Search

Urban micro-climate plays an important role in human activities and in ensuring public health. For instance, the urban heat island effect is crucial to the thermal comfort of citizens and tourists, similar to the urban cool island effect's importance on human and infrastructure resilience. Approximately 35% of global big cities are located in drylands. While existing research has focused on the spatial and temporal changes of surface urban cooling island intensity (SUCII) in drylands in the past, there is a gap in predicting the future spatiotemporal changes in SUCII for cities within these dryland regions. This study aims to forecast the spatiotemporal dynamics of daytime SUCII of representative growing cities with a dry and cold climate. Kerman and Zahedan cities, which are undergoing large urbanization and have harsh hot summer climates, were selected as the study area. Landsat 5 and 8 images and products were utilized for six timestamps within the timeframe of 1986–2023. Various methods, including a random forest algorithm, spectral indices, Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) model, the cross-tabulation model, and spatial overlay and zonal statistics, were employed to assess and model the spatiotemporal changes in SUCII. Initially, historical land cover maps, land surface temperature (LST), surface biophysical characteristics, and SUCII data were prepared, and their spatiotemporal changes were evaluated. Then, projected maps for these variables for the year 2045 were produced. The results indicated that the built-up areas, bare lands, and green spaces of Kerman (Zahedan) city in 1986 were 26.6 km2 (17.6 km2), 103 km2 (92.5 km2), and 44.4 km2 (5.6 km2), respectively, and these values reached 99.3 km2 (41.9 km2), 61.2 km2 (70.7 km2), and 13.5 km2 (3.2 km2) in 2023. The built-up lands area of Kerman (Zahedan) city is expected to increase by approximately 26% (36%) by 2045, while bare land and green space are expected to decrease by about 32% (20%) and 39% (31%), respectively. The greatest rise in average LST of Kerman (Zahedan) city is associated with the conversion of green spaces to barren land, resulting in a notable increase of 5.5 °C (4.3 °C) in 1986–2023. The conversion of barren land to built-up land in Kerman (Zahedan) city has led to a decrease of 4.6 °C (3.8 °C) in LST. The SUCII of Kerman (Zahedan) city for 1986, 1994, 2001, 2008, 2015, and 2023 were −0.3 °C (0.9 °C), −0.8 °C (0.4 °C), −1.4 °C (−0.5 °C), −1.9 °C (−1.5 °C), −2.6 °C (−2.5 °C), and −3.2 °C (−3.4 °C), respectively. The projected SUCII in Kerman (Zahedan) city for 2045 is about −4.3 °C (−4.5 °C), indicating an increasing trend in SUCII in the future. The area of zones without SUCII in Kerman (Zahedan) city decreased by 44.8 Km2 (54.8 Km2) from 1986 to 2023, while the areas of low, medium, and high SUCII classes increased by 9.1 Km2 (9.9 Km2), 10.9 Km2 (11.9 Km2), and 24.8 Km2 (33.1 Km2), respectively. The area of non-SUCII and high SUCII classes of Kerman (Zahedan) city in 2045 is expected to decrease by 31.5 Km2 (12.0 Km2) and increase by 51.2 Km2 (9.5 Km2) compared with 2023. The findings of this research indicate that the physical growth of cities in drylands can lead to the moderation of LST, contrary to mechanisms in humid and wet regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human interventions in natural areas, such as changes in land use, have led to a series of anomalies and environmental hazards. These significant and cumulative changes in land cover and land use have resulted in various anomalies, including excessive runoff, soil erosion, desertification, and soil salinization. The primary objective of this study is to examine the temperature variations caused by the land cover structure in Lorestan province and analyze the impact of land use changes on the province's temperature structure. To accomplish this, data from the MCD12Q2 composite product, which provides information on land cover classes, and ground temperature data from the MOD11A2 product of the MODIS sensor were utilized. Additionally, the cross -analysis matrix (CTM) technique was employed to identify temperature variations for each land cover class during both hot and cold seasons. The findings indicated that Lorestan province had five distinct land cover classes: forest lands, pastures, agricultural lands, constructed lands, and barren lands. The cross -matrix analysis revealed that forest cover (IGBP code 5) exhibited the highest temperature, reaching 48°C, while urban and residential land cover (IGBP code 13) had a temperature of 16°C, making it the warmest land use. Furthermore, it was observed that the thermal variations of land cover were minimal during the warm season, with no significant difference between the temperature structures of land cover classes. However, during the cold season, the thermal variations became more pronounced. The analysis of variance test demonstrated that, unlike the warm season, different land cover classes significantly (Sig = 0.026) influenced the thermal variations in the province during the cold season. Scheffe's post hoc analysis indicated that this difference was particularly noticeable between rangeland cover classes and built-up cover. [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]

Abstract Alpine natural heritage sites hold significant value due to their unique global resources. Studying land cover changes in these areas is crucial for maintaining and preserving multiple their values. This study takes Kalajun-Kuerdening, one of the components of Xinjiang Tianshan World Natural Heritage Site, as an example to analyze land cover changes and their driving factors in alpine heritage sites. Highlights include: (1) Between 1994 and 2023, Forest and Grassland increased by 55.96 km2 and 18.16 km2, with notable forest growth from 2007 to 2017. Trends in Forest changes align with forest protection policies, and a substantial amount of Bareland converted to Grassland indicates an increase in vegetation cover. (2) Elevation, precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration are key drivers of land cover changes, as validated by Random Forest algorithm and Geodetector model. (3) Favorable conditions for Grassland to Forest transition include annual precipitation between 275 and 375 mm, annual temperature between −2 and 3 °C, annual evapotranspiration between 580 and 750 mm, elevation between 1800 and 2600 m, and aspect between 0 to 110° and 220 to 259.9°. Continuous monitoring of land cover changes and their driving factors in mountain heritage sites contributes to the protection of the ecological environment and provides data and information support for addressing climate change, resource management, and policy making.

Pakistan has experienced significant urbanization, characterized by rapid urban population growth and unplanned urban expansion, making it the most urbanized country in South Asia. This study focuses on Lahore, the secondlargest megacity of Pakistan, and evaluates land cover changes over the last three decades (1990-2020). It also analyzes the relationship between urban green landscapes and unregulated urban expansion. The study reveals significant changes in the ecology of Lahore’s urban landscape using Landsat imagery, including Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 8 OLI, and a 30m spatial resolution, along with population data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. In particular, the study reveals a decline in urban green spaces and a significant expansion of urban built-up areas in Lahore. The annual urban area expansion rates were 24.2 km2 (1990- 2000), 12.1 km2 (2000-2010), and 26.4 km2 (2010-2020), while vegetation cover decreased 33.45 km2 (1990-2000), 20 km2 (2000-2010) in the first two decades but slightly increased from 2010 to 2020 at an annual rate of 14.17 km2. As a result, there is a serious concern about the rapid decline of green space in Lahore. It is recommended that the administrative authorities follow the World Health Organization’s guidelines regarding the need for green spaces. This study contributes to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11th, indicator 11.3.1, and provides guidelines for conserving natural, social, and economic resources in the face of rapid urbanization.

