Geographic Information System Spatial Analysis Research Articles

Assessing Risks in Cross-Regional Tourism Corridors: A Case Study of Tibetan Plateau Tourism

Due to the frequent impact of external risks, scientific tourism risk assessment has become the primary task to be implemented in the process of tourism development. Especially with the development of self-driving travel, cross-regional tourism corridors have become an important tourism carrier. However, compared to traditional fixed-location tourism, cross-regional tourism introduces a more intricate landscape of risks. Therefore, there is a pressing need to assess the tourism risks inherent in these corridors. There are many cross-regional tourism corridors in the Tibetan Plateau, but the natural environment of the Tibetan Plateau brings great risks to these tourism corridors. That is why this study focuses on the Tibetan Plateau’s tourism corridors, employing methodologies such as the Analytic Hierarchy Process, entropy weight method, geographic information systems (GIS) spatial analysis, and others to delve into their tourism risk profiles and the influencing factors. Our findings reveal elevated tourism risks across the Tibetan Plateau’s corridors, notably concentrated along the Yunnan–Tibet Line, north Sichuan–Tibet Line, Xinjiang–Tibet Line, Tangfan Ancient Road, Qinghai–Tibet Line, and south Sichuan–Tibet Line. Furthermore, Geodetector was employed to scrutinize the factors influencing tourism risk within the Tibetan Plateau’s corridors, identifying tourism resource endowment, geographical location, precipitation patterns, and economic foundations as primary influencers. Notably, the interaction between these factors exacerbates the overall tourism risk. These insights significantly contribute to the field of tourism risk research and provide a scientific basis for formulating robust tourism safety management strategies within the Tibetan Plateau region.

Spatio-Temporal Changes of Arable Land and Their Impacts on Grain Output in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 1980 to 2020

The “Yangtze River Economic Belt Development Strategy” is one of China’s three major national development strategies. Enhancing the protection and quality of arable land in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YEB) is pivotal for fostering regional growth. In this study, land use data spanning the years 1980 to 2020 in the YEB were extracted from the national land use database maintained by the Resource and Environment Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Employing Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis techniques and arable land change metrics, the study delineated the spatiotemporal characteristics of arable land alterations across the YEB for the period. Additionally, using grain output data at the prefecture level from 2011 to 2020, the paper calculated provincial grain output to analyze the impact of arable land changes over the last four decades on grain output. The findings revealed that: (1) From 1980 to 2020, the total arable land area in the YEB decreased by approximately 41,775 square kilometers, with the most significant decrease occurring in the downstream region. (2) From 1980 to 1990, the primary factor contributing to the decrease in arable land area was the expansion of water bodies, while from 1990 to 2020, the principal reason for the reduction in arable land area was the expansion of construction land. (3) From 1980 to 2020, the decrease in arable land area resulted in a net reduction of approximately 25.12 million tons in total grain output, with the largest decline observed in the downstream regions and the smallest decline in the upstream regions. (4) Consistent with the trends in arable land area reduction, the main reason for the decline in grain output from 1980 to 1990 was the expansion of water bodies encroaching upon arable land, whereas from 2000 to 2010, the primary cause of arable land reduction was the expansion of construction land areas. In conclusion, the research suggested that over the past four decades, the primary driver behind the reduction in arable land within the YEB has been the expansion of construction land areas. Particularly noteworthy was the period from 2000 to 2010, during which the impact of arable land reduction on grain output was most pronounced. This period coincided with the rapid economic development and accelerated urbanization process within the YEB.

A coupled PSR-based framework for holistic modeling and flood resilience assessment: A case study of the 2022 flood events in five southern provinces of China

