Digital twin framework with dynamic model updating for automated land reclamation

This study aimed to analyze soil erosion rates, erosion hazard levels, and to identify appropriate land conservation measures in the upstream area of the Unda Watershed using a geospatial information approach. The study employed the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) method integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The analysis was conducted by combining rainfall data, soil type, land use, slope gradient, and land management factors to estimate soil erosion and determine erosion hazard levels. The results showed that soil erosion rates in the upstream area of the Unda Watershed varied from low to very high categories. The highest erosion rate ranged from 483.36 to 11,499.13 tons ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, covering an area of 1,469.98 ha (14.28% of the watershed area), while the lowest erosion rate ranged from 0 to 14.27 tons ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, covering 4,222.66 ha (41.02% of the watershed area). Based on the erosion hazard level (EHL) classification, different land conservation measures were recommended. Areas with Very Slight EHL require maintenance of land conditions through litter return, crop rotation, and simple ground cover. Slight EHL areas are recommended to apply contour planting, mulching, and cover crops. Moderate EHL areas require simple terracing, strip cropping, and a combination of vegetative and mechanical conservation techniques. Severe EHL areas should implement intensive terracing, reforestation with terrace-strengthening vegetation, and drainage channels. Meanwhile, Very Severe EHL areas require total land rehabilitation, permanent revegetation, and designation as protected areas. The integration of the USLE model and GIS proved effective in identifying spatial patterns of erosion risk and providing appropriate land conservation recommendations. Therefore, this approach can be used as a valuable tool for sustainable watershed management and soil conservation planning in the upstream area of the Unda Watershed.

Abstract Determining long‐term soil erosion and deposition rates and understanding landform evolution are important for managing both natural and human‐modified landscapes, including postmining rehabilitation sites. Although various landform evolution models (LEMs) have been developed to simulate erosion processes and landscape change, relatively few studies have directly compared modelled outputs with field‐based erosion estimates. This study evaluates and compares two LEMs, (i) SIBERIA, which is widely used in the Australian mining sector, and (ii) SSSPAM, a newer coupled soilscape–LEM, together with the well‐established soil erosion model (the revised universal soil loss equation). A formerly grazed hillslope in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales was used as the case study, and a high‐resolution light detection and ranging (LiDAR)‐derived digital elevation model was used as the landscape input. Field‐based erosion rates were quantified using sediment yield data from a catchment dam and 137 Cs isotopic analysis. Sediment trap measurements indicated erosion rates ranging from 0.43 to 0.61 t/ha/year, while 137 Cs results showed erosion and deposition rates of up to 1.5 and 1.1 t/ha/year, respectively. SIBERIA predicted erosion rates of 1.07 t/ha/year under dense vegetation cover and 3.74 t/ha/year under moderate cover, while SSSPAM estimated 0.35 and 2.43 t/ha/year for the same conditions. The RUSLE model predicted an average erosion rate of 2.23 t/ha/year, with values ranging from 0.58 to 4.65 t/ha/year. Overall, the modelled erosion estimates were broadly consistent with the field observations, demonstrating the ability of both SIBERIA and SSSPAM to reproduce realistic hillslope erosion rates. These findings support the use of LEMs as valuable tools for guiding sustainable land management and rehabilitation practices in both natural and constructed landscapes.

The main way to minimize the damage caused to forest ecosystems by geological exploration and gold mining is forest reclamation. However, ineffective regulation of the reclamation process and lack of quality control led to environmental risks in areas of economic activity and nearby settlements, causing a significant gap between compliance with legislation and actual environmental results. The problem is particularly acute in the regions of Siberia and the Far East, which contain a significant share of Russia’s current and future gold mining potential. This paper analyzes the current practices of forest land reclamation in the Krasnoyarsk Krai. We found that the lack of expertise among members of the quality assessment committee, lack of necessary equipment, and conflicts of interest can pose significant obstacles to a fair assessment of the quality of reforestation projects. Based on these findings, we have developed proposals to improve the process of evaluating the quality of forest reclamation and subsequent monitoring of the environment in restored forest areas. These proposals aim to achieve a balance between the interests of business, government and the public by providing a more objective assessment of the outcomes of reclaiming forest lands.