Alpine natural heritage sites hold significant value due to their unique global resources. Studying land cover changes in these areas is crucial for maintaining and preserving multiple their values. This study takes Kalajun-Kuerdening, one of the components of Xinjiang Tianshan World Natural Heritage Site, as an example to analyze land cover changes and their driving factors in alpine heritage sites. Highlights include: (1) Between 1994 and 2023, Forest and Grassland increased by 55.96 km2 and 18.16 km2, with notable forest growth from 2007 to 2017. Trends in Forest changes align with forest protection policies, and a substantial amount of Bareland converted to Grassland indicates an increase in vegetation cover. (2) Elevation, precipitation, temperature, and evapotranspiration are key drivers of land cover changes, as validated by Random Forest algorithm and Geodetector model. (3) Favorable conditions for Grassland to Forest transition include annual precipitation between 275 and 375 mm, annual temperature between −2 and 3 °C, annual evapotranspiration between 580 and 750 mm, elevation between 1800 and 2600 m, and aspect between 0 to 110° and 220 to 259.9°. Continuous monitoring of land cover changes and their driving factors in mountain heritage sites contributes to the protection of the ecological environment and provides data and information support for addressing climate change, resource management, and policy making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in Earth Science (1001-8166) is the property of Advances in Earth Science Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study area is part of the Biosphere Reserve (BR), which, along with adjacent caves in the Aggtelek Karst in Hungary, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995. This article focuses on the assessment of temporal changes in land cover and high nature value farmland. Changes over the past three decades were assessed in the operational areas of transtermitant farms on karst plains and in three BR zones. The results help to identify factors responsible for the progressive succession of woody plants on pastures. Karst microreliefs were excluded from pastoral activities because of the inherent nature of transtermitance, conservation measures, natural conditions, and type of farmed animal. The future preservation of valuable habitats, visually attractive karst landscape characteristics, and clean underground water in a cross-border cave system hinges on adequate grazing conditions being agreed upon by farmers and the Slovenský kras BR administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study investigates the intricate and enduring interplay of historical events, human activities, and natural processes shaping the landscape of North European Plain in western Poland over 230 years. Topographic maps serve as reliable historical data sources to quantify changes in forest, grassland, and wetland areas, scrutinizing their fragmentation and persistence. The primary objectives are to identify the permanent areas of the landscape and propose a universal cartographic visualization method for effectively mapping these changes. Using topographic maps and historical data, this research quantifies land cover changes, especially in forest, grassland, and wetland areas. With the help of retrogressive method we process raster historical data into vector-based information. Over time, wetlands experienced a substantial reduction, particularly in 1960–1982, attributed to both land reclamation and environmental factors. Grassland areas fluctuated, influenced by wetland and drier habitat dynamics. Fragmentation in grassland areas poses biodiversity and ecosystem health concerns, whereas forested areas showed limited fluctuations, with wetland forests nearly disappearing. These findings highlight wetland ecosystems’ sensitivity to human impacts and emphasize the need to balance conservation and sustainable development to preserve ecological integrity. This study advances landscape dynamics understanding, providing insights into historical, demographic, economic, and environmental transformations. It underscores the imperative for sustainable land management and conservation efforts to mitigate human impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity in the North European Plain.

Abstract Background Triatoma garciabesi and T. guasayana are considered secondary vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi and frequently invade rural houses in central Argentina. Wing and head structures determine the ability of triatomines to disperse. Environmental changes exert selective pressures on populations of both species, promoting changes in these structures that could have consequences for flight dispersal. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in flight-related traits. Methods The research was carried out in Cruz del Eje and Ischilín departments (Córdoba, Argentina) and included 423 individuals of the two species of triatomines. To measure the degree of anthropization, a thematic map was constructed using supervised classification, from which seven landscapes were selected, and nine landscape metrics were extracted and used in a hierarchical analysis. To determine the flight capacity and the invasion of dwellings at different levels of anthropization for both species, entomological indices were calculated. Digital images of the body, head and wings were used to measure linear and geometric morphometric variables related to flight dispersion. One-way ANOVA and canonical variate analysis (CVA) were used to analyze differences in size and shape between levels of anthropization. Procrustes variance of shape was calculated to analyze differences in phenotypic variation in heads and wings. Results Hierarchical analysis was used to classify the landscapes into three levels of anthropization: high, intermediate and low. The dispersal index for both species yielded similar results across the anthropization gradient. However, in less anthropized landscapes, the density index was higher for T. garciabesi. Additionally, in highly anthropized landscapes, females and males of both species exhibited reduced numbers. Regarding phenotypic changes, the size of body, head and wings of T. garciabesi captured in the most anthropized landscapes was greater than for those captured in less anthropized landscapes. No differences in body size were observed in T. guasayana collected in the different landscapes. However, males from highly anthropized landscapes had smaller heads and wings than those captured in less anthropized landscapes. Both wing and head shapes varied between less and more anthropogenic environments in both species. Conclusions Results of the study indicate that the flight-dispersal characteristics of T. garciabesi and T. guasayana changed in response to varying degrees of anthropization. Graphical Abstract

