Land Consolidation Research Articles

Sensitivity of Multi-Criteria Analysis Methods in Rural Land Consolidation Project Ranking

Decisions around distributing available funds among potential land consolidation projects require a thorough analysis in order to maximize the effects of land consolidation. In order to avoid choosing the wrong land consolidation projects, different methods can be used. Generally, there are two possible groups of methods: one based on a qualitative approach (DELPHI; SWOT) and one based on a quantitative approach (AHP, VIKOR, SAW, TOPSIS, etc.). In this research, the focus was on the sensitivity of the resulting rankings affected by varying the input data in multi-criteria analysis methods, with an emphasis on the variation in the weight and the choice of criteria. This research was motivated by the subjective character of the choice of criteria and their weighting before applying the multi-criteria analysis methods. Four methods were included (AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR, and SAW) for the multi-criteria analysis, with three ways of defining weights (consistent, modified, or quasi-consistent and freely determined without taking consistency into account), in order to determine the influence of the different methods on the final ranking. The weights were defined only by an acceptable interval of values. The sensitivity of the methods was investigated using the differences in the obtained rankings between each method. A case study is provided on real data, and the results are discussed. The results showed a relatively small variance and possible equal rankings of projects by means of statistical analyses. This finding opens up the possibility of the valuation of projects instead of simple rankings.

Optimization of expropriation costs on the highway projects in Türkiye

Expropriation is widely used to introduce highway projects into the society. Expropriation is the registration process of real estate and equities owned by natural and legal persons on behalf of the administration for public interest, provided that property and easement right amount shall be paid in cash or in advance or by equal installments. In what situations and by which institutions expropriation is carried out are restricted by the law. In accordance with the Article 3 of the Expropriation Law Number 2942 amended by the Law Number 4650, the expropriation process shall not be started without an adequate allowance provided by the administration. The exercise of the right of property shall not be against public interest.” Project areas are required to be converted into public property after the development plans for the public projects are prepared. Areas regarded as private property but intersected by highway, railway or waterway routes can only be occupied after expropriation. Without expropriation, projects based on transportation in improvement areas can be opened to public with the application of the provisions of the Development Law Number 3194, while those in areas having no development plan can be opened to public with the application of the relevant provisions of the Agricultural Reform Law Number 3083 on Land Consolidation in Irrigated Areas and Law Number 5403 on Soil Conservation and Land Use. In this article, opening highways, railways, and waterways to public in Türkiye using the implementation of development plans is discussed. For the real estate coinciding with the route of public investments, if land and land lots are arranged in accordance with the Article 18 of the Development Law Number 3194, state withholding up to 45% may be imposed. The objective function in the state withholding can be stated as f= costmin= f(a,b). Land acquisition increases as the ratio of state withholding increases, resulting in the minimization of the expropriation costs. Public projects such as highway can be opened to public free of charge with development plan implementation in improvement areas and with land consolidation in rural areas having no development plan.

Land consolidation, cropland use, and vegetation productivity

AbstractLand consolidation represents a valuable tool for enhancing agricultural productivity. However, there is a notable gap in the literature, with few studies effectively estimating the impact of land consolidation on microlevel crop changes. In our study, we estimated how land consolidation affects cropland use and vegetation productivity in Turkey, specifically examining wheat and corn. To analyze microlevel datasets from various villages, we applied multiple difference‐in‐differences approaches. Our results show that land consolidation affects farmers' cropland usage, particularly transitioning from wheat to corn. Land consolidation also leads to increased yields for both wheat and corn, although these benefits are not long‐lasting and diminish within a few years. Thus, our findings provide valuable insights for land‐use policy and planning, highlighting the critical role of land consolidation in determining farmers' cropland uses and its effect on overall productivity [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q15, Q18].

