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Land
Special Issues
Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development
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Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 September 2025 | Viewed by 5545

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pengtao Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Tourism, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an 710128, China
Interests: land resource management; climate change; ecosystem service; town and country planning; ecohydrology; remote sensing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xufeng Cui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Business Administration, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, Wuhan 430073, China
Interests: land management; land use planning; land information; geographic information system; natural resources management; agroeconomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Basanta Paudel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
Interests: land use; land cover; land resources; ecosystem services; remote sensing; geography; GIS; UAV; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yi He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Earth Surface System and Environmental Carrying Capacity, College of Urban and Environmental Science, Northwest University, Xi’an 710127, China
Interests: ecohydrology; hydrology remote sensing; hydrological processes; soil and water conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce a call for papers for the Special Issue on “Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development”, focusing on high-quality in the Yellow River Basin.

The high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin is essential to China's socioeconomic development and ecological security, requiring balance between national land space and ecological restoration. This is the central theme of this Special Issue, associated with one session of the 2024 Annual Conference on Development Geography (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/hWIpMToMtNDuhehcsYni2w), held on 26–29 September at Nanjing University, in Nanjing, China.

We are particularly interested in articles on the topics below, with a particular emphasis on China as the primary region of study, including regions beyond the Yellow River Basin. We also wish extend a warm invitation to international scholars conducting comprehensive research and exploration of pertinent or analogous subjects within a global framework. The topics of interest are the following:

  • Efficient land use planning;
  • Ecological vulnerability and resilience;
  • Smart land use planning and sustainable development;
  • Wetland ecosystem services;
  • New theories of land use modeling and simulation;
  • Water–energy–food–environmental system coupling;
  • Green transformation of industries;
  • Green urban land utilization efficiency;
  • Landslide sensitivity.

This Special Issue will be also open to submissions from authors who did not present at the conference. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Pengtao Wang
Dr. Xufeng Cui
Dr. Basanta Paudel
Dr. Yi He
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • land space
  • ecological resilience
  • water–energy–food–land nexus
  • landslide sensitivity
  • land use planning
  • Yellow River Basin
  • sustainable land use
  • high-quality development
  • modeling and simulation of land use

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 4591 KiB  
Article
Carbon Balance Matching Relationships and Spatiotemporal Evolution Patterns in China’s National-Level Metropolitan Areas
by Mengqi Liu, Yang Yu, Maomao Zhang, Pengtao Wang, Nuo Shi, Yichen Ren and Di Zhang
Land 2025, 14(4), 800; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040800 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 329
Abstract
In the urgent context of global climate change and carbon neutrality goals, effective carbon balance regulation is critical for achieving temperature control targets. Metropolitan areas encounter significant challenges in carbon emission reduction, energy transition advancement, and enhancement of sequestration capabilities. However, traditional carbon [...] Read more.
