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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 14795

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Xinli Ke

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Guest Editor

College of Public Administration, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: land use change; land use modelling; land use optimization; cropland protection; ecosystem services

Dr. Wei Song

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Guest Editor

Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use change and simulation; ecological effects of land use change; land use policy; rural land consolidation; land use planning
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Both the urban and rural developments need to cope with social, demographic, economic, governance, and environmental challenges. For the urban area, major cities are consuming 80% of the world’s energy, and are responsible for three-fourths of all the carbon emissions nowadays. This reduces an urban dwellers’ quality of life. Comparatively, the rural area is confronted from land degradation, deforestation, biodiversity loss, geographical isolation, and poor health conditions. Rural populations are more prone to extreme poverty, famine, social exclusion, and environmental injustice. However, cities are growing very quickly and the world’s population are expected to be highly concentrated in urban areas, while the rural areas suffer from rural population and economy decline in the near future. It is obvious to see that the sustainability of our planet is in greater danger than ever before.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to gather innovative research contributions aiming to achieve sustainable urban and rural development by applying relevant theories and modelling approaches. Contents may consider but not limited to analyzing the spatio-temporal characteristics of our urban and rural dynamics, revealing the factors that drive these changes, and projecting the future urban and rural futures.

We invite review and conceptual papers, also bringing to new frameworks or methodology-building efforts, and research papers, including cases studies, qualitative analyses, and more quantitative/empirical investigations able to contribute to the research and practitioner purposes of the Special Issue.

We will look forward to receiving your research works and will be delighted to provide preliminary feedback to evaluate the potential of the same for submission to our Special Issue. Please see also the website of Administrative Sciences for full editorial aims and submission requirements.

Prof. Dr. Xinli Ke
Dr. Wei Song
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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

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Keywords

sustainable city
rural revitalization
integrated urban-rural development
spatial optimization
land use change
land use modelling

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 13681 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Detecting Urban Sprawl through Nighttime Light Changes

by Masanobu Kii and Kunihiko Matsumoto

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16506; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152316506 - 02 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1033

Abstract

Numerous cities around the world are currently experiencing surges in population growth and urban expansion, often accompanied by uncontrolled sprawl. It is widely recognized that unplanned urban development contributes to a decline in urban sustainability. In this research, our goal is to identify instances of sprawl development in the Kansai region of Japan by utilizing remote sensing data. As a result, we have discovered that nighttime light data are valuable for gaining additional insights into sprawl, even when time-series land-use data and spatial population data are available. Specifically, when comparing the changes in these indices between circa 2010 and 2020, it becomes evident that these indices exhibit very weak correlations. Consequently, they can be used as independent variables for identifying urban sprawl. Each index comes with its own advantages and disadvantages in the context of urban sprawl detection. Therefore, we can conclude that a combination of multiple data sources is necessary for a comprehensive determination and detection of urban sprawl. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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22 pages, 3416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phenotypic, Geological, and Climatic Spatio-Temporal Analyses of an Exotic Grevillea robusta in the Northwestern Himalayas

by Aman Dabral, Rajeev Shankhwar, Marco Antonio Caçador Martins-Ferreira, Shailesh Pandey, Rama Kant, Rajendra K. Meena, Girish Chandra, Harish S. Ginwal, Pawan Kumar Thakur, Maneesh S. Bhandari, Netrananda Sahu and Sridhara Nayak

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12292; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612292 - 11 Aug 2023

