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Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II

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A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2025 | Viewed by 17616

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Dr. Víctor Hugo González-Jaramillo

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Guest Editor

Geología Minas e Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto, Calle París, 110150 Loja, Ecuador
Interests: geographical information systems; remote sensing; regional development
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Dr. Ruetger Rollenbeck

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Laboratory for Climatology and Remote Sensing, FB 19 Geography, Philipps-University of Marburg, Deutschausstr. 10, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
Interests: radar meteorology; climate variability, extremes and trends; precipitation: dynamics and hydrological impact; atmospheric modeling & remote sensing; land surface-atmosphere interactions; solar and eolic energy potential; mountain ecosystems; tropics and arid environments; South America
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Now population growth is one of the most critical factors affecting our planet, and it is the cause of a growing demand for resources. To solve this demand, humans are constantly modifying the environment, leading to changes in the use and coverage of the land, where rural lands become urban; these processes occur in very short periods of time.

These rapid processes and changes generally do not have adequate planning or a long-term vision, which ends up undermining the integrity of urban areas, human beings and the environment. The change of land use from non-urban to urban areas brings several types of problems related to ecosystem services, basic services, water supply, healthy spaces, and food provision for the population, among others. The solutions for the mentioned problems should be addressed from the beginning, requiring adequate planning to guarantee sustainable and resilient territories.

Additionally, these problems related to the change from non-urban to urban areas and its iterations need to be analyzed in a multidisciplinary way, where these new challenges become opportunities to achieve the sustainable development of resilient territories. For this Special Issue we welcome studies related to land-use change and their non-urban and urban relationships at all spatiotemporal scales. That includes:

Land use planning schemes for progressive urban expansion;
Regulatory strategies;
Planning for a sustainable future;
Geospatial-based decision support systems (DSSs);
Spatio-temporal dynamics, socio-economic implications, water supply problems and deforestation land degradation (e.g., increase of imperviousness surfaces) produced by urban expansion and their resource requirements. Studies including the exploitation of low/high-level remote sensing imageries are also welcomed.

Dr. Víctor Hugo González-Jaramillo
Dr. Ruetger Rollenbeck
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Related Special Issue

Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities in Land (10 articles)

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of the Hydrological Response to Land Use Change Scenarios in Urban and Non-Urban Mountain Basins in Ecuador

by Diego Mejía-Veintimilla, Pablo Ochoa-Cueva and Juan Arteaga-Marín

Land 2024, 13(11), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111907 - 14 Nov 2024

Viewed by 394

Abstract

Land cover is a crucial factor in controlling rainfall–runoff processes in mountain basins. However, various anthropogenic activities, such as converting natural vegetation to agricultural or urban areas, can affect this cover, thereby increasing the risk of flooding in cities. This study evaluates the hydrological behavior of two mountain basins in Loja, Ecuador, under varying land use scenarios. El Carmen small basin (B1), located outside the urban perimeter, and Las Pavas small basin (B2), within the urban area, were modeled using HEC-HMS 4.3 software. The results highlight the significant influence of vegetation degradation and restoration on hydrological processes. In degraded vegetation scenarios, peak flows increase due to reduced soil infiltration capacity, while baseflows decrease. Conversely, the conserved and restored vegetation scenarios show lower peak flows and higher baseflows, which are attributed to enhanced evapotranspiration, interception, and soil water storage. The study underscores the importance of ecosystem management and restoration in mitigating extreme hydrological events and improving water resilience. These findings provide a foundation for decision-making in urban planning and basin management, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and multidisciplinary approaches to develop effective public policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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20 pages, 4065 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Sustainable Urban Planning Challenges in the Peri-Urban Landscape: Evaluating LULC Dynamics and the Policy Effectiveness of the Chattogram Metropolitan Region, Bangladesh

by Md Mustiafiz Al Mamun, Steffen Nijhuis and Caroline Newton

Land 2024, 13(8), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081157 - 28 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1237

