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Land
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Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape...
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Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 16918

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maurizio Pollino

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Guest Editor
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Centre, 00123 Rome, Italy
Interests: geomatics applications; land planning; spatial analysis; risk analysis; multi-risk assessment; GIS-based; decision support systems (DSS)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sergio Cappucci

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Guest Editor
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development-Territorial and Production Systems Sustainability Department, 00123 Rome, Italy
Interests: environmental impact assessment; sustainable development and management of natural resources (sediment, water, and soil)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Andrea Taramelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Institute of Polar Science, National Research Council of Italy, 30172 Venice, Italy
2. Institute for Advanced Study of Pavia—IUSS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: research science at the forefront of the development that links short-term surface processes to the long-term development and dynamics of surface systems using remote sensing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Most of modern inland and coastal urban areas are strongly affected by anthropogenic impacts. Lifelines are critical infrastructures that need to provide essential services and security for both residential and migratory populations.

The main effect of this anthropization is the land use change and exploitation of natural resources that may have an impact on the climate and economy of entire countries. The ensemble of geomatics methodologies (mainly by means of GIS and remote sensing techniques) can provide several tools for monitoring and investigating the dynamics of complex processes and supporting stakeholders in decision making. Such phenomena include urban development, soil degradation and consumption, land cover changes, landscape dynamics, etc.

Thus, these methodologies can enrich the geographical information available and support the development of more exhaustive analysis aiming at supporting effective urban and landscape management, which is a critical issue in our current “Anthropocene” age. Human activities are still the major cause of global environmental change. Particularly focusing on sustainability issues, geomatics represents a fundamental pillar for implementing interdisciplinary methodological workflows, so as to provide for and deepen our understanding of human/environment interrelations. These techniques (spatial modelling, geo-computational techniques, geographical analyses, etc.) therefore foster sustainable development planning and monitoring, and facilitate the decision-making process at all levels.

Thus, this Special Issue will assemble innovative and original contributions considering current research and activities related to the abovementioned Issues.

In this Special Issue, we invite papers focusing on, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Geomatics for analyzing territorial issues and spatio-temporal patterns;
  • Urban, landscape, and natural resources management;
  • Land–climate interaction;
  • Natural hazards;
  • Development of new algorithms and science-based criteria in the above-listed topics.

Dr. Maurizio Pollino
Dr. Sergio Cappucci
Prof. Dr. Andrea Taramelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geomatics
  • GIS and remote sensing application
  • land and landscape management
  • natural resources management (soil, water, sediment)
  • urban development
  • critical infrastructures
  • land–climate interaction
  • coastal erosion
  • landslides
  • natural hazards
  • wetland reclamation
  • agricultural land detection