In the context of global climate change, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events has led to increasingly severe disaster situations. Traditional disaster management approaches are inadequate for addressing these challenges; thus, the concept of resilience has gradually been integrated into disaster management strategies. This study addresses this gap by developing a semi-quantitative evaluation framework for flood resilience on a large, regional scale. This framework combines the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model with a dynamic representation of flood resilience processes, incorporating pre-disaster resistance, during-disaster absorption, and post-disaster recovery. A comprehensive regional flood resilience index system (RFRI) is constructed to provide a holistic assessment of flood resilience throughout the disaster cycle. This study quantified flood resilience and utilized Geographic Information System spatial analysis to evaluate the spatial patterns of flood resilience at the municipal level. The evaluation framework was applied to a real flood disaster that affected five southern provinces of China in 2022. The results indicate that: (1) The overall flood resilience levels in the five southern provinces were relatively low, with only 6% of the units having a Flood Resilience Index (FRI) exceeding 0.6; and (2) in terms of pre-disaster resistance, 74% of municipalities in the five southern provinces of China exhibited a moderate or higher level of resilience. However, the overall performance of these provinces is relatively poor in terms of absorption during disasters and post-disaster recovery; (3) The development of flood resilience systems in the five provinces was severely imbalanced, with only two municipal-level cities having an FRI above 0.8, both of which are located in Guangdong Province. The evaluation framework established in this study enables rapid and accurate quantitative assessment of flood resilience at the municipal level. It aids in identifying deficiencies in the flood resilience systems of various regions, thereby strengthening efforts to build flood resilience.

Spatial Modelling Analysis for Potential Expansion of Cipanas City Candidate Area as Autonomous City

The establishment of new autonomous city is considered a significant decision and the proposal has been under review in Cipanas for several years. Therefore, this research aimed to address the proposal by conducting spatial modelling analysis for potential expansion of Cipanas as autonomous city, using Geographic Information System (GIS) method. The physical and social factors were analysed, using spatial overlay analysis to determine potential development area. SWOT analysis was also performed for qualitative insights into strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the prospective Cipanas area. The results showed that Cipanas had significant potential to become autonomous city, with a particular focus on agriculture and tourism due to the varied topography and predominant natural land use. Through overlay analysis, areas in Pacet, Cipanas, and a small part of Cugenang Sub-districts were identified as potential development zones for the capital city. In general, Cipanas area was found suitable for the development of a major city with an agropolitan concept. Certain areas were considered more appropriate with urban characteristics compared to other areas based on specific criteria. Based on the results, recommendations include infrastructure improvements, economic sector diversification, tourism promotion, and disaster risk reduction activities. GIS spatial analysis facilitated the accurate identification of potential areas, aiding in mapping and pinpointing optimal areas for the establishment of new autonomous city.

Impacts of Spatio-Temporal Changes in Anthropogenic Disturbances on Landscape Patterns in the Nandu River Basin, China

We explored the characteristics of landscape pattern (LP) changes in the Nandu River Basin (NRB) and its dynamic response mechanism to anthropogenic disturbance (AD). This is important for ecological protection and for land use decision-making in the basin in the context of the construction of a free trade port. Land use and land cover change (LULCC) data of 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2020 were analyzed with the help of the LP index, moving window method, hemeroby index, geo-information atlas, and geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis to reveal the dynamic changes in LP characteristics in the NRB. Furthermore, this paper discusses into the correlation between LP and AD. The results indicate that over the past three decades, the NRB showed a staggered LP, dominated by forestland and cropland, whose total area has decreased by 25.27 km2 and 62.75 km2, respectively. On the other hand, the built-up land increased by 91.37%. The overall landscape fragmentation, landscape patch homogeneity, and landscape diversity have increased in the NRB. AD is the main reason for the dramatic changes in the LP of urban agglomerations centered in Haikou city. The area of minor disturbance (over 34%) occupies the largest proportion of the land, followed by higher (about 13~25%) and moderate disturbances (about 17~22%). The area of minor and strong disturbances has increased significantly, whereas those of moderate and higher disturbances have significantly decreased. The spatial distribution pattern of AD is gradually increasing from the southwest (natural landscape) to the northeast (human landscape). A transition in areas of low disturbance levels to higher levels is obvious. The area of the atlas that has transitioned from “minor → lighter disturbance (12)” and “higher → minor disturbance (41)” changed changed most significantly during 2000 to 2010 and from 2010 to 2020, occupying 26.79% and 11.99% of the transfer atlas, respectively. All regions encountering disturbances were significantly correlated with the largest patch index (LPI) from 1990 to 2020. The overall AD in the NRB has increased, especially in Haikou. Urbanization is the main factor for an increase in AD. The ecological and environmental management and monitoring in the basin need to be strengthened.

