Research

17 pages, 6217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential for Agricultural Expansion in Degraded Pasture Lands in Brazil Based on Geospatial Databases

by Édson Luis Bolfe, Daniel de Castro Victoria, Edson Eyji Sano, Gustavo Bayma, Silvia Maria Fonseca Silveira Massruhá and Aryeverton Fortes de Oliveira

Land 2024, 13(2), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020200 - 06 Feb 2024

Viewed by 3058

Abstract

Important public and private initiatives to map agricultural lands and natural resources have been carried out in Brazil to support land use planning. Some studies indicate that Brazil still has up to 109.7 million hectares of cultivated pastures with some level of degradation, [...] Read more.

Important public and private initiatives to map agricultural lands and natural resources have been carried out in Brazil to support land use planning. Some studies indicate that Brazil still has up to 109.7 million hectares of cultivated pastures with some level of degradation, representing around 60% of the total pasturelands, estimated at 177 million hectares. This study aimed to gather, process, and analyze publicly available databases to generate quantitative and spatial information about the potential of Brazilian degraded pastures for agricultural expansion. We considered data related to the natural agricultural potential, restrictions imposed by special areas (indigenous lands and Afro-Brazilian “quilombola” settlements), areas with high biodiversity conservation priorities, infrastructure such as distance between major highways and availability of warehouses, current agricultural areas, and the information made available by Agricultural Climate Risk Zoning. The results indicated the existence of approximately 28 million hectares of planted pastures with intermediate and severe levels of degradation that show high potential for agricultural crops. These areas could increase the planted areas with grains in Brazil by approximately 35% in relation to the total area used in the 2022/23 crop season. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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31 pages, 9551 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Complex Methodology for Spatial Documentation of Geomorphological Changes and Geohazards in the Alpine Environment

by Ľudovít Kovanič, Patrik Peťovský, Branislav Topitzer and Peter Blišťan

Land 2024, 13(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010112 - 19 Jan 2024

Viewed by 745

Abstract

The alpine environment with a high degree of nature protection is characterized by complete non-intervention. The processes and phenomena occurring in it are exclusively of a natural origin. Related geohazards are threatening the safety of people’s movement. They arise as a result of [...] Read more.

The alpine environment with a high degree of nature protection is characterized by complete non-intervention. The processes and phenomena occurring in it are exclusively of a natural origin. Related geohazards are threatening the safety of people’s movement. They arise as a result of a combination of meteorological, hydrological, and geological–morphological factors permanently operating in the country. Therefore, the prevention of fatal events is limited to monitoring and predicting changes in selected objects where we expect change. Changes in the shape and dimension, or the object’s deformation, can be documented using geodetic and photogrammetric measurements. Our research focuses on monitoring a rock talus cone in High Tatras, Slovakia, at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level (ASL), created mainly due to erosion and seasonal torrential rains. To monitor changes in selected objects, we used mass non-contact methods of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), UAS photogrammetry based on the principle of structure-from-motion–multi-view stereo (SfM–MVS), and airborne laser scanning (ALS). From the selective measurement methods, spatial measurement by a total station (TS) and height measurement based on the principle of precise leveling were used in the monitoring deformation network on a stand-alone boulder. The research results so far analyze and evaluate the possibilities, limits, effectiveness, and accuracy of the measurement and data processing methods used. As a result, we propose a complex methodology for monitoring similar phenomena in alpine environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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18 pages, 11012 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Data-Driven Farm Typology as a Basis for Agricultural Land Use Decisions

by Anne Gobin and Ann Van Herzele

Land 2023, 12(11), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12112032 - 08 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1229

Abstract

As a large proportion of land is managed by professional family farms, agent-based models are of interest for simulating agricultural land use. This requires a deep understanding of the farm characteristics that influence land use decisions. We developed a methodology to identify a [...] Read more.

As a large proportion of land is managed by professional family farms, agent-based models are of interest for simulating agricultural land use. This requires a deep understanding of the farm characteristics that influence land use decisions. We developed a methodology to identify a data-driven farm typology by combining participatory methods, multivariate statistical modeling and spatiotemporal parcel-based land cover analysis between 2000 and 2020. A formal questionnaire provided data on the farm characteristics, which were subjected to principal component analysis and k-means clustering. The resulting data-driven typology complemented a production-based approach to understanding land use decisions. The main influencing factors were farm size, share of private land, dominant crops and participation in European schemes such as NATURA2000 and agri-environment-climate measures. Overall, family tradition and a high return on investment were the most important motivations for maintaining current land use practices, while a higher income, income support and diversification were the most important reasons for pursuing new land use options. Differences between the farm characteristics highlighted the importance of the motivations for land use decisions between the farm types. This methodology can be used to generate data-driven typologies suitable for implementing agent-based models to explore sustainable land management options in a changing environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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16 pages, 2885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of High-Quality Tourism Destinations Based on Spatiotemporal Big Data—A Case Study of Urumqi

by Bing Chen, Yiting Zhu, Xiong He and Chunshan Zhou

Land 2023, 12(7), 1425; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071425 - 16 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3212