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 7154 KiB  
Article
Integrated Flood Impact and Vulnerability Assessment Using a Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Mission with the Perspective of an Operational Service in Lombardy, Italy
by Margherita Righini, Ignacio Gatti, Andrea Taramelli, Marcello Arosio, Emiliana Valentini, Serena Sapio and Emma Schiavon
Land 2024, 13(2), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020140 - 26 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1479
Abstract
The frequency and the accumulation of medium–small flood events can cause severe impacts. In a climate change context, real-time monitoring and a fast risk assessment are needed to support the post-disaster phases. The present work presents a novel methodology that leverages the potential [...] Read more.
The frequency and the accumulation of medium–small flood events can cause severe impacts. In a climate change context, real-time monitoring and a fast risk assessment are needed to support the post-disaster phases. The present work presents a novel methodology that leverages the potential of earth observation data to produce a proof-of-concept for flood vulnerability assessment, serving as the basis for a Map Operational Service for the Lombardy region. The proof-of-concept is related to both flood hazard estimation and vulnerability assessment, considering the evaluation of the potentialities of the synthetic aperture radar data when used to feed a downstream service. Using the city of Pavia (Italy), which was affected by a flood event in November 2019, as a case study, we present an integrated flood impact approach that includes a combination of social and physical parameters. The results contribute to a processing chain designed as a pre-operational service where each data analytic retrieves thematic products to support the exposure and damage estimates based on earth observation-derived hazard products for emergency and recovery responses. Three different satellites covered more than 40 h of the flood’s evolution, supporting the great potential of the multi-sensor approach. Therefore, different sensor configurations in terms of spectral bands (X and C bands) and resolutions (from 10 to 1 m) provide a near real-time view of the event. Comparing the results obtained through the three hazard scenarios, a final social and physical Integrated Impact Index is obtained. The added value information leads to the determination of hotspots with which to prioritize effective interventions during emergency and recovery phases, crucial for capturing inherent conditions that allow communities to absorb impacts and cope with a damaging flood event. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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17 pages, 9262 KiB  
Article
Development of a Pre-Automatized Processing Chain for Agricultural Monitoring Using a Multi-Sensor and Multi-Temporal Approach
by Emiliana Valentini, Serena Sapio, Emma Schiavon, Margherita Righini, Beatrice Monteleone and Andrea Taramelli
Land 2024, 13(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010091 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 883
Abstract
Understanding crop types and their annual cycles is key to managing natural resources, especially when the pressures on these resources are attributable to climate change and social, environmental, and economic policies. In recent years, the space sector’s development, with programs such as Copernicus, [...] Read more.
Understanding crop types and their annual cycles is key to managing natural resources, especially when the pressures on these resources are attributable to climate change and social, environmental, and economic policies. In recent years, the space sector’s development, with programs such as Copernicus, has enabled a greater availability of satellite data. This study uses a multi-sensor approach to retrieve crop information by developing a Proof of Concept for the integration of high-resolution SAR imagery and optical data. The main goal is to develop a pre-automatized processing chain that explores the temporal dimension of different crop. Results are related to the advantage of using a multi-sensor approach to retrieve vegetation biomass and vertical structure for the identification of phenological stages and different crops. The novelty consists of investigating the multi-temporal pattern of radiometric indices and radar backscatter to detect the different phenological stages of each crop, identifying the Day of the Year (DoY) in which the classes showed greater separability. The current study could be considered a benchmark for the exploitation of future multi-sensor missions in downstream services for the agricultural sector, strengthening the evolution of Copernicus services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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17 pages, 5734 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution Changes in Nature-Based Recreation Service Supply from 2008 to 2018 in Shanghai, China
by Song Liu, Peiyu Shen, Yishan Huang, Li Jiang and Yongjiu Feng
Land 2022, 11(10), 1862; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101862 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
Nature-based recreation has become an important activity in contemporary society and a key component of cultural ecosystem services. Although the methods of mapping the outdoor recreation supply have been gradually improved, few studies have carried out multi-temporal evaluations. Based on land use/land cover [...] Read more.
