GIS Spatial Analysis Techniques Research Articles

Study on the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and influencing factors of cultural heritage: a case study of Fujian Province

The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of cultural heritage reveal the trajectory of human activity changes, and a deep analysis of its natural and cultural factors holds significant reference value for the overall conservation and management of cultural heritages. This study focuses on the cultural heritage at the provincial level and above in Fujian, utilizing GIS spatial analysis to explore the spatiotemporal evolution of cultural heritages and their natural and human influencing factors. The research findings are as follows: (1) The distribution of cultural heritage in Fujian exhibits a clustering pattern, with dense areas transitioning from the upstream regions of the prehistoric and pre-Qin periods to the eastern coastal areas gradually. (2) The Ming and Qing dynasties have the highest number of cultural heritages, with the type of heritage transitioning from ancient sites in the early periods to ancient architecture, and in modern times, mainly important historical sites and representative architectural heritages. (3) The overall centroid coordinates of cultural heritage reveal a shift from the northern part of Fujian to the eastern and southern parts. (4) Natural factors significantly influence the distribution of cultural heritage, with a higher concentration in plain and hilly areas, on slight slopes with gradients between 0.5° and 2.0°, and on the southern and southeastern slopes, especially within a 1-kilometer radius of rivers. (5) The creation of cultural heritage during historical periods is closely linked to the regional history, culture, political, and economic environments. The positive development of these socio-cultural factors has a promotional effect on the quantity of cultural heritage. This study demonstrates the utility and applicability of GIS spatial analysis techniques in cultural heritage research, providing a methodological framework that can be adapted and applied internationally. The findings offer insightful data that can inform targeted conservation and development strategies for cultural heritage, ensuring their effective preservation and sustainable management across different regions.

A GIS-Based Approach for Urban Building Energy Modeling under Climate Change with High Spatial and Temporal Resolution

The energy demand and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of buildings are significantly affected by the characteristics of the building and local climate conditions. While energy use datasets with high spatial and temporal resolution are highly needed in the context of climate change, energy use monitoring data are not available for most cities. This study introduces an approach combining building energy simulation, climate change modeling, and GIS spatial analysis techniques to develop an energy demand data inventory enabling assessment of the impacts of climate change on building energy consumption in Shanghai, China. Our results suggest that all types of buildings exhibit a net increase in their annual energy demand under the projected future (2050) climate conditions, with the highest increase in energy demand attributed to Heating, Ventilation, and Cooling (HVAC) systems. Variations in building energy demand are found across building types. Due to the large number of residential buildings, they are the main contributor to the increases in energy demand and associated CO2 emissions. The hourly residential building energy demand on a typical hot summer day (29 July) under the 2050 climate condition at 1 p.m. is found to increase by more than 40%, indicating a risk of energy supply shortage if no actions are taken. The spatial pattern of total annual building energy demand at the individual building level exhibited high spatial heterogeneity with some hotspots. This study provides an alternative method to develop a building energy demand inventory with high temporal resolution at the individual building scale for cities lacking energy use monitoring data, supporting the assessment of building energy and GHG emissions under both current and future climate scenarios at minimal cost.

Reconstructing and tracing the evolution of the road networks in the Haidai region of China during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages

Reconstructing ancient transportation networks is critical to studying past human mobility patterns. China’s Haidai region was a thriving political and economic hub during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. We used GIS spatial analysis techniques to build a “Settlement Interaction Model” based on archaeological data from the Haidai region during the Bronze and Early Iron Age (Shang Dynasty, Western Zhou Dynasty, Spring & Autumn Period, and Warring States period). The eight-level road network maps with traffic attributes were distinguished based on topography and settlement size. The total lengths of the road networks were estimated to be 19,112 km in the Shang Dynasty, 35,269 km in the Western Zhou Dynasty, 51,555 km in the Spring & Autumn Period, and 77,456 km in the Warring States Period, with the average road flows of 6.6, 31.7, 42.8, and 75.5, respectively. The Z score and one-sample t-test (p < 0.01) confirmed the reliability of the reconstructed road networks. The Shang Dynasty saw the sporadic appearance of simple road routes. More complex routes emerged during the Western Zhou Dynasty and Spring & Autumn Period. The road networks were finally built during the Warring States Period. The development of road networks was closely related to population growth and urbanization. Exploring methods for reconstructing road networks may help us uncover ancient road networks and better understand ancient cultural exchanges.

