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Tropical semiarid regions are naturally prone to environmental damage. Human activity can worsen this situation. To understand how human actions affect the ecosystem, plan land use effectively, and establish targeted management practices, assessing environmental vulnerability is crucial. This study focuses on a sub-basin receiving water transfers from the São Francisco River in Brazil's semiarid region. Here, we map and evaluate how land use and occupation alter natural vulnerability. We also propose zoning strategies to support water resource management and implement sustainable development policies in the region. To achieve this, we conducted an integrated analysis of physical factors (soil types, geology, climate, vegetation, and landforms) and spatial land-use data using geographic information systems (GIS) and map algebra techniques. Map algebra allowed us to combine these various datasets within the GIS environment, enabling the creation of maps that synthesize both natural and environmental vulnerability across the study area. Following analysis of these vulnerability maps, our findings reveal a high level of vulnerability. The areas with high to very high degrees of natural vulnerability coincide with the places that have high slopes, high altitudes, Lithic Neosols, and thick vegetation. Furthermore, the interaction between environmental factors and human activity exacerbates vulnerability. Based on the environmental vulnerability assessment, we defined four environmental management zones. These zones require distinct protection measures and management approaches. As a method to potentially improve the basin's vulnerability scenario, soil conservation measures are recommended. This approach is highly relevant for managing land in tropical semiarid regions and, with adaptations to specific regional factors, can be applied globally., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Groundwater resources are highly stressed due to their overuse, especially in the arid region. This study is aimed at discovering potential groundwater resource zones using currently available data and state-of-the-art methods. This will lead to effective management of scarcely available and rapidly depleting groundwater resources in the Wadi Al-Jizi catchment, located in the Al-Batinah region. Data on terrain characteristics, geology, and geomorphology was integrated using remote sensing techniques and geographical information system (GIS). The result from this exercise was used for the identification of areas with a high potential for groundwater availability. These areas were classified into five types, namely, excellent, good, medium, low, and very low representing 11%, 59.5%, 26%, and 3.5% of the total area, respectively. The present study shows that the integration of all the weighted parameters shows promising results in the zonation of groundwater. This study shall be useful to the decision-makers in highlighting potential drilling as well as recharge sites in the area., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Due to rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization, it is particularly important to address the increasingly serious ecological security issues in the process of urbanization, while it is important to grasp the impact of changes in land use structure on ecological security for scientific planning and to aid decision-making. As a typical valley basin industrialized city in northwest China, Lanzhou has complex geomorphology and climate with distinct regional characteristics, and the relationship between land use and ecological security is complex. In order to understand the current status and influencing factors of ecological security in various regions of Lanzhou, and to explore the intrinsic connection between ecological security and land use, this study constructed an ecological security evaluation index system based on the pressure-state-response (PSR) model with 14 secondary factors including natural, social, and economic factors. Based on the entropy method, GIS was used to analyze the trend of ecological security in each district and to clarify the coupling relationship between ecological security and land use change in Lanzhou City. The results show that the ecological security index (ESI) of Xigu District, a typical heavy industrial area, increased from 0.26 to 0.35, and the ESI of Yuzhong County, an agricultural development area, increased from 0.51 to 0.55 from 2000 to 2017. Low ESI was mainly distributed in areas with developed heavy industry, while high ESI was mainly found in areas with favorable natural conditions and mainly agricultural development. Economic factors were the leading factors affecting the ecological security of Lanzhou. In general, changes in land use structure and ecological security were inextricably linked, and the two influence and interact with each other. These results could provide some reference for the study of ecological security development and land use change in typical river valley cities and also provide a new path for other cities to study ecological security and the conservation of the ecological environment., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Continual, historical, and accurate information about the land use/land cover (LULC) changes of the earth's surface is extremely important for sustainable management of natural resources. In this study, historical topographic sheets, IRS P6 LISS-III, and LANDSAT TM images were used to provide recent and historical LULC conditions of the Eastern Ghats Highlands of east India. The supervised classification results were further improved by employing image enhancement and visual interpretation. Ratio Vegetation Index with fuzzy-based possibilistic c-means classification approach has improved the classification accuracy of the shifting cultivated area. Post-classification comparisons of the classified images indicated that the major change consisted of barren land and forestland changing into agricultural land and scrubland. Between 1931 and 2008, forest cover was decreased from 52.7% to 29.6% of total area. There was an increase in the scrub area from 874 (10.4%) to 1269 km 2 (15.2%), and agricultural land from 978 (11.7%) to 2864 km 2 (34.2%) during the same period. The rate of deforestation was found to be 0.65 km 2 per year for reserve forest and 24.50 km 2 per year for mixed forest. The shifting cultivated area in the district was 308.7 km 2 during 2004, and that has been reduced since then and now is stabilized to 186.4 km 2 area. Among this 186.4 km 2 area, nearly half is covered by abandoned shifting cultivation. The decadal rate of decrease of shifting cultivated area is 0.15% per year. The shifting cultivated areas were mainly distributed at elevations 580-810 and 810-907 m and slopes 20-30 and 30-40%. Southeast and south facing slopes were preferred for shifting cultivation. Based on the identified causes of the change in shifting cultivation, policy recommendations for their better management were made.

Spatio-temporal land-use change modeling, simulation, and prediction have become one of the critical issues in the last three decades due to uncertainty, structure, flexibility, accuracy, the ability for improvement, and the capability for integration of available models. Therefore, many types of models such as dynamic, statistical, and machine learning (ML) models have been used in the geographic information system (GIS) environment to fulfill the high-performance requirements of land-use modeling. This paper provides a literature review on models for modeling, simulating, and predicting land-use change to determine the best approach that can realistically simulate land-use changes. Therefore, the general characteristics of conventional and ML models for land-use change are described, and the different techniques used in the design of these models are classified. The strengths and weaknesses of the various dynamic, statistical, and ML models are determined according to the analysis and discussion of the characteristics of these models. The results of the review confirm that ML models are the most powerful models for simulating land-use change because they can include all driving forces of land-use change in the simulation process and simulate linear and non-linear phenomena, which dynamic models and statistical models are unable to do. However, ML models also have limitations. For instance, some ML models are complex, the simulation rules cannot be changed, and it is difficult to understand how ML models work in a system. However, this can be solved via the use of programming languages such as Python, which in turn improve the simulation capabilities of the ML models.