Nature-based recreation has become an important activity in contemporary society and a key component of cultural ecosystem services. Although the methods of mapping the outdoor recreation supply have been gradually improved, few studies have carried out multi-temporal evaluations. Based on land use/land cover (LULC), POI, and other web-open data, we mapped the recreational service supply in Shanghai in 2008 and 2018, combining recreation potential and recreation opportunities. We first selected the evaluation indicators, using LULC to measure recreational potential, and POI density and accessibility to measure recreational opportunities. Then, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the weights of the 12 factors that measure recreational opportunities, and made RO and RP maps, respectively. Finally, we overlaid RO and RP maps to obtain the spatial distribution map of recreation service supply. Our results showed that the supply of recreation services in 2008 and 2018 presented a “V-shaped” gradient along the city center areas—the peri-urban areas—the rural areas. Compared with the year 2008, the average recreation value decreased in nine regions, but increased in Chongming District in 2018. The assessment and mapping of recreation service supply value provide a basis for the development of local recreational resources, land use decisions, and the management of recreational cultural ecosystem services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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17 pages, 4481 KiB  
Article
Evolution and Ecological Implications of Land Development and Conservation Patterns on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
by Yafei Wang, Jinfeng Liao, Yao He and Peipei Chen
Land 2022, 11(10), 1797; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101797 - 14 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2007
Abstract
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau serves as an important ecological security shelter in China and across Asia. During the past two decades, the patterns of land development and conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have undergone significant changes under the impacts of global climate change and [...] Read more.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau serves as an important ecological security shelter in China and across Asia. During the past two decades, the patterns of land development and conservation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have undergone significant changes under the impacts of global climate change and human expansion. This paper analyzes the evolution of land development and conservation patterns and potential ecological implications on the Tibetan Plateau from 2000 to 2020 based on urbanization, agricultural and pastoral patterns with multi-source data, such as long-term time series land use data, ecological indices, environmental pollution, and population and economics. It was found that: (1) Coinciding with the agglomeration of population and economy, the urban development pattern on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has spatial-temporal differentiation. Urban development in the 2010s was more significant than that in the 2000s, with the intensity increased by 63.31%, and the development pattern varies spatially, which can be seen from the finding that central Tibet (the Yarlung Tsangpo, Lhasa river, and Nyangchu basins) and Huangshui River Basin in Qinghai Province were developed in a planar pattern, while other node cities and border towns in a dotted pattern. (2) The agricultural production pattern is relatively stable, the grain yields have increased by 34.68% in the past 20 years, but the total amount of arable land is shrinking, and the degree of fragmentation has increased. The pattern of pastoralism has changed greatly, showing a migration trend from west to east spatially, and there is a serious problem of pasture overload, with an increase of 18.4% in livestock products. Regardless of the pattern of urbanization or agricultural and livestock development, the intensity of human activities on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has shown an intensified trend in the past. (3) It shows that Lhasa City area and the middle and lower reaches of Huangshui show a trend of diffusion of atmospheric and water environmental pollution. The western part of the Ali region and the northern foothills of the Himalayas and other regions, under the combined impact of climate change and human activities, have undergone significant ecological degradation. Accordingly, this paper proposes policy recommendations for optimizing production and living space, advancing the establishment of national park clusters and nature reserve systems, and the integrated recovery of mountain, water, forest, lake, grass, sand, and ice with ecological value achievement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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17 pages, 6520 KiB  
Article
The External Characteristics and Mechanism of Urban Road Corridors to Agglomeration: Case Study for Guangzhou, China
by Luhui Qi, Liqi Jia, Yubin Luo, Yuanyi Chen and Minggang Peng
Land 2022, 11(7), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071087 - 15 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1292
Abstract
Existing research on the agglomeration effect of urban roads mainly focuses on land use but ignores the differences between various locations, types, and directions of roads. Few studies have been conducted on the built buildings which can represent the actual utility, and land [...] Read more.
Existing research on the agglomeration effect of urban roads mainly focuses on land use but ignores the differences between various locations, types, and directions of roads. Few studies have been conducted on the built buildings which can represent the actual utility, and land use as a kind of government authorization may not necessarily represent actual needs. This research provides an analytical framework and an empirical analysis to study the differences in impacts of different urban roads on land use and to identify its internal dynamic mechanism. Guangzhou, being the research object, is one of the five major central cities in China. By using the techniques of GIS and SPSS, together with the methods of corridor effect, correlation analysis, and geographic detector, we analyze the external characteristics of office buildings and land gathering along both sides of the roads, explore the urban characteristics of corridor effect, then analyze the relationship with urban traffic flow and bus network density in order to find out the internal motivation of corridor effect. The fundamental conclusion can be drawn that the corridor effect on the land used for commercial offices is mostly unnoticeable, and roads of different locations, types, and directions display various scope and intensity of corridor effects. The agglomeration power is mainly caused by private transportation and has no relationship with public transport. The article concludes the model of the corridor effect and provides some policy suggestions to the government in order to strengthen the linkage development of transportation and land and to promote the improvement of land use efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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25 pages, 6574 KiB  
