land 2024, 13(3), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030324
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/324

3. “Spatiotemporal Analysis of Soil Quality Degradation and Emissions in the State of Iowa (USA)”
by Elena A. Mikhailova, Hamdi A. Zurqani, Lili Lin, Zhenbang Hao, Christopher J. Post, Mark A. Schlautman and Gregory C. Post
Land 2024, 13(4), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040547
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/547

4. “Soil and Vegetation Characteristics of Grassland Have a Greater Influence on the Abundance and Diversity of Earthworms than the Mowing Intensity in a Managed Nature Reserve”
by Günther Kerschbaumer, Gerhard Karrer, Edith Gruber and Johann G. Zaller
Land 2024, 13(5), 627; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050627
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/627

5. “Modeling Irrigation of Tomatoes with Saline Water in Semi-Arid Conditions Using Hydrus-1D”
by Sabri Kanzari, Jiří Šimůnek, Issam Daghari, Anis Younes, Khouloud Ben Ali, Sana Ben Mariem and Samir Ghannem
Land 2024, 13(6), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060739
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/739

You can find more information about Land and the “Soil–Sediment–Water Systems” Section at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/sections/Soil-Sediment-Water-System.

Land Editorial Office

In May, MDPI Romania held three author training sessions – one endorsing an external event and two stand-alone sessions.

The National Session of Scientific Student Communications took place at Technical University Cluj on 17 and 18 May 2024. MDPI Romania sponsored this event and contributed an author training session on the production of research papers and case study analyses. JRS Norbert Kiss gave a presentation called The World of Open Access to explain different open access publishing models and the benefits of open access publishing. His presentation highlighted the impact of open access publishing on scientific progress and innovation.

On 29 May 2024, MDPI Romania hosted an author training session for Ph.D. students, early career researchers, and professors at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. In collaboration with Prof. Andreea Arsene, JRS Ioana Paunescu prepared two presentations: The Steps of the Publishing Process and Elaboration of a Peer Review Report. In her first presentation, she delved into MDPI’s history and mission, MDPI’s editorial process, and MDPI journals of various scopes that are accepting submissions. Her second presentation outlined the types of peer review, the contents of a peer review report by an MDPI reviewer, and the responsibilities of an MDPI reviewer.

MDPI Romania also hosted an author training session at the Iasi University of Life Sciences on 29 May 2024. JRSs Laurentiu Preda and Cosmin Artan gave four presentations: Efficient Writing of an ISI-Indexed Scientific Article, Benefits of Publishing in the Open Access Model, Various Methods of Open Access Publishing, and MDPI Guide for the Article Review Process. The first three presentations offered guidance on how to improve academic writing, the fourth focused on how to write peer review reports. A highly interactive discussion followed the presentations, during which the JRSs provided extensive answers to attendees’ questions.

MDPI is grateful for all the attendees, speakers, and organizers involved in these events. Through their enthusiasm and dedication, these events were great successes.

In order to further enhance the international influence of our journal Land (ISSN: 2073-445X), promote the academic exchange of young scientists, and support the Editorial Board with additional expertise, Land is inviting interested and eligible early career researchers to apply for Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) membership.

We plan to recruit a total of 30 Early Career Editorial Board Members. Early Career Editorial Board Members will hold the position for two years, with the possibility of renewal for a second term.

Application Eligibility:

• Completed their doctorate/Ph.D. degree in the past 10 years (considering exceptions for career interruptions, including medical and family leave);
• The candidate must have served as the first author of at least two peer-reviewed and published manuscripts;
• Researchers who have published extensively and had a broad impact in the fields of land system science;
• Researchers who currently (at the time of application) work as an assistant professor, research assistant professor, associate research scientist, post-doctoral fellow, or an equivalent early career position;
• Researchers that are active and engaged in their community (e.g., experienced at presenting at academic conferences or involved in professional organizations).

Benefits of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• A certificate of appointment as an Early Career Editorial Board Member will be provided;
• The achievements of Early Career Editorial Board Members are publicized on our journal’s media platforms to improve academic visibility;
• An opportunity to be promoted to Editorial Board Member based on contributions;
• The journal will regularly acknowledge those who have participated in the peer-review process on the journal website;
• Opportunities to participate in or host annual meetings and online seminars organized by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board Members.

