Land Use Planning Research Articles

Methodological approaches to economic and mathematical modelling of crop rotation in the development of a land management project that provides ecological and economic justification for crop rotation

The proposed research paper systemises methodological approaches to optimisation and dynamic modelling of crop rotation in the development of land management projects that provide ecological and economic justification of crop rotation, since the crop rotation models proposed to date do not solve the task in general, but only in certain specific cases. In this regard, the need to develop full-fledged software products with a user interface integrated into existing information and accounting databases of agricultural formations is substantiated. It is proved that economic and mathematical modelling of crop rotations should be developed by improving the methodology of dynamic crop rotations, which will allow farmers to analyse the economic efficiency of various alternative options for crop rotation under specific natural and economic conditions and constraints, as it is a promising interactive tool for substantiating management production decisions based on optimisation algorithms and analysis of large amounts of accumulated retrospective data. The approaches, criteria and limitations of the economic and mathematical model of crop rotation in the development of land management projects that provide ecological and economic justification of crop rotation are substantiated. The proposed economic and mathematical model with its objective function, constraints and algorithms is aimed at a comprehensive solution of issues related to production planning and rational land use. The presented model provides ample opportunities for further optimisation of the system of making effective managerial decisions in the agricultural sector and can serve as a basis for solving the problems of investment justification and development of agricultural land use.

Science, technology and innovation driving urban land use and urban planning development: policy and practice

Abstract In an era where science, technology, and innovation are key drivers of urban transformation, this research addresses the critical influences of policy and practice on urban planning and land utilization, proposing efficacious planning strategies to navigate emerging challenges. The study offers a comprehensive examination of urban development trends by integrating methods such as fuzzy set urban planning models, multi-objective planning, fuzzy regression, and GIS-based land use analysis. Specifically, our analysis of Shenzhen’s expansion and agricultural land growth from 1998 to 2023 demonstrates the significant impacts of technological innovation on urban landscapes, notably in expanding built-up regions by 90.21 square kilometers and augmenting greenfield farmland by 17.83%, thereby markedly enhancing land designated for ecological purposes. These findings affirm the vital role of innovation in advancing environmental sustainability and sustainable urban planning practices.

Relationship Between Comprehensive Transportation Hub Planning and Urban Land Use From TOD Perspective

Relationship Between Comprehensive Transportation Hub Planning and Urban Land Use From TOD Perspective

Landslide susceptibility mapping using the analytical hierarchy process and the Geographic Information System along the Agadir Ida Ou-Tanane province, Morocco

This study focuses on evaluating the susceptibility to landslides in the Agadir Ida Ou-Tanane province following the significant seismic event on September 8, 2023, employing Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The region, characterized by tectonic activity and diverse lithology’s such as clay, limestone, and alluvium, coupled with steep slopes, is inherently prone to landslides. Utilizing the AHP methodology, we integrate ten factors influencing landslide vulnerability: lithology, slope, earthquakes zone, rainfall, land cover (LULC), distance from faults, hypsometry, drainage, distance from road, and aspect to map susceptible areas effectively. Pairwise comparison matrices and expert assessments were employed to establish the relative significance of these factors, with the reliability of judgments evaluated through the calculation of the consistency ratio (CR). The resulting map depicting landslide susceptibility illustrates a spatial continuum from very low to very high susceptibility areas. Given the active tectonic setting of the region, lithology and slope emerge as the predominant factors influencing susceptibility. Model validation was conducted using observed landslide occurrences, enhancing the applicability of this mapping for land-use planning and risk management purposes.