The impact of gradient expansion of urban–rural construction land on landscape fragmentation in typical mountain cities, China

ABSTRACT Hillside urbanization currently provides the most economical solution for urban expansion. However, limited attention was paid to the characteristics, processes, and patterns of gradient expansion of construction land (GEC) in mountainous regions and its impact on landscape fragmentation. This study suggests an approach to identify GEC in mountainous regions and quantify its spatial impact on the fragmentation of cultivated land and ecological land. The results are as follows: (1) GEC can be categorized as ‘unidirectional’, ‘bidirectional’, or ‘multidirectional’ expansion, influenced by the proportion of topography in different directions of the cities. The magnitude of expansion is correlated with the city's economic level. (2) GEC leads to an increasing trend of landscape fragmentation, with nearly a three-fold increase in arable land fragmentation and a two-fold increase in ecological land fragmentation within the focus areas over 20 years. (3) The impact of GEC on the fragmentation of cultivated and ecological land diminishes with distance, primarily influencing within 3 km. The results of this study provide a methodological reference for identifying key areas and characteristics of GEC, and serve as a theoretical basis for reducing landscape ecological risks in the process of mountainous urban development and promoting sustainable development.

The Spatial–Temporal Characteristics of Land De-Urbanization in Metropolises: A Case Study of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

With a series of redevelopment activities, such as land consolidation and urban renewal, many cities in China have experienced land de-urbanization phenomena. These include the conversion of construction land into green spaces (such as parks, forests, and lawns), blue spaces (such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands), and farmland. However, there is currently limited research on diverse land de-urbanization types and pathways. This study focuses on investigating the land de-urbanization in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) from 2014 to September 2023 using the Continuous Change Detection and Classification (CCDC) method. The results demonstrate that the GBA experienced 72.74 square kilometers of de-urbanization during the study period, primarily through the conversion of construction land to land with low plant coverage, including grassland and farmland. There were significant differences in the quantity and spatial agglomeration of de-urbanization between cities and within individual cities. Temporally, de-urbanization predominantly occurred in the period of 2016 to 2021, with a sharp decline in 2022. The temporal changes were significantly influenced by urban renewal policies and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In terms of spatial clustering characteristics, the de-urbanization process in the GBA exhibited spatial agglomeration but was primarily characterized by low-level clustering. This study also examines the correlations between de-urbanization and factors including location and the stage of urbanization. The analysis showed that de-urbanization within cities tended to concentrate near the main urban roads within a range of 10–30 km from city centers. The trend of de-urbanization followed a pattern that is consistent with the Northam curve, where de-urbanization tends to increase during the rapid urbanization phase and decline as urbanization reaches a mature stage. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for the redevelopment of construction land within the context of ecological civilization construction. It also offers suggestions for urban land development and redevelopment in metropolitan areas.

Automatic Greenhouse Monitoring System

The purpose of this study is to design an automated system for a greenhouse and to monitor, control the system from a device through wired or remote access. This project addresses some of the issues in traditional farming. Issues like incapability of agriculture due to small and fragmented land holdings, risk in using manures and pesticides, lack of mechanization. The main part of the project is the module which will be referred to as AGMS (Automatic Greenhouse Monitoring System) and it consists of all the electronics and sensors needed for the work. There are also two more segments, one being the cloud and the other, the monitoring of data and control of the module which will be at the end user. It also discusses the various technical aspects of the module mainly focusing on the cloud and the end user also referring to the flexibility of the module itself.

Intensive land restoration projects alter mechanisms underpinning spatiotemporal soil moisture variability at a catchment scale: A case study in China

Soil moisture (SM) is a critical factor for material circulation and energy exchange in Earth’s critical zone, but it is spatially and temporally variable. This study aimed to provide new insight into spatiotemporal SM variability and its associative controls in areas where land restoration projects have been implemented. Specifically, we compared environmental controls on spatiotemporal SM variability in deep soil layers (0–500 cm) of two paired catchments, one of which was treated by the Gully Land Consolidation (GLC) project and the other which was not, where the slopes of both catchments had initially been impacted by the Grain for Green (GFG) program. For this purpose, we used the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) to decompose spatial and temporal SM anomalies. Two dominant spatial and temporal EOF anomalies (EOF1 and EOF2) were obtained from six soil layers in both catchments, with an explained variance of 86%–97% and 32%–53%, respectively. These spatial anomalies that derived from spatial structures exhibited similar characteristics and controls in both catchments, while underlying temporal SM dynamic mechanisms differed. Temporal dynamics of the treated catchment were lower in the gully area (a relative flat region), while the opposite was true for the gully area (at a lower elevation) in the untreated catchment. The GLC and GFG programs both altered catchment scale temporal SM dynamic forcings. Results obtained from this study are helpful for understanding spatiotemporal SM variability with associated the hydrological processes in areas where the intensive land restoration projects have been implemented at a catchment scale.