Responsibilities of an Early Career Editorial Board Member:

• Publicizing and promoting the journal at academic conferences and among peers;
• Selecting high-quality articles and preparing bilingual media content for promotion;
• Reviewing at least four manuscripts per year;
• Providing input on any new initiatives of journal development;
• Inviting submissions from local and overseas world-leading scientists in respective research fields.

Applications:
Please download the application form here. 

Please send the application form and your academic resume to [email protected] with the subject of “Land Early Career Editorial Board Application + Name + Institute + Research Expertise”.

Application deadline: 31 December 2024.

Selection Process and Announcement:
The selection process: initial screening of application materials → selection by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board Members → email notification → issuing a certificate of appointment.

The selection will be made within one month of the application deadline, and the results will be announced on the journal website.

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to land, observation and monitoring, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) from 2022 to 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice.

The list of relevant papers can be seen below:

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to land, biodiversity, and human wellbeing, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) in 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice.

The list of relevant papers can be seen below:

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to land–climate interactions, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) in 2022 and 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice.

The list of relevant papers can be seen below:

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to land systems and global change, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) from 2022 to 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice. The list of relevant papers can be seen below.

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to land planning and landscape architecture, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) from 2022 to 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice. The list of relevant papers can be seen below.

1. “Planning and Designing Natural and Urban Environments with an Adaptive Visualization Framework: The Case of Pazhou Island, Guangzhou, Pearl River Delta”
by Adam Tomkins and Eckart Lange
Land 2023, 12(2), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020377
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/377

2. “A Decision Support Tool for Green Infrastructure Planning in the Face of Rapid Urbanization”
by Peta Brom, Kristine Engemann, Christina Breed, Maya Pasgaard, Titilope Onaolapo and Jens-Christian Svenning
Land 2023, 12(2), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020415
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/415

3. “Periphery and Integrated Planning: Coping with Rural and Touristic Challenges across Scales in the German Wadden Sea Region”
by Nora Mehnen, Ingo Mose, Peter Schaal, Frans Sijtsma, José Muñoz-Rojas, Mariia Fedoriak and Per Angelstam
Land 2023, 12(4), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040904
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/904

4. “Territorial and Consumption-Based Greenhouse Gas Emissions Assessments: Implications for Spatial Planning Policies”
by Kimmo Lylykangas, Rebecca Cachia, Damiano Cerrone, Kaie Kriiska, Ulrich Norbisrath, Peter R. Walke, Anssi Joutsiniemi and Jukka Heinonen
Land 2023, 12(6), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061144
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1144

5. “Beyond Biodiversity: Eliciting Diverse Values of Urban Green Spaces in Flanders”
by Thomas Bastiaensen, Ewaut Van Wambeke, Camelia El Bakkali, Jomme Desair, Charlotte Noël, Kaat Kenis, Lukas Vincke and Sander Jacobs
Land 2023, 12(6), 1186; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061186
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1186

6. “Sustainability Assessments of Peri-Urban Areas: An Evaluation Model for the Territorialization of the Sustainable Development Goals”
by Pasquale De Toro, Enrico Formato and Nicola Fierro
Land 2023, 12(7), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071415
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/7/1415

7. “Does the Perceived Effectiveness of Voluntary Conservation Programs Affect Household Adoption of Sustainable Landscaping Practices?”
by Xumin Zhang and Hayk Khachatryan
Land 2023, 12(7), 1429; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071429
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/7/1429

8. “High-Performance Landscapes: Re-Thinking Design and Management Choices to Enhance Ecological Benefits in Urban Environments”
by J. Amy Belaire, Heather Bass, Heather Venhaus, Keri Barfield, Tim Pannkuk, Katherine Lieberknecht and Shalene Jha
Land 2023, 12(9), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091689
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/9/1689

9. “Coexistence and Succession of Spontaneous and Planted Vegetation on Extensive Mediterranean Green Roofs: Impacts on Soil, Seed Banks, and Mesofauna”
by Christel Vidaller, Anaïs Jouet, Carmen Van Mechelen, Tania De Almeida, Jérôme Cortet, Lucie Rivière, Grégory Mahy, Martin Hermy and Thierry Dutoit
Land 2023, 12(9), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091726
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/9/1726