Viewed by 848

Abstract

The last five decades (since 1980) have witnessed the introduction of exotic trees as a popular practice in India to fulfill the demand of forest-based products for utilization in afforestation programmes. This study examines the distribution and habitat suitability of exotic Grevillea robusta trees in the northwestern Himalayas (state: Uttarakhand), focusing on the interaction between G. robusta and abiotic factors, such as climate, soil, and habitat suitability. This multipurpose agroforestry species is mainly grown by farmers as a boundary tree, windbreak, or shelterbelt and among intercrops on small farms in agroforestry systems worldwide. The results indicate that phenotypic plasticity is determined by tree height and diameter, indicating a higher frequency of young and adult trees. The study also highlights spatio-temporal modeling coupled with geological analysis to address the current distribution pattern and future habitat suitability range through MaxEnt modeling. The AUC ranged from 0.793 ± 3.6 (RCP 6.0_70) to 0.836 ± 0.008 (current) with statistical measures, such as K (0.216), NMI (0.240), and TSS (0.686), revealing the high accuracy of the model output. The variables, which include the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio 6), the slope (Slo), the mean temperature of the driest quarter (Bio 9), and the precipitation of the driest quarter (Bio 17), contribute significantly to the prediction of the distribution of the species in the Himalayan state. The model predicts a significant habitat suitability range for G. robusta based on bio-climatic variables, covering an area of approximately ~1641 km² with maximal occurrence in Pauri (~321 km²) and Almora (~317 km²). Notably, the future prediction scenario corroborates with the regions of Tons (Upper Yamuna, Uttarkashi), Kalsi (Mussoorie, Dehradun), the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Badrinath Forest Division for the potentially suitable areas. The climate was found to have a strong influence on the species’ distribution, as evidenced by its correlation with the Köppen–Geiger climate classification (KGCC) map. While the species demonstrated adaptability, its occurrence showed a high correlation with bedrocks containing an elevated iron content. Furthermore, the study also provides the first trees outside forests (TOF) map of G. robusta in the region, as well as insight into its future habitat suitability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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15 pages, 2193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implications of Changing Urban Land Use on the Livelihoods of Local People in Northwestern Bangladesh

by Md. Mizanur Rahman, Hamidul Huq and Sharif A. Mukul

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11769; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511769 - 31 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1743

Abstract

Bangladesh is one of the emerging economies in the Global South, and rapid urbanization is the driving force behind its economic development. Urban growth and development are closely associated with land use/land cover changes in any area, which sometimes negatively affect the livelihood and wellbeing of local people. We investigated the impacts of urban land use changes on the local people of northwestern Bangladesh using Nilphamari Sadar as a case study site. In order to identify land use patterns and variations in land cover, a 10-year period of land use/land cover changes from 2000 to 2020 was monitored using satellite imagery and the supervised classification method. Primary data were collected through household surveys and focus group discussions. Our analysis suggests that land use has changed over the past 20 years in the study area. As a result, the land area under settlements has substantially increased from 19 square kilometers in 2000 to 48 square kilometers in 2020. Waterbodies were 24 square kilometers in 2010, dropping to 4 square kilometers in 2020, whereas croplands decreased to 218 square kilometers in 2020 from 259 square kilometers in 2000. These changes have proportionately and adversely affected the lives and livelihoods of the local people by altering their longstanding traditional livelihood options, limiting their access to common resources, failing to adapt to new environmental arrangements and economic structures, and creating new forms of vulnerability. We suggest that urban planning processes should consider local people’s interests with the entitlement of local and marginalized people to the benefits generated by urbanization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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21 pages, 4558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning-Based Land Use and Land Cover Mapping Using Multi-Spectral Satellite Imagery: A Case Study in Egypt

by Rehab Mahmoud, Mohamed Hassanin, Haytham Al Feel and Rasha M. Badry

Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9467; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129467 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2721

Abstract

Satellite images provide continuous access to observations of the Earth, making environmental monitoring more convenient for certain applications, such as tracking changes in land use and land cover (LULC). This paper is aimed to develop a prediction model for mapping LULC using multi-spectral satellite images, which were captured at a spatial resolution of 3 m by a 4-band PlanetScope satellite. The dataset used in the study includes 105 geo-referenced images categorized into 8 LULC different classes. To train this model on both raster and vector data, various machine learning strategies such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs), Decision Trees (DTs), Random Forests (RFs), Normal Bayes (NB), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) were employed. A set of metrics including precision, recall, F-score, and kappa index are utilized to measure the accuracy of the model. Empirical experiments were conducted, and the results show that the ANN achieved a classification accuracy of 97.1%. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to monitor land changes in Egypt that were conducted on high-resolution images with 3 m of spatial resolution. This study highlights the potential of this approach for promoting sustainable land use practices and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals. The proposed method can also provide a reliable source for improving geographical services, such as detecting land changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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19 pages, 3670 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Driving Factors of “Non-Grain Production” in Hubei Province Based on a Non-Grain Index

by Jundong Hu, Hong Wang and Yu Song

Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 9042; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15119042 - 02 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