The formation of many sources of pollution in a short period of time is due to mountain soil erosion by water. One of the major mechanisms decisive in the intensification of such erosion is the loosening of soil material on the slope. Water quality studies show the impact of diversified spatial management and allow making the right decisions in environmental management in mountain areas with high variability of use and land cover. The research undertaken as part of the paper was carried out in order to determine the dependency between total suspended solids (TSS) and the physicochemical parameters of surface waters and the amount of soil losses in the use structure within the mountain catchment. The paper focused on the frequency of phenomena in time and the possibility of stopping the surface runoff on the slope and on the soil's susceptibility to water erosion. The dependencies between multipoint sampling and the concentration of material washed off the slope due to precipitation were verified with a multivariate analysis. Sampling took place in hydrometric sections, and during small floods, in the waterbed cross section. Research shows that such sampling is the basis for the calculation of the transported load, reflecting the average variation in concentration. The variation in the volume of the load from the individual parts of the catchment was assessed by the spatial autoregressive model. It was found that the use of river basin areas affects water chemistry. Water reservoirs are an important ecological barrier for the migration of nitrate nitrogen (N-NO 3 ) and phosphate phosphorus (P-PO 4 ), which is marked by changes in the growing season. Water along the sections of the river near the quarry with a high degree of sodding showed good quality condition. Despite significant differences between measurement sampling sites, high total dissolved solid (TDS) values were found in communities adjacent to forests and meadows. However, the highest electrical conductivity (EC) and TSS concentrations were found in the interface with cultivated areas. Biogenic indices showed variation depending on the way the adjacent areas were used. GIS linked spatial variables with the formation of water pollution. The analysis of spatial autoregression pointed to the impact of arable land. Moreover, the analysis of spatial autoregression with the MESS function designated a connection between agricultural land use and nitrite nitrogen (N-NO 2 ), EC, TSS, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Graphical abstract ᅟ.

China's intensive agriculture has led to a broad range of adverse impacts upon ecosystems and thereby caused environmental quality degradation. One of the fundamental problems that face land managers when dealing with agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is to quantitatively assess the NPS pollution loads from different sources at a national scale. In this study, export scenarios and geo-spatial data were used to calculate the agricultural NPS pollution loads of nutrient, pesticide, plastic film residue, and crop straw burning in China. The results provided the comprehensive and baseline knowledge of agricultural NPS pollution from China's arable farming system in 2014. First, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) emission loads to water environment were estimated to be 1.44 Tg N and 0.06 Tg P, respectively. East and south China showed the highest load intensities of nutrient release to aquatic system. Second, the amount of pesticide loss to water of seven pesticides that are widely used in China was estimated to be 30.04 tons (active ingredient (ai)). Acetochlor was the major source of pesticide loss to water, contributing 77.65% to the total loss. The environmental impacts of pesticide usage in east and south China were higher than other parts. Third, 19.75% of the plastic film application resided in arable soils. It contributed a lot to soil phthalate ester (PAE) contamination. Fourth, 14.11% of straw produce were burnt in situ, most occurring in May to July (post-winter wheat harvest) in North China Plain and October to November (post-rice harvest days) in southeast China. All the above agricultural NPS pollution loadings were unevenly distributed across China. The spatial correlations between pollution loads at land unit scale were also estimated. Rising labor cost in rural China might be a possible explanation for the general positive correlations of the NPS pollution loads. It also indicated a co-occurred higher NPS pollution loads and a higher human exposure risk in eastern regions. Results from this research might provide full-scale information on the status and spatial variation of various agricultural NPS pollution loads for policy makers to control the NPS pollution in China.

Do more natural settings improve students' learning? We collected surveys immediately following 283 U.S.-based environmental education (EE) field trip programs for youth and used land cover data to examine the relationship between levels of naturalness, defined as the percentage of natural land cover of the EE field trip site, and student learning outcomes. We also examined whether differences in levels of naturalness between students' day-to-day environment and the field trip setting were related to student learning outcomes. When controlling for grade and race, both levels of naturalness and novel levels of naturalness accounted for approximately 4% of the variance in student outcomes suggesting that other field trip characteristics are more influential.

Studies examining associations between weight status and neighborhood built environment (BE) have shown inconsistent results and have generally focused on urban settings. However, many Americans do not live in metropolitan areas and BE impacts may be different outside of metropolitan areas. We sought to examine whether the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and neighborhood BE exists and varies by geographic region across small towns in the United States. We conducted telephone surveys with 2156 adults and geographic information systems data in nine towns located within three geographic regions (Northeast, Texas, Washington) in 2011 and 2012. Multiple regression models examined the relationship between individual BMI and BE measures. Most physical activity variables were significantly associated with lower BMI in all geographic regions. We saw variation across geographic region in the relationship between characteristics of the BE variables and BMI. Some perceived and objectively-measured characteristics of the BE were significantly associated with adult BMI, but significant relationships varied by geographic region. For example, in the Northeast, perceived attractiveness of the neighborhood as a reason for why they chose to live there was associated with lower BMI; in Texas, the perceived presence of a fast food restaurant was negatively associated with BMI; in Washington, perceived presence of trees along the streets was associated with lower BMI. Our findings suggest that regional variation plays a role in the relationship between adult BMI and BE characteristics in small towns. Regardless of geographic location, interventions should encourage utilitarian walking and other forms of physical activity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Every summer, North Korea (NK) suffers from floods, resulting in decreased agricultural production and huge economic loss. Besides meteorological reasons, several factors can accelerate flood damage. Environmental studies about NK are difficult because NK is inaccessible due to the division of Korea. Remote sensing (RS) can be used to delineate flood inundated areas in inaccessible regions such as NK. The objective of this study was to investigate the spatial characteristics of flood susceptible areas (FSAs) using multi-temporal RS data and digital elevation model data. Such study will provide basic information to restore FSAs after reunification. Defining FSAs at the study site revealed that rice paddies with low elevation and low slope were the most susceptible areas to flood in NK. Numerous sediments from upper streams, especially streams through crop field areas on steeply sloped hills, might have been transported and deposited into stream channels, thus disturbing water flow. In conclusion, NK floods may have occurred not only due to meteorological factors but also due to inappropriate land use for flood management. In order to mitigate NK flood damage, reforestation is needed for terraced crop fields. In addition, drainage capacity for middle stream channel near rice paddies should be improved.