10. “Edible Garden Cities: Rethinking Boundaries and Integrating Hedges into Scalable Urban Food Systems”
by David Adams, Peter J. Larkham and Michael Hardman
Land 2023, 12(10), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101915
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1915

11. “The Welfare Landscape and Densification—Residents’ Relations to Local Outdoor Environments Affected by Infill Development”
by Märit Jansson and Julia Schneider
Land 2023, 12(11), 2021; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112021
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/11/2021

12. “Unpacking the Dynamics of Urban Transformation in Heritage Places through ‘Critical System Dynamics’: The Case of Beresford Square, Woolwich”
by Kalliopi Fouseki, Lorika Hisari, Xinqiao Dong, Chiara Bonacchi, Elizabeth Robson, Elisa Broccoli, Torgrim Sneve Guttormsen, Michele Nucciotti and Sharon Shieh
Land 2023, 12(11), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112040
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/11/2040

13. “The Road to India’s Renewable Energy Transition Must Pass through Crowded Lands”
by Joseph M. Kiesecker, Shivaprakash K. Nagaraju, James R. Oakleaf, Anthony Ortiz, Juan Lavista Ferres, Caleb Robinson, Srinivas Krishnaswamy, Raman Mehta, Rahul Dodhia, Jeffrey S. Evans et al.
Land 2023, 12(11), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112049
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/11/2049

14. “The Renewal of the Finnish Planning Legislation as a Strategy of Urban Planning and Development”
by Liisa Horelli and Sirkku Wallin
Land 2023, 12(11), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112085
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/11/2085

15. “The Urban Future: Relating Garden City Ideas to the Climate Emergency”
by Anastasia Nikologianni and Peter J. Larkham
Land 2022, 11(2), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020147
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/2/147

16. “Cellular Automata in Modeling and Predicting Urban Densification: Revisiting the Literature since 1971”
by Anasua Chakraborty, Sujit Sikder, Hichem Omrani and Jacques Teller
Land 2022, 11(7), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071113
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/7/1113

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to socio-economic relations and political issues, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) from 2022 to 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice. The list of relevant papers can be seen below.

1. “Maintaining Agricultural Production by Building Local Distribution Systems in the Northern Area of Japan”
by Noriaki Kawasaki, Tamaki Washio, Katsunori Nakamura and Ken-Ichiro Nagahama
Land 2023, 12(2), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020320
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/320

2. “Investigating the Factors Influencing the Intention to Adopt Long-Term Land Leasing in Northern Ireland”
by Adewale Henry Adenuga, Claire Jack and Ronan McCarry
Land 2023, 12(3), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030649
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/3/649

3. “The Impact of Government Support and Social Networks on Peasants’ Effective Participation in High-Standard Farmland Construction: Evidence from Yancheng City, China”
by Huawei Zheng, Kunyu Lou, Yuanyuan Yang, Han Wang and Yong Lu
Land 2023, 12(5), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050955
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/5/955

4. “Land Use Structure Optimization and Ecological Benefit Evaluation in Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration Based on Carbon Neutrality”
by Zhi Wang, Fengwan Zhang, Shaoquan Liu and Dingde Xu
Land 2023, 12(5), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051016
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/5/1016

5. “Integrating Energy Systems Language and Emergy Approach to Simulate and Analyze the Energy Flow Process of Land Transfer”
by Weiguo Fan, Wei Yao and Kehan Chen
Land 2023, 12(5), 1070; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051070
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/5/1070

6. “A Review of Village Ecosystem Structure and Stability: Implications for the Karst Desertification Control”
by Li Lin, Kangning Xiong, Qi Wang, Rong Zhao and Jiayi Zhou
Land 2023, 12(6), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061136
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1136

7. “The Olive Grove Landscape as a Tourist Resource in Andalucía: Oleotourism”
by Mª Genoveva Dancausa Millán, Javier Sanchez-Rivas García and Mª Genoveva Millán Vázquez de la Torre
Land 2023, 12(8), 1507; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081507
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/8/1507

