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This study takes the Zhouyuan site region, which is the most representative Western Zhou Dynasty (1046 BC-771BC) large city-site in China, as an example. Based on the interpretation results of satellite remote sensing images from 1973 to 2021, the paper systematically analyzed the evolution of landscape patterns in the Zhouyuan site region spanning for about 50 years using 4 methods, including land use classification, land use transfer matrix, landscape pattern distribution gravity center model and landscape pattern index. Additionally, the results show that nowadays Zhouyuan site is still in a period of accelerated invasion and destruction by natural and human factors, which indicates that the protection of the Zhouyuan site has been inadequate or even unsuccessful for a long time. For the purpose of making more accurate and better protection of the Zhouyuan site, four challenges and six protection recommendations have been put forward. Based on remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS), this paper contributed a method combining 4 models to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of landscape pattern of ancient large city-sites, in order to provide more basis for the formulation of cultural relic protection strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on remote sensing data and investigations, this paper focuses mainly on a general evaluation of environmental quality in the middle-upper areas of the Yellow River region using GIS technology, Arc/Info, and ArcView. In this paper, the upper areas of the Yellow River regions are divided into three parts: the north-east Qinghai-Tibet Plateau ecosystem areas, the Erdos Plateau-Hetao Plain ecosystem areas, and the Loess-Plateau ecosystem areas. The study analyses the current environmental situation and the overall environmental quality in each ecosystem area and determines the law of distribution of environmental quality in the three areas. Finally, the paper provides some suggestions to improve the ecological environment in each area, in the hope of yielding a scientific foundation based on planning ecological environment protection in the Yellow River basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new round of the Grain for Green Project (GGP) has unified the subsidy standards for economic and ecological forests. However, due to the difference between the afforestation density effect and management effect, the project's ecological effect is different. Uniform payment standards may decouple afforestation investment from its ecological benefits, consequently affecting the cost-effectiveness of investment. This study combines a geographic information system and remote sensing technology to explore the optimal forest types investment structure of the GGP from the cost-effectiveness perspective. We used dynamic panel models to estimate the number of lag periods for species investment and an individual fixed-effects model to estimate the optimal structure of species investment. The conclusions are as follows: The lag period of the effect of ecological forest investment on the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is shorter than that of economic forest investment. When the proportion of ecological forest investment is 53%−62%, the unit investment in afforestation leads to the largest NDVI. This study promotes the process of vegetation restoration effects from phenomenological analysis to mechanism analysis and incorporates forest types characteristics and natural meteorological factors into the afforestation investment efficiency evaluation system, providing a theoretical basis for GGP optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, rapid landscape pattern change has taken place in many arid and semi-arid regions of China, such as the Yellow River Basin. In this paper, landscape evolution was investigated by the combined use of satellite remote sensing, geographic information system (GIS) and landscape modelling technologies. The aim was to improve our understanding of landscape changes so that sustainable land use could be established. First, the changes in various landscape metrics were analysed using the landscape structure analysis programme. Second, the mathematical methodology was explored and developed for landscape pattern change, which included: the status and trends change model for individual landscape types, the 1-km2 area percentage data model and the transition matrix of landscape types. The results show that the area of the Yellow River Basin was about 794 000 km2 during the period from 1990 to 2000; cropland, built-up land and unused land expanded significantly whereas woodland, grassland and water bodies contracted substantially. The area of cropland increased dramatically by 2817 km2, and the areas of grassland and woodland decreased by 4669 and 33 km2, respectively. Meanwhile, the landscape pattern in the study area also experienced numerous changes over the past decade. The major factors that caused the landscape changes in this area over the past decade were found to be governmental policies for environmental protection, population growth, and meteorological and environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecological environment in the Tarim River Basin is extremely fragile. The ecological problems resulting from local economic development in this region have been a hot topic for the ecological scientists. There is a new trend to use information technologies to monitor the ecological environment dynamically by means of the modem information technologies. To meet the constant requirements of long-term monitoring of a region ecological environment, this paper focuses on the vegetation coverage and land desertification on the basis of the information technologies of remote sensing (RS), geographic positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), and data warehouse, applying the theory of the integrative spatial and attribute data, seamless integration of multi-source data. The ecological environment for the lower reaches of the Tarim River is analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. The investigated database is established and managed through multisource and multi-type massive data, which are collected from three periods of the remote sensing images and background data in 1999, 2002 and 2004, respectively. The methods of system classification, remote sensing interpretation, vegetation coverage, conversion models construction, and massive data built database are applied to analyse the data concerned during the dynamically monitoring the ecological environment in the Tarim River Basin. The results show that the vegetation coverage has increased gradually each year after the emergent