Mapping landscape in Longshan period’s hierarchical society (3000–2000BCE) of North Loess Plateau: from archaeological predictive model to GIS spatial analysis

On the North Loess Plateau of China, city civilization, social complexity, and stratification emerged during the Longshan period (3000-2000BCE). Based on Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis and archaeological predictive model, we conducted a comparative analysis of environmental characteristics between sites and non-sites, ordinary and walled city sites, as well as large and smaller city sites. Initially, we developed a Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) model to predict the locations of archaeological sites from this period. Our findings indicate a high predictive accuracy of the model, demonstrating a clear environmental preference by the people of the Longshan Period. The presence or absence of the site was found to be influenced by various factors, including temperature, elevation, river distance, and precipitation. Furthermore, we discovered that walled cities had higher environmental requirements compared to ordinary sites. Terrain and land use played a more significant role in shaping prehistoric cities than climate. Lastly, the landscape in the Shimao site, which served as a most crucial and largest settlement centers on the North Loess Plateau (NLP), resembled that of other minor walled cities. Due to its abundant grassland, Shimao relied more on animal husbandry rather than agriculture. The combination of agriculture and animal husbandry has promoted the urbanization processes.

Formation mechanism of a disaster chain in Loess Plateau: A case study of the Pucheng County disaster chain on August 10, 2023, in Shaanxi Province, China

Under the heavy rainfall risk due to global warming, a new trend has emerged in geological disasters of loess, which have often evolved into a chain form of disaster chain of loess (DCL) in recent years. The DCL is characterized by multiple, hidden, catastrophic, and complex characteristics that seriously affect the construction and operation of large-scale infrastructure on the Loess Plateau. To understand the formation mechanism of a disaster chain of loess, we took the Shiyangpo DCL, a typical disaster chain occurring recently on the Loess Plateau, as an example to investigate the geomorphic features and deformation characteristics of DCL using new technologies and methods such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) spatial analysis technology. A series of special laboratory tests considering the vibration of the loess subgrade was conducted to explore the changes in physical and mechanical properties of loess samples in the study area under natural, saturated, and vibration conditions. Additionally, the trigger factors and evolution process of this DCL were analyzed, and the formation mechanism of recently emerging typical DCL was revealed as well. The triggering factors of the disaster were summarized as follows: loess nature, heavy rainfall, irrigation, irrational excavation, incomplete drainage channels, and long-term vehicle vibration of roadbeds. Furthermore, extreme rainfall was identified as the primary inducing factor of Shiyangpo DCL. Finally, the development and evolution of Shiyangpo DCL were divided into five stages: the formation of the loess sinkhole stage, the occurrence of the loess subsidence stage, the occurrence of the loess collapse stage, the occurrence of the loess landslide stage, and the formation of river-blocking and dammed lake stage. This study reveals the cause and evolution process of the newly emerged DCL in the Loess Plateau, and the new techniques and methods involved can provide references for the theoretical research and prevention of loess geological disasters in other places.

Librarians’ attitudes toward library’s roles in environmental sustainability

The library community has been committed to environmental sustainability. The Green Library Movement calls for libraries to green their building, operation, and services. The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) calls for libraries to actively contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in which environmental sustainability was one of the three aspects of sustainability in addition to social and economic sustainability. The American Library Association (ALA) has also added sustainability as one of the core values of librarianship. However, previous research identified a gap between librarians’ perceived importance of environmental sustainability and the actual practices adopted in their libraries that contribute to environmental sustainability. This current study focuses on examining librarians’ attitudes toward the roles of libraries in environmental sustainability advocated by IFLA and ALA by surveying librarians from California, Florida, and Georgia identified from the state library association listservs and the individual library websites. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis. Findings from this study will add to the understanding of the previously identified gap by comprehending the roles that librarians identify with regarding libraries’ contribution to environmental sustainability. The findings will also inform professional organizations on what support their members might need the most in promoting environmental sustainability in society and community. Lastly, the findings could inform curricular development for Library and Information Studies programs interested in preparing librarians with environmental awareness.