Although norovirus outbreaks are well-recognized to have strong winter seasonality relevant to low temperature and humidity, the role of artificial human-made features within geographical areas in norovirus outbreaks has rarely been studied. The aim of this study is to assess the natural and human-made environmental factors favoring the occurrence of norovirus outbreaks using nationwide surveillance data. We used a geographic information system and binary response models to examine whether the norovirus outbreaks are spatially patterned and whether these patterns are associated with specific environmental variables including service levels of water supply and sanitation systems and land-use types. The results showed that small-scale low-tech local sewage treatment plants and winter sports areas were statistically significant factors favoring norovirus outbreaks. Compactness of the land development also affected the occurrence of norovirus outbreaks; transportation, water, and forest land-uses were less favored for effective transmission of norovirus, while commercial areas were associated with an increased rate of norovirus outbreaks. We observed associations of norovirus outbreaks with various outcomes of human activities, including discharge of poorly treated sewage, overcrowding of people during winter season, and compactness of land development, which might help prioritize target regions and strategies for the management of norovirus outbreaks., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The University of Michigan (U-M) is planning its course toward carbon neutrality. A key component in U-M carbon accounting is the calculation of carbon sinks via estimation of carbon storage and biosequestration on U-M landholdings. Here, this paper aims to compare multiple remote sensing methods across U-M natural lands and urban campuses to determine the accurate and efficient protocol for land assessment and ecosystem service valuation that other institutions may scale as relevant. Design/methodology/approach: This paper tested three remote sensing methods to determine land use and land cover (LULC), namely, unsupervised classification, supervised classification and supervised classification incorporating delineated wetlands. Using confusion matrices, this paper tested remote sensing approaches to ground-truthed data, the paper obtained via field-based vegetation surveys across a subset of U-M landholdings. Findings: In natural areas, supervised classification incorporating delineated wetlands was the most accurate and efficient approach. In urban settings, maps incorporating institutional knowledge and campus tree surveys better estimated LULC. Using LULC and literature-based carbon data, this paper estimated that U-M lands store 1.37-3.68 million metric tons of carbon and sequester 45,000-86,000 Mt CO2e/yr, valued at $2.2m-$4.3m annually ($50/metric ton, social cost of carbon). Originality/value: This paper compared methods to identify an efficient and accurate remote sensing methodology to identify LULC and estimate carbon storage, biosequestration rates and economic values of ecosystem services provided.

Opportunities to deploy digital technologies to research agendas and active learning in tertiary education are becoming more widespread. Despite this, many research techniques are still taught using traditional "pen-and-paper" methodologies. In this article, we report on a strategy for integrating mobile technology into our large (275+) module "GG1015 Applied Geography," via the use of smartphones and the ESRI Collector for ArcGIS app. Focus groups identified three common themes among students in response to using this mobile technology in geographic research. Our findings suggest that digital technologies can enhance active learning in geography for all students. Similarly, such activities should not only be reserved for small groups, and can be up-scaled for larger class sizes, particularly when using new technologies. Finally, we illustrate how the use of technology in a group setting can foster teamwork, peer-to-peer learning, and positively reinforce the uptake of digital technology in geographic fieldwork.

Modern landscape--it's a holistic system of interconnected and interacting components. To questions of primary importance belongs evaluation of stability of modern landscape (including agrarian) and its optimization. As a main complex characteristic and landscape inhomogeneity in a process of agricultural usage serves materials of quantitative and qualitative analysis of agro ecosystems. For this ones use different methods of remote sondage of soils, analysis of soil for agricultural purpose, GIS-technology and other. Usage of modern technologies for space imagery will allow to actualize information of agricultural lands monitoring and effectively solve arising tasks. Article is devoted to definition of indicators of lands condition of agricultural purpose. Accomplished analysis of methodical approaches to analysis of agricultural lands condition, that allows to determine the most prospective ways of usage, gives propositions about application of modern technologies. It is proposed to create a centralized governmental informational resources about lands of agricultural purpose and about these lands as a part of lands of other categories.

An Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture (ATCOFA) senior spatial science undergraduate student engaged in a multi-course undergraduate research project to expand his expertise in remote sensing and assess the applied instruction methodology employed within ATCOFA. The project consisted of performing a change detection land-use/land-cover classification for Nacogdoches and Angelina counties in Texas using satellite imagery. The dates for the imagery were spaced approximately ten years apart and consisted of four different acquisitions between 1984 and 2013. The classification procedure followed and expanded upon a series of concrete theoretical remote sensing principles, transforming the four remotely sensed raster images into corresponding classified vector maps. The progression of the research project is layed out in a step-by-step process identifying settings and addressing issues that may commonly be encountered. The results indicate that the digital imagery acquired by the Landsat 8 sensor may have resulted in more precise and consistent spectral recognition of the image pixels, and distributed them more accurately in their clusters. The results from the study validate the applied instruction methodology employed in the remote sensing curriculums and reinforce ATCOFA's mission by guiding and empowering undergraduate students with the capability of employing sophisticated remote sensing technology to accurately quantify, qualify, map, and monitor natural resources.