8. “Spatiotemporal Linkages between Administrative Division Adjustment and Urban Form: Political Drivers of the Urban Polycentric Structure”
by Youlin Chen, Lei Wang, Peiheng Yu, Ning Nie, Xuan Yang and Yiyun Chen
Land 2023, 12(9), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091674
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/9/1674

9. “One Hundred Priority Questions for the Development of Sustainable Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa”
by Adam J. M. Devenish, Petra Schmitter, Nugun. P. Jellason, Nafeesa Esmail, Nur M. Abdi, Selase K. Adanu, Barbara Adolph, Maha Al-Zu’bi, Amali A. Amali, Jennie Barron et al. 
Land 2023, 12(10), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101879
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1879

10. “Does Environmental Aid Make a Difference? Analyzing Its Impact in Developing Countries”
by Chris McCarthy, Troy Sternberg and Lumbani Benedicto Banda
Land 2023, 12(10), 1953; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101953
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1953

11. “How Can Drones Uncover Land Degradation Hotspots and Restoration Hopespots? An Integrated Approach in the Mount Elgon Region with Community Perceptions”
by  Hosea Opedes, Shafiq Nedala, Caspar A. Mücher, Jantiene E. M. Baartman and Frank Mugagga
Land 2024, 13(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010001 (registering DOI)
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/1

12. “A Systematic Review of a City in a City: An Aerotropolitan Perspective”
by Emeka Austin Ndaguba, Jua Cilliers and Sumita Ghosh
Land 2022, 11(9), 1499; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091499
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1499

13. “Ecological Civilization in Practice: An Exploratory Study of Urban Agriculture in Four Chinese Cities”
by Alesandros Glaros, Geoff Luehr, Zhenzhong Si and Steffanie Scott
Land 2022, 11(10), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101628
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/10/1628

14. “Regional Planning, Land-Use Management, and Governance in German Metropolitan Regions—The Case of Rhine–Neckar Metropolitan Region”
by Simin Yan and Anna Growe
Land 2022, 11(11), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11112088
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/11/2088

15. “Climate Change and Natural Resource Scarcity: A Literature Review on Dry Farming”
by Naomi di Santo, Ilaria Russo and Roberta Sisto
Land 2022, 11(12), 2102; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122102
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2102

16. “The Contribution of Land Registration and Certification Program to Implement SDGs: The Case of the Amhara Region, Ethiopia”
by Ayelech Kidie Mengesha, Reinfried Mansberger, Doris Damyanovic, Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu and Gernot Stoeglehner
Land 2023, 12(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12010093
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/1/93

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to urban contexts and urban–rural interactions, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) in 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice. The list of relevant papers can be seen below.

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

Editor's Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from Land’s Academic Editors. The Editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are welcome to read the Editor's Choice Articles related to soil–sediment–water systems, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) in 2023. The full list of Editor's Choice Articles can be viewed at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land/editors_choice. The list of relevant papers can be seen below.

1. “Using a Rainfall Simulator to Define the Effect of Soil Conservation Techniques on Soil Loss and Water Retention”
by Jakub Stašek, Josef Krása, Martin Mistr, Tomáš Dostál, Jan Devátý, Tomáš Středa and Jan Mikulka
Land 2023, 12(2), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020431
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/2/431

2. “Satellite-Based Carbon Estimation in Scotland: AGB and SOC”
by Chun Ki Chan, Carla Arus Gomez, Anish Kothikar and P. M. Baiz-Villafranca
Land 2023, 12(4), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040818
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/4/818

3. “Nitrogenous and Phosphorus Soil Contents in Tierra del Fuego Forests: Relationships with Soil Organic Carbon, Climate, Vegetation and Landscape Metrics”
by Guillermo Martínez Pastur, Marie-Claire Aravena Acuña, Jimena E. Chaves, Juan M. Cellini, Eduarda M. O. Silveira, Julián Rodriguez-Souilla, Axel von Müller, Ludmila La Manna, María V. Lencinas and Pablo L. Peri
Land 2023, 12(5), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050983
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/5/983