In the urgent context of global climate change and carbon neutrality goals, effective carbon balance regulation is critical for achieving temperature control targets. Metropolitan areas encounter significant challenges in carbon emission reduction, energy transition advancement, and enhancement of sequestration capabilities. However, traditional carbon balance analysis methods have limitations in capturing dynamic changes and guiding precise regulation. Therefore, this study developed a dynamic–static classification system for carbon balance based on the Ecological Support Coefficient (ESC) and the Economic Contributive Coefficient (ECC). This system examined carbon emissions and carbon sequestration in China’s 14 national-level metropolitan areas from 2000 to 2020. The results showed that: (1) Carbon emissions showed an increasing trend, exhibiting a spatial distribution with higher levels in the north, moderate levels in the central region, and the lowest levels in the southeast. In contrast, carbon sequestration exhibited a spatial pattern with higher levels in the east, moderate levels in the central region, and lower levels in the west. (2) Static classification revealed that the ECC and ESC of metropolitan areas in the central and northern regions were relatively weaker than those in other regions. Dynamic classification further showed an upward trend in the economic and ecological capabilities of these central and northern metropolitan areas. In contrast, metropolitan areas along the coast and within the Yangtze River Economic Belt needed to optimize their economic–ecological coordination efficiency. Although southern coastal metropolitan areas demonstrated robust economic vitality, they encountered significant ecological support pressures. (3) Economic development level and ecological environmental quality were the predominant factors in metropolitan area classification. Regions with a higher ECC tended to exhibit an enhanced ESC, while regions with a stronger ESC prioritized economic growth. This classification system provided a solid scientific basis for formulating differentiated low-carbon transformation strategies, thereby supporting high-quality development in China’s metropolitan areas while maintaining a dynamic balance between economic and ecologic objectives. Moreover, it offered both theoretical foundations and practical guidance for optimizing sustainable development pathways in similar metropolitan areas globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 13572 KiB  
Article
Impacts and Prediction of Land Use/Cover Change on Runoff in the Jinghe River Basin, China
by Ling Zhang, Weipeng Li, Zhongsheng Chen, Ruilin Hu, Zhaoqi Yin, Chanrong Qin and Xueqi Li
Land 2025, 14(3), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030626 - 16 Mar 2025
Viewed by 435
Abstract
The Jinghe River flows through the gully area of the Loess Plateau, where soil erosion is relatively severe. With the intensification of human activities, quantitatively evaluating the impact of land use/cover change (LUCC) on runoff is of paramount importance. This study is based [...] Read more.
The Jinghe River flows through the gully area of the Loess Plateau, where soil erosion is relatively severe. With the intensification of human activities, quantitatively evaluating the impact of land use/cover change (LUCC) on runoff is of paramount importance. This study is based on the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) models, and quantitatively analyzes the effect of LUCC on runoff in the Jinghe River Basin (JRB) through land use data from 2000 to 2020 and predicted scenarios for 2030 that encourage development, farmland protection, and ecological protection. The results show that reductions in farmland, grassland, and forest areas promote runoff, while increases in construction land similarly contribute to greater runoff. In all 2030 scenarios, the JRB is dominated by farmland and grassland. The mean annual runoff of LUCC under the three simulated prediction scenarios shows an increasing trend compared to LUCC in 2020, and the distribution of mean annual runoff depth is roughly the same. In addition, there is a strong interconnection between land use types and runoff in their dynamic relationship. Within the LUCC scenario, the decrease in farmland and forest land, along with the growth of construction land area promote runoff, while grassland plays a suppressive role in runoff. The results can offer a scientific foundation for improving soil erosion as well as optimizing land use patterns in the JRB. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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19 pages, 1831 KiB  
Article
Spatial Injustice in Construction Land Reduction: Measurement and Decomposition
by Jianglin Lu, Hongmei Liu, Keqiang Wang, Silu Zhang and Xin Fan
Land 2025, 14(3), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030514 - 28 Feb 2025
Viewed by 700
Abstract
Spatial justice requires equitable construction land allocation to realize disadvantaged regions’ development rights. Construction land reduction (CLR) in economically developed areas is a complex and multi-dimensional process of land spatial optimization. While optimizing the allocation of land resources, this process may also lead [...] Read more.
