Land - Open Access Journal by MDPI

Land is an international and crossdisciplinary Open Access journal of land use/land change, land management, land system science and landscape, etc. published quarterly online by MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, in Basel. Land is affiliated to the International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) and their members receive 10% discounts of the article processing charge. Below you'll find the most recent articles published in Land:
Land | ||
Latest open access articles published in Land at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1843: Crowdsourcing Intangible Heritage for Territorial Development: A Conceptual Framework Considering Italian Inner Areas | ||
Mittwoch, 27. September 2023 | ||
This contribution aims to present a conceptual framework for developing territorial development strategies based on crowdsourcing technologies to enhance intangible heritage within the context of Italian inner areas. The work provides essential background information, examining technological aspects, defining intangible heritage precisely, and applying socially innovative strategies for marginal territories. Additionally, it offers a strategic framework to implement solutions that engage... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1842: Spectral Mixture Analysis (SMA) Model for Extracting Urban Fractions from Landsat and Sentinel-2A Images in the Al-Ahsa Oasis, Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia | ||
Mittwoch, 27. September 2023 | ||
The rapid expansion of urban areas is a major driver of deforestation and other associated damage to the local ecosystem and environment in arid and semi-arid oases, especially in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. It is therefore necessary to accurately map and monitor urban areas to maintain the ecosystem services in these oases. In this study, built-up areas were mapped using a spectral mixture analysis (SMA) model in the Al-Ahsa Oasis in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia by analyzing... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1841: Digital Mapping of Soil Organic Carbon Using Machine Learning Algorithms in the Upper Brahmaputra Valley of Northeastern India | ||
Mittwoch, 27. September 2023 | ||
Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is a crucial indicator of ecosystem health and soil quality. Machine learning (ML) models that predict soil quality based on environmental parameters are becoming more prevalent. However, studies have yet to examine how well each ML technique performs when predicting and mapping SOC, particularly at high spatial resolutions. Model predictors include topographic variables generated from SRTM DEM; vegetation and soil indices derived from Landsat satellite images... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1840: Rural Land Management and Revitalization through a Locally Coordinated Integrated Master Plan—A Model from Germany to China | ||
Mittwoch, 27. September 2023 | ||
Land management has its local dimension in rural, peri-urban, and urban perspectives. Recently China adopted rural revitalization in response to the rapid rural–urban migration and the emergence of hollow villages, characterized by declining and ageing populations, limited economic and social opportunities for residents, and depleting natural resources. It covers political, cultural, social, and ecological progress issues for speeding up local development in rural areas. By taking... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1839: Spatiotemporal Pattern and Driving Mechanism of Cultivated Land Use Transition in China | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
In the past 20 years, the global economy has undergone tremendous changes with rapid industrialization and urbanization. Cultivated land is an important spatial carrier for human production and life, and its use pattern also changes with socioeconomic development. Natural, economic, social, and policy factors jointly drive the cultivated land use transition (CLUT). However, the spatiotemporal pattern and evolution characteristics of the CLUT at the national scale have not yet been clarified... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1838: Design Characteristics, Visual Qualities, and Walking Behavior in an Urban Park Setting | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
The design characteristics of urban parks’ pathways are important in facilitating leisure walking and maintaining the minimum rate of physical activity, thus improving public health. This study examined and explored the relationships between design characteristics as well as certain visual qualities of Cautin Park, the biggest urban park in the Araucanian Region of Chile, and the tendency for walking as well as walking behavior. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods was used... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1837: Dynamic Evolution and Regional Differences in the Efficiency of Compact Urban Development in Chinese Cities—Based on the Perspective of Compact Land Use | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
Modern cities require urban compact development to be sustainable. The evaluation of urban compact development may help create more accurate and realistic policies. The spatio-temporal dynamic evolution of urban compact development efficiency and its regional differences in China are examined in this study. This paper analysis uses 282 cities from 2005 to 2021. The unexpected output super-efficiency SBM model measures urban compact development efficiency. In this study, the urban compact... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1836: Forest Inventory Data Provide Useful Information for Mapping Ecosystem Services Potential | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