Land cover is a key factor affecting dust emissions. Substantial changes in land cover have occurred due to human activities and climate change in northern China. However, the extent to which these changes influence dust emissions is still controversial. Here, we explored the specific impact of land use type transformation on dust emissions between 2000 and 2020 by using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) from the perspective of land cover changes. Two scenarios were set up and compared to quantify this impact. One scenario was using the land cover data in 2000, and the other scenario was to use the land cover data in 2020. Both scenarios were driven by the initial meteorological conditions in 2020. Results indicated that the land cover changes between 2000 and 2020 reduced dust emissions in northern China, but the weakened intensity showed obvious spatial differences. Different land use conversion types had significant differences in their impact on dust emissions. Transforming bare areas to water bodies can reduce dust emissions by up to -3.62 g m-2 year-1. This is followed by the change from bare areas to sparse vegetation areas, which can decrease dust emissions by -2.9 g m-2 year-1, and then by the conversion from bare areas to cropland, with a reduction of -2.57 g m-2 year-1. These findings can offer methodologies and data support for the quantitative evaluation of the effects of land cover changes on dust emissions. They can also serve as a reference for environmental management when formulating land use policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the intricate and enduring interplay of historical events, human activities, and natural processes shaping the landscape of North European Plain in western Poland over 230 years. Topographic maps serve as reliable historical data sources to quantify changes in forest, grassland, and wetland areas, scrutinizing their fragmentation and persistence. The primary objectives are to identify the permanent areas of the landscape and propose a universal cartographic visualization method for effectively mapping these changes. Using topographic maps and historical data, this research quantifies land cover changes, especially in forest, grassland, and wetland areas. With the help of retrogressive method we process raster historical data into vector-based information. Over time, wetlands experienced a substantial reduction, particularly in 1960–1982, attributed to both land reclamation and environmental factors. Grassland areas fluctuated, influenced by wetland and drier habitat dynamics. Fragmentation in grassland areas poses biodiversity and ecosystem health concerns, whereas forested areas showed limited fluctuations, with wetland forests nearly disappearing. These findings highlight wetland ecosystems' sensitivity to human impacts and emphasize the need to balance conservation and sustainable development to preserve ecological integrity. This study advances landscape dynamics understanding, providing insights into historical, demographic, economic, and environmental transformations. It underscores the imperative for sustainable land management and conservation efforts to mitigate human impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity in the North European Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study assessed land cover changes in rural communities of Zimbabwe pre and post land reform era (1980 - 2020). A mixed methods research design was adopted with the use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Remote sensing, questionnaires, interviews and observations were used for data collection. Microsoft Excel and ArcMap 10.5 software were adopted for data analysis. Results indicated that clearance of land for agriculture especially crop production, wood abstraction for domestic use and selling, establishment of settlements were the major drivers of change in Shurugwi South. Between 2000 and 2020, results showed that water bodies, shrub land and dense woodlands declined whilst grassland and cultivated/bare land increased. Findings indicated that the rates of increase in cultivated/bare lands and grassland were faster between 2000 and 2020. More so, generally water bodies and shrub land decreased during the 2000–2020 period. These changes indicated that land reform program and associated land reallocation in 2000 influenced the rates and pattern of land cover changes. The changes in land ownership and use rights following the land reforms affected land use patterns between 2000 and 2020. Naturally vegetated land is depleting hence the need for land resource conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangroves are vital for coastal defense, controlling erosion and carbon storage, yet they're endangered by human actions. This study used Landsat remote sensing imagery to investigate changes in Soc Trang, Vietnam's mangrove cover from 2000 to 2020. The findings showed expansion in the region's mangrove area, with Vinh Chau township experiencing substantial growth. These findings reflected wider changes seen across Vietnam. Mangroves in Mekong Delta has been decelerating since 2013, alongside with mangrove increase, due to afforestation and reforestation efforts. This shows successful mangrove conservation policies in Soc Trang. In this study, a map displaying the province's current mangrove status was produced. Multi-temporal satellite imagery is an important key for planning, improving understanding and boosting the role of mangroves in ecosystem services. The shift from mangrove decrease to increase may result from protective and restoration efforts, calling for broader Southeast Asia analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triatoma garciabesi and T. guasayana are considered secondary vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi and frequently invade rural houses in central Argentina. Wing and head structures determine the ability of triatomines to disperse. Environmental changes exert selective pressures on populations of both species, promoting changes in these structures that could have consequences for flight dispersal. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a gradient of anthropization and phenotypic plasticity in flight-related traits. Methods: The research was carried out in Cruz del Eje and Ischilín departments (Córdoba, Argentina) and included 423 individuals of the two species of triatomines. To measure the degree of anthropization, a thematic map was constructed using supervised classification, from which seven landscapes were selected, and nine landscape metrics were extracted and used in a hierarchical analysis. To determine the flight capacity and the invasion of dwellings at different levels of anthropization for both species, entomological indices were calculated. Digital images of the body, head and wings were used to measure linear and geometric morphometric variables related to flight dispersion. One-way ANOVA and canonical variate analysis (CVA) were used to analyze differences in size and shape between levels of anthropization. Procrustes variance of shape was calculated to analyze differences in phenotypic variation in heads and wings. Results: Hierarchical analysis was used to classify the landscapes into three levels of anthropization: high, intermediate and low. The dispersal index for both species yielded similar results across the anthropization gradient. However, in less anthropized landscapes, the density index was higher for T. garciabesi. Additionally, in highly anthropized landscapes, females and males of both species exhibited reduced numbers. Regarding phenotypic changes, the size of body, head and wings of T. garciabesi captured in the most anthropized landscapes was greater than for those captured in less anthropized landscapes. No differences in body size were observed in T. guasayana collected in the different landscapes. However, males from highly anthropized landscapes had smaller heads and wings than those captured in less anthropized landscapes. Both wing and head shapes varied between less and more anthropogenic environments in both species. Conclusions: Results of the study indicate that the flight-dispersal characteristics of T. garciabesi and T. guasayana changed in response to varying degrees of anthropization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse landscape of global land use and land cover (LULC) change studies were evaluated to uncover the current advances in data and future research potential through bibliometrics and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. A total of 2710 published articles with the search phrase “Land use and Land cover change” OR “Land-use and Land cover change” OR “Land use/Land cover change” OR “Land use and Land cover changes” were retrieved using Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and ScienceDirect databases from 1993 to 2022. The findings indicated a 24.37% annual growth rate in LULC change studies, reflecting a rapid overall increase in published articles. China and the USA emerged as the most influential countries regarding article numbers, total citations, and single-country publications. Ethiopia, Ghana, and South Africa, among the top 20 global rankings of the most influential countries in LULC change studies, underscore the global importance of this research. However, the disparity in research output between multiple-country publications and the dominant trend of single-country publications highlights a geographical bias in LULC change studies, particularly in the Global South. This finding underscores the need for a more balanced research approach and can stimulate further investigation. The results also revealed that remote sensing, a rapidly growing field utilising advanced computing techniques, is the most prevalent keyword and has significant applications in reducing land degradation. These findings can significantly enhance research, climate policy programs, land management, and forest ecology planning, which are crucial in the face of the growing demand for agriculture and habitable land.