Potentials and opportunities of solar PV and wind energy sources in Saudi Arabia: Land suitability, techno-socio-economic feasibility, and future variability

Solar and wind energy sources hold significant potential to meet the escalating energy demand in Saudi Arabia sustainably. This research aims to assess the feasibility and prospects of deploying solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy systems in Saudi Arabia (SA). The study adopts a comprehensive approach, encompassing spatial analysis of land suitability, techno-socio-economic feasibility studies, and prediction of renewable energy (RE) resource variability and trends using machine learning techniques. Geographical Information System (GIS) spatial analysis is employed to identify suitable areas for establishing solar PV and wind farms based on multi-criteria evaluation methods. Techno-socio-economic feasibility analysis of solar PV and wind energy systems, under various configurations and scenarios, is conducted using the System Advisor Model (SAM) tool. Furthermore, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) machine learning algorithm is developed and deployed to forecast Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI), wind speed, and influential weather parameters at different locations in SA. The projections of these variables derived from global climate models are utilized to analyze prospects and variabilities. The land suitability analysis identified four optimal locations for large-scale solar PV fields in Tabuk, Al Madinah, Makkah, and Riyadh provinces. Additionally, four promising wind farms were found in Al Madinah, Makkah, Riyadh, and Eastern provinces. The analysis also identified one location in Al Jouf province suitable for hybrid systems combining solar PV and wind energy. The techno-economic assessment revealed that wind farms performed best overall, achieving a capacity factor of 42.6 % in Al Madinah province. Although current tariffs render projects economically unviable, solar PV, wind energy, and hybrid solar PV-wind technologies are economically feasible in SA at Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) rates above $32.8/MWh, $26.1/MWh, and $50.6/MWh, respectively. The social development analysis estimated potential job creation from solar PV and wind energy deployment under different scenarios from 2020 to 2060, indicating that more ambitious climate targets could translate to millions of renewable energy jobs. The SVM model predicted solar irradiance with an R-squared value of 0.893. The CMIP6 model was then used to project the GHI for SA in 2049, suggesting an increase of approximately 19 %. Wind speed is also expected to rise roughly 5 % over the same period. The integration of GIS spatial analysis, techno-socio-economic modeling, and machine learning-based forecasting provides comprehensive insights into harnessing solar and wind energy in SA. This study facilitates evidence-based planning and risk assessment, crucial for a sustainable energy transition. The insights and roadmap derived from this research can inform policy frameworks, support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), and attract private investments for RE development in SA. Consequently, this study establishes solar and wind energy as viable and promising solutions for meeting SA's growing energy demands sustainably, while minimizing the associated environmental impact.

Study on the response analysis of LID hydrological process to rainfall pattern based on framework for dynamic simulation of urban floods

An in-depth analysis of the urban flood disaster level in response to different rainfall characteristics and Low Impact Development (LID) measures is of significant importance for addressing unfavorable management conditions and implementing effective flood control measures. This study proposes a dynamic urban flood simulation framework based on the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis, incorporating an active inundation seed search algorithm. The framework is calibrated and validated using nine historical urban flood events. Subsequently, the impact of rainfall patterns on urban inundation under LID measures is analyzed based on the dynamic urban flood simulation framework. The results show that the urban flood simulation framework exhibits good applicability, with Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values of 0.825 and 0.763 during the calibration and validation periods, respectively. The extent of inundation shows little variation for rainfall events with a return period greater than 20 years, and the location of flooding is minimally affected by rainfall patterns. LID measures have a decreasing effect on urban inundation control as the return period of rainfall increases, and there are variations in hydrological responses to different rainfall patterns under the same return period. For single-peak rainfall events with the same return period, the control rates of inundation volume, flow, and infiltration decrease as the rainfall peak coefficient increases, indicating a weakening effect of LID measures on flood control with increasing rainfall peak coefficient. Under the same return period conditions, LID measures exhibit the best runoff control effect for uniform rainfall, while their effectiveness is lower for double-peak rainfall events and single-peak rainfall events with an r = 0.75 coefficient. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for urban flood warning and management of Low Impact Development measures.

The spatial and temporal evolution of surface temperature in the main urban area of Hangzhou from 1990 to 2020 based on GEE

In this study, remote sensing (RS), geographic information system (GIS), Google Earth Engine (GEE), and mathematical analysis methods are applied to study the evolution and development trend of land surface temperature in Hangzhou. The GEE platform used in this study, which can fit remote sensing images of multiple regions under different spatial and temporal conditions, has the advantages of wide range and timeliness, and enables the study area to cover the entire Hangzhou city. The purpose of this study is to study the evolution of surface temperature in Hangzhou from 1990 to 2020 using a combination of remote sensing inversion and GIS spatial analysis, and to combine a variety of geostatistical analysis methods to specifically study the trend of surface temperature change and urban heat island development in Hangzhou in order to improve the local people’s life and local environment.