ABSTRACT Coastal land reclamation is transforming many land-sea interfaces across Southeast Asia. Large-scale real estate development projects along the littoral result in the widespread displacement of fishing and coastal communities and severe environmental impacts. Situated at the intersection of urban anthropology and critical heritage studies, this paper explores the impact of land reclamation and urban transformation on the self-proclaimed Tanjung Tokong heritage fishing village in Penang, Malaysia. Ethnographic insights from this tiny community shed light on two underexplored themes in research on speculative cities along the littoral, especially for fishers’ socionatural connections to the sea: exclaving and self-heritagization. Scholars approach the act of reclaiming land from the sea for high-end real estate development as an enclave-making process. Yet, based on emic and more intimate articulations of the self and the sea, this paper considers the exclaving effects that land reclamation plays both landward and seaward. Then, by exploring the ways fishers and other coastal residents employ heritage discourses to reclaim a future along a littoral where there seem to be no place for them, the paper reveals their attempts at self-heritagization and its limits.

How short- and long-term temporal scales shape biodiversity: multi-taxa dynamics across the life cycle of quarries.

Under global warming, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) ecosystem faces severe threats, and vegetation restoration is critical for ecological rehabilitation. Unlike previous studies focusing on endangered or invasive species, this research innovatively selects six typical vegetation restoration species (Poa pratensis, Poa araratica, Poa pratensis var. anceps, Festuca sinensis, Elymus nutans, Lolium perenne) and integrates species distribution modeling (MaxEnt), centroid migration analysis, and niche theory to systematically evaluate their restoration potential under current and future climate scenarios-advancing beyond conventional single-species distribution predictions. Key findings: (1) Elevation (alt) and annual precipitation (bio12) are the dominant factors determining species distribution, with their combined contribution rates to the six species ranging from 46.6% (L. perenne) to 81.7% (F. sinensis), providing precise indicators for site selection in restoration. (2) Except for L. perenne, high-suitability zones of other species concentrate in the northeastern QTP, with E. nutans having the largest suitable area (80.73 × 104 km2, 61% of total QTP area). Under climate warming, 80% of species (e.g., P. araratica, E. nutans) show significant habitat expansion (e.g., E. nutans moderate/high suitability zones increase by 90.79%/111.66% under RCP8.5 2070s) and an overall westward migration trend (e.g., F. sinensis migrates 246.51 km southwestward under RCP8.5). (3) E. nutans exhibits the widest niche breadth (B1 = 0.156, strongest adaptability) but high niche overlap with other species (e.g., P. araratica vs. P. pratensis, D = 0.75), indicating a potential competition risk requiring field validation when mixed-sown in resource-limited areas. This study applies a multidimensional assessment framework that integrates climate response, spatial migration, and niche interaction to QTP vegetation restoration, providing a scientific basis for species selection and configuration with important practical implications for climate-resilient ecological restoration.

Urban blue-space loss and grey-space expansion have significantly altered the surface water systems of the Khulna City Corporation, increasing the environmental degradation and hydrological vulnerability of this climate-sensitive coastal city. This study used multi-temporal Landsat imagery, including Landsat 5 TM data from 1994 to 2004 and Landsat 8 OLI data from 2014 to 2024. The analysis integrated the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Built-up Index, and Normalized Difference Water Index with Random Forest classification and post-classification change detection to quantify long-term land-use/land-cover transitions and urban blue-space transformation. Post-classification comparison generated directional transition matrices documenting conversion pathways among land-cover categories. The results show that surface water bodies have decreased from 4.20 km2 in 1994 to 2.27 km2 in 2024, while the built-up area has increased from 25.9 to 53.3% of the area studied. The accuracy assessment resulted in an overall accuracy of 84.5 to 89.3%, with Kappa coefficients ranging from 0.78 to 0.86. Water body classifications have remained reliable throughout all periods, which has supported the use of classifiable maps for long-term migration analysis. Temporal analysis revealed two main phases: an early phase characterized by mixed land reclamation and later phases dominated by conversion of water bodies into built-up areas. Spatial analysis identified critical hotspots of canal infill, wetland loss, and riverbank modification, mainly in central and southern municipal zones. These findings highlight the need to treat urban blue spaces as critical infrastructure and to promote integrated management, natural drainage solutions and regular remote sensing monitoring. The study frames the loss of blue space as a process of urban transformation and advocates better monitoring of urban water systems in coastal secondary coastal cities.