Urban micro-climate plays an important role in human activities and in ensuring public health. For instance, the urban heat island effect is crucial to the thermal comfort of citizens and tourists, similar to the urban cool island effect’s importance on human and infrastructure resilience. Approximately 35% of global big cities are located in drylands. While existing research has focused on the spatial and temporal changes of surface urban cooling island intensity (SUCII) in drylands in the past, there is a gap in predicting the future spatiotemporal changes in SUCII for cities within these dryland regions. This study aims to forecast the spatiotemporal dynamics of daytime SUCII of representative growing cities with a dry and cold climate. Kerman and Zahedan cities, which are undergoing large urbanization and have harsh hot summer climates, were selected as the study area. Landsat 5 and 8 images and products were utilized for six timestamps within the timeframe of 1986–2023. Various methods, including a random forest algorithm, spectral indices, Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) model, the cross-tabulation model, and spatial overlay and zonal statistics, were employed to assess and model the spatiotemporal changes in SUCII. Initially, historical land cover maps, land surface temperature (LST), surface biophysical characteristics, and SUCII data were prepared, and their spatiotemporal changes were evaluated. Then, projected maps for these variables for the year 2045 were produced. The results indicated that the built-up areas, bare lands, and green spaces of Kerman (Zahedan) city in 1986 were 26.6 km2 (17.6 km2), 103 km2 (92.5 km2), and 44.4 km2 (5.6 km2), respectively, and these values reached 99.3 km2 (41.9 km2), 61.2 km2 (70.7 km2), and 13.5 km2 (3.2 km2) in 2023. The built-up lands area of Kerman (Zahedan) city is expected to increase by approximately 26% (36%) by 2045, while bare land and green space are expected to decrease by about 32% (20%) and 39% (31%), respectively. The greatest rise in average LST of Kerman (Zahedan) city is associated with the conversion of green spaces to barren land, resulting in a notable increase of 5.5 °C (4.3 °C) in 1986–2023. The conversion of barren land to built-up land in Kerman (Zahedan) city has led to a decrease of 4.6 °C (3.8 °C) in LST. The SUCII of Kerman (Zahedan) city for 1986, 1994, 2001, 2008, 2015, and 2023 were −0.3 °C (0.9 °C), −0.8 °C (0.4 °C), −1.4 °C (−0.5 °C), −1.9 °C (−1.5 °C), −2.6 °C (−2.5 °C), and −3.2 °C (−3.4 °C), respectively. The projected SUCII in Kerman (Zahedan) city for 2045 is about −4.3 °C (−4.5 °C), indicating an increasing trend in SUCII in the future. The area of zones without SUCII in Kerman (Zahedan) city decreased by 44.8 Km2 (54.8 Km2) from 1986 to 2023, while the areas of low, medium, and high SUCII classes increased by 9.1 Km2 (9.9 Km2), 10.9 Km2 (11.9 Km2), and 24.8 Km2 (33.1 Km2), respectively. The area of non-SUCII and high SUCII classes of Kerman (Zahedan) city in 2045 is expected to decrease by 31.5 Km2 (12.0 Km2) and increase by 51.2 Km2 (9.5 Km2) compared with 2023. The findings of this research indicate that the physical growth of cities in drylands can lead to the moderation of LST, contrary to mechanisms in humid and wet regions.

This research paper focuses on implementing two Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in the Sarantapotamos river basin upstream of Magoula settlement, evaluating their effectiveness through flood hydrograph calculations before and after NBS, and under future climate scenarios, encompassing lower, mean, and upper conditions representing ± 95%. The study area covers an area of 226 km2 in Attica, Greece, susceptible to extreme flood events. The research contributes to NBS knowledge, emphasizing flood resilience and protecting settlements downstream. Land cover change and retention ponds, applied individually and combined, serve as NBS approaches. Flood hydrographs are calculated using the time–area (TA) diagram method in a geographic information system (GIS) with the Hydrological Engineering Center's Hydrological Modeling System (HEC-HMS). Results demonstrate NBS effectiveness in current climate conditions, reducing peak discharge by 9.3% and 28% for land cover change and retention ponds, respectively. The combined NBS achieves a 40.5% peak discharge reduction and a significant 15.7% total flood volume decrease. Under climate change scenarios, impacts on design precipitation and flood hydrographs vary. The upper climate change scenario exhibits a 3348% increase in peak discharge and a 600% rise in total flood volume, while the lower scenario sees a 44.6% reduction in total flood volume. In the mean climate change scenario, land cover change and retention ponds reduce peak discharge by 9.73% and 23.11% and total flood volume by 9.25% and 2.17%, respectively. In conclusion, retention ponds show substantial peak discharge reduction, while land cover changes extend the time to peak, emphasizing their potential in flood risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hasi region lies in the southwestern part of Kosovo and is dominated by karstic, ultramafic landscapes in Hasi Mts., and fluvial depositional landforms near White Drini and Erenik Rivers. Karstic landscapes are distinguished by the absence of surface waters and the karstic springs found at the foothills of Pashtrik and Hasi Mts. Broad-leaved forests and transitional woodland-shrubs cover most of middle and high-altitude areas. In the last two decades, the region has experienced landscape transformation resulting in Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes, where settlements are extended towards agricultural areas, mainly in lower part of the region. The GIS technique and statistical methods were useful in quantifying, mapping, and visualizing spatiotemporal changes of Land Cover data from Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS) for 2000-2018, while Sankey diagram is used to visualize the magnitude and the flow of Land Cover Changes in the Hasi region over the last two decades. All the data were analyzed in the ArcMap 10.8 environment. The analysis shows that most of the Land Cover categories have experienced a transformation. From the total area of 30,939 ha, agricultural land decreased by 998 ha, artificial surfaces increased by 293 %, and broad-leaved forest and sparsely vegetated areas experienced an increase. In contrast, transitional woodland-shrubs experienced the most change gaining and losing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major drivers of environmental change at the global and regional levels is defined as land use and land cover (LULC). The process of LULC modification is a result of the complex interactions between people and their surroundings In order to effectively use and manage natural resources, Detecting the changes of land use and land cover of the earth's surface is extremely important to achieve continual and precise information about study area for planning and development. The aim of this study is to map the land use and land cover of District Khairpur on year 1988, 1998, 2008 and 2018 respectively to monitor the possible changes that may occur particularly in agricultural land and urban or builtup land, and detect the process of urbanization in this city. Maximum likelihood supervised classification were used in all four imageries and five classes were made namely Vegetation, Water Body, Sand, Barren land, and Built-up Area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas have progressively emerged as centers of tourism and economic development, leading to significant land cover transformations. This paper examines the dynamic interplay between tourism development and environmental sustainability within coastal regions, spotlighting three European seaside resorts: Eforie Sud, Romania; Torremolinos, Spain; and La Grande-Motte, France. Through a comparative case study approach, the research delves into the strategies employed by these destinations to manage tourism growth, with a focus on implementing spatial planning principles and sustainable practices. By analyzing spatial data on land use changes from 1990 to 2018, the study quantitatively assesses the extent of urbanization and its environmental impacts, offering insights into the transformation of coastal landscapes in response to tourism development. The study underscores the importance of sustainable tourism development as a means to balance economic objectives with the preservation of natural and cultural assets. It concludes with recommendations for strategic planning, conservation initiatives, and community engagement to ensure the long-term viability of coastal tourism destinations. This research contributes to the discourse on sustainable tourism, advocating for policies and practices that harmonize development with environmental stewardship and socio-economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing vegetation greenness considering climate and land cover changes is crucial for Bangladesh given the historically drier North-West and South-West regions of Bangladesh have shown prominent climatic and hydrological variations. Therefore, this study assessed the spatial and temporal variation of NDVI and its relationship with climate and land cover changes from 2000 to 2022 for these regions. In this study, Moran's I and Getis Ord Gi* were employed for spatial autocorrelation and Mann-Kendall, Sen's slope test along with Innovative Trend Analysis were deployed to identify temporal trends of NDVI. RMSE, MAE and R-squared values were assessed between computed and observed PET. Correlation of NDVI with climate variables were assessed through multivariate correlation analysis and correlation mapping. Additionally, Pearson product moment correlation was applied between different types of land cover and NDVI. Spatial autocorrelation outcomes showed that NDVI values have been clustered in distinct hotspots and cold-spots over the years. Temporal trend detection results indicate that NDVI values are rising significantly all over the regions. Multivariate correlation analysis identified no climate variable to be the limiting factor for NDVI changes. Similarly, the precipitation-NDVI correlation map displayed no significant correlation. Nonetheless, temperature-NDVI correlation map illustrated varying degrees of mostly moderate and strong positive correlations with distinct negative correlation results in the Sundarbans of South-West region. Land cover pattern analysis with NDVI showed a positive correlation to forest, cropland and vegetation area increasing and negative correlation to grassland and barren area decreasing. In this regard, Rangpur division exhibited stronger correlations than Rajshahi division in North-West. The findings indicate that NDVI changes in the regions are largely dependent on land cover changes in comparison to climate trends. This can instigate further research in other hydrological regions to explore the natural and man-made factors that can affect the greenery and vegetation density in specific regions.