4. “Interactive Effects Determine Radiocarbon Abundance in Soil Fractions of Global Biomes”
by Guoai Li, Xuxu Chai, Zheng Shi and Honghua Ruan
Land 2023, 12(5), 1072; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051072
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/5/1072

5. “Comparison of Soil Taxonomy (2022) and WRB (2022) Systems for Classifying Paddy Soils with Different Drainage Grades in South Korea”
by Dan-Bi Lee, Young-Nam Kim, Yeon-Kyu Sonn and Kye-Hoon Kim
Land 2023, 12(6), 1204; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061204
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/6/1204

6. “Erosion and Sediment Transport Modeling: A Systematic Review”
by Tesfa Gebrie Andualem, Guna A. Hewa, Baden R. Myers, Stefan Peters and John Boland
Land 2023, 12(7), 1396; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071396
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/7/1396

7. “A Modeling Approach for Analyzing the Hydrological Impacts of the Agribusiness Land-Use Scenarios in an Amazon Basin”
by Zandra A. Cunha, Carlos R. Mello, Samuel Beskow, Marcelle M. Vargas, Jorge A. Guzman and Maíra M. Moura
Land 2023, 12(7), 1422; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071422
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/7/1422

8. “Rotational Grazing Strategies Minimally Impact Soil Microbial Communities and Carbon Dynamics—A Texas Case Study”
by Jennifer M. Moore, Daniel K. Manter and Kristie A. Maczko
Land 2023, 12(8), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081517
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/8/1517

9. “Quantifying Damages to Soil Health and Emissions from Land Development in the State of Illinois (USA)”
by Elena A. Mikhailova, Hamdi A. Zurqani, Lili Lin, Zhenbang Hao, Christopher J. Post, Mark A. Schlautman, Gregory C. Post, George B. Shepherd and Renee M. Dixon
Land 2023, 12(8), 1567; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081567
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/8/1567

10. “Biochar as Soil Amendment: The Effect of Biochar on Soil Properties Using VIS-NIR Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy, Biochar Aging and Soil Microbiology—A Review”
by Vasileios Tsolis and Pantelis Barouchas
Land 2023, 12(8), 1580; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081580
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/8/1580

11. “Short-Term Effect of Different Inputs of Organic Amendments from Olive Oil Industry By-Products on Soil Organic Carbon and Physical Properties”
by Nadia Vignozzi, Maria Costanza Andrenelli, Alessandro Elio Agnelli, Angelo Fiore and Sergio Pellegrini
Land 2023, 12(8), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081628
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/8/1628

12. “Carbon Storage in Cropland Soils: Insights from Iowa, United States”
by Jim Jordahl, Marshall McDaniel, Bradley A. Miller, Michael Thompson, Sebastian Villarino and Lisa A. Schulte
Land 2023, 12(8), 1630; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081630
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/8/1630

13. “Opportunities for Monitoring Soil and Land Development to Support United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Case Study of the United States of America (USA)”
by Elena A. Mikhailova, Hamdi A. Zurqani, Lili Lin, Zhenbang Hao, Christopher J. Post, Mark A. Schlautman and George B. Shepherd
Land 2023, 12(10), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101853
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1853

14. “GIS-Based RUSLE Reservoir Sedimentation Estimates: Temporally Variable C-Factors, Sediment Delivery Ratio, and Adjustment for Stream Channel and Bank Sediment Sources”
by Patrick J. Starks, Daniel N. Moriasi and Ann-Marie Fortuna
Land 2023, 12(10), 1913; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101913
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1913

15. “Assessment and Mapping of Soil Salinity Using the EM38 and EM38MK2 Sensors: A Focus on the Modeling Approaches”
by Panagiota Antonia Petsetidi and George Kargas
Land 2023, 12(10), 1932; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101932
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1932

16. “Optimization of Irrigation of Wine Grapes with Brackish Water for Managing Soil Salinization”
by Vinod Phogat, Tim Pitt, Paul Petrie, Jirka Šimůnek and Michael Cutting
Land 2023, 12(10), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101947
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/10/1947

17. “Modeling Soil Health Indicators to Assess the Effectiveness of Sustainable Soil Management on Mediterranean Arable Land”
by Chiara Piccini, Roberta Farina, Claudia Di Bene, Silvia Vanino and Rosario Napoli
Land 2023, 12(11), 2001; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112001
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/11/2001