Spatial justice requires equitable construction land allocation to realize disadvantaged regions’ development rights. Construction land reduction (CLR) in economically developed areas is a complex and multi-dimensional process of land spatial optimization. While optimizing the allocation of land resources, this process may also lead to challenges in spatial justice. This study assessed spatial injustice using construction land data from W-district, Shanghai, based on spatial simulation. Planning documents indicated that some areas had a net resident outflow; the simulation showed that promoting CLR decreased mixed land use in these areas. Control of construction land decreased industrial and mining storage and rural residential land; urban residential, commercial, and other construction land increased. Bottom-line planning thinking reduced spatial injustice by approximately 0.0393 overall (the reduction rate was nearly 14.05%). Under territorial spatial planning, construction land stock quotas were optimized; CLR quotas were transferred, creating significant differences in construction land internal structures. Weighted Gini coefficients suggested unfair distribution between urban residential and commercial land, with the latter being more concentrated. Industrial and mining storage, other construction, and urban residential land contribute to spatial injustice. Industrial and mining storage and urban residential land have positive marginal effects; those of commercial, rural residential, and other construction land are negative. Promoting centralized residences has consolidated scattered rural residential land; decreasing rural residential land inhibits spatial injustice reduction. Construction land and the population can be agglomerated simultaneously to reduce construction land inequality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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16 pages, 3704 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Driving Forces of Ecosystem Services in the Yangtze River Basin, China
by Zhenwei Wang, Jinjin Mao, Yelin Peng, Jiahui Wu, Xiaochun Wang and Lilan Su
Land 2025, 14(2), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020411 - 16 Feb 2025
Viewed by 578
Abstract
Ecosystem services (ESs) are increasingly recognized as critical to sustainable development and human well-being and are frequently used as indicators in environmental governance policies. However, existing studies mostly assess the performance of isolated single ESs, ignoring the management data needs of local governments [...] Read more.
Ecosystem services (ESs) are increasingly recognized as critical to sustainable development and human well-being and are frequently used as indicators in environmental governance policies. However, existing studies mostly assess the performance of isolated single ESs, ignoring the management data needs of local governments for comprehensive gate-keeping and the easy monitoring of regional ecosystems, and lacking holistic gate-keeping indicators for local ESs. To address these shortcomings, this study assessed the spatial changes in five main ESs in the Yangtze River basin (YTRB) in China by creating a comprehensive ESs indicator (CESI) using multi-source data, and introduced the hotspot analyses and spatial econometric models to explore the driving forces of CESI. Results showed that during the study period, the CESI in the YTRB increased from 0.44 in 2000 to 0.47 in 2020. High-value areas were mainly concentrated in the hilly and mountainous regions, whereas the low-value areas were predominantly situated in the plain areas. From 2000 to 2020, the hot spots of CESI were primarily located in the middle and the lower reaches of the YTRB. Conversely, the cold spots were situated in the upper reaches of the YTRB. The regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between socioeconomic factors and CESI, while a significant positive association between natural background factors and CESI. Of the natural background factors, average precipitation has the largest positive effect on CESI, with each 1% increase resulting in up to 0.369% increase in CESI. In contrast, GDP density had the greatest negative impact on CESI, with each 1% increase triggering a reduction in CESI of up to 6.210%. The findings suggest that CESI, which integrates multiple ESs, can effectively simplify the difficulty of regional ecological regulation. The driving mechanism indicates that environmental protection policies, when combined with the natural conditions and intensity of human activities in the region, would be more coherent with varying regulatory intensities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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25 pages, 22509 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Driving Forces of Water Conservation Using Geodetector with Optimized Parameters: A Case Study of the Yiluo River Basin
by Kang Li, Hui Qian, Siqi Li, Zhiming Cao, Panpan Tian, Xiaoxin Shi, Jie Chen and Yanyan Gao
Land 2025, 14(2), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020274 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 651
Abstract
Accurately identifying the impact of different factors on water conservation is influenced by the spatial grid scale. However, existing studies on water conservation often overlook the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). MAUP is one of the key factors contributing to the uncertainty in [...] Read more.