Localizing the Urban Transect Theory as a Regulating Tool for the Urban Design of Duhok City to Enhance Sustainability

Recently, the urban districts of Duhok City have undergone a rapid expansion, extending into the suburbs and surrounding villages, resulting in significant transformations to their urban form. However, conventional land-use planning fails to address local contextual challenges, including low-quality built environments. Therefore, this study claims that the existing urban-related symptoms of unsustainability in Duhok City can be approached through the theory of Urban Transect. The Urban Transect approach is a novel land use classification structure that focuses on increasing urban-natural environment integrity and enhancing neighborhood characteristics. Derived from environmental studies, this theory has recently gained traction in urban planning and design as an alternative to conventional zoning for multiple purposes. It’s an analytical and regulatory tool that reduces uncontrolled sprawl, improves neighborhood performance, and balances natural and built environments for smart and sustainable development. This research explores how the Urban Transect theory can be adapted and applied to Duhok City's physical characteristics. In addition to proposing a localized Urban Transect Matrix, it demonstrates the potential advantages of incorporating the adapted Urban Transect theory into the planning and design process through an analysis of the city's current urban design practices. It intends to provide urban planners, policymakers, and designers involved in shaping the future of Duhok City with valuable understandings and recommendations that could foster sustainable development, improve the quality of life, and optimize the physical environment.

Landslide mapping using geospatial techniques: A case study of the Bokoya Massif (Central Rif, Morocco)

The terrestrial zone of Al-Hoceima National Park is faced with a multitude of natural and man-made hazards that threaten the stability of the soil and the ecological balance: earthquakes, coastal erosion, floods, fires and landslides. The creation of landslide susceptibility maps is a crucial step in making informed decisions for preventing and mitigating landslide risks. This work focuses on the analysis of landslide potential in the Bokoya massif, located in the central Moroccan Rif, using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP). Our aim is to develop a landslide probability map, which will be an important tool for land-use planning and risk management, helping to identify priority areas for further research.

Applying GIS and Markov chain in establishing the land use change map and forecasting land use changes in Thach That district, Hanoi city

The study applied GIS and Markov chains to assess land use changes in the period 2015-2020 and forecast land use change trends in Thach That district, Hanoi city until 2030. Using two maps of the land use status quo map in 2015 and 2020 of Thach That district and 2 period land statistics, the research result has established a land use change map in Thach That district for the period 2015 - 2020 for 16 types of land with a land change rate of 9.63% of the total natural area. During this period, the land types that tend to increase are Perennial crop land; Special-use Forest land; Aquaculture land; Other agricultural land; Residential land; Special-use land; Land for religious establishments; Land for beliefs establishments and Specialized water surfaces with an increased rate of 0.05-2.28%. In contrast, land types with a decreasing trend are Annual crop land; Production Forest land; Protective Forest land; Cemetery land, cemetery, funeral home, crematorium; Land of rivers, streams, canals and streams; Other non-agricultural land, and Unused land which decreased at a rate of 0.02-2.34%. It is forecast that by 2030, agricultural land will have 10,271.28 hectares (accounting for 54.90%), non-agricultural land will have 8,432.22 hectares (accounting for 45.07%), unused land will have 4.76 hectares (accounting for 0.03%). Performing a T-Test (Paired two sample for Means) between the area from the forecast and the planned area until 2030 shows that ρ = 0.979 > 0.05. Thus, it proves that the results of forecasting land use changes to 2030 using the Markov chain compared to the land use planning plan of Thach That district do not have too big a difference. The results of assessing land use changes and making forecasts of land change trends in the Thach That district contribute to helping policymakers have an objective view of land-use planning and economic development sustainably.

Assessing coastal aquifer vulnerability to seawater intrusion using the "GALDIT" method: Application to the Dradère-Souiere coastal aquifer (Northern Morocco)

In terms of land-use planning, and in an attempt to anticipate and preserve what can be preserved, the prevention of salinization of coastal aquifers is an important step to which researchers are devoting more and more effort, notably by studying their vulnerability to seawater intrusion. GALDIT is a method for "index mapping" the vulnerability of coastal aquifers, dedicated to the risks of seawater intrusion. The present study involves assessing and mapping the vulnerability of the Dradère-Souiere coastal aquifer (Northern Morocco) to seawater intrusion using this method.