18. “How Can Plants Help Restore Degraded Tropical Soils?”
by Renaud Massoukou Pamba, Vincent Poirier, Pamphile Nguema Ndoutoumou and Terence Epule Epule
Land 2023, 12(12), 2147; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12122147
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2147

You are invited to view and submit relevant papers to the journal Land via the following link:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

Land Editorial Office

MDPI will be attending the 14th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SERE2024) in Tartu, Estonia, which will take place from 26 to 30 August 2024. Ecological restoration is a topic that holds a prominent place on both political and scientific agendas. The decline in biodiversity demands our urgent attention, and degraded ecosystems around the world require an effective and knowledge-driven path to recovery. The SERE2024 will cover topics ranging from the theory and practice of restoring various ecosystems (wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers, agroecosystems, urban and marine ecosystems) to the socioeconomic and political contexts of ecological restoration.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diversity;
• Land;
• Animals;
• Clean Technologies;
• Conservation;
• Ecologies;
• Environments;
• Forests;
• Geosciences.

If you are attending the conference, please visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://sere2024.org/.

MDPI will be attending the 5th Academic Forum on “Nitrogen Biogeochemical Cycle” in Wuhan, China, which will take place from 16 to 18 August 2024. The conference is organized by the Soil Science Society of China (SSSC). With the theme of “Global Change and Ecosystem Nitrogen Cycle”, this academic forum will focus on important issues such as the farmland ecosystem nitrogen cycle, wetland and water nitrogen cycle, forest and grassland nitrogen cycle, atmospheric nitrogen cycle, nitrogen cycle microorganisms and nitrogen management and policy, and conduct in-depth discussions.

The top ten scientific advances of the year in research on the nitrogen cycle will also be released to promote cross-integration and independent innovation among disciplines.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Diversity;
• Sustainability;
• Ecologies;
• Environments;
• Land;
• Limnological Review;
• Nitrogen;
• Plants.

If you are planning to attend the conference, please visit our booth. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://ncycle2024.aconf.cn/.

MDPI will be attending the 31st International Conference on Geoinformatics, to be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from 14 to 16 August 2024.

The International Conference on Geoinformatics is an official conference of the International Association of Chinese Professionals in Geographic Information Sciences (CPGIS) and has attracted not only the CPGIS community members but also researchers, professionals, and students from a broad range of communities. The conference is organized annually in different cities across the world, and as the organizers, we welcome you to the 31st International Conference on Geoinformatics to be organized in Toronto this year.

The main theme of the proposed conference is “Geospatial Sciences for Sustainability”. Under this theme, the objective of the conference is to offer an engaging platform for networking and exchanging new ideas and cutting-edge knowledge among diverse GIScience professionals worldwide and for promoting collaboration in geospatial science and sustainability.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Remote Sensing;
• IJGI;
• Land;
• Earth;
• Sustainability;
• Data;
• BDCC;
• Informatics;
• Smart Cities;
• Hydrology;
• Drones;
• Geosciences;
• Geomatics.

Our representatives, Dr. Elvis Wang and Dr. Zach Churcher, are eager to answer your questions and address any queries you may have.

If you are planning to attend the above conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.cpgis.org/Conferences/ConferenceDefault.aspx?ID=2080.

We are pleased to announce Dr. Pamela Durán-Díaz as one of the winners of the Land 2023 Outstanding Reviewer Award.

The following is a short interview with Dr. Pamela Durán-Díaz:

1. Could you give us a brief introduction of yourself and the main research content of your current work?

I am Pamela Duran-Diaz, a Mexican citizen of the world and Senior Planning and Governance Specialist at IHS of Erasmus University Rotterdam. I studied architecture in Mexico, and my curiosity brought me to Barcelona, where I pursued an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in urban planning; my thesis was about the role of water bodies in giving structure to all of the systems that converge in any given territory. My research work was the perfect excuse to travel around the world to see how water bodies condition urban dynamics, and it also opened the door to other opportunities: I became a postdoctoral fellow at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya to study the sustainable management of extreme cultural landscapes in China, Mali, and Mexico. I was organizing and facilitating workshops in collaboration with Tsinghua University, China University of Geosciences, and ESIAU in Bamako. What started as an adventure turned into 11 years of living in Spain.