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) change in today’s context of rapid urbanization is critical for sustainable urban planning and environmental conservation. Therefore, the research aim is to understand the LULC changes in the Chattogram Metropolitan Area and to assess the policy implications of these changes for sustainable urban development. Through a comparative analysis of LULC maps for two periods (1997–2007; 2007–2017), we investigated the transformation of a detailed planning zone before and after Detailed Area Plan (DAP) approval. Using quantitative data analysis and policy review, we elucidated the impacts of urbanization trends on local ecosystems—specifically the conversion of forest cover and waterscape use. The findings reveal a significant conversion of forested and waterscape areas to urban and peri-urban landscapes, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable planning interventions that focus on these peri-urban areas. The study further critiques the DAP’s effectiveness, revealing a disconnect between regional policy implementation and local outcomes. This research proposes a validated, scalable framework for urban master plans that adapts to the complex socioecological contexts of rapidly urbanizing regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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20 pages, 4552 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Governance and Fragmentation Patterns of Agricultural Land Use in Southern Romania during 1990–2020

by Diana Dogaru, Alexandru-Ionut Petrisor, Claudiu-Valeriu Angearu, Laura Lupu and Dan Bălteanu

Land 2024, 13(7), 1084; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071084 - 18 Jul 2024

Viewed by 953

Abstract

In Romania, excessive fragmentation of croplands remains persistent in areas of significant agricultural potential as a consequence of combined factors involving both land governance and farms’ characteristics. This paper examines the fragmentation of agricultural land use in the Romanian Plain, focusing on the impact of land policies implemented in Romania during the past three decades. The analysis relies on a survey of local policies that helps to distinguish three phases that marked the evolution of the fragmentation of agricultural land during 1990–2020. Additionally, metrics derived from remote sensing time series further assist in capturing the fragmentation levels during the identified phases and the spatial differences for the analyzed period. The fragmentation levels appear strikingly contrasting between the western part of the Romanian Plain and the Danube alluvial areas; this has been attributed as being the joint result of various land governance components which both enabled and constrained proper utilization of agricultural land, and concurrent factors related to economic and sociodemographic changes. We find excessive fragmentation emerged in plain field areas, triggered by the high overall rates of institutional change. The findings underscore the importance of jointly considering the fragmentation phenomenon in its evolution, intensity and spatial differences for effective land use policy formulation, emphasizing the need for proactive governance to support the efficient use of agricultural resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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20 pages, 13829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Formation of the Urban–Rural Fringe Space in the San Cayetano Area: The Transformation of a Peripheral Urban Landscape in Ecuador

by Karina Monteros, Valentina Dall’Orto and Cecilia Cempini

Land 2024, 13(4), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040494 - 11 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1424

Abstract

The transition between the urban and the rural in intermediate Andean cities has been consolidated, presenting a close relationship between socioeconomic dynamics and urban configuration. The peripheral neighborhood of San Cayetano, located in the city of Loja in southwestern Ecuador, presents multiple contradictory scenarios. Located on a hillside, the forms of adaptation to the challenging topography are diverse, fragile, and fragmented, especially because they present a dispersed image due to the proximity to the consolidated center. This study analyzes the spatial phenomena that have led to the integration of this neighborhood into the formal city, identifying recurrent spatial configurations that characterize the spatial fragment as a determinant in the configuration of the Andean periphery. To this end, official data are juxtaposed with on-site visits to identify the urban and architectural patterns of the neighborhood that contribute to defining this characteristic fragmentation of today’s peripheries. These patterns are then examined through mapping and graphic representation. As a consequence, the resulting urban plots are imposed on sloping land, leaving aside the natural characteristics of the terrain, which causes morphological alterations at the level of the natural, urban, and architectural landscape. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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29 pages, 3016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Temporal Passive and Active Remote Sensing for Agricultural Mapping and Acreage Estimation in Context of Small Farm Holds in Ethiopia

by Tesfamariam Engida Mengesha, Lulseged Tamene Desta, Paolo Gamba and Getachew Tesfaye Ayehu

Land 2024, 13(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030335 - 6 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372