The Impact of Household Dynamics on Land-Use Change in China: Past Experiences and Future Implications

Population is the main driver of land-system and environmental change. However, population is usually treated as a variable that only considers the population number, and multi-dimensional population structure is largely ignored. There has been a systematic transition of population structure in the past several decades, including changes in household structure, increasing aging populations, increasing divorce rates, and increasing human migration. All of these changes have direct or indirect impacts on land use and environmental issues. Here, taking China as an example and using statistical analysis, namely the Mann–Kendall trend test and a land-use-transition matrix, we examine the relationship between household dynamics and land-use change in China by examining changes in household structure and land-use changes in China between 1980 and 2020. The results show the following three groups of findings. (1) The number of households increased by 130.95% from 1980 to 2020, while the population only increased by 42.83%; the size of households decreased from 4.41 to 2.62 in China from 1982 to 2020; and the household dynamics varied from province to province, which is affected by urbanization rate and economic development. (2) Birth rates, divorce rates, population aging, and migration all affect household structure, which directly or indirectly affect changes in land-use systems. (3) The changes in China’s land use are interlinked and interact with changes in household structure, which is evident in the increase in Residential land use and the abandonment of arable land. The rising household number increased the area of urban and rural settlement, leading to the fragmentation of cultivated land and the reduction of ecological land. To regulate land-use change for sustainable development, future land-use planning should take into account the effect of household dynamics and should reduce the negative effects of household dynamics on land systems and environmental change.

Shape Analysis of Agricultural Parcels for Land Consolidation Priorities in Tekirdag Province, Turkey

Shape Analysis of Agricultural Parcels for Land Consolidation Priorities in Tekirdag Province, Turkey

A New Method for Assessing Land Consolidation Urgency, including Market Value

Public funding for land consolidation projects is an instrument in the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union (CAP). The execution of systematic land consolidation programmes focused on optimising the spatial structure of agricultural areas presents the possibility of improving agricultural production conditions and maximising the efficiency of agriculture at the local, regional, national, and international levels. However, due to limited access to financial resources, it is necessary to delimit priority areas for land consolidation. A contemporary practice based on an assessment of the social support percentage of potential land consolidation projects in individual villages does not represent a real necessity for action. This problem leads to the ineffective utilisation of financial resources and reduces the efficiency of the implemented programmes. We propose a new algorithm for assessing the real needs for land consolidation based on a detailed multi-faceted analysis of the spatial structure of agricultural areas. The research method involved factors describing the spatial structure defectiveness of farms, as well as those determining land quality in relation to investment profitability. Another factor verifying the potential economic rationale of land consolidation is transaction prices, which mostly reflect the agricultural value of the land. The analysis showed that land consolidation in areas with defective spatial structures and relatively high market value should be a priority. The study enabled the extraction of five of the 58 analysed villages, characterised by above-average demand for land consolidation and above-average land prices. This approach will contribute to profit maximisation by increasing the productivity of areas with the highest agricultural suitability.

Achieving sustainable development through agriculture-forestry-livestock nexus in Bangladesh: Synergies and trade-offs

CONTEXTIn the pursuit of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, integrating agriculture-forestry-livestock (AFL) systems has emerged as a potential tool in developing countries. Yet, the extent of synergies and trade-offs associated with each SDG and viable strategies to address these trade-offs and leverage the synergies lack clarity. OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study is to investigate the synergies and trade-offs associated with integrating AFL practices in Bangladesh toward achieving the 17 SDGs and suggest appropriate solutions to address the trade-offs. METHODSThis study employs an online survey based on the Delphi principles, ensuring unbiased opinions from a diverse set of experts with relevant expertise in the AFL nexus. The first survey round gathers insights on potential synergies and trade-offs, and the second round focuses on effective management strategies to address the challenges. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSFindings reveal that AFL integration holds potential for synergies across SDGs, especially for poverty eradication, zero hunger, life on land, and climate action. However, trade-offs develop due to a lack of technical expertise and managerial knowledge, limited access to financial resources, fragmented land ownership, insufficient market opportunities, existing gender inequities, child labor practices, and an overreliance on wood as a fuel source in Bangladesh. To address these challenges, this study recommends comprehensive strategies such as creating specialized agricultural credit facilities, introducing insurance schemes, promoting cooperative associations, resolving land ownership issues, improving market linkages, addressing child labor, promoting gender equality, and advocating for clean energy alternatives like biogas. These strategies are linked with several national agendas of Bangladesh and aim to minimize trade-offs and maximize the synergies of AFL integration for sustainable development. SIGNIFICANCEThis research contributes to the global discourse on sustainable development by shedding light on the potential of AFL systems in Bangladesh and offers insights for policymakers and stakeholders. The findings also provide guidance for other developing countries facing similar challenges while pursuing the SDGs.