Three Decades of Green: A Comprehensive Analysis of India’s Forest Cover Dynamics from 1990 to 2021 Based on World Bank Data

This study basically focuses on an overview of the dynamics of change of forest cover in India using data from the World Bank from 1990 to 2021. This research involves the quantification and analysis of trends in forest cover across different states and classes of forest types, drivers of change, and, finally, assessing the impact of conservation policy. Using World Bank reports, we adopted statistical modeling tools to assess the changes in forest cover, density, and composition. The study integrated other databases on the determinants of socioeconomics, climatic variables, and policy implementations to get an insight into the complex interplay of human activities, environmental conditions, and forest ecosystems. The results bring out a more nuanced picture of changes in forest cover across the country: Presently, some states show significant gains due to successful state policy related to afforestation, capsule restoration programs, and strict protection being followed, while in others, there were persistent pressures of deforestation, linked to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development. Among the various forest types, the denser forests were relatively more resilient to change compared to open and scrub forests, which showed a higher level of vulnerability to anthropogenic and-climate-induced pressures. Policy impact analysis results suggest that while the forest management at community level and the intensity of site-specific conservation interventions yielded effective results, there is also concern regarding qualitative maintenance of forests and biodiversity amidst quantitative increase in forest covers. The value that this research brings is in adding more scope to understanding India’s forest dynamics and in offering, through evidence-based recommendations, policy tools for policymakers. Specific strategies and appropriate management must be a priority in regional needs, perspective monitoring, and integrated land-use planning that can ensure sustainability in forest management and conservation in the face of growing environmental challenges.

Historical institutionalism in action: Incremental prevalence of Transit-Oriented Development in Tokyo 1945-1982

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) increasingly refers to global practices integrating land-use planning, urban development, and transit today, but their historical experiences have received little attention from the discussion, not to mention any theoretical elaboration with institutional thinking. The literature identifies Tokyo as a global exemplar of TOD as a new term for enduring practice. However, why and how Tokyo’s practice uniquely relies on private railway conglomerates remains underexplored. This article elaborates on a historical institutionalist approach using an inductive process tracing technique to understand Tokyo’s postwar history from 1945 to 1982, emphasizing incremental changes induced by endogenous forces. The exploration takes precedent insights into the private railway conglomerate-led TOD practice as an informal institution of “standard operating practice” and refines them with postwar history and supplementary prewar episodes. It finds that contingent policy choices allowed conglomerates to dismantle their geographical and financial constraints from prewar regulations. The actions reinforced their institutional privilege in public affairs as a foundation for subversive railway privatization reforms from 1982 onward. The finding thus identifies a socio-political dimension of TOD shaped by agents across sectors, developing the current methodology in planning studies and contributing to the debates on defining TOD.

Characterization of landuse and landcover dynamics and their impact on runoff generation patterns in dam catchments of Northern Ghana

Landuse alteration is a critical factor that exerts influence over hydrological mechanisms and the oversight of water resources across the globe. Northern Ghana is characterized by erratic rainfall, leading to the intense construction of small dams and dugouts. This study investigated historical landuse/cover (LULC) changes and physical factors associated with surface runoff generation within eight (8) sub-catchments namely; Guno, Gbahali, Sambu, Duago, Denugo, Kwisini, Sandu, and Nyeko, with areas of 29.5, 110, 38.5, 106.04, 67.81, 2.59, 10.56 and 120.65 km2, respectively, located in four (4) regions of northern Ghana. For LULC change detection, historical satellite imagery and geospatial data were used with the aid of remote sensing and applying supervised maximum likelihood classification to Landsat images of 1995, 2005, 2015, and 2023. Runoff factors and depths were identified based on LULC classes, hydrologic soil groups, and precipitation conditions prevailing in the areas, based on the curve number (CN) method. With regards to LULC, the results from the overall analysis gave an insight into the rampant conversion, where grassland/mix vegetation witnessed significant declines, with decreases ranging from 150 to 395.25% in different catchments. Agricultural and arable lands emerged as the dominant landuse category, indicating a remarkable expansion of 11.61–51.17 km2, from 1995 to 2023 respectively, followed by built-up areas. While grassland decreased in all catchments over the same period, in some places, open tree (savannah woodland) increased, which confirmed the implementation of the afforestation policy. The CN values offered essential insights into the hydrological characteristics of each catchment. In addition to the impact of LULC and watershed characteristics on runoff, the observed variations in runoff patterns can be attributed to interannual variability in total annual precipitation which is critical driver of runoff. The findings hold significant importance for developing effective strategies and integrated watershed management policies to contribute to better water resource management and inform sustainable landuse planning in the face of changing environmental conditions.