In 2016, I joined the Technical University of Munich in Germany, where I became the coordinator of the Doctoral and Master's programs on Land Management and Geospatial Science (formerly Land Management and Land Tenure). I had to change the scale at which I looked at land, from the urban artefact to the whole territory, and from urban to peri-urban and rural areas. I got my hands deep into land governance on my second postdoc. It was a large capacity building project to strengthen land governance in Africa, which was a great opportunity to learn from the over 500 land professionals and stakeholders from about 30 different African countries that participated in that project! I was working hand in hand with consultants and stakeholders from the World Bank, UN Habitat, NELGA, Kadaster, ALPC, FAO, and more.

I have been involved in several advisory and capacity building projects around the world. That was how I got involved in impactful projects about frugivorous fish in the Amazonian Rainforest, Indigenous land rights in Latin America, women-led farmstays in the Himalayas, food sovereignty in Colombia, urban gardening in Germany and Mexico, water management in Nepal, environmental risk assessment in Mexico, the policy review of the UNESCO Convention, the potential of AI for the energy transition in Ghana, Zambia, DRC, and Argentina, and many more! These experiences inspired me to pursue my Habilitation in “Sustainable Land Governance for Water–Energy–Food Systems”. I am one paper and a public presentation away from achieving it at the Technical University of Munich.

2. Can you tell us how you first discovered open access journals and your thoughts on how open access affects authors?

I am a millennial; thus, I grew up in an analogical world transitioning to a digital one. Therefore, during my studies and at the beginning of my professional career, I spent most of my afternoons and free time in the library. I relied on the subscriptions from my university to get access to scientific journals and impactful research. Moreover, because of the historical approach of my doctoral studies, I needed to read discontinued resources that weren’t available at my local library or digitally. Hence, a significant part of my scholarship went to book acquisition on bidding platforms.

I did not really explore open access journals until I was already a postdoctoral researcher. It truly changed my view on equitable access to data, innovation, and research! I used to believe that information was within reach of everyone, until I found a world that was sort of hidden due to the lack of resources. This is still the reality for many of my colleagues in the Global South; many universities and research institutions have little or no resources to invest in subscriptions (which hinders the ability of being updated) and/or to publish research (which obstructs the visibility of outstanding research projects).

Open access aims to change such disparities. Despite the hard work, it is a laudable cause.

3. What are the key factors and aspects that you consider that should be taken seriously in the process of reviewing manuscripts?

Reviewing manuscripts is, to a certain degree, like supervising research. The findings and results will be tied to the reviewer, even if done anonymously. The reviewer is—at least partly—responsible for the reliability of the data, the findings, and even the recommendations provided. There is an ethical dimension to peer reviewing: it implies having the knowledge and competence on specific topics; it requires being constantly updated on current trends, flourishing topics/innovations, and pressing challenges. Furthermore, one should have the ability to give constructive feedback that would improve both the scientific outcomes and communication of such outcomes.

As a rule of thumb, the ethical considerations in the process of reviewing manuscripts are updated knowledge/expertise on the topic, detailed constructive feedback, and readability of the results.

4. How do you feel about being awarded the Outstanding Reviewer Award, and could you share any insights or recommendations for future reviewers?

I feel truly honored to be awarded the Outstanding Reviewer Award! I have been reading, contributing, and reviewing for Land for many years, so I truly enjoy the acknowledgement from the scientific community.

I would like to recommend my fellow researchers to embark on the review process as well. One should not underestimate how nurturing this process is: it enhances our understanding of global challenges, while making science accessible to all.

5. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?

While we cannot foresee many of the challenges ahead of us (for instance, the pandemic took us by surprise), there are several trends that help us make fair estimations or predictions of what may be coming next. We are about to see the effects of climate change that will transform the world as we know it. This means that we are more likely to see an increment in studies on meteorological variability, biodiversity loss, monitoring systems for environmental risks (such as flooding, landslides, droughts, etc.), societal challenges including displaced population, food insecurity, altered land tenure systems, affected land rights of vulnerable populations (including women, the youth, Indigenous peoples, and the urban/rural/peri-urban poor), and struggles over resources.