Ecosystem recovery in post-mining landscapes represents a complex process shaped by dynamic interactions between biophysical dynamics and sustained anthropogenic inputs. This study examines employee ecological behavior as a functional anthropogenic factor influencing ecosystem functioning in a tropical post-mining landscape in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Using an integrated empirical approach combining behavioral survey data from 136 mining employees with long-term ecosystem performance records of mining companies, we evaluate how sustained human-mediated actions relate to vegetation recovery, carbon sequestration, and landscape stabilization. Results indicate that while technical ecological knowledge among employees is moderate (mean score 3.2/5.0), the stability and continuity of employee pro-environmental behaviors show strong positive associations with measurable ecosystem recovery outcomes, including extensive land reclamation (1,875 ha over five years), increased vegetation cover (2.25 million trees planted), and significant carbon sequestration (33,800 tCO2e annually). These findings suggest that repeated employee interventions, when sustained over time and embedded within supportive organizational systems, may operate as cumulative anthropogenic processes contributing to recovery trajectories in degraded landscapes. However, we acknowledge that current data cannot isolate the independent causal effect of employee behavior from other organizational factors, including capital investment, technological infrastructure, and management systems. By conceptualizing employee behavior as an embedded anthropogenic factor rather than an external social variable, this study contributes to applied ecology by proposing a conceptual framework for understanding how employee actions may contribute to ecosystem functioning in post-mining contexts. The mechanistic pathways proposed require further validation through integrated social-ecological research designs.

The invasion of the Nootka lupin (Lupinus nootkatensis) in Iceland presents a fascinating scenario: an introduced species on an isolated island that retains exceptionally high genetic diversity. Using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers, we analysed the population structure of this widespread coloniser to understand the mechanisms behind its success. Contrary to expectations of a founder effect, our results reveal substantial polymorphism (100% at the dataset level) and high gene diversity, indicating that high propagule pressure from repeated, large-scale introductions has effectively countered genetic bottlenecks. Spatial analyses (PCoA, AMOVA) demonstrated a highly admixed structure where genetic clustering explains twice as much variance as geographical regions (12.3% vs. 5.9%). Importantly, a Mantel test confirmed a remarkably weak isolation-by-distance signal (explaining around 6% of the variance), aligning directly with the AMOVA results. This structural concordance shows that human-mediated transport-particularly from Reykjavík, the demographic hub-has completely overridden natural spatial gradients. We conclude that historical land reclamation efforts have acted as massive hyper-vectors, mixing diverse lineages to form a highly resilient, interconnected metapopulation. Therefore, effective management should shift from broad-scale eradication to targeted biosecurity measures that limit further human-facilitated mixing of these distinct genetic lineages.

Abandoned sandstone mines pose significant threats to the environment and safety. Despite the threats, the mined-out pits in arid areas of Rajasthan remain unreclaimed. The major challenges associated with the reclamation of these degraded lands include lack of awareness, harsh climatic conditions, low water availability, and the unavailability of abundant backfilling materials, coupled with topsoil deficit and nutrient-poor conditions. Reclamation of small-scale sandstone mines remains underexplored in scientific literature, limiting the development of evidence-based restoration strategies. Therefore, this review synthesizes the possible approaches for active reclamation of sandstone mined-out pits in the arid regions of Rajasthan. The key steps of active reclamation of the exhausted mine pits are topographic reconstruction through backfilling, topsoil application, soil amendments, and phytorestoration. This manuscript extensively explored the utilization of non-hazardous industrial waste as sustainable backfilling materials, different soil amendments in the context of the backfilled mine land, and revegetation strategies. In our view, the selection of native species is the most critical step of the revegetation strategy, closely followed by post plantation care. In addition, microbial interventions, especially the inoculation of beneficial microbes like plant growth-promoting bacteria, mycorrhiza, and others, have been discussed for promoting soil health and enhancing plant growth.