Modelling the impact land use change on flood risk: Umia (Spain) and Voglajna (Slovenia) case studies

Accurate quantification and assessment flood hazards is critical for mitigation and prevention. This study proposes a methodological framework for analysing this hazard and its relationship to agricultural and forestry land use. The objective is to obtain an integrative methodology based on the HEC-HMS model and to apply different simulations, with land use changes as indicator in two different study areas, taking into account the different characteristics of each basin and the different regulations of each area. This was done in two river basins, the Umia Basin (north-western Spain) and the Voglajna Basin (eastern Slovenia). The hydrological models obtained showed a very high performance in the calibration and validation periods. In the Umia River Basin agricultural use has priority over forestry, with food security taking precedence over water security. Reforestation only upstream has been shown to be almost as beneficial as reforestation throughout the basin. However, the use of abandoned land currently limits the reduction of peak discharge. Nevertheless, for an event designed with a 100-years return period, a reduction of about 12% was achieved. The increase in agricultural use promoted by the administration could increase this peak by about 6%, thus increasing the flood hazard, but it has been shown that this use on less permeable soils and upstream would not significantly increase this peak (<1% for the event studied). On the other hand, the Voglajna Basin has a smaller catchment area and fragmented land use, and a mosaic landscape. For the 100-years return period the reduction in peak discharge is only few percent compared to the baseline scenario even if 30% of the agricultural land (about 7% of the total area) is changed to forest land use. The information provided by the simulations is a useful indicator that can be incorporated into management plans to ensure appropriate decision making by the administration. Not only for the application of nature-based solutions (NBS) and providing evidence-base for the NBS and the reduction of flood risk, but such information is key when the use changes from forestry to agriculture and vice versa, as it provides tools to ensure food and water security. In both case studies it was demonstrated how stakeholders need to undertake optimal and strategic planning and management in order to reduce the risk of flooding. In turn, the use of this modelling, as well as the calculation of scenarios from a perspective that not only evaluates different land use changes, but also incorporates different regulations, is presented as an innovative and realistic analysis.

Managing urban development could halve nitrogen pollution in China

Halving nitrogen pollution is crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, how to reduce nitrogen pollution from multiple sources remains challenging. Here we show that reactive nitrogen (Nr) pollution could be roughly halved by managed urban development in China by 2050, with NH3, NOx and N2O atmospheric emissions declining by 44%, 30% and 33%, respectively, and Nr to water bodies by 53%. While rural-urban migration increases point-source nitrogen emissions in metropolitan areas, it promotes large-scale farming, reducing rural sewage and agricultural non-point-source pollution, potentially improving national air and water quality. An investment of approximately US$ 61 billion in waste treatment, land consolidation, and livestock relocation yields an overall benefit of US$ 245 billion. This underscores the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of halving Nr pollution through urbanization, contributing significantly to SDG1 (No poverty), SDG2 (Zero hunger), SDG6 (Clean water), SDG12 (Responsible consumption and production), SDG14 (Climate Action), and so on.

Spatiotemporal Distribution and Fragmentation Driving Mechanism in Paddy Fields and Dryland of Urban Agglomeration in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River

The spatial-temporal distribution pattern of China’s cultivated land has changed dramatically from 1990 to 2020, and the problem of cultivated land fragmentation has become more prominent. However, the existing research lacks a focus on the two specific land use types, paddy fields and dryland. In this study, the spatiotemporal distribution pattern and the fragmentation driving mechanism of paddy field and dryland during the years 1990 to 2020 were identified by using the center of gravity center migration model, standard deviation ellipse, and land-use dynamic model for the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River as an example. The results show that there are significant differences in the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of paddy field and dryland in the MRYRUA. Among the provinces and cities, Hubei province and its Xiangyang city showed the most obvious trend of change. The loss and gain of paddy fields and dryland is related to economic and policy contexts in each period. The main driving factor of paddy field and dryland fragmentation is natural condition, whereas a relatively important factor is the per capita disposable income of rural residents. The effects of each factor on paddy field and dryland fragmentation were not independent; any two factor interactions had a stronger effect on paddy field and dryland fragmentation than a single factor. In general, this study provides guidance and references for the main grain-producing areas undergoing rapid urbanization relating to cultivated land conservation, food security, and sustainable agricultural utilization.