2017–2020年广东南岭典型植被类型木本植物物种组成数据集

Plant species composition is a vital indicator for studying the structure and functioning of forest ecosystems. It constitutes an important component of the China Ecosystem Research Network (CERN) and the long-term monitoring of terrestrial ecosystem biological elements. It can be utilized to assess and monitor biodiversity levels, environmental changes, and ecosystem responses. It holds utmost significance for natural resource management and land-use planning, providing crucial foundations for scientific research, policy-making, and ecological conservation. Nanling, as a significant ecological barrier in China, harbors the largest area of forests at the same latitude. It encompasses various vegetation types, including subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, subtropical mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, and subtropical dwarf evergreen broad-leaved forests. Following the monitoring specifications for terrestrial ecosystem biological elements, this paper presents the original data of all woody plant individuals with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 1 cm, including their species names, DBH, height, and other relevant information. These data were obtained through two consecutive census surveys conducted by the Guangdong Nanling Forest Ecosystem National Field Scientific Observation Research Station from 2017 to 2020. After meticulous data organization, quality control, and evaluation, the dataset provides detailed information on typical forest communities in Nanling, including plot numbers, vegetation types, species names, Latin names, abundance, relative abundance, relative dominance, relative frequency, importance value, and year of survey. This dataset serves as local data for in-depth investigation into biodiversity, community structure, and functions of forest communities in Nanling. Moreover, it aims to provide fundamental support for forest management, environmental protection, natural resource management, and sustainable development in the region.

Comprehensive Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Shifts from A Redd Perspective: A Case Study of Banepa Municipality, Nepal

This paper examines the dynamic changes in land use and cover in Banepa Municipality over three decades, from 1991 to 2021, using the remote sensing method within the REDD perspective. It uncovers an 11% surge in built-up areas and a 5% decline in forest cover, with minimal agricultural fluctuations (1%) and a substantial 7% decrease in barren land. Urgent concerns about ecological balance prompt a call for immediate REDD implementation.
 To address these issues, the study advocates for employing monitoring methods, including remote sensing, to evaluate forest and land resources. This data can inform comprehensive studies on the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, alongside feasibility and sectorial analyses, including cost-benefit assessments for effective land-use planning. The conclusion stresses the imperative need for planned urban development in Banepa to preserve open spaces, forests, and agriculture. This study provides vital insights into the intricate relationship between land-use changes and climate impact, emphasizing the urgency of sustainable development actions.

Drone agrotechnology’s for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) pest and diseases management in Western of Burkina Faso

Drone technologies, also known as "unmanned aerial vehicles" (UAVs) or "unmanned aerial systems" (UAS), have a wide range of applications, including mapping, land-use planning, crop/infrastructure damage assessment, fertilizer spraying and precision crop protection. However, its use is still very limited in the agricultural sector in Africa in general and in Burkina Faso in particular. This study was initiated to explore the potential of UAVs for optimizing cotton yields through monitoring and phytosanitary efficiency. To this end, phytosanitary treatments and monitoring of vegetation status using multispectral drone imagery were carried out on cotton. The experimental sample consisted of four (04) cotton fields in four (04) locations. Phytosanitary treatments and aerial photography were respectively carried out using a DJI AGRAS T16 spray drone and a DJI Phantom 4 Multispectral drone. Phytosanitary treatment with DJI AGRAS T16 drone resulted in savings of 32.41% in treatment duration, 23.58% in water, 1% in pesticides and 10.5% in labor compared with manual spraying, but did not have a positive impact on boll yields due to jassid populations attack. The RGB and NDVI vegetation indices generated by photogrammetric processing of multispectral images acquired by drone enabled us to perceive phytosanitary state of cotton plants during their development cycle. Information provided by these vegetation indices and by this study in general can be used to improve the efficiency of phytosanitary treatments against cotton pests and diseases.