Exploring the synergy between Karst World Heritage site's OUV conservation and buffer zone’s tourism industry development: a case study of the Libo-Huanjiang Karst

Karst World Heritage Site (KWHS) combines high-grade landscape resources and a fragile ecological environment. As an essential tool for heritage conservation and maintaining local interests, its buffer zone is primarily located in remote villages, a crucial and challenging area for rural revitalization. The conflict between heritage conservation and development is particularly acute at the site. How to deal with the relationship between the heritage site’s OUV conservation and the buffer zone's tourism industry development and realize the synergy between the two subsystems? Few studies have focused on it. There is an urgent need to explore the synergistic mechanism of the KWHS's OUV conservation and the buffer zone's tourism industry development. Accordingly, this study takes the Libo-Huanjiang KWHS, one of the 'South China Karst' series of heritage sites, as a case study. The coupling coordination degree model, gray correlation analysis (GCA), and Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis are used. The results show that: (1) There is a synergistic effect between the Libo-Huanjiang KWHS's OUV conservation and its buffer zone's tourism industry development, showing a favorable trend. The mean value of the coupling coordination degree increased from 0.57 in 2015 to 0.63 in 2020, and the overall situation improved from barely coupling coordination state to primary coupling coordination. (2) Influenced by the main driving factors, such as NDVI, landscape dominance, government support for tourism development, tourists' satisfaction, and residents' support, the coupling coordination of the four tourist scenic areas in the study area differed slightly in 2015 and 2020. Yaoshan Ancient Village Scenic Area is the highest in both years, increasing from 0.69 to 0.81, followed by the Mengliu Buyi Scenic Area (0.59), Wanmu Meiyuan Scenic Area is relatively stable with a slight increase, and Lianshanwan Scenic Area (0.45) is the lowest. (3) The four dimensions of ecological resources, policy drivers, economy drivers, and social facilitators work together to create a synergistic mechanism between the KWHS's OUV conservation and the buffer zone's tourism industry development. Future research can promote synergy between the two by formulating a comprehensive plan, encouraging sustainable tourism, establishing a diversified tourism industry, strengthening heritage education and training, enhancing community participation, and reinforcing stakeholder cooperation.

DEVELOPMENT MODEL FOR VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) TOURISM IN RURAL AREAS: A GIS-BASED APPROACH

This paper provides an overview of a development model for virtual reality (VR) tourism using Geographic Information System (GIS) data and spatial distribution analysis of potential tourism products. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus groups, gather insights from stakeholders, including tourists, local communities, and tourism industry professionals, regarding their perceptions, expectations, and preferences. Quantitative methods, such as surveys and data analysis, provide a comprehensive understanding of visitor demographics, preferences, and the economic impact of VR tourism. The findings of the study focus on identifying and analysing the components of tourism products and data information specifically within the rural area of the Perak Tengah District. Information about tourism products is collected and encoded into a GIS database. The introduction of a new classification system justifies the development model and outlines a detailed process for each stage of the framework's methodologies. The originality and value of this research used a mixed-methods approach to gather qualitative and quantitative data, illustrating the overview of VR tourism development using the GIS tool approach specifically for tourism products in rural areas.

Evaluasi Tempat Pemakaman Umum (TPU) di Kota Purwokerto, Kabupaten Banyumas


 
 
 
 This researcher evaluated the spatial layout of the Public Burial Place (TPU) in Purwokerto City, Banyumas Regency. With a focus on spatial aspects, this study uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to analyze the suitability of burial grounds. The research method includes mapping and spatial analysis in the Purwokerto City area, which consists of four sub-districts and 27 kelurahan. In the analysis of burial ground suitability, important variables such as soil type, including inseptisol, entisol, and ultisol, are explored in detail. The results revealed that most areas in Purwokerto City have the potential to be used as burial grounds. GIS approach and spatial analysis help in identifying the most suitable areas for TPU development. This research provides valuable insights for spatial planning and burial ground management in the face of population growth challenges and land limitations.
 