Purpose: Most built environment studies have quantified characteristics of the areas around participants' homes. However, the environmental exposures for physical activity (PA) are spatially dynamic rather than static. Thus, merged accelerometer and global positioning system (GPS) data were utilized to estimate associations between the built environment and PA among adults. Methods: Participants (N = 142) were recruited on trails in Massachusetts and wore an accelerometer and GPS unit for 1-4 days. Two binary outcomes were created: moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA vs. light PA-to-sedentary); and light-to-vigorous PA (LVPA vs. sedentary). Five built environment variables were created within 50-meter buffers around GPS points: population density, street density, land use mix (LUM), greenness, and walkability index. Generalized linear mixed models were fit to examine associations between environmental variables and both outcomes, adjusting for demographic covariates. Results: Overall, in the fully adjusted models, greenness was positively associated with MVPA and LVPA (odds ratios [ORs] = 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.30 and 1.25, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.41, respectively). In contrast, street density and LUM were negatively associated with MVPA (ORs = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.67, 0.71 and 0.87, 95% CI = 0.78, 0.97, respectively) and LVPA (ORs = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.81 and 0.81, 95% CI = 0.74, 0.90, respectively). Negative associations of population density and walkability with both outcomes reached statistical significance, yet the effect sizes were small. Conclusions: Concurrent monitoring of activity with accelerometers and GPS units allowed us to investigate relationships between objectively measured built environment around GPS points and minute-by-minute PA. Negative relationships between street density and LUM and PA contrast evidence from most built environment studies in adults. However, direct comparisons should be made with caution since most previous studies have focused on spatially fixed buffers around home locations, rather than the precise locations where PA occurs.

For decades, educators have hoped to integrate geospatial tools into K-12 classrooms but struggled with barriers of time, technology, and curriculum alignment. The authors formed a design partnership with ninth-grade science and social studies teachers in an urban high school in order to conduct teacher professional development while also developing geospatially enabled curricula to enact in their classrooms. This article includes a description of the curriculum design principles and processes, as well as an explanation of the professional development strategies as participants worked shoulder to shoulder in designing engaging classroom instruction to enhance students' geospatial thinking and reasoning skills. One of the activities presented is an example of the design and development process, and lessons learned from the pilot test implementation are presented. This article may inform similar work with geospatial technologies in teacher professional development and curriculum development.

The world population is expected to reach 9.2 billion by the year 2050. Farmers are faced with the daily challenge of how to feed these people while availability of land and water is dwindling. The growth rates of global agricultural production and crop yields have slowed in the last couple of years, raising fears that the world may not be able to grow enough food and other commodities to ensure that future populations are adequately fed. Growers are constantly searching for ways to maximize their returns in a more efficient and sustainable manner to make up for the diminishing resources. To farm sustainably while still maximizing land productivity and managing input costs, farmers need more information than ever on their crops. Getting this information in a timely manner is critical, so many have turned to remote sensing. Remote sensing can detect plant disease, nitrogen levels, and overall crop health in a highly precise manner that is efficient and cost effective for growers. Remote sensing collects information about objects from a distance, typically from aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or satellite.

This study reports an action research undertaken at Queensland University of Technology. It evaluates the effectiveness of the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) within the substantive domains of an existing land use planning course in 2011. Using student performance, learning experience survey, and questionnaire survey data, it also evaluates the impacts of incorporating hybrid instructional methods (e.g., in-class and online instructional videos) in 2012 and 2013. Results show that students (re)iterated the importance of GIS in the course justifying the integration; the hybrid methods significantly increased student performance; and unlike replacement, the videos are more suitable as a complement to in-class activity.

The development of a blended learning approach to enhance surveying education is discussed. The need for this learning strategy is first investigated based on a major review of the surveying course, including analysis of its content, benchmarking with key national and international universities, and surveys of key stakeholders. Appropriate blended learning methods and tools that couple learning theory principles and developing technical skills are discussed including using learning management systems, flip teaching, collaborative learning, simulation based e-learning, and peer assessment. Two blended-learning tools developed for surveying units are presented as examples. The first is an online interactive virtual simulation tool for levelling, one of the key tasks in surveying. The second is an e-assessment digital marking, moderation and feedback module. Surveys of students showed that they found the interactive simulation tool contributes to improving their understanding of required tasks. Students also found the e-assessment tool helpful in improving their performance and in helping them to focus on the objectives of each activity. In addition, the use of peer e-assessment to improve student learning and as a diagnostic tool for tutors is demonstrated. The paper concludes with a discussion on developing generic skills through authentic learning in surveying education.

Auburn University--a prominent land-grant and comprehensive research institute in Alabama--is no exception to the need to grapple with transportation planning. Auburn launched its transit system (called "Tiger Transit") in 1997 to address the needs of student commuters and a shrinking parking supply. However, by 2007 Tiger Transit faced a number of issues, prompting the university to conduct an investigation into the capabilities of Tiger Transit to more effectively serve the student population. The objective of this study was to improve the effectiveness of the Tiger Transit system through better route planning, and a methodology using a geographic information system (GIS) as a route sketch-plan tool was proposed for this purpose. A GIS is a computer-based system that links spatial data (streets, buildings, vegetation, etc.) with tabular data, making it possible to analyze, store, and query the data in map format. Properly used, GIS can determine the optimum bus route distance, identify student residences, analyze bus stops and their proximity coverage, describe types of land use, and provide road and pedestrian characteristics. The rest of this article describes the use of GIS for transit route planning at Auburn, including the GIS data collection and data setup, the transit route planning analysis, and the route modification approach and results. (Contains 12 figures.)

This article describes a design partnership that investigated how to integrate Google Earth, remotely sensed satellite and aerial imagery, with other instructional resources to investigate ground cover and land use in diverse middle school classrooms. Data analysis from the implementation study revealed that students acquired skills for identifying and interpreting features in remotely sensed images and were able to identify distribution patterns of major land use types in urban areas. Specific instructional strategies and techniques, including direct instruction, coaching, and modeling how to think about analyzing land use patterns, appear to have assisted diverse learners in developing certain spatial thinking skills. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)

People have always been fascinated with investigating their home--the Earth. For centuries, maps have stirred imaginations and inspired explorations of the unknown. Maps are a rich source of information, showing spatial relationships between climate, vegetation, population, landforms, river systems, land use, soils, natural hazards, and much more. With them everybody can examine the "whys of where"--the essence of scientific and geographic inquiry. But maps aren't just confined to learning about geography. Imagine an epidemiologist studying the spread of diseases, a scientist studying climate change, or a businessperson determining where to site a new retail establishment. In each case, maps are critical tools for studying these issues and for solving real problems. Furthermore, as rich as paper maps are, they are limited because the Earth is constantly changing. With the advent of today's geotechnologies, such as Web mapping services and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the teacher, librarian, and student can analyze diverse phenomena--from population distribution to biomes as they change. But determining which resources and tools are most valuable for the classroom can be confusing. This article focuses on a few excellent places to start, and ideas on how to use these resources in the classroom. (Contains 11 figures.)