Research on the Construction of Rural Living Circles in Hilly and Gully Areas of the Loess Plateau: A Case Study of Guanghe County

Ue and practical significance for achieving equitable urban and rural infrastructure within a region and promoting integrated urban-rural development. Employing landscape ecology theory and GIS spatial analysis techniques, this paper comprehensively analyzes the construction of rural living circles in Guanghe County, taking into account the convergence characteristics of residents' daily life trajectories and biological migration movements. The results indicate: (1) Within the "resistance surface" of Guanghe County, easily accessible areas and generally accessible areas account for 69.92% of the total area, while relatively difficult-to-access and hard-to-access areas constitute 30.08% of the total area, with weaker development potential in these regions. (2) Based on the results of the MCR model, a methodological pathway for identifying rural living circles is established. This includes delineating a "four-level, three-category" system for rural living circles in Guanghe County, and proposing a "mandatory allocation + selective allocation" modular customization approach to precisely allocate public service facilities. (3) Building upon the concept of travel "resistance surfaces," the study introduces transportation resistance coefficients to delineate different scales of living circles between river valley plain areas and mountainous areas. The research findings provide a basis for the construction of rural living circles in hilly and gully areas of the Loess Plateau.

Investigating Temporal and Spatial Variations of Nutrient and Trace Metal Loading in Utah Lake (Utah, USA)

Utah Lake is one of the largest freshwater bodies in the West and a valuable resource for agricultural and recreational activities in the region. However, it has suffered elevated trace metal and nutrient levels since the pioneer settlement in 1847. The objectives of this project were as follows: (1) investigate the temporal and spatial variations of trace metal and nutrient concentrations in Utah Lake and its tributaries; (2) model trace metal and nutrient concentrations across the lake using GIS spatial analysis techniques. We collected floc layer sediment samples quarterly as well as monthly water samples for trace metal and nutrient analyses at designated sites. GIS spatial analysis techniques were used to model the trace metal and nutrient concentrations in the lake. Elevated trace metal concentrations in river and lake water samples have been detected, especially in the month of June. The GIS modeling revealed that the highest trace metal and nutrient concentrations were located at the deepest part of the lake and near the Spanish Fork River inlet, respectively. Moreover, the results indicate that Utah Lake is not well mixed horizontally but well mixed vertically. Our findings can help state agencies address issues in water quality and management related to human–environment interactions.

Three-dimensional visualization and analysis of marketing data based on GIS information technology

Abstract This paper explores the GIS spatial analysis technique, which models the data as a whole and performs three-dimensional coordinate transformations, maps points in one coordinate system to another, and then establishes slice maps according to the slice resolution and visualizes and analyzes the data. This paper analyzes the spatial evolution characteristics of product A’s marketing dominance, time domain and geographical concern based on the GIS analysis model and compares the traditional method with the GIS spatial analysis method to analyze the market influence of using GIS marketing in order to highlight the advantages of the GIS analysis method in product marketing and data analysis. The results show that the annual contribution rates of the differences in product A attention between regions from 2013 to 2018 are 36.46%, 40.85%, 46.68%, 48.89%, 43.62%, and 44.21%, with an average value of 45%. The influence analysis efficiency of the GIS analysis method is more than 4.4, whereas that of the original method basically maintains the influence analysis efficiency between 3.8 and 4.0, indicating that the influence analysis efficiency of the GIS analysis method is above 4.4, while the influence analysis efficiency of the original method basically maintains the influence analysis efficiency between 3.8 and 4.0. 4.0, indicating that GIS technology has the absolute advantage for marketing data visualization analysis.

Spatial state analysis of ship during berthing and unberthing process based on 3D LiDAR

In smart ports, accurate perception of vessels' state during berthing and unberthing is crucial to ensure the safety of vessels and ports. In this paper, a method for better monitoring the berthing and unberthing state of vessels is proposed by introducing the GIS spatial analysis technique. For the aspect of the motion state of the vessels, the optimal segmentation region of the hull from the point cloud data is extracted with the aid of GIS spatial theory. Subsequently, the key points are obtained from the optimal segmentation region to calculate the key parameters in the process of berthing and unberthing. Besides, the spatial raster analysis technique is employed to construct the missing point cloud data in the segmentation region. For the other aspect of the spatial state of the vessels, the spatial trajectory of vessels is given. According to the information on a spatial trajectory, a comprehensive study of the spatial state of vessels is performed from the perspective of directional features and spatial relationships. In summary, the proposed method not only identifies the vessels’ motion state from a spatial perspective but also accurately calculates key parameters related to berthing and unberthing. Furthermore, it provides intuitive and clear visualization of the spatial relationship features between the vessel and the shore. Based on the experimental data of berthing and unberthing in Dalian Port, China, accurate results are achieved to verify the feasibility of the proposed method, which can provide a new idea for intelligent berthing and unberthing of vessels.