 
 

The use of budget UAV systems and GIS spatial analysis in cadastral and construction surveying for building planning

The uncertainty that comes with planning, constructing, and maintaining buildings is a constant issue for architects and civil engineers. As topography is the framework that unites architecture and landscape, the design and planning projects heavily rely on a range of monitoring, surveying methods and comprehensive field data. Along with the traditional topo-geodetic instrumentation used in land and construction surveying, unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with digital cameras and structure from motion software have been increasingly used recently in a variety of fields to create high-resolution digital elevation models. Despite this widespread use, in the majority of surveying projects it is considered that the topographic representations produced through this technology is inferior to that obtained with surveys conducted using conventional methods, along with other constraints imposed by legislation, environment and weather conditions. While certain limitations of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems are challenging, their advantage for gathering data from a different perspective and the generated outputs have the potential to significantly advance the construction industry. The present article provides an overview of the usefulness of budget UAV systems in developing a methodology that accompanies the conventional survey process for civil engineering applications. Thus, along with the established survey for cadastral and technical documentations necessary for the architectural process, a complementary UAV survey was developed, with subsequent spatial analysis in a geographic information system (GIS), in order to expand the array of deliverables. These include useful orthophoto map, larger-scale and denser representations of the topography, digital surface and terrain models, slope, aspect and solar radiation maps which will offer helpful information and instructions at the start of the construction planning process. The methodology contains two case studies with different degrees of terrain and vegetation challenges, and also presents an accuracy assessment and overall benefits discussion regarding the UAV implementation.

Spatial modeling and analysis based on spatial information of the ship encounters for intelligent navigation safety

The analysis of dangerous navigation situations is crucial for the advancement of intelligent shipping technology. In this study, we propose a spatial modeling and analysis method in the space domain of ship encounters based on a geographic information system spatial information platform and analysis technology. The proposed method employs various parameters, such as the approaching rate of a ship, the relative orientation, the encounter danger, the relative spatial position, and the power coefficient of the exponential mathematical curve to establish a dynamic spatial–temporal model of ship encounters. This allows for the spatial modeling and analysis of the spatial characteristics and distributions of encounter-danger surface sources. The proposed method enables in-depth analysis of potential nonlinear spatial characteristics and distribution patterns of ship-encounter danger during navigation and provides spatial analysis results, including encounter-safety features and spatial–temporal attribute information for safe ship navigation. This can greatly improve the spatial analysis and perception ability of ships encountering dangerous situations, thereby effectively reducing the spatial ambiguity of encountering danger. This study performs case analysis and comparative verification using two types of encounter scenarios, and the results reveal the accuracy and superiority of the proposed method.

Risk assessment and zoning of flood disaster in Wuchengxiyu Region, China

Based on the data of physical geography and social economy, an index system of Wuchengxiyu Region was constructed with the disaster-inducing factors, disaster-pregnant environment, and disaster-bearing body as indicators by analyzing the formation and impact factors of flood disasters. The weight of each index was given using the analytic hierarchy process, and the comprehensive evaluation index was constructed by the weighted comprehensive method, and the flood disaster evaluation model was established. The flood risk zoning of Wuchengxiyu Region was implemented by means of Geographic Information System spatial analysis methods. The results showed that the high-risk areas in Wuchengxiyu Region are mainly distributed in Liangxi District, Binhu District, Xishan District of Wuxi City, Zhonglou District, Tianning District, and Xinbei District of Changzhou City, and Jiangyin City. The high-risk area in Wuxi City is highly exposed due to its low terrain. The high-risk area in Changzhou City is highly vulnerable due to the high density of population, buildings and roads. And the high-risk area in Jiangyin City is located in the high-risk area of disaster-causing factors due to its abundant rainfall.

Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Regional Settlements under the Background of Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study in Sishui County, China