Abstract

In most developing countries, smallholder farms are the ultimate source of income and produce a significant portion of overall crop production for the major crops. Accurate crop distribution mapping and acreage estimation play a major role in optimizing crop production and resource allocation. In this study, we aim to develop a spatio–temporal, multi-spectral, and multi-polarimetric LULC mapping approach to assess crop distribution mapping and acreage estimation for the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. The study was conducted by integrating data from the optical and radar sensors of sentinel products. Supervised machine learning algorithms such as Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, Classification and Regression Trees, and Gradient Boost were used to classify the study area into five first-class common land use types (built-up, agriculture, vegetation, bare land, and water). Training and validation data were collected from ground and high-resolution images and split in a 70:30 ratio. The accuracy of the classification was evaluated using different metrics such as overall accuracy, kappa coefficient, figure of metric, and F-score. The results indicate that the SVM classifier demonstrates higher accuracy compared to other algorithms, with an overall accuracy for Sentinel-2-only data and the integration of optical with microwave data of 90% and 94% and a kappa value of 0.85 and 0.91, respectively. Accordingly, the integration of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data resulted in higher overall accuracy compared to the use of Sentinel-2 data alone. The findings demonstrate the remarkable potential of multi-source remotely sensed data in agricultural acreage estimation in small farm holdings. These preliminary findings highlight the potential of using multi-source active and passive remote sensing data for agricultural area mapping and acreage estimation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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21 pages, 16834 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Analysis and Prediction of Urban Land Use/Land Cover Changes Using a Cellular Automata and Novel Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation Model: A Study of Zhejiang Province, China

by Auwalu Faisal Koko, Zexu Han, Yue Wu, Siyuan Zhang, Nan Ding and Jiayang Luo

Land 2023, 12(8), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081525 - 1 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2147

Abstract

Urban land use/land cover (LULC) monitoring and prediction are vital for understanding the spatiotemporal change dynamics of future land uses. They provide the necessary data for effectively planning and managing natural land resources. In this study, we analyzed and simulated the changes in urban LULC within Zhejiang Province, a region in China experiencing rapid urbanization. By exploring the historical change dynamics of the region, we observed substantial transformations in the extent of built-up areas, forests, and agricultural land from 1995 to 2020. Specifically, the study area witnessed the expansion in urban built-up areas by approximately 6126.93 km², while forests and agricultural land witnessed decreases of 3252.47 km² and 2885.13 km², respectively. To predict the study area’s future LULC, a cellular automata (CA) model was utilized in combination with an advanced patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model. This integrated approach allowed for multiple land use predictions based on different scenarios. Under the baseline scenario (BLS), it was projected that the area of urban expansion in Zhejiang Province would be approximately 4501.62 km². However, under the scenario of cultivated land and ecological protection, i.e., CLPS and EPS, urban growth was observed to be 538.64 km² and 1776.16 km², respectively. These findings indicate that the extent of built-up area development in Zhejiang Province is significantly reduced when the CLPS and EPS are implemented in comparison to the BLS. Therefore, policy interventions are crucial to protect agricultural land and conserve ecological areas. This research provides the scientific data needed for proper planning and serves as reference data for other regions with similar rapid urbanization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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23 pages, 12603 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Land Cover Change and Food Security in Central Sumba: Challenges and Opportunities in the Decentralization Era in Indonesia

by Yohanis Ngongo, Bernard deRosari, Tony Basuki, Gerson Ndawa Njurumana, Yudistira Nugraha, Alfonsus Hasudungan Harianja, Mohammad Ardha, Kustiyo Kustiyo, Rizatus Shofiyati, Raden Bambang Heryanto, Jefny Bernedi Markus Rawung, Joula Olvy Maya Sondakh, Rein Estefanus Senewe, Helena daSilva, Ronald Timbul Pardamean Hutapea, Procula Rudlof Mattitaputty, Yosua Pieter Kenduballa, Noldy Rusminta Estorina Kotta, Yohanes Leki Seran, Debora Kana Hau, Dian Oktaviani and Hunggul Yudono Setio Hadi Nugroho Show full author list Hide full author list

Land 2023, 12(5), 1043; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12051043 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3224