The map is a primary tool in geographic research, and the discipline of geography has experienced a significant methodological transformation during the last three decades with the development and now near ubiquity of geographic information systems (GIS) technology. The introduction of this technology into Indian country has spurred a debate over the appropriateness and effectiveness of using GIS for Native mapping purposes. In this article, the author reviews issues concerning the use of GIS in Native communities and presents a case study of one particular tribe's implementation of the technology. GIS are computer systems designed to store, manipulate, and portray spatial data, theoretically making analysis of such data easier, faster, and more powerful. However, many in the geographic community view GIS as a "contradictory technology that can both empower and marginalize people and communities." At the same time that broader debates about the social impacts of GIS, public-participation or community-based GIS, and GIS and society developed in urban geographic research, so did a more focused debate centered around GIS and Indigenous peoples. (Contains 3 figures and 38 notes.)

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) maps are important tools for environmental planning and social-ecological modeling, as they provide critical information for evaluating risks, managing natural resources, and facilitating effective decision-making. This study aimed to generate a very high spatial resolution (0.5 m) and detailed (21 classes) LULC map for the greater Mariño watershed (Peru) in 2019, using the MORINGA processing chain. This new method for LULC mapping consisted in a supervised object-based LULC classification, using the random forest algorithm along with multi-sensor satellite imagery from which spectral and textural predictors were derived (a very high spatial resolution Pléiades image and a time serie of high spatial resolution Sentinel-2 images). The random forest classifier showed a very good performance and the LULC map was further improved through additional post-treatment steps that included cross-checking with external GIS data sources and manual correction using photointerpretation, resulting in a more accurate and reliable map. The final LULC provides new information for environmental management and monitoring in the greater Mariño watershed. With this study we contribute to the efforts to develop standardized and replicable methodologies for high-resolution and high-accuracy LULC mapping, which is crucial for informed decision-making and conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are critical ecological infrastructures that improve water quality, serve as habitat for fish and other aquatic life, accumulate floodwaters, and maintain surface water flow during dry periods. However, the health of wetlands has been compromised by anthropogenic activities that affect the constant supply of ecosystem services. This study assessed the impact of anthropogenically modified land use on wetland health in the Witbank Dam Catchment in South Africa, whose land use has been severely modified for agriculture and mining purposes. The study developed a model linking surface runoff generated in the catchment with land use and wetland typology to comprehend diffuse pollution from pollution-source land uses. Runoff data and related wetland spatial information were processed and analysed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate pollutants (agricultural nutrients and acid mine drainage) from runoff detained and released by wetlands. The analysis facilitated the assessment of the value of wetlands in enhancing water quality, as well as human and environmental health. The runoff volume from pollution-source land uses (urban areas, farmlands, and mining) was used to evaluate annual pollution levels. Wetland types are ranked according to their efficiency levels to filter pollutants. The assumption is that the difference between filtered and unfiltered runoff is the quantity of polluted runoff water discharged into the river system. The analysis has shown that 85% of polluted runoff generated in the catchment ends up in the river system. An important observation is that although wetlands have a substantial ability to absorb excess pollutants, they have finite boundaries. Once they reach their full holding capacity, they can no longer absorb any further pollutants. The excess is discharged into the river system, risking human and environmental health. This explains why the Limpopo River is heavily polluted resulting in the death of fish, crocodiles and other aquatic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on watershed assessments has primarily emphasized general hydrological or technical findings, neglecting the spatiotemporal analysis of landuse change and its influence on surface runoff. This study addresses this gap by using a geographic information system (GIS)-based method to analyze surface runoff variations due to land-use change on Tsushima Island, Japan. By leveraging spatiotemporal analysis within a GIS framework, the study interprets satellite imagery (Landsat 8 data, 2014-2024) to assess land use and watershed characteristics. This approach culminates in a comprehensive map depicting potential flood risk across the island. In conclusion, this study offers an advanced method for communicating potential flood risks to the public and policymakers, enabling proactive mitigation strategies for the coming decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The purposes of this study are to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of land-use carbon emissions at different spatial scales, and to provide a reference basis for formulating reasonable carbon emission reduction measures and realize the goal of 'dual carbon'. [Methods] The land-use carbon emissions in Guangzhou in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 were measured at township scale and 1 km grid scale. GIS spatial analysis, spatial autocorrelation. exploratory regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR) model were used to explore the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of land-use carbon emissions in Guangzhou. [Results] (1) At the two scales, the areas of medium and high carbon emission areas were gradually increasing, while the areas of negative carbon emission areas and low carbon emission areas were gradually decreasing. (2) The land-use carbon emissions in the region generally had strong positive spatial agglomeration characteristics, and the degree of agglomeration tended to strengthen. The high high agglomeration and low-low agglomeration units were dominant, and the distribution of low high agglomeration areas were sporadic and did not change much. (3) The local spatial agglomeration pattern also involved some changes; the distribution of high-high agglomeration areas was expanding gradually; the distribution of low low agglomeration areas were shrinking at township scale, but expanding slightly at 1 km grid scale. (4) Land use structure, investment level and population size had positive effects on land-use carbon emissions, while population density of 95.32% of township units had inhibitory effects. [Conclusion The level of land-use carbon emissions Guangzhou gradually increased and showed positive spatial agglomeration characteristics on the whole, and the impacts of various influencing factors on it were significantly different. The results of this study can provide the reference for Guangzhou to formulate precise carbon emission reduction measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use/cover change(LUCC) has a significant impact on the ecological environment. Within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as the largest cross-spatial cooperation initiative in human history, one of the core issues is how to scientifically