China’s urbanization has achieved rapid development in the past 20 years, with towns expanding in size and the population increasing, while rural society has also undergone dramatic changes. An in-depth study on the evolution process of rural settlements in the context of rapid urbanization is beneficial to the rational planning of villages and the promotion of green and sustainable urban development. Located in East China, Sishui County is in the transition area between three types of landforms: hills, plains, and mountains. The spatial distribution of rural settlements in the urbanization process shows obvious regional differences. To our best knowledge, research on the spatio-temporal evolution of regional settlements in Sishui County is rare. In this study, we chose Sishui County as the study area, utilized Landsat5 (TM) and Landsat8 (OLI) satellite data as remote sensing data sources, and applied Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis methods, central place theory, and core–periphery theory to explore the evolution process for the pattern, scale, and structure of rural settlements in this region from 2000 to 2021 and to investigate the influencing factors. The results show that: (1) in terms of the evolution of the rural settlement pattern, its distribution shows a gradual increase in the degree of dispersion, which indicates an overall development trend in the region of Sishui County in recent years and that the trend is gradually increasing; (2) in terms of scale evolution, the degree and speed of expansion in rural settlements of Sishui County have gradually decreased, and the scale grade has gradually increased; (3) in terms of structural evolution, the hierarchy system in rural settlements of Sishui County is constantly being improved and optimized from a simple to a complex core–periphery structure. These results will provide data support for the rational planning of villages and sustainable, high-quality urban development. They will also help local governments take appropriate measures to achieve coordinated and sustainable socio-economic and environmental development in the region.

The Use of Spatial Analysis in Syphilis-Related Research: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Latin America, Africa, and Asia have high incidences of syphilis. New approaches are needed to understand and reduce disease transmissibility. In health care, spatial analysis is important to map diseases and understand their epidemiologic aspects. The proposed scoping review will identify and map the use of spatial analysis as a tool for syphilis-related research in health care. This protocol was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute manual, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We will conduct searches in Embase; Lilacs, via the Virtual Health Library (Biblioteca Virtual en Salud; BVS), in Portuguese and English; Medline/PubMed; Web of Science; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); and Scopus. Gray literature will be searched for in Google Scholar, the Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, the Catalog of Theses and Dissertations of the Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; CAPES), Open Access Theses and Dissertations, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations. The main research question is "How has spatial analysis been used in syphilis-related research in health care?" Studies are included if they have the full text available, address syphilis, and use geographic information systems software and spatial analysis techniques, regardless of sample characteristics or size. Studies published as research articles, theses, dissertations, and government documents will also be considered, with no location, time, or language restrictions. Data will be extracted using a spreadsheet adapted from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Quantitative and qualitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and a thematic analysis, respectively. The results will be presented according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and will summarize the use of spatial analysis in syphilis-related research in health care in countries with different contexts, factors associated with spatial cluster formation, population health impacts, contributions to health systems, challenges, limitations, and possible research gaps. The results will guide future research and may be useful for health and safety professionals, managers, public policy makers, the general population, the academic community, and health professionals who work directly with people with syphilis. Data collection is projected to start in June 2023 and end in July 2023. Data analysis is scheduled to take place in August and September 2023. We expect to publish results in the final months of 2023. The review may reveal where syphilis incidence has the highest incidence, which countries most use spatial analysis to study syphilis, and whether spatial analysis is applicable to syphilis in each continent, thereby contributing to discussion and knowledge dissemination on the use of spatial analysis as a tool for syphilis-related research in health care. Open Science Framework CNVXE; https://osf.io/cnvxe. PRR1-10.2196/43243.

Effects of forest roads and an assessment of their disturbance of the natural enviroment based on GIS spatial multi-criteria analysis: case study of the University Forest of Taxiarchis, Chalkidiki, Greece

The forest road network contributes to all aspects of the management and protection of natural ecosystems, such as fire protection and access to settlements, infrastructure and forest recreation. This has led to a constant demand for new roads and increased road density in forest areas. However, due to the environmental impact of such roads, a tool that takes into account all the parameters that they affect and evaluates the spatial distribution of forest-road-induced disturbance is needed. The present research highlights a multi-criteria evaluation (MCE), based on a spatial approach that utilizes geographical information systems (GIS), for estimating both the impact of the forest road network and the absorptiveness of the natural environment for that impact. The University Forest of Taxiarchis, Greece, was selected as it combines both timber production and recreation characteristics. Primary data were collected through the management plan for the area and the road network was categorized. A variety of factors regarding forestry, wood extraction methods and production, and social and topographical criteria were examined and scored based on their weighting factors. The results regarding the impact and the absorptiveness were analyzed in order to assess the spatial disturbance. The analysis showed that the spatial environmental impact of the forest roads is crucial and that MCE methods should be applied in environmental impact assessment (EIA) in order to support decision-making systems (DMS) for new road construction and to enhance environmental integration.