The ecosystem services framework is a convenient approach for identifying and mapping nature’s contributions to people, and an accurate assessment of ecosystem services potential is the first step in the decision support process of well-informed land management planning. The approach we use for forest ecosystem services potential assessment in Latvia is based on the principles of the matrix model and biophysical data of the forest inventory database, and it is comparable to other... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1835: The Construction of the Visible and Invisible Boundaries of Microsegregation: A Case Study from Szeged, Hungary | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
The concept of microsegregation has gained increasing popularity among researchers dealing with socio-spatial disparities in cities. This is because urban space has become increasingly multifaceted over recent decades, and the boundaries of socio-spatial segregation have also become increasingly subtle, often taking invisible forms below the neighborhood level. This study contributes to the literature on microsegregation by exploring small-scale forms of social disparities in one of the... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1834: Natural Dose of Blue Restoration: A Field Experiment on Mental Restoration of Urban Blue Spaces | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
Urban Blue Spaces (UBS) have been found to be beneficial to people’s mental health. Yet, the empirical evidence for how and why different types of urban blue spaces could promote residents’ mental health is still limited. Accordingly, 164 observation samples were collected for this experiment relating to the restorative perception of environmental exposure. The effects of two exposure behaviors (15 min of viewing and 15 min of walking) on psychological recovery in three... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1833: Farm Sustainability Assessment and Model: Achieving Food Security through the Food Estate Program in North Sumatra | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
Improving food crop production is critical for achieving food security. The Food Estate (FE) program initiated by the government seeks to accomplish this through extensive and intensive farming practices while taking sustainability into consideration. In this paper, a multidimensional scaling (MDS) approach to determine the status and model of agricultural sustainability of the FE program was adopted. Three scenarios were developed to improve the sustainability status based on primary data... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1832: Ecosystem Service Value Evaluation and Spatial Function Change under Town and Village Layout Planning: A Case of Jintan District | ||
Dienstag, 26. September 2023 | ||
This study proposes a systematic classification of production–living–ecological function indicators based on ecosystem services, thereby clarifying the spatial functions of villages. Based on the land use change survey data of the Jintan District in 2012 and 2018, the ecological impact of town and village layout planning in Jintan District was analysed by using a quantitative measurement model of ecosystem services. The findings revealed that the ecosystem service value... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1831: Environmental and Social Benefits of Extensive Green Roofs Applied on Bus Shelters in Edinburgh | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
The presence of green roofs in urban areas provides various ecosystem services that help mitigate climate change. They play an essential role in sustainable drainage systems, contribute to air quality and carbon sequestration, mitigate urban heat island, support biodiversity, and create green spaces supporting public well-being. Bus stops provide good opportunities for installing green roofs. Various cities worldwide have started installing green roofs on bus shelters, but often without... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1830: Analysis of Spatial Relationship Based on Ecosystem Services and Ecological Risk Index in the Counties of Chongqing | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
Due to the insufficient research on the spatial relationship and driving mechanism of ecosystem services and ecological risks and the current background of rising ecological risks and dysfunctional ecosystem services in local areas, analyzing the relationship and driving mechanism is an urgent task in order to safeguard regional ecological security and improve ecosystem services at present. Taking Chongqing as an example, the study scientifically identifies the spatial relationship between... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1829: A Comparative Analysis of the Interaction between Urban-Rural Construction Land Transition and Population Flow: Dominant and Recessive Perspectives | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
Population flow caused by rapid urbanization has driven the urban-rural construction land transition. A systematic recognition of their interaction is essential for achieving coordinated and sustainable urban-rural development. We chose Hangzhou, one of the most urbanized cities in China, as the study area to analyze this interaction from the perspectives of dominant morphology and recessive morphology during the period of 2010 to 2020. From the perspective of dominant morphology, a... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1828: Sustainable Land Governance for Water–Energy–Food Systems: A Framework for Rural and Peri-Urban Revitalisation | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
This research paper addresses the need for an adaptable theoretical framework in the context of sustainable land governance for Water–Energy–Food (WEF) systems, bridging the gap between international guidelines and contextual realities. The novel framework is useful to effectively tackle the intricate challenges of rural and peri-urban revitalisation in the Global South by providing a holistic approach that considers the multi-dimensional interactions of land with water... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1827: Tax Planning on New Tobacco Risk-Reduced Products in Europe: Assessment and Implications for Public Policies | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