and effectively use and manage the land in the region to prevent the destruction of important ecological and environmental resources. In order to reduce impact on the latter, in this study, we used the bivariate choropleth–multiple-criteria decision analysis (BC-MCDA) method based on the connotation of the sustainable development goals to construct an ecological and environmental risk warning framework. We found that in the study area, 10.51% of the land has high ecological and environmental risk and importance, corresponding to conflict zones, which require special attention. Conflict areas are mainly distributed in the Gangetic Plain in India, the plains in central and southern Cambodia, the Indonesian archipelago, and the southern coastal areas of China. Due to the uneven spatial distributions of population and important ecological and environmental resources, the pressure on this type of land use is very high. A share of 8.06% of the land has high risk–low importance, corresponding to economic development zones. Following years of human development, the ecological and environmental value of this type of land is low. A share of 58.75% of the land has low risk and importance, corresponding to wilderness areas. The natural climatic conditions of this type of land are relatively poor, often characterized by a cold climate or water scarcity, and the human interference index is low. A share of 22.68% of the land has low risk–high importance, corresponding to ecological conservation areas, which are the most important areas for ecological function services for humans at present. Finally, we proposed development suggestions for each type of land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use is the result of every form of intervention of human activities on land on the earth's surface that is dynamic and functions to meet the needs of life, both material and spiritual. Regional Spatial Planning is a form of intervention that is carried out so that human interaction with the environment can run harmoniously, harmoniously, and balanced. This aims to achieve human welfare. This study aims to identify land use in the Pekalongan Regency in 2023 and identify the alignment of land use with the RTRW of the Pekalongan Regency. The method used is the analysis of geographic information and the logical matrix of alignment. The results of the study show that the study area has 11 types of land use with the largest area, namely rice fields (3,223.34 Ha), settlements (2,611.46 Ha), and ponds (1,781.85 Ha). The alignment of land use with the RTRW obtained is divided into 3 (three), namely aligned, transitional, and not aligned with the area of 5,705.42 Ha, 605.86 Ha, and 2,821.58 Ha, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land use/land cover pattern of a region is an outcome of natural and socioeconomic factors and the utilisation by humans in time and space. This study aims to model the marine water quality using the relative impact of land use on marine water quality of selected river estuary between 2006-2013, Geographical Information System (GIS) and Cellular Automata (CA)-Markov method as a planning tool in evaluating Marine Water Quality Index (MWQI) were applied. The CA-Markov model revealed agricultural land use changes from 2006-2013 using land use land cover (LULC) in GIS as Setiu and Semerak River basins have 5.72% and 2.75%, respectively. The result indicated the impact of agricultural lands on MWQI, which is very low, according to projections of land use in 2020. Thus, the MWQI value in 2020 (Setiu 76.27 and Semerak 67.64) will be higher than MWQI mean value for 2006-2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass rapid transit system is regarded as the optimal solution for a congested urban transit corridor. Primarily, MRTS influences land values, accessibility, travel patterns, and land use. It has the potential to expand access to remote regions and stimulate urban redevelopment. Conversely, in the absence of well-planned MRTS nodes, disorderly urban transformations ensue due to sensitive accessibility and, as a consequence, land valuation escalates, ultimately succumbing to market forces. As a consequence, disorder and congestion ensue, and instantaneous progressions transpire along the MRTS corridor and within their area of influence. The purpose of this study is to determine the causes and effects of Metro on the land values and land use patterns in the locality area as A Case Study of Delhi Metro Rail. The character composition of the area chosen for the research is entirely distinct from that of other regions where metro rail has been installed. This area includes several metro stations, including Lakshmi Nagar, Nirman Vihar, and Preet Vihar. In this study primary data collection is conducted through the utilization of GIS and Erdas Imagine software to map the existing land use of the area, in addition to conducting field surveys. Prior to commencing the primary survey, a handheld GPS was utilized to gather location data and conduct intelligence. The methodology utilized was predominately based on a comparison between the designated corridor before and after the construction of the metro. By analyzing this case study, the research will enable policymakers and planners to assess the effects of MRTS and develop strategies for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity in arid regions poses significant livelihood challenges and necessitates proactive measures such as rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. This study focuses on identifying RWH sites in Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan) district, which recently experienced severe water shortages. Given the difficulty of large-scale ground surveys, satellite remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were utilized. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was employed for site selection, considering various criteria, including land use/land cover, precipitation, geological features, slope, and drainage. Landsat 8 OLI imagery, GPM satellite precipitation data, soil maps, and SRTM DEM were key inputs. Integrating these data layers in GIS facilitated the production of an RWH potential map for the region. The study identified 9 RWH check dams, 12 farm ponds, and 17 percolation tanks as suitable for mitigating water scarcity, particularly for irrigation and livestock consumption during dry periods. The research region was classified into four RWH zones based on suitability, with 9% deemed Very Good, 33% Good, 53% Poor, and 5% Very Poor for RWH projects. The generated suitability map is a valuable tool for hydrologists, decision-makers, and stakeholders in identifying RWH potential in arid regions, thereby ensuring water reliability, efficiency, and socio-economic considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• LULC changes of three decades from 1991 to 2021 were examined and predicted. • Multi-spectral remote sensing data and RFT were utilized to generate LULC maps. • ACR were considered to analyze the categorical land use change detection. • Impervious land has expanded 10 times within 30 years and will increase in the future. The integration of multi-spectral remote sensing and GIS-based analysis is significant for studying land cover changes, providing valuable insights for informed land management and sustainable development. The present study aims to examine land use land cover (LULC) changes of three decades from 1991 to 2021 and predict the future LULC change in Binh Duong province, Vietnam to explore a future research direction on land use change and associated challenges in the study region. Multi-spectral remote sensing data and random forest tree (RFT) were utilized to generate LULC maps. Areal statistics and annual change rate were considered to analyze the categorical land use change detection. Statistical measures such as user's