Integrating soil heavy metal risk into ecological quality assessment: The pollution-enhanced remote sensing ecological index.

Wetland ecosystems, crucial for carbon sequestration and coastal hazard mitigation, have experienced tremendous losses in land surface area over the last century, primarily due to land reclamation. This has led to increased rates of land subsidence in regions with high levels of reclamation, causing heightened vulnerability in these areas under anticipated scenarios of climate induced sea-level rise. This study integrates multi-sensor satellite remote sensing (optical, thermal, and active microwave) with spatially explicit eddy covariance flux measurements to model gross primary productivity (GPP) in restored wetlands of California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. GPP is a crucial process in this context, as it impacts the potential for wetlands to act as land carbon sinks and has been shown to reverse land subsidence in restored wetlands of previously reclaimed areas. Still, there remain gaps in understanding how vegetation vigor, wetland composition and structure, and environmental conditions individually and interactively impact carbon assimilation in these ecosystems. This research aims to understand how complementary remotely sensed signals from multiple satellite platforms across the electromagnetic spectrum combine to improve classical, optically based GPP models, while determining the relative importance of certain biotic and abiotic environmental conditions that regulate GPP. Using a Bayesian generalized additive modeling framework, we evaluated how vegetation vigor (NDVI), canopy structure and biomass density (microwave backscatter), and land surface temperature affect wetland GPP at 10-m spatial resolution over a five-year period. Our results reveal a strong hierarchical and complementary influence of these variables, with the highest GPP occurring in warm, well-watered, and densely vegetated conditions. The model explained on average 66% of GPP variability and provides a scalable, open-access framework for assessing carbon fluxes in wetland landscapes. These findings offer valuable insight into planning restoration, monitoring restoration outcomes, carbon accounting, and identifying coastal adaptation strategies for valuable blue carbon ecosystems. • We develop a wetland GPP model using eddy covariance and remote sensing data fusion. • Hierarchy of wetland GPP drivers revealed through remotely sensed observations. • Wetland GPP shows greatest sensitivity to interaction of drivers. • Hierarchical model enables informed upscaling of wetland GPP to landscape level.

The complexity of physicochemical properties in iron ore tailings has led to extensive and varied study avenues. Moreover, changes in these features resulting from source discrepancies have complicated the identification of consistent patterns in study findings, thereby hindering the standardization and advancement of resource exploitation technologies. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the utilization pathways for iron tailings. It identifies the mainstream recovery processes for rare earth minerals, a relatively less-researched direction. It also describes research progress on the use of iron tailings for the preparation of fertilizers and soil conditioners, as well as their application as cementitious materials or aggregates in building materials and mine backfilling engineering. It incorporates various activation methods for the preparation of cementitious materials from iron tailings into a unified comparative framework and quantifies the key performance indicators of different activation pathways through a summary table. It also summarizes studies on the ecological reclamation of tailings ponds based on bioremediation techniques. The essential physicochemical properties of iron deposits are meticulously analyzed, and this is followed by a specialized overview of the principal treatment techniques, critical performance indicators, and their foundational mechanisms. The current application of various technical approaches is examined to identify key problems, and future development opportunities are outlined.

Abstract Natural estuarine morphology exerts strong control over tidal propagation. Human activities, such as dredging and land reclamation, modify the natural geometry, altering tidal dynamics and the ecosystems linked to them. Here we analyse changes in tidal dynamics, specifically the amplitude and propagation of tides, over decadal to centennial timescales, using archival maps, hydrographic surveys, tide gauge records and modern records from 25 estuaries worldwide, spanning the coast to their landward boundaries. Over the past two centuries, local interventions have typically amplified tidal ranges, accelerated tidal propagation and shifted tidal duration asymmetry. The most pronounced changes occurred far inland, often more than 100 km from the coast. Land reclamation and channel deepening are the most widespread and impactful interventions, affecting nearly all systems studied. The magnitude and inland location of maximum changes point to local human activities as the dominant drivers, exceeding the influence of long-term processes such as sea-level rise and natural subsidence and demonstrating that anthropogenic modifications have historically had the larger influence on estuarine water levels. Recognizing this human footprint opens opportunities for targeted local management strategies to reverse past changes, reduce flood risk and build resilience to climate change.