The mapping and three-dimensional modeling of mountain areas and the study of land cover change dynamics are current tasks in preserving and maintaining protected natural parks and forests. In this context, recent developments in digital photogrammetry using the SfM-MVS method to process captured imagery and the development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) allow for reducing the costs, time, and the use of human resources and obtaining and repeatable 3D topographic data for moun-tainous regions. We will call this acquired 3D high-resolution topographic data (HRTD) 4D data in the context of an additional temporal component. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the applicability of PPK (Post-Processing Kinematic) direct georeferencing of images captured by UAVs and processed through the SfM-MVS method to obtain HRTDs for 4D land cover analysis. We analyze a 3D HRTD with an acquisition interval of two years for a mountain test area in Plana Mountain near Sofia. The test area has a diverse vegetation cover, including coniferous forest, grassland, hay meadows, shrubs, and single deciduous trees. We conducted multiple surveys of the test area with a budget PPK-UAV configuration (DJI Phantom 4 Pro with a single-frequency PPK-GNSS kit installed) from March 2020 to October 2022. Two autumn surveys from September 2020 and October 2022 were se-lected, which possess the most-good performance on numerical data accuracy. We performed 3D data analysis on 1) Assessment of the accuracy of PPK-SfM-MVS photogrammetry generated topographic data (3D clouds and DSM); 2) Investigation of the errors in the individual specific surfaces (for the individual isolated sections) using the M3C2 tool for comparing and evaluating dense point clouds; 3) Determining land cover changes in the demarcated areas using a surface of differences (DoD).Accuracy analysis showed that the PPK solution provides comparable accuracy (about RMSE3D = 0.067 m for the 2020 data, georeferencing (PPK+1GCP) and RMSE3D about 0.13 m for the 2022 data, georeferencing (PPK only)) like the GCP method.The multi-temporal topographic reconstructions based on UAV- PPK-SfM allowed us to quantify and qualitatively determine the land cover changes that occurred. The UAV-PPK-SfM workflow in the context of 4D land surface monitoring and the results suggested that even low-cost UAV-PPK systems can provide data suitable for measuring geomorphic change at the scale of the acquired data. The multi-temporal topographic reconstructions based on UAV- PPK-SfM allowed us to quantify and qualitatively determine the land cover changes that occurred. The UAV-PPK-SfM workflow in the context of 4D land surface monitoring and the results suggested that even low-cost UAV-PPK systems can provide data suitable for measuring geomorphic change at the scale of the acquired data.

Urbanisation is a global trend that significantly impacts sustainable urban development and the quality of urban life. Assessing urban sprawl is critical for sustainable urban planning and aligns with the key objectives of the United Nations sustainable development goals. This study employed geospatial technology and landscape metrics to comprehensively assess, map, and quantify the extent of urban sprawl in Bulawayo from 1984 to 2022. The study leveraged the Support Vector Machine (SVM) supervised machine learning algorithm coupled with landscape metrics to achieve this objective. The combined approach allowed for the classification, detection of land cover changes, analysis of urban dynamics, and quantification of the degree of urban sprawl. The results revealed a 228% increase in built-up areas between 1984 and 2022, while non-built-up areas (agricultural land, vegetation, bare land) decreased by 29.28%. The landscape metrics and change analysis indicated an encroachment of urban-like conditions into urban areas. Land use change assessment revealed that Bulawayo exhibits four district types of urban sprawl: leapfrog, strip/ribbon, low density, and infill. Urban expansion is attributed to urbanisation and evolving land use policy. Urban sprawl has numerous urban planning implications on transport management, habitat loss and deforestation, reduction and contamination of freshwater sources, and many others. This study is strategic to planners, researchers, and decision-makers/policy makers as it provides relevant, up-to-date, and accurate information for sustainable urban planning.

Conserving tropical forests and peatlands is considered a key strategy for international forest project cooperation and the promotion of carbon neutrality. Focusing on peatlands in the Sumatra Selatan and Jambi provinces in Indonesia, this study aimed to assess land-cover changes from 1992 to 2020 and associated ecosystem services to assist in the development of effective forest and peatland-related projects. This study first analyzed the historical land-cover changes as a baseline for establishing potential project scenarios. Carbon storage, habitat suitability, water yield, and crop production were selected as the key ecosystem services in the peatlands, and these were assessed for the current land cover and two possible project scenarios in 2050 – business-as-usual (BAU) and forest and wetland restoration (FOR) – using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) tool. In terms of land-cover changes, the area of forests and wetlands decreased, but that of agriculture, grassland, and built-up areas increased in the peatlands. Based on the land-cover scenarios, the carbon storage, habitat suitability, water yield, and crop production varied on 2.32–2,74 billion tC, 92.02–93.46 %, 16.45–16,91 billion m3, and 2.34–2.73 million ton, respectively. The total economic value of the ecosystem services for the current land cover was $75.41 billion, while that predicted for BAU and FOR was estimated to be $70.59 billion and $77.79 billion, respectively. Restoration plans have the environmental and economic benefit of provincial-level assessment, so the development of appropriate projects for tropical forest and peatland conservation and restoration is necessary for international cooperation projects.