accuracy, producer's accuracy, kappa coefficient, and confusion matrix were employed to assess the accuracy of LULC classification. To predict future LULC and simulate the spatio-temporal change, we considered previous year LULC maps, independent spatial variables and a combined artificial neural network (ANN) multi-layer perceptron approach. The analysis revealed that there was a huge transition from agricultural lands to residential land with industry and commerce which resulting an expansion of impervious lands and a rapid decline of agricultural land as well as of scrub land and barren lands, and a changeability of forest and plantation, croplands, and waterbodies. Our study revealed that the impervious land has expanded 10 times within 30 years and will increase in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan region has been experiencing stark impacts of climate change, demographic and livelihood pattern changes. The analysis of land use and land cover (LULC) change provides insights into the shifts in spatial and temporal patterns of landscape. These changes are the combined effects of anthropogenic and natural/climatic factors. The present study attempts to monitor and comprehend the main drivers behind LULC changes (1999–2021) in the Himalayan region of Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand. Pithoragarh district is a border district, remotely located in the north-east region of Uttarakhand, India. The study draws upon primary and secondary data sources. A total of 400 household surveys and five group discussions from 38 villages were conducted randomly to understand the climate perception of the local community and the drivers of change. Satellite imagery, CRU (Climatic Research Unit) climate data and climate perception data from the field have been used to comprehensively comprehend, analyze, and discuss the trends and reasons for LULC change. GIS and remote sensing techniques were used to construct LULC maps. This multifaceted approach ensures comprehensive and corroborated information. Five classes were identified and formed viz- cultivation, barren, settlement, snow, and vegetation. Results show that vegetation and built-up have increased whereas cultivation, barren land, and snow cover have decreased. The study further aims to elucidate the causes behind LULC changes in the spatially heterogeneous region, distinguishing between those attributed to human activities, climate shifts, and the interconnected impacts of both. The study provides a comprehensive picture of the study area and delivers a targeted understanding of local drivers and their potential remedies by offering a foundation for formulating sustainable adaptation policies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece committed to the European Green Deal plans to complete mining operations by the end of 2028 and to transition from coal-based electricity to renewable energy sources (RES). The mine closure under the principles of effective strategic planning of the post-mining land uses constitutes an integral part of this transition. This research aims to simulate land use changes in the Ptolemais lignite mining area from 2023 to 2030 using a cellular automata-based (CA) calibrated model. The model analyzed three distinct scenarios with directions of agriculture development, industrial growth, and nature and biodiversity conservation. Five areas' topographic-morphologic characteristics (slope, distance from roads, predetermined RES, future lakes, and cities) were assessed through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to calibrate the model for each scenario. A fuzzification algorithm was developed in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment to generate a land use suitability map for each scenario. The generated suitability maps were imported into the simulation model, serving as transition rules for each scenario. The study's findings revealed that each scenario diachronically derives different land use types of distribution. The scenario-based approach has proven to be a valuable tool for simulating the dynamic transitions of post-mining land uses, offering significant assistance to decision-makers in planning new land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes are commonly used to determine the landscape conditions and have significant impacts on the earth's surface processes. During the last three decades, there has been an acceleration of LULC changes in Eastern DR Congo. However, there is no comprehensive overview of the drivers of these changes at the territorial level in this region, even though the knowledge of these drivers is important for land use planning and spatial modeling of environmental changes. Using the Kalehe Territory as a case study, this work sought to fill this gap by analyzing the drivers of LULC changes during the 1987-2020 period. A mixed approach combining remote sensing, Geographic Information System, and logistic regression modeling was used. The results indicated that the prominent LULC changes in the study area are deforestation, built-up area expansion, cropland expansion, and shrubland expansion. These changes are significantly influenced by biophysical factors (slope, altitude, and soil type), conservation zoning, population dynamics, and accessibility factors at different levels. The occurrence of conservation zones decreases the susceptibility to deforestation, built-up land, and cropland expansions. In contrast, the proximity factors (distance to road, artisanal mining, and locality) increase the susceptibility to LULC changes. These factors can be integrated into spatial models to forecast LULC changes susceptibility in this region. Furthermore, the establishment of future land use management policy at the territorial level in eastern DR Congo should be space-specific as the susceptibility of LULC changes shows a spatial trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research subject is the application of geographic information systems (GIS) in assessing land suitability for agriculture in the Sana River Basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of the research is to apply the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in identifying suitable areas for agricultural production. Within the AHP framework, the following factors were considered: pedology, land use, elevation, slope, aridity index, and distance from rivers. The results of the suitability assessment underwent reclassification (RP) and cluster analysis processes (CAPs). It was found that very unsuitable land (1) covers an area of 0.15% (RP) or 5.83% (CAP), unsuitable land (2) covers 3.44% (RP) or 17.52% (CAP), conditionally suitable land (3) covers 32.11% or 28.47% (CAP), suitable land (4) covers 56.29% or 28.57% (CAP), and very suitable land (5) covers 7.98% (RP) or 19.59% (CAP). At the study area level, a supervised classification process was conducted to identify land use classes: meadows/pastures, water, forest, agricultural, and built-up areas. RP and CAP results were overlaid with supervised classification results to determine the amount of land used for agricultural purposes within each suitability class. It was determined that currently, for agricultural purposes, 0.04 km2 (RP) or 0.88 km2 (CAP) of very unsuitable land (1) is used, 0.41 km2 (RP) or 7.28 km2 (CAP) of unsuitable land (2), 15.75 km2 (RP) or 27.52 km2 (CAP) of conditionally suitable land (3), 185.15 km2 (RP) or 107.06 km2 (CAP) of suitable land (4), and 42.99 km2 (RP) or 101.65 km2 (CAP) of very suitable land (5). The research findings hold substantial importance in elucidating both the potential and constraints of land use practices as a vital natural resource within agriculture. They also have practical importance for relevant institutions in terms of agricultural sector development and making timely land use planning decisions for sustainable development.

