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Landslides often cause deaths and severe economic losses. In general, forests play an important role in reducing landslide probability because of the stabilizing effect of the tree roots. Although fruit groves consist of trees, which are similar to forests, practical land management, such as the frequent trampling of fields by laborers and compression of the terrain, may cause such land to become prone to landslides compared with forests. Fruit groves are widely distributed in hilly regions, but few studies have examined their role in landslide initiation. This study aims at filling this gap evaluating the predisposing and triggering conditions for rainfall-triggering landslides in part of Uwajima City, Japan. A large number of landslides occurred due to a heavy rainfall event in July 2018, where citrus groves occupied about 50% of the study area. In this study, we combined geodata with a regression model to assess the landslide hazard of fruit groves in hilly regions. We developed maps for five conditioning factors: slope gradient, slope aspect, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land use, and geology. Based on these five maps and a landslide inventory map, we found that the landslide area density in citrus groves was larger than in forests for the categories of slope gradient, slope aspect, NDVI, and geology. Ten logistic regression models along with different rainfall indices (i.e., 1-h, 3-h, 12-h, 24-h maximum rainfall and total rainfall) and different land use (forests or citrus groves) in addition to the other four conditioning factors were produced. The result revealed that "citrus grove" was a significant factor with a positive coefficient for all models, whereas "forest" was a negative coefficient. These results suggest that citrus groves have a higher probability of landslide initiation than forests in this study area. Similar studies targeting different sites with various types of fruit groves and several rainfall events are crucial to generalize the analysis of landslide hazard in fruit groves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upstream Fujiang River are famous for their high mountains and narrow canyons, which results in a conflict of interest between local residents and land use. To make good use of precious land resources is a meaningful work for local people and government. Therefore, field surveys and theoretical analysis were carried out in the upstream Fujiang River to explore the land-use evaluation and utilization advice. Firstly, we analyzed the factors which affect the land use of debris flow depositional area. Secondly, we chose the factors of soil fertility quality, soil particle conservation, and the geological engineering condition to set up the land-use evaluation method. Thirdly, through index classification, we give the planting type, land-use type, construction type respectively, according to grading and assignment value for each factor, we built the debris flow disaster-prone land utilization mode R by using an analytical hierarchy process method. Lastly, taking Huangjiaba village as an example, based on the debris flow disaster land-use evaluation method and debris flow hazard evaluation, we identified four land-use scenarios. The results show that the value of the four scenarios is between 1.00 and 4.00, the four scenarios utilization advices are given based on each R-value and Huangjiaba natural condition. It also obtained that the developmental tendencies of the debris flow disaster areas appear to deposit recently, the frequency of debris-flow activity is evolving from high to stable, on making good use of debris flow deposit fan’s usage is necessary to explore the disaster prone land and avoid disaster loss. Further studies need to systematically consider more factors to evaluate debris flow and disaster-prone land utilization, which can provide a reference for the rural space planning and revitalization for the local government.

Land resources are not only the spatial carriers of social and economic development, but also the carriers of environmental and ecological services. With the accelerated urbanization, the non-coordinated development of land resources and environmental protection will restrict economic growth and the benefits of land use changes. Moreover, the economic efficiency and environmental efficiency of land use largely depend on the value judgment of the decision makers on the future human environment. Therefore, it is extremely important to achieve a win–win outcome of land development and ecological protection. In this research, a new analysis framework for land use efficiency was proposed from the perspective of decision makers' different benefit preferences. This framework uses the unexpected output of environmental pollution as a bridge to build a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to evaluate the economic efficiency, environmental efficiency and overall efficiency of land development, and weight parameters were constructed to express decision-makers' preferences. The model not only considers the objectivity of the scores of land use efficiency, but also guarantees the subjectivity of decision-makers in land use management. This is also the biggest difference between previous studies in this study. The specific conclusions are: (I) as decision makers tend to focus on economic benefits, economic efficiency first rises and then declines. It can be seen that ignoring the problem of environmental pollution will reduce economic efficiency. (II) Generally speaking, the efficiency of compact land development (0.883) in various counties and cities in Taiwan is greater than the efficiency of expanded land development (0.737). This research can provide guidance on the distribution of land resources and the development of land space on a macro-regional scale.