Auto encoder generative adversarial networks - based mineral prospectivity mapping in Lhasa area, Tibet

When conducting Mineral Potential Mapping (MPM) using multiple sources of data such as geology, geochemistry, and geophysics, it often encounters the challenges of complex and diverse data distributions within these datasets. Enhancing the capability to extract nonlinear data features and further uncover metallogenic information is a crucial research objective. This study utilizes the C-A multifractal approach to extract anomalous information related to metallogenic elements, employs compositional data analysis methods for quantitatively extracting geochemical associations of mineralization, and utilizes GIS spatial analysis techniques to quantitatively extract predictive indicators from various data sources, including geology, geophysics, and remote sensing, to construct an MPM prediction dataset. Building upon the foundation of AutoEncoder (AE), this study introduces a discriminator and employs the AEGAN (Auto Encoder Generative Adversarial Network) algorithm, which combines AutoEncoder and Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), for metallogenic prospectivity prediction in the Lhasa region. Compared to AE algorithms, AEGAN combines the strengths of AE and GAN, significantly improving the model's ability to reconstruct input data through the interaction between the generator and discriminator. Additionally, this study designs comparative experiments with AE, and the results demonstrate that the AEGAN model can more accurately identify the correlation between high anomaly areas and polymetallic deposits, providing a more precise delineation of anomalous extents. The Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) further validates the superior performance of the AEGAN model. These findings indicate that the AEGAN model exhibits outstanding capabilities in learning the internal connections and features among multiple data sources, holding significant potential for practical applications in mineral exploration.

A method of gas-related pollution source layout based on multi-source data: A case study of shaanxi province, China

The location and layout of enterprises have an important impact on local air quality. However, a few studies on exploring of the optimal layout of gas-related enterprises from the perspective of optimizing the layout of air pollution sources. This study developed a method for the evaluation of air pollution source layout based on air pollutant emission inventory data, atmospheric self-purification capacity data, and satellite remote sensing air quality data. Taking Shaanxi Province as an example, the Moran's I index and GIS spatial analysis techniques were used to evaluate the layout of air pollution sources, analyze the spatial variation characteristics of air pollution sources, and propose specific countermeasures to optimize the layout of air pollution sources. Results showed that northern Shaanxi and Guanzhong Plain are the most unsuitable for the distribution of NOx and CO sources, accounting for 13.78% and 21.77% of the total area, respectively. The most suitable area for the distribution of NOx is southern Shaanxi, accounting for 65.77% of the total area, mainly concentrated in Hanzhong and Ankang regions. The most suitable area for the distribution of CO is southern Shaanxi, accounting for 40.97% of the total area, mainly concentrated in Hanzhong and Shangluo regions. The findings of this study could supplement and improve the evaluation of the layout of industrial enterprises in China from technical and methodological aspects, and provide new insight for local governments to adjust and optimize the layout of air pollution sources.

Spatial Distribution of Snow Cover in Tibet and Topographic Dependence

Many major river systems in Asia, such as the Yangtze, Yarlung Zangbo, Indus, Ganges and Salween originate in the Tibetan mountains and snow cover in Tibet provides substantial water resources for these rivers, in addition to its weather-related and climatic significance. The high mountain terrain of Tibet is the main condition that snow cover exists and persists at mid–low altitudes. However, the relationships between snow cover and topographic factors of the plateau have not been fully addressed. In this study, the overall spatial distribution of snow cover and the impacts of topography (elevation, aspect and slope) on snow cover distribution in Tibet were analyzed based on the MODIS snow cover product and digital elevation model (DEM) using GIS spatial analysis techniques. The results showed that (1) snow cover in Tibet is spatially very uneven and is characterized by rich snow and high SCF (snow cover frequency) on Nyainqentanglha mountain and the surrounding high mountains, with less snow and a low SCF in the southern Tibetan valley and central part of northern Tibet. (2) Snow cover in Tibet has a strong elevation dependence and a higher SCF corresponds well with high mountain ranges. The mean SCF below 2000 m above sea level (m a.s.l) was less than 4%, while above 6000 m a.s.l, it reached 75%. (3) Intra-annual snow cover distribution below 4000 m a.s.l was characterized by unimodal patterns, while above 4000 m a.s.l, it was characterized by bimodal patterns. The lowest SCF below 6000 m a.s.l occurred in summer, while above 6000 m it occurred in winter. (4) The mountain slope and aspect affect snow cover distribution through changing radiation and energy balances in the mountain regions. The mean SCF generally increased with mountain slopes, with the highest on the north-facing aspect and the lowest on the south-facing aspect.