Spillover Effect of Surface Mining on Cocoa Farming in The Wassa Amenfi East and West Districts, Ghana.

Purpose: Based on the resource curse paradox, we argued that farmers are crowded out due to their lower marginal propensity to bargain, making them vulnerable to livelihood shocks. Consequently, we examined the spillover effect of surface mining on cocoa farmers in the Wassa Amenfi East and West districts. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using a mixed research design, a total sample of 758 farmers were proportionately sampled from 14 purposively selected communities from Wassa Amenfi East and West districts. In addition, community extension agents, chief farmers and opinion leaders were formed into a focus group for discussion. The quantitative data were presented using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon Sign Ranked test and triangulated with emergent issues from the focus group discussions. Research Implications/Limitations: The study largely focused on cocoa farmers who were affected by surface mining. As a result, the findings of this study were interpreted within that scope unless they are confirmed by studies that involve a cross-section of cocoa farmers. Findings: We found that the livelihoods of cocoa farmers have deteriorated due to significant reductions in cocoa farm sizes and yields attributed to surface mining activities in the districts. Generally, cocoa farmers willingly gave out farmlands to miners to receive a bulk sum of money. The processes involved in the computation and payment of compensation were not in line with protocols enshrined in the Minerals and Mining Act 703 of Ghana and the tenets of the entitlement theory of justice. Practical Implications: Sustainable land-use planning is a crucial element in mitigating the negative impacts and fostering resilient cocoa-farming communities in the affected districts. Based on this the study highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses environmental and economic challenges. Social Implications: The social implication of the study lies in the ability of cocoa farmer groups to advise their members against giving out their cocoa farms to surface miners and to make them aware that cocoa trees are heritage cash crops that are for use by current and future generations. Originality/Value: The paper contributes to the debate on the weakness of mining laws in protecting vulnerable groups with a focus on surface mining that crowds out farmers from the land market and dislocates them from their livelihood activities.

Consideration of risks to people and the environment related to accidents on natural gas transmission pipelines in LUP and SEA processes in Poland

ABSTRACT This study concerned the integration of gas pipeline safety issue into the LUP (Land Use Planning) and SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) processes in Poland. It focused on the early stage of natural gas transmission pipeline localisation, i.e. the preparation of land use development plans (the plans) and accompanying SEA documents. It aimed to analyse a set of selected plans and SEA documents taking into account risks to people and the environment resulting from accidents on gas pipelines. The results of the analysis showed that although the Polish legislation defining the content of these documents does not explicitly refer to these risks, they are included, but to a limited extent, in the documents examined. It is proposed to modify the EU and Polish legislation for the control of major accident hazards on gas pipelines. In particular, in addition to the generic-distances approach currently used in Poland for maintaining the separation distances between the gas pipeline and other buildings it is suggested to introduce a risk-based approach to support LUP decisions near gas pipelines in Poland.

Landslide Susceptibility Assessment in Nepal’s Chure Region: A Geospatial Analysis

The Chure Hills, already vulnerable due to their fragile nature, face increased landslide risk, prompting the need for reliable susceptibility assessment. This study uses Poisson regression modeling to assess landslide susceptibility in two highly susceptible districts of the Chure region. Variance inflation factor (VIF) tests were conducted to ensure robustness, indicating no multicollinearity among the variables. Subsequently, Poisson regression analysis identified eight significant variables, among which geology, lineament density, elevation, relief, slope, rainfall, solar radiance, and land cover types emerged as important factors associated with landslide count. The analysis revealed that higher lineament density and slope were associated with lower landslide counts, indicating potential stabilizing geological and topographical influences. The categorical variable, namely geology, revealed that middle Siwalik, upper Siwalik, and quaternary geological formations were associated with lower landslide counts than lower Siwalik. Land cover types, including areas under forest, shrubland, grassland, agricultural land, water bodies, and bare ground, had a substantial significant positive association with landslide count. The generated susceptibility map that exhibited a substantial portion (23.32% in Dang and 5.22% in Surkhet) of the study area fell within the very-high-susceptibility categories, indicating pronounced landslide susceptibility in the Dang and Surkhet districts of the Chure hills. This study offers valuable insights into landslide vulnerability in the Chure region, serving as a foundation for informed decision-making, disaster risk reduction strategies, and sustainable land-use and developmental policy planning.