Accurately monitoring the surface stabilization of waste dumps in open-pit coal mines is critical for hazard prevention and ecological reclamation. In arid and semi-arid regions, traditional optical remote sensing vegetation indices suffer from a systematic “response lag” in assessing physical stability due to the slow establishment of pioneer vegetation. To overcome this biological limitation, this study proposes a quantitative spatiotemporal monitoring framework based on time-series Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) coherence to detect early-stage geotechnical stabilization. Using Sentinel-1 imagery of the Balongtu coal mine, a sliding-window detection algorithm was developed to capture the physical transition of surface electromagnetic scattering mechanisms from active disturbance to stable consolidation. The main findings are as follows: (1) Statistical analysis identified a critical geophysical coherence threshold of 0.15, which effectively and objectively distinguishes active dumping disturbance zones from structurally stable areas. (2) The spatiotemporal evolution dynamics of the completed dump areas from 2017 to 2023 were successfully characterized, revealing that 87.6% of the open-pit areas achieved physical stabilization within three years post-mining, with a spatial distribution highly consistent with the objective operational rule of “mining first, dumping later”. (3) Accuracy assessment using 700 spatiotemporally balanced validation points—derived through strict visual interpretation of high-resolution optical imagery—demonstrated high algorithm reliability, achieving overall accuracies (OA) of 87.57% and 90.43% at half-yearly and annual monitoring intervals, respectively. By decoupling physical surface stabilization from optical greenness, this study provides a timely abiotic precursor indicator, offering scientific, quantitative decision support for precision ecological zoning and accelerated land turnover approval in mining areas.

Purpose: This study examines the hierarchical factors influencing Green Waqf-based land development in Indonesia. It aims to identify primary barriers, outline necessary institutional changes, and formulate a strategic model for ecosystem conservation and socio-economic welfare. Methodology: Using a mixed-methods approach based on Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), primary data were collected via interviews and questionnaires from an expert panel of academics, nazhir, and farmers. Results: ISM analysis reveals that the most critical constraints are the lack of regulatory support, limited fintech optimization, and low nazhir professionalism. Overcoming these requires structured education, specialized training, and robust inter-agency coordination. Furthermore, establishing specific legal provisions and socialization systems are foundational objectives for systemic success. Conclusion: While Green Waqf holds immense potential for climate resilience and land rehabilitation, its current implementation Achieving sustainable impact requires legal formalization, capacity building, and cross-sectoral collaboration. Implications: Policymakers must establish specific legal frameworks and guidelines for biological waqf assets (e.g., trees). Waqf institutions should adopt fintech solutions for transparency, and local communities must be empowered as active partners in agroforestry and environmental restoration. Originality: Moving beyond normative literature, this study pioneers a structured hierarchical governance model for Green Waqf, mathematically mapping previously ill-defined causal relationships among regulatory, technological, and social variables.

Indonesia, as the country with the highest number of active volcanoes worldwide, faces significant challenges from volcanic hazards. Mount Merapi, one of the most active volcanoes, is surrounded by intensive tourism and residential development, which increase the region’s vulnerability. This study integrates DEMNAS-based topographic analysis and the Land Change Modeler (LCM) with the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP)–Markov Chain algorithm to examine land-use dynamics and risks to tourism in the Opak Oyo Watershed. Multi-temporal Landsat imagery (2004, 2014, 2024) was classified using the CART algorithm, achieving an overall accuracy of 94.5% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.928. The results show that between 2014 and 2024, the area of built-up land increased by 47.12 km², while that of forests declined by 127.76 km², indicating strong anthropogenic pressure. The validated LCM model projected that by 2034 built-up land will expand to 228.13 km², increasing by 46.04 km² (3.53%) compared to 2024, while agricultural land is predicted to decrease by 100.14 km² (–7.67%). Forest areas are projected to increase by 90.75 km² (6.95%), reflecting ecological rehabilitation scenarios. Tourism risk analysis shows that a significant number of tourism sites are located within KRB III (a high-risk zone), where projected building expansion overlaps with areas exposed to pyroclastic flows and lahar hazards. The findings highlight that integrating topographic constraints with predictive land-use modeling provides a robust spatial framework for sustainable tourism development in volcanic regions. The approach supports risk-informed zoning, environmentally sensitive land allocation, and long-term spatial planning strategies in Mount Merapi and other hazard-prone landscapes.