Response of ecosystem services to impervious surface changes and their scaling effects in Loess Plateau ecological Screen, China

The complexity and fragility of the Yellow River Basin ecosystem limits its economic growth and sustainable social development as a strategic planning area for development in western China. The Chinese government has established the Loess Plateau Ecological Screen (LPES) in the region to eliminate or mitigate the negative ecological impacts of human activities represented by the expansion of impervious surfaces (IS) through active ecological conservation and restoration. However, there are few studies that quantify the effects of impervious surfaces on ecosystem services (ES). To fill this gap, this study takes the LPES in China as an example and explores the response of ES to IS changes and its scale effect from 2000 to 2020. Based on remote sensing, meteorological, soil, hydrological, social, and economic data using GIS spatial analysis techniques. The results show that: From 2000 to 2020, the urbanization of the LPES developed rapidly, and the IS increased rapidly. The increase in IS affected the supply of ES, which decreased with the increase in IS growth rate, and this phenomenon had a scale effect. Overall, except for soil conservation service (SCS) - IS, carbon storage service (C) - IS at the administrative scale, the negative correlation increased with increasing scale, while the opposite was true at the grid scale. There were thresholds for the response of ES to IS, and the thresholds were also influenced by the scale of study. The smaller the scale was, the lower the threshold was. However, there were differences in the ranking of each ES reaching the threshold with increasing IS at the grid-scale and administrative division scale. The ecosystem services composite index (ESCI) was found to be the best indicator for exploring the relationship between IS and ES compared to other single ecosystem services indices, with the largest negative correlation with IS and the least influenced by scale effects. Given the obvious scale effect of IS on ES, this study suggests that the development of ecological management programs at the national level should be macroscopically regulated at the provincial level, with specific measures at smaller grid scales (5 Km × 5 Km) to constrain IS expansion..

Identifying the Spatiotemporal Differences and Driving Forces of Residents’ Consumption at the Provincial Level in the Context of the Digital Economy

The digital economy has become a new form of the economy. Based on data from the China Year Book from 2012 to 2020, this paper characterizes China’s spatial differences in regional consumption expenditure in the context of the digital economy. We utilize the GIS spatial analysis technique, ESDA, Geodetector, and other spatial econometric tools to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution patterns and driving mechanism of residents’ consumption development in the context of the digital economy for 31 provinces in China and propose differentiated policy suggestions for residents’ consumption development against the background of the digital economy in China, creating a reference for decision making on residents’ consumption in China. The findings show that, first, provincial residents’ consumption expenditures appear to decrease on a gradient from eastern to central and western China, showing extreme polarization and spatial aggregation. Second, the power of the seven driving factors of residents’ consumption varies widely across time; the driving factors representing the digital economy can reduce the regional differences in residents’ consumption. On the other hand, non-digital economic factors increase the spatial difference. Third, two digital economic factors play the most important roles in the interaction effect in most years.

Land-Use Transformation and Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region Based on the “Production–Living–Ecological Space” Perspective

Rapid urbanization and land-use change cause risk in regional ecological security. It is very significance to explore the evolutionary trend of land-use change and landscape ecological risk (LER) in an ecologically fragile area, especially in terms of maintaining sustainable development in a regional ecological environment. We selected the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (TGRR) as the study area based on land-use and land-cover data for 2000, 2010, and 2020. The land-use classification system used here was constructed using the perspective of the production–living–ecological space (PLES). The GIS spatial-analysis technique and FRAGSTATS 4 software were used. We used the method of the land-use transfer matrix, the landscape ecological risk assessment model, the ecological contribution rate of land-use transfer, and spatial autocorrelation analysis. We performed quantitative analysis of the spatio-temporal pattern of PLES and its LER in the TGRR over the past 20 years. The results show that: (1) The area of human living space (HLS) has expanded significantly—by 1469.37 km2 (+326.66%), while the area of agricultural production space (APS) has been compressed by both the urban/rural living space (URLS) and the forestland ecological space (FES), particularly during the last 10 years; (2) The overall LER results were medium, but LER is increasing; (3) The LER in the northern area of the Yangtze River is higher than in the south. The Wanzhou district and the downstream areas had a lower LER; and (4) The transformation from agricultural production space to forestland ecological space and urban/rural living space has had a higher contribution rate to the LER compared to other events. These results can be used as a reference for land planning, sustainable development, and ecological civilization construction in ecologically fragile areas.