Higher land surface temperature (LST) in cities than their surrounding areas presents a major sustainability challenge for cities. Decision-makers and planners use the LST measurements to monitor the urban environment to reduce the urban climate’s main challenges. Therefore, there is an urgent need to examine the impacts of urban features and changes on the LST. This study focused on the relationship between LST and urban land changes and the impact of these changes on LST during different periods. Although a set of studies explored the relationship between landscape features and urban LST, several aspects still need further discussion. Here, the study aims to explore the influence of landscape features and land cover patterns on land surface temperature LST in two cities (Amman and Zarqa) in Jordan, and identify which of these features (vegetation cover, built-up and population density) has the most effective and influence on LST values. Therefore, this paper is the first study about land surface temperature LST and its relations with these aspects in Jordan. This study used a mixed method approach using quantitative method (GIS) and qualitative method (comparative case studies). This study revealed that the most important features affecting the LST values were: (1) Population density; (2) Built-up; and (3) Vegetation, and in descending order from the strongest to the least effective. It is also concluded that in the city in which the population density is high, the effect of built-up areas on the values of LST is as high as possible and positive more than the cities with medium and low population density. As for the city in which the population density is medium to low, the effect of vegetation cover on the values of LST is greater, and this can be more positive than in cities with a high population density. Therefore, the study contributes to improving the planners' and policymakers’ suitable future decisions for making sustainable cities.

Introduction: Highlighting and assessing land cover changes in a heterogeneous landscape, such as those with surface mining activities, allows for understanding the dynamics and status of the analyzed area. This paper focuses on the long-term land cover changes in the Jiului Valley, the largest mining basin in Romania, using Landsat temporal image series from 1988 to 2017.Methods: The images were classified using the supervised Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm incorporating four kernel functions and two common algorithms (Maximum Likelihood Classification - MLC) and (Minimum Distance - MD). Seven major land cover classes have been identified: forest, pasture, agricultural land, built-up areas, mined areas, dump sites, and water bodies. The accuracy of every classification algorithm was evaluated through independent validation, and the differences in accuracy were subsequently analyzed. Using the best-performing SVM-RBF algorithm, classified maps of the study area were developed and used for assessing land cover changes by post-classification comparison (PCC).Results and discussions: All three algorithms displayed an overall accuracy, ranging from 76.56% to 90.68%. The SVM algorithms outperformed MLC by 4.87%–8.80% and MD by 6.82%–10.67%. During the studied period, changes occurred within analyzed classes, both directly and indirectly: forest, built-up areas, mined areas, and water bodies experienced increases, whereas pasture, agricultural land, and dump areas saw declines. The most notable changes between 1988 and 2017 were observed in built-up and dump areas: the built-up areas increased by 110.7%, while the dump sites decreased by 53.0%. The mined class showed an average growth of 6.5%. By highlighting and mapping long-term land cover changes in this area, along with their underlying causes, it became possible to analyze the impact of land management and usage on sustainable development and conservation effort over time.

Rapid urbanization is a global trend that significantly alters Land Use and Land Cover Change (LULCC) patterns. Dhaka, a megacity, and Chittagong, the country’s second-largest city, have experienced substantial shifts in LULCC patterns over the past three decades. This study aims to examine the LULCC in Dhaka and Chittagong districts of Bangladesh from 1991 to 2021, focusing on identifying patterns and quantifying the effects of population growth and urbanization. Changes in LULCC patterns were identified by analyzing Landsat satellite imagery using remote sensing and geospatial techniques. The LULCC classes were classified using the Random Forest model and an inconsistency diagram, demonstrating high precision with an overall accuracy rate exceeding 85 %. The study’s findings reveal significant transformations in LULCC patterns across Dhaka and Chittagong districts from 1991 to 2021. A notable increase in built-up areas was observed in both districts, with Dhaka division witnessing a 129 % increase in built-up areas while Chittagong district saw a 515 % increase. This was due to transforming water bodies and barren land into built-up areas. However, the study also highlighted a promising increase in vegetation cover in both districts, indicating successful ecological restoration efforts. Chittagong and Dhaka saw increments of 597.95 km2 and 252.15 km2 in vegetation cover, respectively. Despite these positive changes, the study identified decreased surface water bodies in both regions. The results show a significant positive correlation between population growth/density and the built-up class, while a significant negative correlation with the barren land was observed in both districts. The findings could potentially guide policymakers in making informed decisions regarding land use, land cover, and urban sprawl management from an ecological restoration perspective. This could contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by promoting resilience ecological restoration practices.