The conservation of tuff- and coral rock-built architectural heritage structures (AHS) is challenging because access to original tuff and coral rock has become difficult and severely limited due to urbanization, land reclamation, the depletion of stone quarries, anti-mining and anti-quarrying legislation. An emerging approach to address this issue is to create compatible “replacement” rocks via geopolymerization, a process that is more sustainable and greener than the use of conventional cement and concrete. To explore the potential of geopolymers for AHS conservation strategies, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were implemented; 103 eligible articles were identified and classified into geopolymers for AHS (34 articles), tuff-built AHS (60 articles), and coral rock-built AHS (9 articles). Tuff substrates in AHSs appear in a variety of colors (yellowish-brown, grayish-cream, reddish-brown, pale greenish-gray and pink hues), densities (1.0–2.5 g/m3), and compressive strengths (3–100 MPa). Meanwhile, coral rock substrates in AHSs appear in whitish-cream color and are coarse-pored (1–5 MPa), fine-grained (8–15 MPa), and calcarenite (50–60 MPa). In terms of geopolymer formulation, metakaolin was reported as the most popular main precursor or admixture, while NaOH and Na2SiO3 were used simultaneously as alkaline activators. Aggregates used in geopolymer formulations depended on local availability, including quartz sand, river sand, crushed stones, carbonate stones, volcanic rock, volcanic sand, tuff, brick, ceramic tiles, and waste materials. Aesthetics, chemical composition, physical attributes, and mechanical properties have been identified as key criteria to ensure geopolymer compatibility for AHS conservation application. To date, geopolymers have been applied for AHS conservation as repair mortars, consolidants (i.e., grout and adhesives), and masonry strengthening (i.e., fiber-reinforced mortar). Finally, geopolymers formulated for AHS conservation have similar durability as the original substrate based on accelerated aging tests (i.e., salt mist, wet-dry, and freeze–thaw) and long-term outdoor exposure experiments.

The article focuses on the problem of poultry manure processing. Biotechnological methods for obtaining a liquid biopreparation for plants based on chicken manure are considered. All studies were conducted at the All-Russian Research Institute of Reclaimed Lands (Tver Region). Based on the results of the experiments, optimal parameters for the process of obtaining a biopreparation using a soft extraction technique were selected. Since many compounds are present in chicken manure in water-soluble form, most of them go into solution during extraction. When using liquid fertilizers, plants receive nutrition in the form of a concentrated solution and such stimulation can be carried out, if necessary, throughout the entire growing season. Chicken manure from a year ago was extracted at a temperature of 70 °C with an aqueous solution of sodium chloride in different concentrations (3, 5 and 7%) and for different durations of exposure (2, 4 и 6 hours). Having studied the obtained extracts, the optimal extraction mode was determined: the ratio of the initial raw material and extractant is 1:10, the concentration of the sodium chloride solution is 5%, the exposure time is 6 hours. When the specified parameters were met, high enzymatic activity was observed in the resulting biopreparation: catalase (2.45 U/ml), cellulase (0.28 μg glucose/0.2 g/day) and invertase (168 mg glucose/g/day). The highest carbohydrate content was also recorded: reducing sugars (0.20%), glucose (0.10%) and fructose (0.23%). A favorable microflora consortium was identified: the number of mixed microorganisms was 4.0×10 7 CFU/ml, lactic acid microorganisms – 2.6×10 5 CFU/ml. The biopreparation effectiveness was determined in a laboratory experiment on seed germination and development of flax plants of the Nadezhda variety. When the flax seeds were treated with the biopreparation, the length of the sprouts reliably increased (by 19.3% at a dose of 5 ml/l, by 16.9% at a dose of 10 ml/l), and by 21.5% at a dose of 15 ml/l), the mass of dry sprouts increased more than 2–3 times (in all dilutions), which proves the effectiveness of the new biopreparation.