This study addressed the need for a more comprehensive inventory of pit and quarry operations in Tetouan province and M’diq-Fnideq prefecture. It employed a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach, integrating various spatial remote sensing (RS) and field data to identify suitable areas for extracting alluvial, rocky, and clay materials. The used data includes quarry inventory, geological information, hydrographic networks, slope, and land use. The finding revealed 72 quarries and assessed their suitability for resource extraction. Alluvial deposits, approximately 127 million m³, were identified mainly in the primary wadis (river valley), including Oued Laou, Oued Amsa, Oued Mhajrate, and Oued Khemis. Massive rock deposits, consisting of limestone and sandstone, were estimated at 3.4 billion m³ . Clay deposits, suitable for various industrial applications, were also identified in significant quantities. In addition to confirming potential quarry deposits, our field surveys indicate that exploitation activities contribute to deforestation, and quarry waste often invades agricultural lands and forests. This information can facilitate sustainable resource management, environmental conservation, and informed policy and planning. The results highlighted the economic significance of geological resources in the study areas, contributing to various industries. Furthermore, by examining the relationship between quarries and the environment, including hydrographic networks, the study provides insights into eco-friendly quarrying practices. This methodology is expected to offer valuable insights into geological resources, guide sustainable resource management, and inform decision-making processes for regional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to explore the response of ecosystem service value to land use change and predicting future trends, and to provide scientific reference for land use pattern planning in the arsenic sandstone area. [Methods] Based on the remote sensing images of the four phases of sandstone area from 2000 to 2020, the change characteristics of LUCC and ESV in the past 20 years were analyzed based on GIS technology and ESV evaluation methods. The response of LUCC induced by ESV was revealed. The development trend of LUCC and ESV was predicted by using Markov model. [Results] (1) In 2000- 2020, the total area of LUCC remained unchanged, and the increase of construction land was the most obvious, with a total increase of 762.73 km² and a growth rate of 4.57%. The grassland decreased by 548.79 km² in total, with a reduction rate of 3.28%. (2) The overall level of ESV showed a downward trend, from 19 949.65 million yuan to 18 997.19 million yuan, a decrease of 4.78%, of which grassland ESV changed the most, decreasing by 746.29 million yuan, accounting for 78.35% of the overall decline rate. (3) ESV was positively correlated with the changes in grassland, woodland, cultivated land, water area and construction land, and negatively correlated with unused land. (4) It is predicted that the area of cultivated land, forest land, grassland and water area will decrease to 96.69%, 98.94%, 94.27% and 99.12% of those in 2020 in the next 10 years. Construction land and unused land will increase to 150.03% and 121.61%, and the overall ESV level in sandstone area will continue to decrease to 92.81%. [Conclusion] The areas of cultivated land, forest land, grassland, and water are decreasing, while the area of construction land and unused land will increase. ESV will continue to decrease, and there is a linear relationship between ESV changes and land use changes. In the future, the area of construction land will increase, and ESV will continue to decrease. Reasonably adjusting the area of construction land is beneficial for ecological construction and vegetation restoration and reconstruction in the sandstone area of the Yellow River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of population growth in Sukabumi Regency continues to grow, along with the increasing need for food. This population growth, combined with the constant changes in land cover can reduce the productivity of environment in providing natural capital for food availability. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the condition of ecosystem service provision for a decade in Sukabumi Regency due to changes in land cover. In general, the efficient use of remote sensing method and geographic information systems to monitor ecosystem services had received widespread recognition. Following this scenario, the current study used geospatial analysis with dasymetric method which was integrated with supply and demand formulas for ecosystem services provision, food availability, and remote sensing. Geographic information system was also used for land cover interpretation data. The results showed that three districts in Sukabumi Regency, namely Cicurug, Cibadak, and Cicantayan, had "exceeded" condition when the environmental condition already passed the threshold or were unable to support population's needs. Meanwhile, the other districts have "not exceeded" condition, when the environmental conditions were still able to fulfill the needs of population. Finally, the changes in agricultural land cover had a significant influence on the condition of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Makkah Al-Mukarramah has undergone significant urban transformation in recent decades, transitioning from non-urban to urban landscapes driven by fast economic growth. This study aims to analyze the increase in population, urbanization, topography, and land use of Makkah City over the past 20 years, from 2000 to 2020. Makkah holds special significance for the Saudi government due to its religious and regional prominence, resulting in remarkable developmental strides within short timeframes. This has led to a surge in population and spatial expansion towards the city's outskirts, bringing about both quantitative and qualitative changes in the city. The growth rate in Makkah was 2.453% in 2020 and 2% in 2010, indicating a trajectory conducive to future land use/land cover planning. The population has shown remarkable growth, rising from 1,294,000 in 2000 to 1,578,722 in 2010 (22% increase) and further reaching 2,017,793 in 2020 (27.81% increase), nearly doubling over the two-decade span. The city's area expanded to 465 Km² in 2020, compared to 388 Km² in 2010 and 366 Km² in 2000, attributed to a notable increase in the number of districts from 60 in 2010 to 101 in 2020, marking a substantial 68.3% rise. This study used a map scale of 1:300,000 to classify features, such as mountains, urban areas, deserts, and roads. The results indicate a decrease in mountains and deserts, while urban areas and roads have increased, aligning with the population growth observed over the two decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports a study of bioclimatic dynamics and land use in the region of Tlemcen (north-west of Algeria). GIS (geographic information system) and satellite images (LandSat) were used to conduct a diachronic study based on a series of satellite images from the years 2000 and 2019 to demonstrate changes in the study area while highlighting the importance of environmental conditions, including climate and anthropogenic impact on dynamic vegetation cover. Bioclimatic synthesis has shown an improvement in the rainfall regime and an evolution towards higher bioclimatic atmospheres between the two periods (1985–1999) and (2004–2018). Land use in the study area is under the influence of strong anthropogenic pressures and is experiencing a decline in forest areas from 28.74 to 17.49% but also in agricultural land and lawns from 38.61% to 27.67% in favour of built-up areas which increased from 0.81% to 1.09% but mainly to the benefit of bare soil: an ultimate stage of degradation whose surface area increased from 31.59% in 2000 to 53.46% in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land price plays a crucial role in the development of a region, which serves as an indicator of the features of a property. The primary goal of this paper is to explore the relationship between land price and various geographical and accessibility parameters and thereby arrive at a model to predict the land price. Based on literature surveys, the parameters that influence land price are identified further through which data collection from primary surveys, the creation of a road network map, a geographic information system (GIS) analysis to determine the distance to the central business district (CBD), measurement of road density and access road width, assessment of employment opportunities through establishment surveys, and identification of various land use parcels in the study region are accomplished. The land prices are collected from recently sold parcels in each of the zones in the study region. A negative and significant correlation is observed between land price and distance to the CBD. Positive correlations are observed between land price and other factors considered, such as road density, availability of educational facilities, employment opportunities, and the extent of commercial and residential land use areas. A non-linear regression model is developed that can predict land price depending on the significant parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]