Article
Green Public Areas and Urban Open Spaces Management: New GreenCAL Tool Algorithms and Circular Economy Implications
by Sergio Cappucci, Serena Nappi and Andrea Cappelli
Land 2022, 11(6), 886; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060886 - 10 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2742
Abstract
Urban Open Spaces (UOS) are green infrastructures that provide social and ecosystem services. Green public areas contribute to mitigation and adaptation strategies for addressing climate changes, but their maintenance has a significant cost. Frequent grass cutting operations must be carried out during growing [...] Read more.
Urban Open Spaces (UOS) are green infrastructures that provide social and ecosystem services. Green public areas contribute to mitigation and adaptation strategies for addressing climate changes, but their maintenance has a significant cost. Frequent grass cutting operations must be carried out during growing periods to ensure the safe livability of UOS to citizens. In the present paper, a geo database was developed to map green public areas of the city of Latina (Lazio Region, Central Italy) by using a multisource dataset according to the European INSPIRE Directive. The GreenCAL Tool was implemented. Two algorithms to determine UOS extension and the necessary budget for grass cutting operations are used, considering the contribution of different mowing (i.e., mulcher, lawnmower, or brush cutter) and UOS extension itself (~160 ha). The implemented processing chain allowed us to simulate forestation of abandoned areas and potential CO2 sequestration values. Two different scenarios of maintenance programs were also implemented to reduce more than 60% of operational cost according to: (1) different use of UOS; (2) their position within the urban area; (3) guidelines of Italian working group on public green management; and (4) management of vegetal residues. The management of the latter, derived by mowing, contribute to more than 23% of the budget allocated to maintain UOS. Besides the long-term environmental and health perspective, the short-term impact of the present applied research is relevant for a geomatic approach, green public procurements, as well as land use and climate interactions. The alternative management of UOS discussed in the present paper can also reduce organic waste production if the mowing within the UOS is managed as a resource for agriculture rather than urban waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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29 pages, 6068 KiB  
Article
A Life Cycle Assessment of an Energy-Biochar Chain Involving a Gasification Plant in Italy
by Simone Marzeddu, Andrea Cappelli, Andrea Ambrosio, María Alejandra Décima, Paolo Viotti and Maria Rosaria Boni
Land 2021, 10(11), 1256; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111256 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 4611
Abstract
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a fundamental tool for evaluating the environmental and energy load of a production cycle. Its application to renewable energy production systems offers the possibility of identifying the environmental benefits of such processes—especially those related to the by-products of [...] Read more.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a fundamental tool for evaluating the environmental and energy load of a production cycle. Its application to renewable energy production systems offers the possibility of identifying the environmental benefits of such processes—especially those related to the by-products of production processes (i.e., digestion or biochar). Biochar has received worldwide interest because of its potential uses in bioenergy production, due to its coproducts (bio-oil and syngas), as well as in global warming mitigation, sustainable agriculture, pollutant removal, and other uses. Biochar production and use of soil is a strategy for carbon sequestration that could contribute to the reduction of emissions, providing simultaneous benefits to soil and opportunities for bioenergy generation. However, to confirm all of biochar’s benefits, it is necessary to characterize the environmental and energy loads of the production cycle. In this work, soil carbon sequestration, nitrous oxide emissions, use of fertilizers, and use of water for irrigation have been considered in the biochar’s LCA, where the latter is used as a soil conditioner. Primary data taken from experiments and prior studies, as well as open-source available databases, were combined to evaluate the environmental impacts of energy production from biomass, as well as the biochar life cycle, including pre- and post-conversion processes. From the found results, it can be deduced that the use of gasification production of energy and biochar is an attractive strategy for mitigating the environmental impacts analyzed here—especially climate change, with a net decrease of about −8.3 × 103 kg CO2 eq. Finally, this study highlighted strategic research developments that combine the specific characteristics of biochar and soil that need to be amended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Geomatics and Sustainability: Examples and Application in Urban and Landscape Management)
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