Evaluation of Ensemble Machine Learning for Geospatial Prediction of Soil Iron in Croatia

Soil fertility is pivotal for agricultural productivity, and iron (Fe) is a critical micro- nutrient essential for a successful crop development. This study investigates a potential of ensemble machine-learning methods in geospatial prediction of soil Fe in Croatia. Using a dataset of 686 soil samples, three individual machine-learning methods, including the extreme gradient boosting (XGB), support vector machine (SVM), and Cubist, as well as their ensemble, were evaluated for the soil Fe predi- ction. The ensemble method outperformed the individual models, exhibiting a higher prediction accuracy expressed by the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.578), with a lower root-mean-square error (RMSE = 0.837) and the mean absolute error (MAE = 0.550). The soil clay content emerged as the most influential predictor, followed by the sand content, pH values, and select bioclimatic variables. This study’s results demonstrate the effectiveness of ensemble machine learning in an accurate predicti- on of soil Fe content and contribute to an informed decision-making in sustainable agricultural land-use planning and management. By including the complementary machine-learning methods into an ensemble with the representative environmental covariates, a geospatial prediction aids to a reliable comprehension of soil proper- ties and their spatial variability.

Impact of Land Use Changes on Ecosystem Services Supply: A Meta Analysis of the Italian Context

Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) are caused by several factors, including climate change, socio-demographic dynamics, human pressures and urban sprawl. These factors alter the structure and functionality of ecosystems and their capacity to provide ecosystem goods and services to society. The study of LULC changes is important for understanding the dynamics of relationships between environmental, social and economic components and for analyzing the factors affecting natural capital. Including ecosystem services (ES) in spatial planning tools and sectoral policies is useful for improving governance. In this paper, the impact of LULC changes on ES provision has been estimated. To this end, we carried out a literature review (Step 1) to select the biophysical and economic coefficients of ES supply by land cover classes and collect them in a database (Step 2). We subsequently aggregated the economic and biophysical coefficients by macro classes (Step 3) and, using the benefit transfer approach, we estimated the change in the supply of ESs concerning permanence and transition phenomena in Italy from 1990 to 2018 (Step 4). The transition phenomena analysis also allowed us to evaluate the consequences of urbanization and urban green space governance on ES supply. Indeed, these urban green spaces can help reduce risks to people’s health and safety and mitigate the effects induced by climate change. In total, approximately 800 coefficients (biophysical and economic) of ESs supplied by Corine Land Cover classes were acquired. The results show a reduction in the annual supply of ecosystem services of EUR 927 million (2022) caused by LULC changes between 1990 and 2018. This research proposes a methodology to improve knowledge of ESs concerning anthropogenic impacts and to support land-use planning policies regarding Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals.

Competitive insertion of the citrus-lemon chain in global value chains in Colombia

This research delves into the identification of opportunities for the consolidation of the lemon value chain in the department of Tolima, Colombia, through the associativity model called: Special Administrative Planning Region. This model is a land-use planning system, officially recognized in Article 325 of the Political Constitution of Colombia and in Law 114 of 2011, which functions as a planning tool at the regional level. Its main objective is to integrate a given region with other territorial entities at the departmental level. The study is framed within exploratory research that employs qualitative and quantitative methodologies for its development, in addition to using data collection instruments, in order to identify the main elements that define the possibilities of establishing a profitable and sustainable value chain in the citrus-lime sector in Tolima. The results show that the potential for competitive insertion of lemon in global value chains reaches potential international markets such as Russia, Germany, France, Poland, Canada and Saudi Arabia, and the support of different government institutions. However, it is necessary to overcome major threats and weaknesses that currently hinder this insertion.