Land cover changes (LCCs) due to urbanization cause urban heat islands (UHIs), significantly affecting land surface temperature (LST) through spatiotemporal changes in compositions, parameters, and patterns. Land cover and LST have been studied in various cities; however, indicative research into heterogeneous LCC's impact on LST in less-developed cities remains incomplete. This study analyzed new Landsat images of Zhanjiang, taken from 2004 to 2022, to determine the impact of three LCC indicators (compositions, parameters, and patterns) on LSTs. The urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) was used to describe the distribution and variation in LST. We also quantified the cooling or warming benefits of various LCCs. The results indicate that the average temperature in the land urban heat island (SUHI) area rose to 30.6 °C. The average temperature of the SUHI was 3.32 °C higher than that of the non-SUHI area, showing the characteristic of shifting to counties and multi-core development. The LST increases by 0.37–0.67 °C with an increase of 0.1 in the normalized difference building index (NDBI), which is greater than the cooling benefit of the normalized difference of vegetation index (NDVI). The impact of landscape pattern indices on impervious surfaces and water is higher than that on vegetation and cropland, with a rising influence on impervious surfaces and a decreasing impact on water. The predominant cooling patches are vegetation and water, while large areas of impervious surface and cropland aggravate UHIs for industrial and agricultural activities. These findings are intended to guide future urban layouts and planning in less-developed cities, with thermal climate mitigation as a guiding principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decades, the establishment of new fast‐growing forest plantations has been prospering. Although the European continent has the lowest share worldwide of forest plantations out of its total forest area, the Portuguese reality contrasts this. Since the last century, eucalypt plantations have increased widely in Portugal, and nowadays, it represents 36% of the total country's forests. Consequently, the soils of these plantations are commonly targeted with intensive soil mobilization by heavy machinery before planting, which in the case of sloped areas, frequently results in bench terracing. This study aims to quantify the widespread bench terracing implementation over the last 20 years in the Caramulo Mountains in north central Portugal. To do so, an analysis of satellite imagery was performed with Google Earth Pro, which allowed determining the coverage of forest areas where new terraces have been implemented, and their respective temporal dynamics. These results were then compared with additional spatiotemporal databases on land cover, topography, and bedrock, in order to understand the drivers of terrace implementation. Till date, 15% of the forest area in the mountains of Caramulo is under terraces, and over the last 20 years, the construction rate of new terraced land decreased in time, from 4% between 2000 and 2004 to 2% between 2015 and 2019. Among the two bedrock types existent in the area, terracing was found nearly exclusive over schist bedrock type (97%), while few areas were implemented over granites (3%). Their distribution was found limited above 30° of slope angle while 39% were found implemented below 15° of slope angle, conflicting with literature recommendations. Terracing was also found to be a driver of land cover change in 12% of the newly constructed terraces, whereas 8% were constructed over previous pine plantations and 4% on shrublands. This study allowed identifying several knowledge gaps associated with terracing implementation. Therefore, the authors of this work suggest a multidisciplinary approach when planning new terraces for a better assessment of the benefits and impacts of such land management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial for effective flood events management in a river basin that the relationship between land use, land cover (LULC) changes and peak flow. The flood in Central Vietnam got highly affected in recent decades due to several factors like deforestation, urbanization, lack of hydrometeorological stations, developmental monitoring and planning. This study quantifies the influence of LULC on the peak flow dynamics using a hydrological model, remote sensing technology in the Laigiang river basin. The responses of LULC changes on the peak flow and runoff volume were investigated using daily rainfall in December 2016 at the study area. The usage of the hydrological model defined that the changes in LULCs 2010-2020 caused momentous changes in hydrological response towards water flow. The rainy season floods in the bare land, low-density vegetation area, urban/built-up, and bare land while the normal flow gets the contribution from interflow generated from the dense forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unlimited outward and uncontrolled expansion of cities which connotes urban sprawl has been a major urban development issue over the years in the Global North and South due to concerns raised by many, especially academics and urban planners. Within the context of the Global South, the impact of urban sprawl remains contested in the conventional literature. While some research outputs contend that sprawl largely leads to livelihood loss particularly in the conversion of agriculture lands into residential and commercial developments, other schools of thought argues that sprawl leads to livelihood diversification in peri-urban communities and this could potentially enhance the incomes of households. Therefore, relying on the survey of 173 households and 4 institutional interviews, this study sought to clarify this contested issue in literature by assessing the effects of urban sprawl on livelihoods of settler communities in the Ga West and Juaben Municipalities in Ghana. The result of the study suggests a significant land cover change and diversification of livelihood activities from farm-based activities to other non-farm-based activities. This study therefore concludes that incidences of sprawl have both positive effects (livelihood diversification) and negative effects (adverse environmental effects). The present study recommends that urban development policies focus on effective ways of integrating these non-farm-based activities into urban growth policies whilst making significant efforts to halt the rate at which environmental resources are being lost to urban expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing population has accelerated the need for housing and supporting facilities. Further, this growing number of residences and life support facilities resulted in changes in land cover. For instance, the construction of the West Java International Airport and the increase in the population resulted in land cover changes in Majalengka Regency, Indonesia. This study aims to analyze changes in land cover during 2014, 2018, and 2022 in the Majalengka district using Landsat 8 satellite imagery. We used the pan-sharpening research method, while for the closure classification, we used machine-learning random forest algorithms on the google earth engine platform. The land cover classification classes adopted in this study were natural vegetation, cultivated vegetation, open land, built-up land, and bodies of water. The obtained land cover classification results suggested overall accuracy values of 0.96, 0.94, and 0.93 in 2014, 2018, and 2022 respectively, with kappa index values of 0.950, 0.925, and 0.91667. The results indicate a trend of changes in the land cover in the Majalengka district. From 2014-2022, the trend of increasing land cover area was observed in open land and built-up land, while the decreasing land cover area was found in natural vegetation and cultivated vegetation areas. Using both the pan-sharpening method and the machine learning random forest algorithm, we established images with a more detailed appearance with an outstanding kappa accuracy value (above 0.85). Therefore, the developed algorithm can be used in land cover change mapping analysis.