water transportation project was started, whereas the desertification area has decreased, some sand areas have obviously retreated. The speed of improvement in the east part of the river has been higher than in the west. The ecological environment in the lower reaches of the Tarim River has tended to improve after the emergent water transportation project in the lower reaches of the Tarim River Basin. In conclusion, the emergent water delivery plays a decisive and significant role in promoting the ecological environment in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zhujiang Delta of South China has experienced a rapid urban expansion over the past two decades due to accelerated economic growth. This paper reports an investigation into the application of the integration of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for detecting urban growth and assessing its impact on surface temperature in the region. Remote sensing techniques were used to carry out land use/cover change detection by using multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper data. Urban growth patterns were analysed by using a GIS-based modelling approach. The integration of remote sensing and GIS was further applied to examine the impact of urban growth on surface temperatures. The results revealed a notable and uneven urban growth in the study area. This urban development had raised surface radiant temperature by 13.01 K in the urbanized area. The integration of remote sensing and GIS was found to be effective in monitoring and analysing urban growth patterns, and in evaluating urbanization impact on surface temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed information pertaining to soil erosion is required to ensure eco-environment protection and economic development for Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and remote sensing and geographical information system technologies are adopted to obtain an accurate distribution of soil erosion. An improved estimation method for wind erosion is developed, which proves to be effective with an overall precision of 87.24%. The proposed model uses six critical factors: number of snow cover days, soil erodibility, aridity index, vegetation fraction, soil crust index, and wind field intensity. Results show that soil wind erosion is widely distributed throughout the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The average erosion intensity is 0.50, which is determined to be a moderate erosion level. The wind erosion intensity increases from a slight level in the western part to a severe level in the mid-eastern part. The mean intensity of soil wind erosion for varying land use types is ranked in descending magnitude of barren or sparse vegetation, open shrubland, grassland, cropland, evergreen coniferous forest, and mixed forest. There are large differences in soil wind erosion intensities among soil types; grassland has severe wind erosion and Luvic Arenosols has the lowest erosion intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Based on remote sensing and Geographic Information System techniques, multi-temporal Landsat data were used to monitor land use/cover changes (LUCC) in the Nanchang area during 1989–2010. Quantitative and spatiotemporal indicators derived from the transition matrix for overall changes, intensity analysis for inter-category transitions, and spatiotemporal analysis of intra-category variations were constructed to analyze the spatiotemporal LUCC evolution. The study results show that urban and industrial land rapidly and continually expanded. The spatial extent of rural settlements shrunk while their distribution density increased. Cultivated land showed a tendency of spatially continuous loss and fragmented distribution, whereas the spatial pattern of forest tended to concentrate. The extents of ponds and reservoirs remained stable, but spatial changes were obvious. Rivers and bottomlands decreased significantly and tended toward fragmentation. The overall LUCC pattern showed that construction land rapidly sprawled while cultivated land decreased substantially, indicating an accelerating stage of urbanization and industrialization. Although rigid land requirements for urbanization had to be satisfied, land development and consolidation across forests and water body areas, as well as adjustment of agricultural structure, laid the foundation for a transition toward intensive land use in the Nanchang area. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study presents a method to accurately model soil salinity using statistical tools. The method integrates field data, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and spatial modeling. Kriging analysis for topsoil salinity distribution in the study area indicates that soil salinity has a strong degree of autocorrelation (C0/(C0+C)=15.93) and low variability (CV=5.5%). The coefficient of determination (R2) for the predicted soil salinity is 0.867. The predicted salinity of the topsoil is higher than that in the deep soil, although both salinity distributions show a similar trend. This study provides timely understanding of soil reclamation efforts and local water management practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In a study on water-eroded desertification in Yunnan Province, we used remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) to determine the areas of water-eroded desertified land objectively, to analyze the spatial distribution and causes of desertification in association with the geologic background, and to propose the appropriate measures for prevention and control. We found that the area of water-eroded desertification in 2008 was 35,949.69 km2, accounting for 9.39% of the total land area in Yunnan. The main reason of desertification is the combined impact of the development of geologic structures and specific lithology. Human factors exacerbate and sometimes induce the desertification. We recommend that the desertification prevention and control should focus on the desertification-prone areas, including the neighboring regions of active faults such as the Jinsha River–Hong River fault, Yuanmou–Luzhi River fault, Fuyuan–Mile fault, Wenshan–Malipo fault, Nanpan River fault, Xiao River fault, and Qujing–Zhaotong fault; the sedimentary and Quaternary regions covered by mudstone, clay stone, and carbonate rocks; and the neotectonic regions such as the fold-style uplift region in east Yunnan, the secondary uplift region in southeast Yunnan, and the large block-style uplift region in central Yunnan. The population pressure should be reduced and industrial activities such as construction and mining should be more strictly regulated to prevent human activities from exacerbating water-eroded desertification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientifically sound planning of green-space networks is essential for improving the quality of the urban environment. This article introduces an investigation on design of a green-space network for Lijiang City, a world natural and cultural heritage site undergoing rapid urbanisation. Land-use changes were examined using China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite-02B (CBERS-02B) imagery. We divided the urban green-space network into five major components: a linear strip, a corridor and three separate series of green-space clusters. We suggest that the future development of a green-space network in Lijiang City should include an appropriate mixture of the five green-space components. While the current emphasis on green-space layout relies on individual components of the green space, the future layout should be more focused on green spaces along streets and rivers, and should utilise a greater variety of shapes, including dots, linear strips and irregular shapes. The final green-space network should form an urban garden and green-space network that combines multipurpose vegetated areas having different structures. This green-space network will be an integral part of the sustainable urban development of Lijiang City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast expanse of the Gobi desert across the Mongolian plateau experiences frequent dust storms. In this isolated region remote sensing techniques can provide an effective measurement of dust storms. Brightness temperature channels 4, 5 of AVHRR/NOAA satellite data, emissive bands of MODIS/TERRA satellite data and meteorological station measurement data were used and tested for dust and sandstorm mapping in the desert area of Mongolia and northern China. The differences between thermal bands in combination with geographic information system (GIS) layers were used for mapping in this study. The results show that dust and sand storm maps can be achieved from emissive bands for monitoring of dust and sandstorms. Most active dust storm sources can occur in truly remote areas where there is little or no human activity, although many sources are associated with areas where human impacts are well documented. Thus, on a regional scale dust mobilisation appears to be dominated by natural sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-salinisation has become an increasingly severe form of soil degradation due to climate variability and human disturbance in arid and semiarid areas. A cellular automata (CA) model was used by integrating a geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing. Spatial and attribute data from Changling County were analysed to form a database in the GIS. Factors for soil-salinisation were confirmed. A soil salinity forecast formula was obtained by analysing the soil-salinisation system in Changling County. The CA model and database were integrated to simulate and forecast the soilsalinisation spatial-temporal distribution and its evolution. The results indicate the CA model is an effective decision-making support system for the prevention and control of soil-salinisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To make a dynamic analysis of ecological capacity and a quantitative analysis of ecological compensation, to promote the sustainable development in a nature reserve, and to make Po-yang Lake Nature Reserve as an example, the authors obtained information on land-use change in the years 1985, 1995, 2005 in Po-yang Lake Nature Reserve based on RS and GIS. Ecological capacity was quantified and its development change, spatial characteristics, and the sustainable development status of the nature reserve with ecological deficits and surpluses were analysed. Results show that land use had been stable since the Po-yang Lake Nature Reserve came into existence. The change compared grassland (increased 15.22%), water body (increased 7.05%) and unused land (decreased 18.19%). The ecological capacity improved from 1985 to 2005 (the per capita ecological capacity from 0.8284 ha to 1.0534 ha). Among nine villages and towns in the reserve, the ecological surplus villages and towns were Wucheng, Tiehe and Changyi, the ecological balance villages and towns deficit were Sanjiao and Shahu. The remainder were in ecological deficit. In all of the nature reserve, the ecological capacity in the southeastern area was in surplus but that in the north-west was in deficit. The degree of ecological harmony was 1.414, which proves that the sustainable development state in Po-yang Lake Nature Reserve was under sustainable status. In 2005, the ecological footprint efficiency was 8382 yuan/ha, and the agricultural ecological footprint efficiency was 3204 yuan/ha. The lowest ecological compensation was 1725 yuan per family or 403 yuan per person, and the equal ecological compensation was 3798 yuan per family or 888 yuan per person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial interaction and connectivity are important factors in the spread of infectious diseases. We developed a spatial-temporal model of schistosomiasis japonica transmission, a disease caused by parasites that are transported via surface water and that live in both snail and human hosts. The model employed a spatial interaction matrix based on neighborhood relationships and hydrologic connectivity to assess the effect of intervillage parasitic transport on disease transmission and control. Satellite remote-sensing data served as input to the model for predicting snail density within each village, and for deriving a digital elevation model that was used to quantify hydrologic connectivity. Simulations of the model with varying levels of connectivity and in the presence and absence of chemotherapy control were run for 227 villages near Xichang City, in southwest Sichuan province, China. Increasing connectivity resulted in a geographic clustering of parasites within particular villages that produced higher levels of worm burden than in low and no connectivity simulations. Worm burden within a village could either increase or decrease with connectivity, depending on the degree to which parasites were imported and exported. Simulations of mass chemotherapy in select villages can result in a beneficial reduction in worm burden that extends to downstream neighbors. These findings suggest that better understanding of intervillage connectedness can be exploited in the design of cost-effective control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which demonstrates the application of the integration of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the management of urban growth in in the Pearl River Delta in China. Utilization of GIS; Purpose of remote sensing techniques; Discussion of the concept of sustainable development.