Abstract

Although high-quality tourism destinations directly determine the tourism experiences of tourists and the management focuses of tourism management departments, existing studies have paid little attention to the relationship between tourism destinations of differing quality and tourist experiences. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution [...] Read more.

Although high-quality tourism destinations directly determine the tourism experiences of tourists and the management focuses of tourism management departments, existing studies have paid little attention to the relationship between tourism destinations of differing quality and tourist experiences. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of tourists and the quality of tourism destinations in Urumqi based on Tencent migration big data and Weibo sign-in big data and ultimately determined whether there are spatial correlations between the two. The results show that there are large differences in quality between different tourist destinations, and although the spatial and temporal distribution of tourists is not strongly correlated with the quality of tourist destinations, we can divide tourist destinations into four categories based on the correlations between the two (e.g., high-quality tourist destinations with a low number of tourists). The results of this study provide tourists with examples of high-quality tourist destinations, thus improving their holiday experiences, and they also provide a basis by which tourism management departments can manage and develop tourist destinations. The results of this study can also be extended to other regions and play a positive role in promoting the development of the tourism industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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24 pages, 5531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Citizen Sensing within Urban Greenspaces: Exploring Human Wellbeing Interactions in Deprived Communities of Glasgow

by Richard leBrasseur

Land 2023, 12(7), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071391 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1118

Abstract

The relationship between urban greenspaces and the benefits to psychological, social, and physical aspects of human wellbeing are important to study, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas and underrepresented communities. This interaction was theorized, analyzed, and measured in this paper through the transactional paradigm [...] Read more.

The relationship between urban greenspaces and the benefits to psychological, social, and physical aspects of human wellbeing are important to study, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas and underrepresented communities. This interaction was theorized, analyzed, and measured in this paper through the transactional paradigm and operationalized through the use of a volunteer geographic information questionnaire, SoftGIS, which activated the urban greenspace–human wellbeing interaction through its map-based data collection. Over 450 unique place-based relationships were statistically analyzed within the Greater Glasgow Urban Region of Paisley, Scotland, a vulnerable community. This study revealed that multiple components of human wellbeing are supported through interactions with urban greenspaces. The Paisley region’s respondents visited greenspaces, generally, and most often to receive psychological benefits such as reduction of stress and mental relaxation through interactions which included sitting and relaxing in quiet spaces, enjoying natural surroundings, and viewing nature and wildlife. The physical and social wellbeing benefits were not as frequent in these urban greenspace interactions but were distinctly present. The results imply pathways towards management and multifunctional greenspace design responses in urbanizing regions and indicate strategies for public policy, human health, and urban planning, which deliver wellbeing benefits to communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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16 pages, 1782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Driving Factors of Tourism Resources in China

by Xiaodong Zhang, Haoying Han, Yongjun Tang and Zhilu Chen

Land 2023, 12(5), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051029 - 08 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1943

Abstract

The spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of tourist attractions in China are analyzed by GIS and SPSS. The spatial distribution characteristics and main influencing factors of urban landscape tourism resources in China are deeply explored in order to provide a reference for [...] Read more.

The spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of tourist attractions in China are analyzed by GIS and SPSS. The spatial distribution characteristics and main influencing factors of urban landscape tourism resources in China are deeply explored in order to provide a reference for the construction of a national park system and for the optimal allocation of tourism resources in the future. The results show the following: (1) the spatial pattern of tourism resources in China is strong in the southeast and weak in the northwest. It shows the spatial structure of a global concentrated contiguous distribution, A-level zonal distribution, and national point distribution. The distribution pattern of concentrated contiguous areas is consistent with the spatial distribution of major urban agglomerations in China. (2) There is a serious imbalance in the allocation of A-level tourist attractions in Central, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast China. The allocation of A-level tourist attractions in East China is in an absolute dominant position, whereas that in South China and North China is at a medium level. National tourism resources show obvious characteristics of being strong in the east and weak in the west. We mainly take the provincial capital city as the core point of agglomeration, showing the obvious “administrative district” distribution characteristics. (3) The level of urban management, the scale of urban construction, the development of the real estate industry, the employment population of tertiary industry, and the level of urban economic development are all factors that have a significant correlation with the spatial distribution of urban tourism resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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24 pages, 3165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Landscape Analysis Using Earth-Observation Data: An Example from Chania, Crete, Greece

by Linda Jridi, Chariton Kalaitzidis and Dimitrios D. Alexakis

Land 2023, 12(5), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050999 - 02 May 2023