At the heart of the 2030 Agenda, 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been adopted by the United Nations. SDG 15 aims to implement sustainable management of terrestrial ecosystems by preserving biodiversity and soils and limiting the long-term impacts of disasters. SDG 15.3.1 (proportion of degraded land over a total area) is based on the fight against desertification, the restoration of degraded land and soil, in particular land affected by desertification, it thus remains a major priority for states taking of the UNCCD convention. Land degradation is a large-scale phenomenon, of anthropogenic or natural origin, its measurement via the calculation of indicator 15.3.1 is an effective solution for sustainable management at the planet level. In this contribution, we assessed the change in land cover between 2007 and 2018, one of the sub-indicator of SDG 15.3.1, for the north–west and south–west region of Algeria which occupies 43% of the national territory and includes 15 wilayas while adopting the axes of the methodology proposed by the UNCCD with adaptations to the local geography. The methodology proposed in this work is based on a multi-source/multi-sensor approach while respecting the class nomenclature standardized by the UNCCD. This is a multi-date (2007–2018) supervised classification specific to Algeria known for its significant geographical and bioclimatic diversity, optimized through a multi-scale hierarchical approach based on MODIS images and a hierarchy under a tree multi-sources (NDVI–slope–altitude–land cover from ESA CCI and MODIS MODQ13C1). The output results compared with Trend-Earth data and evaluated via very high and medium resolution spatial data (Alsat 2 "2.5 m" and Landsat "30 m"). This document thus presents a model methodological approach for the production of quality small-scale occupancy maps in semi-arid zones. According to the results obtained, 7905 km2 or 0.9% of the territory studied suffered degradation and 14,738 km2 or 1.64% were improved during 2007 to 2018. To achieve neutrality by 2030, developments and monitoring must be undertaken in these areas. Responsive and implement effective and sustainable management practices. Policy makers must strike a balance between development and environmental protection to restore degraded lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To record land cover changes over time, geographic information systems software was used for selecting and studying sampling surfaces in ortho-aerial photographs. In particular, ortho-aerial photographs of the years 1945 and 2015 were used to record changes in land cover. A total of 103 test surfaces were obtained, which consisted of 25 cells each. The results showed that the area and density of forest cover have increased significantly during the study period. Changes in land cover, and in particular forest cover, are mainly attributed to (a) the gradual decline of the population, and therefore to the decline in man-made interventions such as crops, nomadic herd grazing, and logging, and to (b) natural species competition. Moreover, the effect of climatic change and the reduction in human presence on fir treelines was examined. Based on the results, no clear evidence about treeline changes was found. Also, the effect of soil and topographic factors on land cover changes, as well as the prediction capability of land cover changes, were examined using an artificial neural network. Promising results came out that could provide substantial explanations for land cover changes and quantify the effect of environmental factors on vegetation evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide occurrence has become increasingly influenced by human activities. Accordingly, changing land use and land cover (LULC) is an important conditioning factor in landslide susceptibility models. We present a bibliometric analysis and review of how LULC was explored in the context of landslide susceptibility in 536 scientific articles from 2001 to 2020. The pattern of publications and citations reveals that most articles hardly focus on the relationship between LULC and landslides despite a growing interest in this topic. Most research outputs came from Asian countries (some of which are frequently affected by landslides), and mostly with prominent international collaboration. We recognised three major research themes regarding the characteristics of LULC data, different simulated scenarios of LULC changes, and the role of future scenarios for both LULC and landslide susceptibility. The most frequently studied LULC classes included roads, soils (in the broadest sense), and forests, often to approximate the negative impacts of expanding infrastructure, deforestation, or major land use changes involving agricultural practice. We highlight several articles concerned primarily with current practice and future scenarios of changing land use in the context of landslides. The relevance of LULC in landslide susceptibility analysis is growing slowly, though with much potential to be explored for future LULC scenario analysis and to close gaps in many study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mapping and three-dimensional modeling of mountain areas and the study of land cover change dynamics are current tasks in preserving and maintaining protected natural parks and forests. In this context, recent developments in digital photogrammetry using the SfM-MVS method to process captured imagery and the development of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) allow for reducing the costs, time, and the use of human resources and obtaining and repeatable 3D topographic data for mountainous regions. We will call this acquired 3D high-resolution topographic data (HRTD) 4D data in the context of an additional temporal component. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the applicability of PPK (Post-Processing Kinematic) direct georeferencing of images captured by UAVs and processed through the SfM-MVS method to obtain HRTDs for 4D land cover analysis. We analyze a 3D HRTD with an acquisition interval of two years for a mountain test area in Plana Mountain near Sofia. The test area has a diverse vegetation cover, including coniferous forest, grassland, hay meadows, shrubs, and single deciduous trees. We conducted multiple surveys of the test area with a budget PPK-UAV configuration (DJI Phantom 4 Pro with a single-frequency PPK-GNSS kit installed) from March 2020 to October 2022. Two autumn surveys from September 2020 and October 2022 were selected, which possess the most -good performance on numerical data accuracy. We performed 3D data analysis on 1) Assessment of the accuracy of PPK-SfM-MVS photogrammetry generated topographic data (3D clouds and DSM); 2) Investigation of the errors in the individual specific surfaces (for the individual isolated sections) using the M3C2 tool for comparing and evaluating dense point clouds; 3) Determining land cover changes in the demarcated areas using a surface of differences (DoD). Accuracy analysis showed that the PPK solution provides comparable accuracy (about RMSE3D = 0.067 m for the 2020 data, georeferencing (PPK+1GCP) and RMSE3D about 0.13 m for the 2022 data, georeferencing (PPK only)) like the GCP method. The multi-temporal topographic reconstructions based on UAV-PPK-SfM allowed us to quantify and qualitatively determine the land cover changes that occurred. The UAV-PPK-SfM workflow in the context of 4D land surface monitoring and the results suggested that even low-cost UAV-PPK systems can provide data suitable for measuring geomorphic change at the scale of the acquired data. The multi-temporal topographic reconstructions based on UAV-PPK-SfM allowed us to quantify and qualitatively determine the land cover changes that occurred. The UAV-PPK-SfM workflow in the context of 4D land surface monitoring and the results suggested that even low-cost UAV-PPK systems can provide data suitable for measuring geomorphic change at the scale of the acquired data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the dynamics of mining effects on land use land cover changes and the chemical and physical characteristics of soil and surface water in the Ahafo mining area in Ghana. Landsat imagery was used to analyze land use-land cover changes (LULC) using a supervised classification technique. Soil samples were collected within 600 m from active mining operations and at depths of up to 75 cm, as well as surface water samples from upstream and downstream of the mine. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and water samples. The results demonstrated a significant loss of forest and other vegetation covers, which decreased from 44% to 31% to 8% and 20%, respectively, with corresponding increases in the mining site, mine water, settlement/bare surface, cropland and plantation. Organic matter, organic carbon, exchangeable bases, cation exchange capacity, available phosphorus, and pH were all moderate in the soil surrounding the mine. Except for As (4.027 mg/kg) and Hg (1 mg/kg), all heavy metals found in the soil were within FAO/WHO guidelines. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (416.18 mg/L), Total Suspended Solids (55.08 mg/L), Turbidity (54.49 NTU), Ca (84.49 mg/L), Mg (31.97 mg/L), nitrate (10.23 mg/L), and sulphate (606.83 mg/L) in the downstream water were higher than those in the upstream and USEPA/WHO limits for drinking water except for TDS. Because of the geology of the area, there were high concentrations of iron, manganese, and aluminum in the surface water. The results show that mining induced severe land cover changes and impaired surface water and soil quality in the mine's vicinity. The findings have implications for stakeholder education, appropriate community water interventions, and company-community-regulator participatory monitoring to avoid health risk exposure and further water and soil quality and vegetation degradation.

The land structure in dry-steppe Zavolzh'e is complicated and includes irrigated and rain-fed croplands and pastures in natural steppe areas and on abandoned plow lands, which results in significantly incorrect assessment of the Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) based on standard approaches elaborated to analyze the land status at the global and regional levels. The problem of interpreting the results of the assessment of the dynamics of land cover as one of the main global indicators of LDN proposed by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification is analyzed in this work. A method based on the analysis of seasonal series of Landsat satellite images, using Kohonen self-organizing neural networks implemented in the Scanex Image Processor software package was developed and applied for the study area. It is shown that this approach makes significantly greater the possibilities of assessing the LDN as a result of the detailed analysis and delineation of a larger number of cartographic areas and when using the transition assessment matrix based on the extended classification of the land cover. The application of the Change Detection module of the SAGA GIS software package enables us not only to identify the nature of restoration and degradation changes, but also to compare the trends for land categories. The combination of the proposed approaches in the form of a functional algorithm may be recommended for monitoring and evaluation of the achieving LDN at the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paraguayan Pantanal is part of one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world. It is also one of the richest ecosystems on the planet in terms of biodiversity. It is recognized as a RAMSAR site and on its way to being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which faces various pressures mainly due to changes in land use. This study describes how these land use changes occurred over time in a place barely studied and thereby to lay the foundations for the decision-makers to undertake appropriate restoration and conservation measures. It aims to analyze the land cover dynamics in the Paraguayan Pantanal over 33 years, in the timeframe 1987–2020. A diachronic analysis of satellite images Landsat Collection 2 Level-2 was carried out. To process the different scenes into land cover maps, an unsupervised stacked classification process was conducted. In 33 years, 13,069.5 km2 (43.1%) of forest were intended to other uses, including herbaceous vegetation, grazing lands, aquatic vegetation, and water bodies. Between the periods 1987–2004, 2004–2020, and 1987–2020, there were 3014.4 km2 (9.9%), 5944.5 km2 (19.6%), and 9118.9 km2 (30.1%) of deforestation, considering the changes from forest to herbaceous vegetation and grazing lands. It is important to carry out a paradigm shift regarding the current mode of production, incorporating more sustainable livestock production techniques that allow the conservation of natural resources. Likewise, at the legislative level, land use regulations must be implemented and regulate the Forestry Law of Paraguay according to the current landscape situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]