Taxes on the consumption of certain products have played a key role in public revenue analysis in European countries. This work assesses the differences in tax planning for new non-combustion products across some European territories. Through theoretical analysis, the paper has three distinct aspects. Firstly, we show the taxpayer profile in different countries. Secondly, the study analyzes the risks for the health system and the individual. Thirdly, the design of the national tobacco tax is... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1826: Towards Child-Friendly Streetscape in Migrant Workers’ Communities in China: A Social–Ecological Design Framework | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
Designing child-friendly streetscapes is a pragmatic and effective approach to addressing the limited outdoor play spaces and social exclusion experienced by migrant children living in vulnerable residential areas. However, the existing research and guidelines on streetscape design lack specificity for migrant workers’ communities and fail to provide full-cycle design process guidance for real-world practices. By taking a social–ecological perspective and synthesizing the... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1824: Food Export Stability, Political Ties, and Land Resources | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
As a vital guarantee of food security for many countries, international food trade has been threatened by volatile international political ties in recent years. However, the existing literature lacks empirical evidence on the relationship between political ties and food export stability. Therefore, this article examines the impact of political ties on food export stability using United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voting data and export data on food products from 2010 to 2018. The chosen... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1825: Analysis of Landscape Character Assessment and Cultural Ecosystem Services Evaluation Frameworks for Peri-Urban Landscape Planning: A Case Study of Harku Municipality, Estonia | ||
Montag, 25. September 2023 | ||
This study combined landscape character assessment (LCA) and cultural ecosystem services (CES) frameworks to evaluate human well-being in the peri-urban area of Harku Municipality, Estonia. Using geospatial data combined with expert opinions, the study investigated the interplay between landscape character types and environmental/contact types through the LCA method. In total, 21 distinct landscape types comprising 47 separate areas were identified, with CES values determined for each... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1823: Influential Factors in the Evaluation of Agricultural Lands in the Huambo Province, Angola | ||
Sonntag, 24. September 2023 | ||
The possession and appraisal of agricultural fields have significant economic and social impacts. The objective of this study is to examine the perception of farmers in the Huambo Province, Angola, regarding the characteristics that enhance and diminish the value of agricultural lands in the process of buying and selling. The utilized quantitative methodology is based on a questionnaire administered to farmers in the Huambo Province. The sample size consists of 644 respondents. The results... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1822: Soil Footprint and Land-Use Change to Clean Energy Production: Implications for Solar and Wind Power Plants | ||
Sonntag, 24. September 2023 | ||
Shifting from fossil fuels to alternative energies is crucial for mitigating climate change and reducing dependence on environmentally harmful resources. Measuring the soil footprint of alternative energies is equally essential, as it helps promote sustainable development. This research proposes a methodological approach to assess the land consumed by photovoltaic panels installed on land (PVL), on roofs (PVR), and wind power systems (WP) in Italy. A sample of 186 plants was analysed, and... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1820: Detection and Assessment of Changing Drought Events in China in the Context of Climate Change Based on the Intensity–Area–Duration Algorithm | ||
Samstag, 23. September 2023 | ||
Drought can have a significant impact on both society and the economy, resulting in issues such as scarcity of water and shortages of food and energy, as well as elevated health risks. However, as global temperatures continue to rise, the impact of drought events is increasingly exacerbated, manifested by an increase in the frequency, intensity, duration, and spatial extent of their effects. Therefore, studying the changing characteristics of drought events with the background of climate... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1821: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Extremadura (SW Spain) during the Period 2014–2020:New Opportunities for Economic Diversification in Rural Areas? | ||
Samstag, 23. September 2023 | ||
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a European policy created in the early 1960s to address the food and economic problems affecting European society and the agricultural sector in particular. Throughout its history, the various reforms carried out in this policy have oriented it towards a reduction of direct aid to farmers’ production (due to its excessive cost, among other reasons), in favor of income-related aid. In recent years, the agricultural sector in Extremadura has... | ||
Land, Vol. 12, Pages 1819: Delineation of Urban Development Boundary and Carbon Emission Effects in Xuzhou City, China | ||
Donnerstag, 21. September 2023 | ||
Urban development boundary (UDB) has always served as a crucial aspect of urban sprawl research. The objective of this paper is to investigate boundary delineation and carbon emission effects. Firstly, we examined the patterns of land use changes. Additionally, this paper utilized the FLUS model and land use carbon emission calculation model to delineate UDB and calculate carbon emission effects within UDB under typical scenarios. The research results are as follows: (1) Xuzhou city... | ||