Abstract

This study focuses on land cover and land management changes in relation to food security and environmental services in a semi-arid area of East Nusa Tenggara (ENT), Indonesia. The study was conducted in the Central Sumba District of ENT province. A classification and regression tree (CART) for land cover classification was analyzed using machine learning techniques through the implementation of the Google Earth Engine. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) survey followed by in-depth interviews was conducted for primary data collection, involving a total of 871 respondents. The socio-economic data were statistically analyzed descriptively using non-parametric tests. The study showed that (1) there has been a substantial change in land use during the devolution era that has both positive and negative implications for food security and environmental services; (2) there has been population pressure in fertile and agricultural land as a direct impact of the development of city infrastructure; and (3) national intervention through the Food Estate program has fostered and shaped land use change and land management in the Central Sumba District. The study highlights the importance of the devolution spirit in aiding the management of limited arable/agricultural land in predominantly semi-arid areas to ensure food security and environmental services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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13 pages, 3249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Expansion in the Mountainous Hindu Kush Himalayas Region

by Zhenhua Chao, Zhanhuan Shang, Chengdong Fei, Ziyi Zhuang and Mengting Zhou

Land 2023, 12(3), 576; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030576 - 27 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2019

Abstract

As a major human activity, urbanization exerts a strong impact on the fragile ecosystem in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) region. To maintain sustainable development, reliable data on urban land change are required to assess the impact of urbanization. Here, the reliability evaluation of four global fine-resolution impervious surface area (ISA) products: global annual impervious area (GAIA), global annual urban dynamics (GAUD), global impervious surface area (GISA), and global urban expansion (GUE) was carried out. The characteristics of urban expansion for five representative cities including Kabul, Lhasa, Lijiang, Thimphu, and Xining were remarkably different. Based on the results of incremental analysis and the spatial difference of the ISA, it was found that the GAIA dataset at a 30-m spatial resolution could provide better ISA information than the others in characterizing urban expansion in the mountainous region. Subsequently, the changes in the urban area were analyzed using the GAIA dataset from 1993 to 2018. In general, human settlements had grown, with the transformation of small villages into larger towns and some towns into major cities. Urban expansion would continuously intensify the contradictions between human activity and sustainability and exert a more significant impact on the fragile ecosystem in the HKH region. More attention should be paid to the impact of urbanization on the fragile mountainous ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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19 pages, 9481 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Role of Deforestation and Cropland Expansion in Driving a Fire-Transition in the Brazilian Amazon

by Paulo Amador Tavares, Joice Ferreira, Camila V. J. Silva, Erika Berenguer and Jos Barlow

Land 2022, 11(12), 2274; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122274 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2897

Abstract

The Brazilian Amazonian Forest is undergoing significant changes in land use and land cover in the last few decades. This land-use transition, besides climate change, may be responsible for the fire regime transition in this territory. Therefore, we aimed at investigating how the fire-transition occurs over time in the Brazilian Amazonia Forest and identifying the key parameters that can help to predict this change. For this, we collected yearly data on fire occurrence, forest cover, deforestation rates, and cropland areas. We used a 0.45° spatial surface grid, and with these annual values, we produced: (i) generalised linear mixed models of fire occurrence against forest cover, using years and grids as random factors; (ii) annual linear models of fire occurrence against forest cover; (iii) linear models of the apex values against the years; and (iv) generalised linear models of these apex values against deforestation and cropland areas. We found that there is a fire-transition process in the Brazilian Amazon Forest since a quadratic model better predicted the fire occurrence behaviour. Moreover, the fire occurrence apex is transitioning to more forested landscapes, from 50.7% in 2003 to 55% in 2019 (R² = 0.3). The deforestation rates and the cropland expansion had important relationships with the fire-transition, the first is related to the fire occurrence in the landscape (R² = 0.62), while the second better predicts the transition to more forested areas (R² = 0.38). Thus, we found that the fire-transition in the Brazilian Amazon Forest is strongly related to the land-use transition stages in this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use Change from Non-urban to Urban Areas: Problems, Challenges and Opportunities II)

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