The Reintroduction Analysis of European Bison (Bison bonasus L., 1758) in the North of Romania and the Identification of the Most Favourable Locations

We analysed the possibility of reintroducing the European bison (Bison bonasus L.) in the north of Romania—in Suceava, Neamț, and Maramureș counties—as well as increasing the wild European bison population in Neamț county to improve the genetic quality of the existing population. Currently, there is a population of over 50 individuals in the wild in Vânători Neamț Natural Park, Romania. At the same time, an attempt was made to identify the connecting corridors between the free European bison in Neamț county and other populations through new nuclei of European bison released in Suceava and Maramureș counties. In this regard, the hunting grounds with the highest ecological potential for the analysed species were identified using GIS spatial analysis techniques. The aim was also to trace possible ecological corridors linking different reintroduction locations, taking into account the ecological claims of the species. The analysis also followed the size of the European bison groups to be released, the sex ratio of each group, and the periodicity of their releasing. In order to reach viable populations, scenarios and simulations were carried out depending on the age, number, and sex of the relocated specimens. In this regard, the dynamics and the minimum viable population that could survive without risk of extinction were highlighted. The analysis showed that the analysed area has a high potential for the reintroduction of European bison in the wild. The release and creation of new European bison nuclei in the wild creates the premises for natural contacts with the existing free populations in the wild, genetic improvement, and increasing fauna diversity with ecological, social, and economic implications.

APPLICATION OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) AND ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP) TECHNIQUE TO STUDY LAND USE CHANGES IN PENDANG, KEDAH

Urbanization process has a significant impact on land use planning. It not only affects major cities but also extends to small towns in rural areas where it has a significant role in providing urban services to rural communities. The expansion of urban areas also resulted in the loss of many agricultural lands as well as forests that are rich in natural resources. In both instances, the land use composition is substantially affected. This study uses a "mixed method approach" combining GIS spatial analysis and AHP technique to study land use changes, identify land use growth parameters, determine land use growth suitability areas and identify the direction of urban land use development. The study area is the town of Pendang, which is the main administrative centre for Pendang District, Kedah. The main findings of the study show that changes were not that significant during the period between 2005 to 2012. However, significant land use changes occurred during the period of 2012 to 2020, especially in agricultural land use, vacant land and even water bodies. These land use changes have contributed to the increase in built-up areas. The direction of development is seen heading north, south and southwest of the study area. Accessibility is a major factor influencing the growth of land use and development direction in the study area.

Effects of Institutions on Spatial Patterns of Manufacturing Industries and Policy Implications in Metropolitan Areas: A Case Study of Wuhan, China

Manufacturing space is a spatial system that combines the interaction between capital and institutions at the enterprise, industry, and spatial levels. It is also an important functional type that promotes the spatial evolution of big cities. Most studies focus on the effects of a single institutional type on the manufacturing space of big cities and lack systematic and complete exploration of the institutional mechanism. Current empirical research on typical industrial cities in China is insufficient. This study uses a GIS spatial analysis technique and a Poisson regression model to analyze the mechanism by which institutions have influenced the spatial patterns of manufacturing industries in the Wuhan metropolitan area since the 1990s. The results show that land policy, development zone policy, urban planning, transportation strategy, and eco-environmental policy all have a significant impact on the restructuring process and distribution pattern of the manufacturing industries through incentives and constraints. This study expands our understanding of the influence mechanism of manufacturing spatial patterns and proposes spatial guiding strategies and policy implications for the spatial transformation of urban manufacturing.