Landslides often cause deaths and severe economic losses. In general, forests play an important role in reducing landslide probability because of the stabilizing effect of the tree roots. Although fruit groves consist of trees, which are similar to forests, practical land management, such as the frequent trampling of fields by laborers and compression of the terrain, may cause such land to become prone to landslides compared with forests. Fruit groves are widely distributed in hilly regions, but few studies have examined their role in landslide initiation. This study aims at filling this gap evaluating the predisposing and triggering conditions for rainfall-triggering landslides in part of Uwajima City, Japan. A large number of landslides occurred due to a heavy rainfall event in July 2018, where citrus groves occupied about 50% of the study area. In this study, we combined geodata with a regression model to assess the landslide hazard of fruit groves in hilly regions. We developed maps for five conditioning factors: slope gradient, slope aspect, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), land use, and geology. Based on these five maps and a landslide inventory map, we found that the landslide area density in citrus groves was larger than in forests for the categories of slope gradient, slope aspect, NDVI, and geology. Ten logistic regression models along with different rainfall indices (i.e., 1-h, 3-h, 12-h, 24-h maximum rainfall and total rainfall) and different land use (forests or citrus groves) in addition to the other four conditioning factors were produced. The result revealed that “citrus grove” was a significant factor with a positive coefficient for all models, whereas “forest” was a negative coefficient. These results suggest that citrus groves have a higher probability of landslide initiation than forests in this study area. Similar studies targeting different sites with various types of fruit groves and several rainfall events are crucial to generalize the analysis of landslide hazard in fruit groves.

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Abstract. This research purposed to analyze the carring capacity of urban area in Lewoleba – Lembata – NTT, by assessment the land capability at sub-class level, evaluating actual land use with land capability class, analyzing actual land potential to produce food for the people’s need and counting the potential of water and the need of water to urban society and farming. The land capability assessment was conducted by superimpose land physical sensitive criteria as soil depth, slope, erosion, flood potential and surface rock. Evaluation of actual land suitability was conducted through comparison of land capability class with actual land use. Land potential analysis to fulfill food needs to society is calculated use conversion model of all kinds food production in this area to rice production, and compared it with people’s needs of food equal to one ton of rice per person per year. The analysis of land water is conducted through water balance measurement method. The result of this research show that the land capability of Lewoleba dominated by high land capability class. Actual land use is aligned to it’s capability. Land need to food surpass urban land potential. The water balance of Lewoleba show deficit becouse evapotranspiration is more than accumulative precipitation in a year, thats way naturally unable to suficient the water needs independently.

Urban Land use planning activities investigate how a land is allocated to a specific function. Over the past few decades, development of the Mixed Land Use (MLU) application has become an essential planning model in developed countries and has considered as a key component in Smart Growth and New Urbanism. MLU works perfect only when done under a carefully planned program. Geographic Information System due to its great analysis of spatial issues can help us have a better understanding of this new concept. In this study, a conceptual framework for analysis of urban MLU on the basis of the spatial indicators and analysis is introduced. Criteria of the interest are: Accessibility, Intensity, Land per Capita, Clustering and diversity. According to the conceptual model, the mentioned criteria are applied for evaluating MLU levels in horizontal dimension in the 7th regional municipality of Tehran city. Results, obtained from aggregation of various criteria, demonstrate that the model can detect effects of MLU as well as specify limits and capabilities of every district in relation to the mentioned criteria. According to the results, Shahid Ghandi, Andisheh, Kaj and Niloufar’s neighborhoods as well as 3th 4th districts are in the better conditions based on the urban MLU indicators.