Non-grain production (NGP) on cultivated land has become a common phenomenon due to the prosperity of the rural economy and the optimisation of the agricultural structure. However, the excessive use of cultivating land for NGP has threatened food production and the sustainable use of cultivated land. To halt this trend and to ensure food security, the authors of this paper applied a novel non-grain index to measure NGP, which could reflect multiple NGP activities; designated Hubei Province as its object of research; and revealed NGP’s spatio-temporal patterns of the past 30 years. We then assessed the characteristics of NGP based on spatial autocorrelation analysis, the Theil index, and geographically weighted regression. The results showed that the value of the non-grain index grew from 0.497 to 1.113 as NGP increased significantly in Hubei Province. The number of high-NGP counties increased, spatial agglomeration became obvious, and the eastern and western sides of Hubei Province witnessed an observable growth in NGP. As a result, the NGP in the eastern and western regions overtook production in the central region. Despite a series of historical subsidy policies and agricultural modernisation initiatives that promoted the planting of grain crops, the policy of “grain on valuable cultivated land” could be better implemented. We conclude by making some suggestions for reducing NGP and protecting cultivated land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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19 pages, 6607 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Need to Maintain Sustainability in the Dynamic Anthropogenic Changes in the Natural Landscape of the Bay of Pomerania in Poland

by Katarzyna Krasowska and Zbigniew W. Paszkowski

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031928 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1046

Abstract

This article presents a research study into the dynamics of negative changes to the almost untouched coastal landscape of the Bay of Pomerania on the south-western coast of the Baltic Sea, taking into consideration the impact of the spatial development of the port of Świnoujście and of the development of leisure facilities in the small fishing villages of the Baltic coast. The authors highlight the natural landscape dynamics resulting from the topography, the aggression of the Baltic Sea against the beaches and sandy moraine hills, the dynamics of phyto-biological development in the endemic natural environment, and the dynamics of anthropogenic landscape changes resulting from the oversized spatial development of both residential and industrial buildings, as well as intermodal and port infrastructure development. The study analyzes natural values and their importance for both health and recreational purposes and shows the disproportional impact of economic/industrial development on the study area in recent times. The research was undertaken to verify the necessity of maintaining sustainability in the anthropogenic and industrial development undertaken in those areas, in order to protect sensitive ecological areas and to provide environmental compensation for the negative landscape changes already produced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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14 pages, 1300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Limit of Urban Land Expansion Based on Population Growth and Economic Development: A Case Study of Shandong Province in China

by Xiaoming Wang, Bocheng Chen and Qianqian Dong

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010073 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1355

Abstract

As a developing country, China is experiencing rapid urbanization. With rapid economic development and urban population growth, urban land continues to expand. The urban land expansion provides development space for cities; however, the disorderly expansion of urban land also results in a significant waste of land resources. In order to effectively regulate the scale of urban land and prevent the disorderly expansion of urban land, it is necessary to conduct analyses of the characteristics and trends of urban land expansion. In the present paper, taking Shandong province as the research area, we analyze the characteristics and limits of urban land expansion. Based on the relationship between urban land expansion, economic development, and urban population growth, using urban land area, the output value of secondary and tertiary industries, and population data to construct a marginal effect model and logistic model to estimate the limit time and limit scale of urban land expansion in Shandong province from the perspectives of economic development and urban population growth. The results show that: (a) Economic development and urban population growth are the main influencing factors of urban land expansion in Shandong province. With the development of the economy and urbanization, the expansion rate of urban land in Shandong province is decreasing. (b) From the perspective of economic development, With the continuous improvement of urban land use efficiency, the demand for newly-added urban land by economic development gradually weakens. In 2033, the urban land in Shandong province will reach the expansion limit, with a limit scale of 7982 km². (c) From the perspective of urban population growth, in 2037, the urbanization rate of Shandong province will reach 80%, the urban population will be stable, and the urban land will reach the expansion limit, with a limit scale of 9068.8 km². Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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25 pages, 8347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution and Prediction of the Coupling Coordination Degree of Production–Living–Ecological Space Based on Land Use Dynamics in the Daqing River Basin, China