MDPI will attend the RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2024, which will take place in London and online, from the evening of Tuesday 27 August to Friday 30 August 2024.

The RGS-IBG Annual International Conference 2024 will be chaired by Professor Stephen Legg (University of Nottingham, UK). The Chair’s theme for this year's conference is mapping. The conference will explore mapping in all its forms, in a world that is saturated with maps, from historical cartography to the newest technologies and digital practices. Maps trace invasions, financial crises, pandemics and environmental disasters, and our responses to them. They plot and coordinate surveillance, and counter-plot evasion and resistance. They chart jet streams, oceanic oscillations and ozone holes, heatwaves, droughts, and drizzles. Maps map territory and sovereignty, but also evidence indigenous land claims and historical landscapes of meaning.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Land;
• Sustainability;
• IJGI;
• Forests;
• Atmosphere;
• Remote Sensing;
• Earth;
• Quaternary;
• Geomatics;
• Geosciences;
• Geographies.

If you are planning on attending this conference, please do not hesitate to stop by our booth #8 and start a conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.rgs.org/research/annual-international-conference.

MDPI will be attending The Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America 2024 held in Long Beach, USA, from 4 to 9 August 2024.

The annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America invites all ecologists to come together and share new knowledge, learn from one another, meet old friends and make new ones, and grow professionally. This year’s meeting will emphasize society’s mission of supporting ecologists throughout their careers. The emphasis recognizes the need for us to continually invest in all the people who advance the science and practice of ecology. Among many aspects of professional development, we are planning programming and invite contributions that consider the transformational potential of effective mentorship.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Land;
• Sustainability;
• Forests;
• Environments;
• Nitrogen;
• Diversity;
• Biology;
• Oceans;
• Resources;
• Ecologies;
• Remote Sensing;
• Hydrology.

If you plan on attending this conference, feel free to stop by our booth at #110. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person to answer any questions you may have. For more information about the conference, please see the following link: https://www.esa.org/longbeach2024/.

Five new journals covering multiple subjects have launched their inaugural issue in June 2024. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all the Editorial Board Members and each journal will ensure its high-quality output using excellent editorial and rigorous peer review processes, to ensure that the articles achieve high impact and visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Marco Ranucci, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	anaesthetic medications; blood and fluid management; pain management; critical care; critical illness | view journal scope | submit an article
	Dr. Giovanni E. Cacciamani, University of Southern California, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	surgical/procedural complications; complications; perioperative adverse events; postoperative adverse events | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr.  Gassan Hodaifa, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain | Editorial | view inaugural issue	laboratory management; laboratory safety; protective equipment; laboratory problems and challenges; laboratory Innovation | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski, Texas A&M University, USA | Editorial | view inaugural issue	companion animals health and disease; veterinary care and nutrition; genetics and genomics; behavior and welfare; human-animal relations | view journal scope | submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Pierfrancesco De Paola, University of Naples Federico II, Italy | Editorial | view inaugural issue	real estate appraisal; economic and financial valuation of real estate projects; sustainable real estate; housing and urban economics | view journal scope | submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

MDPI is pleased to announce the inclusion of 237 journals in the 2024 release of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and share the key results (see above).

This year, journals covered in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) received category ranks together with journals in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI). Overall, 139 MDPI journals indexed in ESCI are included in the new unified rankings for the first time.

Enhanced Comparability of Data

According to Clarivate, "the creation of unified category rankings [provides] a simpler and more complete category view for the evaluation of journal performance. [...] The category-first approach simplifies journal performance assessment with a holistic view of all journals in each subject category."

We are thrilled to announce that 72% of our ranked MDPI journals (171 of 237) are above average, in Q1 or Q2. Twenty-nine of our journals received their first Impact Factor this year, accounting for more than 5% of the journals accepted into the Web of Science last year.

MDPI Journals Ranked in JCR

The following data includes all MDPI journals indexed in SCIE, SSCI, ESCI and AHCI.