[Display omitted] • A framework for evaluating land use efficiency was built from the perspective of decision-makers' preferences. • As the unexpected output increases, the overall efficiency decreases. • It is necessary to abandon the previous view of "development first" in order to improve overall efficiency. • The efficiency of compact land development is higher than that of the type of expansion. • A two-stage DEA model was constructed to evaluate the efficiency of land use systems. Land resources are not only the spatial carriers of social and economic development, but also the carriers of environmental and ecological services. With the accelerated urbanization, the non-coordinated development of land resources and environmental protection will restrict economic growth and the benefits of land use changes. Moreover, the economic efficiency and environmental efficiency of land use largely depend on the value judgment of the decision makers on the future human environment. Therefore, it is extremely important to achieve a win–win outcome of land development and ecological protection. In this research, a new analysis framework for land use efficiency was proposed from the perspective of decision makers' different benefit preferences. This framework uses the unexpected output of environmental pollution as a bridge to build a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model to evaluate the economic efficiency, environmental efficiency and overall efficiency of land development, and weight parameters were constructed to express decision-makers' preferences. The model not only considers the objectivity of the scores of land use efficiency, but also guarantees the subjectivity of decision-makers in land use management. This is also the biggest difference between previous studies in this study. The specific conclusions are: (I) as decision makers tend to focus on economic benefits, economic efficiency first rises and then declines. It can be seen that ignoring the problem of environmental pollution will reduce economic efficiency. (II) Generally speaking, the efficiency of compact land development (0.883) in various counties and cities in Taiwan is greater than the efficiency of expanded land development (0.737). This research can provide guidance on the distribution of land resources and the development of land space on a macro-regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive agricultural production leads to degradation of the environment and consequently to decrease of quality of agricultural products. Therefore, there is a need to develop a universal environmental index, which could give information about the 'environmental quality' of agricultural products. From the physical point of view environmental degradation can be linked with the concept of entropy and therefore the main goal of the project is: to develop a new method, based on thermodynamics theory of ecosystems, for evaluation of the environmental degradation caused by the intensification of agriculture and to support and ensure ecological and sustainable public policies for agricultural land use. In this project the Pimental theory of eco-energetic analysis of ecosystems will be used. For the analysis and balance of entropy of agricultural ecosystems in relation to the referenced (natural) ecosystem, the concept of 'entropy pump' will be used. The overproduction of entropy (not balanced by the 'entropy pump' and caused by additional anthropogenic energy added into the ecosystem) causes the environmental changes (mainly soil degradation). Thus, the entropy can be used as a parameter to develop an index of both environmental degradation or environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Loess Plateau has been suffering from serious soil erosion for a long time, which originated in a population growth about 2000 years ago. After then, the rapid increase in human activity has led to more areas became used for grain production. Original vegetation has been destroyed and soil erosion has become more and more serious. Most research works indicate that the soil erosion on the Loess Plateau is mainly induced by irrational land use structure and low vegetation coverage. Controlling soil erosion is a significant factor in making a sustainable land use planning for the Loess Plateau. In this study, a procedure towards such a planning is presented, based on results from a research project in a small catchment on the Loess Plateau. A land suitability evaluation for rain-fed agriculture based on biophysical parameters, and a comparison between land suitability and current land use, were first carried out. Some potential land use scenarios, based on surveys on biophysical and socio-economic parameters in the catchment, and plans by the authorities, were proposed for further evaluation of their effects on soil erosion, economic feasibility and social acceptance. The scenarios were tested by (i) simulation modeling, to show the differences in erosion, and (ii) from studies on the influence of the scenarios on farmers'' economy and their response. The results indicated that the following land use scenario was acceptable: all land with deep soil and slopes smaller than 15° is used for agriculture cropland, possibly combined with biological conservation measures, such as mulching combined with improved fallow, and all land with steeper slopes than 15° is used for other purposes (orchards and other cash trees, woodland, shrubland, grassland). A great reduction of on-farm income, however, would be induced on the short term by such a scenario. Local farmers will find it difficult to accept it unless financial support from external sources is available. On the long term, the scenario will be promising for both economic income improvement and soil erosion control since some production will be obtained from the conversion of cropland into orchards/cash trees (preferably on slopes 15–25°). Thus the land use modification should be carried out gradually. On the short term (5 year), it is suggested that cropland on steeper slopes than 25° is returned to woodland/shrubland/grassland while also fruit trees are planted on slopes 15–25°. Within 10 years, cropland with slopes steeper than 15° is suggested to be converted into orchard/woodland/shrubland/grassland. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]