Accurately identifying the impact of different factors on water conservation is influenced by the spatial grid scale. However, existing studies on water conservation often overlook the Modifiable Areal Unit Problem (MAUP). MAUP is one of the key factors contributing to the uncertainty in spatial analysis results. The Qinling Mountains are a critical water conservation area, with the Yiluo River Basin (YLRB) as a key sub-basin. This study uses the Optimized Parameter GeoDetector (OPGD) model to analyze water conservation changes and influencing factors in the YLRB from 1990 to 2020. By optimizing spatial scale (2 km grid) and driving factor discretization, the OPGD model addresses spatial heterogeneity and the MAUP, enhancing analysis accuracy. Results show a fluctuating upward trend in water conservation depth, averaging 0.94 mm yearly, with a spatial decline from southwest to northeast. High–high and low–low clusters dominate the region, with some areas consistently showing high or low values. Key conservation zones expanded by 2748 km2, reflecting significant enhancement. Natural factors, particularly precipitation, predominantly influence water conservation, outweighing human activities. The interaction between precipitation and temperature notably affects dynamic changes, while human impacts, such as land use, play a secondary role. The findings suggest water management should prioritize climatic factors and integrate land-use policies to enhance conservation. The OPGD model’s application improves factor identification and supports targeted ecological and water management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 5996 KiB  
Article
Spatial Reconstruction and Determinants of Industrial Land in China’s Urban Expansion: A Theoretical Framework
by Dan Zhao, Kewei Liu, Jianwei Li and Jiagang Zhai
Land 2025, 14(2), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020213 - 21 Jan 2025
Viewed by 670
Abstract
The evolution of industrial land layout is a significant feature of changes in urban land use types during rapid urbanization. However, the theoretical studies investigating the evolution mechanism behind industrial land are scarce. This study developed a dynamic theoretical framework examining the relationship [...] Read more.
The evolution of industrial land layout is a significant feature of changes in urban land use types during rapid urbanization. However, the theoretical studies investigating the evolution mechanism behind industrial land are scarce. This study developed a dynamic theoretical framework examining the relationship between government and market forces. Furthermore, this study examined the determinants of industrial land evolution in Xi’an from 1994 to 2019 by using a logistic regression model. The results showed that industrial land area increased from 55.02 km2 to 126.63 km2 from 1994 to 2013 but later rapidly reduced to 106.61 km2 in 2019. The spatial distribution of industrial land exhibited significant deindustrialization and suburbanization during park-orientated agglomeration and showed a shift from large-area small-patch to multi-center large-patch agglomeration. Factors such as development zone policies, land prices, agglomeration benefits, land supply, and transportation infrastructure are key determinants of suburbanization, while land prices and agglomeration benefits are key determinants of deindustrialization. This study reveals the mechanisms driving industrial land evolution and offers guidance in improving the rationality of urban land layout and achieving industry–city integration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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19 pages, 3659 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Built Environment on Mixed Land Use: Evidence from Xi’an
by Jianwei Li, Yun Chen, Dan Zhao and Jiagang Zhai
Land 2024, 13(12), 2214; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122214 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1204
Abstract
Mixed land use is recognized as a crucial strategy for enhancing urban vitality and promoting urban renewal. While existing research has mainly focused on measuring mixed land use along single dimensions, there remains a notable gap in studies that explore multidimensional measurements and [...] Read more.
Mixed land use is recognized as a crucial strategy for enhancing urban vitality and promoting urban renewal. While existing research has mainly focused on measuring mixed land use along single dimensions, there remains a notable gap in studies that explore multidimensional measurements and their impacts at the block scale. This study introduces a multidimensional mixed-degree index based on diverse data sources such as POI and land use status to comprehensively assess mixed land use levels at the block scale in Xi’an’s central urban area. Additionally, a multiple linear regression model is applied to analyze how the built environment influences mixed land use. Findings reveal that mixed land use at the block scale can be objectively evaluated across three dimensions: quantity, distance, and attribute. In Xi’an, mixed land use demonstrates a spatial distribution characterized by core agglomeration and concentric decline. The study highlights that block area and road network density significantly influence mixed land use, with block area negatively impacting it the most and road network density positively affecting it secondarily. These insights provide valuable guidance for optimizing land use practices and promoting high-quality urban development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimization of Land Space for High-Quality and Sustainable Development)
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