A comprehensive model for the implementation of agricultural land levelling and consolidation plan in the Abu Fazel region of Ahvaz.

It has been shown that land fragmentation can negatively impact the efficiency of farming. Therefore, experts recommend land consolidation process, as a logical and workable solution to solve the problems and complications caused by land fragmentation. Land levelling and consolidation is a process of land reform that changes the construction of agricultural lands which leads to rural development through reforming farm management. However, a single plan cannot be applied to different regions, even though they might be in the same country. Hence, it is vital to investigate multiple factors in a certain region to devise the perfect consolidation plan. The present study, which is a survey-exploratory research, is conducted to provide a comprehensive model to implement the plan for levelling and consolidation of agricultural lands in the Abu Fazel region of Ahvaz, Iran. This research is an applied field research which uses both library and field methods to collect the required data. The study population is in Abu Fazel in the northeast of Ahvaz in Zargan region. The results of the study show that cultural, social, economic, policy-making, educational, agricultural and managerial factors have an effect on the participation of farmers in the levelling and consolidation of agricultural lands in the study area (p≥0.01). Also, there is a strong positive relationship between these factors and the farmers' participation in levelling and consolidation of agricultural lands (p≥0.01). Among these factors, it is observed that policy is main factor. Policymakers can play an effective role in land consolidation and macro development on the one hand and agricultural and rural development. On the other, by accurately assessing the interactive effect of land consolidation and related factors, along with the effects of this process on the evolution of agronomic systems.

Regression of the layout of parcels after land consolidation

Regression of the layout of parcels after land consolidation

Multi-level determinants of land use land cover change in Tigray, Ethiopia: A mixed-effects approach using socioeconomic panel and satellite data.

This study examined land use land cover change and its determinants in Tigray, Ethiopia and its livelihood zones. We used socioeconomic panel, and satellite data, and applied a mixed-effects model to analyse the factors influencing land allocation among different uses, and transition matrix to analyse land cover dynamics. The results revealed that; land use choices were influenced by plot level factors (such as plot elevation, distance, soil type and quality, and land tenure), household characteristics (such as education, dependency ratio, plot size and number owned, income, livestock and asset, perception of climate change, and access to market and main road), and community level factors (precipitation, product price, population density and livelihood zone variations). Transition matrix analysis showed that between 1986 and 2016, 12.8% of forest was converted to bare land, 6.26% bare land was converted to pasture, and 5.84% of cropland was converted to forest. However, net deforestation occurred in most of the livelihood zones. Therefore, local communities faced environmental and socio-economic challenges from capital constraints induced land fallowing, land fragmentation, and unmanaged land cover change. The study recommended sustainable land use planning and management, market linkages, improved access to roads, forestry subsidies, land tenure security, and land consolidation programs.

FIELDS APART: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF LAND FRAGMENTATION ON TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY IN MAIZE FARMING WITHIN GHANA'S TRANSITIONAL ZONE

This study investigates the intricate relationship between land fragmentation and technical efficiency in maize farming within the Transitional Zone of Ghana. Employing a comprehensive analysis, we examine how the division of land affects the operational efficiency of maize farmers in this region. Utilizing a combination of quantitative data and empirical evidence, our research sheds light on the nuanced dynamics and implications of land fragmentation on agricultural productivity. The findings contribute valuable insights to agricultural policy formulation and resource management strategies in similar agro-ecological contexts.

Basics of compiling land management projects on the consolidation of share lands in Azerbaijan

Basics of compiling land management projects on the consolidation of share lands in Azerbaijan

Research on Quality Evaluation Methods of Land Development and Consolidation Projects

Research on Quality Evaluation Methods of Land Development and Consolidation Projects