Quantitative GIS Model for Evaluating the Favorability of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Culture for Suitable Varieties in Romania: Case Study Bihor County

The adaptation measures of agricultural crops to current climate change are also reflected at the level of land-use planning for species with resistance to rainfall shortages and periods of prolonged droughts. The present paper aimed at the spatial modeling of land favorability for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) within Bihor county, which is located in Northwest Romania. This was performed by using GIS spatial analysis techniques, particularly the technique of rating agricultural plots by using as a modeling basis the synthetic climate indicators, soil indices, as well as topographic characteristics, which are considered relevant for the studied species. As a result of the modeling process, agricultural plots that are favorable for the alfalfa culture were identified. A comparative analysis of the profit was also carried out both for the green and dry masses of eight types of alfalfa, which are suitable for the national environmental conditions. Land favorability modeling for alfalfa cultivation will be carried out by using GIS spatial analysis techniques, which allow the use of large databases while maintaining the necessary degree of detail, and they make possible the correlations between factors and production estimated per hectare, which are correlations that are characteristic for the environmental factors. Thus, for the studied territory, the best green alfalfa production was identified as being obtained from the Carinca and Daniela varieties, whereas the Mihaela and Teodora varieties were noticed to provide the best dry alfalfa production.

Identification and Assessment of Ecological Sensitivity in Chishui River Basin Based on GIS

In this paper, GIS and RS spatial analysis techniques were used to establish a system for identifying sensitive targets of terrestrial ecosystems in Chishui River Basin, and to identify protection targets of terrestrial ecosystems in different regions. The result shows that the assessment of habitat sensitivity in Chishui River Basin was dominated by non-sensitive areas and highly sensitive areas, which highly sensitive areas account for 60.43% of the basin area, mostly concentrated in the mountainous areas at the junction of Chishui City, Xishui County and Gulin County; non-sensitive areas account for 39.13% and are mosaically distributed with highly sensitive areas; mildly sensitive areas, moderately sensitive areas and extremely sensitive areas account for a total of about 0.5% of the basin area and are more scattered throughout the basin. The distribution is scattered. The moderately sensitive areas in the Chishui River Basin are more than 60.7% of the basin area, indicating that the habitats in the Chishui River Basin are generally sensitive and the ecologically sensitive targets are mainly wooded areas, which need to be protected.

Temporal-spatial analysis of alkaline rocks based on GEOROC

Alkaline rocks account for a small proportion of magmatic rocks with characteristics of the linear distribution, and can reveal the tectonic setting and in source mantle compositions. Based on the GEOROC global geochemical database, we studied the temporal-spatial evolution of alkaline rocks in the world through GIS spatial analysis and data statistical analysis techniques. The results show an abrupt increase of alkaline volcanic magmatism in the Cenozoic from the Mesozoic and Paleozoic, with the volcanic intensity in the Cenozoic being close to 100 times higher than the Paleozoic. The basalts fall mainly in the basanite and phonolite fields in the Total Alkali–Silica (TAS) discrimination diagram. Spatial analysis suggested that the Cenozoic basalts were usually produced along plate boundary or correlated with mantle-plume-related hot spots.

Sustainable land use in the trans-provincial marginal areas in China

Because of the influence of administrative jurisdiction, land use in the boundary area of administrative jurisdiction has its particularity. Studying the spatial-temporal change pattern of land use in this region is helpful to optimize the land use pattern, improve and protect the ecological environment quality, and is of great significance to ensure the coordinated development of population, resources and environment. Based on TM satellite remote sensing and four years (1980, 1995, 2000 and 2010) image data, the land use/cover information in the trans-provincial marginal zone of China is extracted. The spatial-temporal characteristics of land use/cover change in the study area in the past 30 years are revealed using land-use temporal-spatial change index, dynamics of land-use change, comprehensive index of land-use level, change in land-use degree, rate of change in land-use and GIS spatial analysis techniques. The future 30 years development trend is predicted by Markov model method. (1) The land use in the interior provincial fringe area of China is mainly trans-provincial marginal zone. Here are dominated by forestland, grassland, and unused land. The most obvious changes are an increase in land for an increase construction land and a reduction of unused land, and there are differences in different regions. Forestland is the main land type in Northeast China. Forestland, cultivated land and grassland are important land types in southeastern China. However, grassland type is seen as unused land and woodland in Qinghai-Tibet area. Unutilized land is the main land type in Northwest China, showing a situation of increasing first and then decreasing. (2) Influenced by environmental conditions and social factors such as population growth, economic development and regional development policies, the land use types in 1980–1995 and 1995–2010 show obvious spatial differentiation characteristics in different zones. (3)From 1980 to 2010, the land use types in the study area have undergone complex transformation. The reduced area of cultivated land, woodland, grassland and water area is larger than the newly increased area, while the reduced area of construction land and unused land is smaller than the newly increased area. (4) By 2030, the increase of construction land area will have a positive effect on the economic and social development of the region. The increase of forestland area will further improve the ecological environment here.