Viewed by 1555

Abstract

Pursuing sustainability in a challenging world and under the influence of numerous natural and anthropogenic drivers of change presents one of the major global concerns. The transition towards a more sustainable development requires a harmonious balance between human well-being and environmental management. The [...] Read more.

Pursuing sustainability in a challenging world and under the influence of numerous natural and anthropogenic drivers of change presents one of the major global concerns. The transition towards a more sustainable development requires a harmonious balance between human well-being and environmental management. The concept of landscape is at the core of such a process. Hence, evaluating the different aspects of the landscape and their components is crucial for policy making, planning and management. In fact, landscape quality assessment has become a special focus of interest, especially with the directives of the European Landscape Convention. This research work aims to analyze the rural landscape of the Chania prefecture, West Crete, Greece, taking into account its multifold dimensions. The analysis was carried out using a series of quantitative spatial indicators. Consecutively, structural (mean patch area, contagion index, edge density and percentage of landscape occupied by a class of the highest share), ecological (density of ecological barriers, Modified Shannon diversity index), visual (share of positive land-cover forms, share of negative land-cover forms, form and color disharmony index, shape disharmony index) and cultural indices (historical monuments index) were estimated and analyzed in a GIS environment. The overall methodology incorporated different land-use/land-cover data (multitemporal Corine data and land use derived from the classification of Earth-observation (EO) data). The historical and current analysis of the landscape within Chania revealed quite high structural and visual values. The ecological dimension is rather stable, with a potential decrease by the year 2045. Additionally, the structural dimension seemed to be sensitive to the spatial resolution of the data source. The spatial extent, at which the landscape is evaluated, seemed to impact the landscape’s ecological, visual and cultural values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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18 pages, 7620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is Obliterated Land Still Land? Tenure Security and Climate Change in Indonesia

by Sukmo Pinuji, Walter Timo de Vries, Trisnanti Widi Rineksi and Wahyuni Wahyuni

Land 2023, 12(2), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020478 - 15 Feb 2023

Viewed by 2023

Abstract

Both human activities and climate change have changed landscapes significantly, especially in coastal areas. Sea level rise and land subsidence foster tidal floods and permanent inundations, thus changing and limiting land use. Though many countries, including Indonesia, are aware of these phenomena, the [...] Read more.

Both human activities and climate change have changed landscapes significantly, especially in coastal areas. Sea level rise and land subsidence foster tidal floods and permanent inundations, thus changing and limiting land use. Though many countries, including Indonesia, are aware of these phenomena, the legal status of this permanently inundated land remains unclear. Indonesia refers to this land legally as obliterated land. This qualification makes former landowners uncertain, as it does not recognize their previous land rights, and creates disputes during land acquisition. In view of policy pressures to develop large-scale projects, the government often fails to include obliterated land legally during land acquisition processes for these projects. This causes unfair and disputed compensation for those former landowners. Current scientific discourses do not yet address this legal quandary. This study therefore has the following three aims: (1) to describe the legal, institutional and procedural contradictions related to obliterated land; (2) to assess the validity of right of the owners whose land parcels are permanently inundated; and (3) to formulate a responsible and tenure responsive policy to deal with obliterated land. We investigate these questions for the construction of a toll road and sea embankment in Kecamatan Sayung, Kabupaten Demak involving obliterated land. We reviewed policies, regulations and documentations related to coastal land and disaster management, and the implementation of land acquisition. We used geospatial data to visualize the ways in which and locations where landscapes, land parcels and land right changed. We determined that legal uncertainty leads to policy inconsistencies in handling obliterated land, specifically during land acquisition. Additionally, former landowners suffer from the legal gaps to establish clarity of land tenure, which prevents them from receiving any compensation. We suggest a law revision that considers the social–historical aspects of land tenure when defining obliterated land. The law should also provide for a fairer and more just compensation for former landowners during land acquisition processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geospatial Data for Landscape Change)

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