by Qing Liu, Dongdong Yang and Lei Cao

Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10864; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710864 - 31 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1499

Abstract

Located in China’s Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Daqing River Basin has a high economic development level. The natural and social conditions within the basin vary greatly, and the spatial configuration of the Production–Living–Ecological Space (PLES) between different sub-regions is unbalanced, with problems and contradictions in the functions of PLES becoming increasingly prominent. This study constructs a PLES classification system for the Daqing River Basin based on multi-period land use data, simulates the future land use evolution of the basin using the Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model, calculates the coupling degree (CD) coupling coordination degree (CCD) of PLES from 1992 to 2020, and, under the natural trend development scenario (NT), cropland preservation development scenario (CP), and ecological preservation development scenario (EP) of 2030, quantitatively analyses the historical evolution and future direction of the three-life spatial. The results show that: (1) From 1992 to 2020, the area of living space in the Daqing River Basin has increased significantly, while the area of production space and ecological space has decreased significantly. Compared to NT, CP is beneficial to the maintenance of production space, while the EP is beneficial to the maintenance of ecological space. (2) Globally, the CD and the CCD of PLES in the Daqing River Basin show an increasing trend from 1992 to 2010 and a decreasing trend from 2010 to 2020. In 2030, the CD and the CCD of PLES of the three development scenarios decrease significantly compared to 2020; however, the decrease in CP is slight. (3) By region, from 1992 to 2020, the CCD of PLES in the western and eastern parts of the Daqing River Basin increases relatively more, while the central part increases slightly. Compared to 2020, the CCD of PLES in the central part of the Daqing River Basin is predicted to decrease significantly under NT and EP in 2030, while the decrease is slightly less under CP. In all three scenarios, there are some areas where the CCD of PLES increases in the western areas. This study highlights the internal variability of the spatial evolution of PLES in the basin and focuses on the impact of different future development scenarios on the spatial changes of PLES, which can offer an enlightenment for high-quality development and sustainable territorial spatial planning in the Daqing River Basin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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35 pages, 15430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Planning Criteria and Models for the Development of Urban Structures of Coastal Settlements of Boka Kotorska

by Sanja Savić, Nevena Mašanović and Jelena Bajić Šestović

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9467; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159467 - 02 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1339

Abstract

This study examines planning criteria and models for the development of urban settlements situated along the coastline of Boka Kotorska. In the period between 1940 and 2006, coastal settlements underwent great transformations that changed their historical image and the image of the immediate landscape significantly. The transformations resulted from political, economic and sociological changes occurring within the observed period. Consequently, huge transformations of the urban structure and the appearance of certain settlements are noticeable. Based on the available archival material (topographic maps, plans and drafts of the settlement or its parts in different scales), statistical data and the analysis of completed scientific research in this area, the analysis and comparison of the expansion of Boka Kotorska settlements as well as analysis of their urban transformation was conducted. Defining and using criteria based on recognizing the features of the subject area is a prerequisite for the planned development of Montenegrin coastal settlements, both regarding built and nonbuilt or ruined structures of the subject area. By identifying planning criteria and models, and upon conducting the systematic examination and valuation of physical planning documentation, new planning criteria and models for the improvement of Boka Kotorska coastal settlements have been proposed—ones that can be used in practice, i.e., for the development of physical planning documentation, studies and expertise. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Land Use Planning)

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