Search Results (92)

Rapid urbanization has intensified the need for vibrant, walkable, and socially sustainable urban environments, particularly within mixed-use and commercial districts. The way buildings and streets are spatially configured in these districts plays a critical role in shaping pedestrian movement, spatial accessibility, commercial vitality, and social interaction within these environments. This paper investigates the role of spatial configuration in shaping the resilience and sustainability of urban commercial districts through a comprehensive review of recent space syntax applications. The review synthesizes methodological approaches for examining spatial structures, urban morphology, spatial accessibility, and urban activity patterns, including segment-based spatial analysis, visibility graph analysis, agent-based modeling, and predictive spatial simulation. This study consolidates recent methodological developments in spatial analytics and identifies key analytical trends that clarify how spatial configuration contributes to urban vitality and sustainability in commercial districts. Particular attention is given to the methodological evolution of space syntax research and its increasing integration with complementary datasets and analytical frameworks for evaluating urban vitality. Across the reviewed studies, highly integrated and spatially accessible street networks were consistently associated with higher pedestrian flow, greater commercial density, stronger land-use clustering, and improved walkability, particularly within compact, mixed-use urban districts. Movement-based metrics such as integration and Normalized Angular Choice (NACH) repeatedly emerged as dominant predictors of pedestrian movement, land-use intensity, and commercial concentration. Despite significant methodological advances in spatial analysis, a persistent gap remains in linking configurational metrics with lived human experience and broader social sustainability outcomes. Overall, the findings demonstrate that spatial configuration is a fundamental driver of walkability, commercial vitality, and socio-spatial interaction, reinforcing the growing role of space syntax as a framework for evidence-based and sustainable urban design. Full article

Comprehensive land consolidation (CLC) is a systematic initiative aimed at optimizing spatial patterns of land use and revitalizing idle rural land resources. It is a pivotal policy instrument for enhancing rural resilience and possesses significant practical implications. Grounded in resilience theory, this study establishes an evaluation system for rural resilience, assesses resilience levels in Huzhou from 2003 to 2023, and investigates its spatiotemporal characteristics employing the entropy-weighted TOPSIS method and geodetector model. Furthermore, this research identifies the driving factors and dynamic mechanisms through which comprehensive land consolidation impacts rural resilience. The study area is categorized into four zones based on land use types to elucidate regional heterogeneity. The findings indicate that comprehensive land consolidation markedly enhances rural resilience, which progresses from slow initial growth to accelerated improvement, ultimately culminating in leapfrog development. Spatially, rural resilience exhibits a “central-high, marginal-low” distribution, characterized by core-periphery agglomeration. Notably, the key driving factors vary significantly across different regions. Mechanistically, comprehensive land consolidation bolsters rural resilience through a sequential pathway that begins with consolidation intervention, which activates critical factors. This activation leads to structural reorganization within the rural framework, followed by the optimization of functions that enhance overall resilience. In terms of policy implications, it is essential to adopt differentiated consolidation strategies tailored to regional resource endowments, emphasizing the optimization of production-living-ecological spaces to foster integrated and sustainable rural development. Full article

Marginal land refers to areas where environmental constraints prevent cost-effective production; driven by global energy and food security strategies and greenhouse gas reduction targets, its potential productivity has garnered significant attention. However, macro-level and data-driven knowledge graph analyses remain scarce. Therefore, this study employed VOSviewer, Bibliometrix R, and CiteSpace to conduct a bibliometric analysis of 2535 Web of Science Core Collection documents (1995 to 2025). Findings reveal that: (1) The research is split into four stages—early exploration, fluctuating development, rapid growth, and stable output, peaking at 191 papers in 2021. (2) The collaboration of authors and institutions has reached an initial scale but remains relatively weak, with Lewandowski and the Chinese Academy of Sciences occupying the core of the co-authorship network. The United States (N = 501) ranks as the top-producing country. France (MCP% = 56.8%) leads in international collaboration intensity, and US—China cooperation is the most frequent. (3) Journals primarily focus on environmental science and agronomy, with Global Change Biology Bioenergy leading with 109 publications. (4) Through consolidating core keywords like “marginal lands,” “biomass,” and “productivity” into four perspectives: technological/model interventions, farmer behavioral choices, natural baseline conditions, and theoretical understanding, this study constructs a comprehensive framework to help research become sustainable. Full article

The synergistic and mutually reinforcing relationship between the development of the new energy industry and comprehensive land consolidation is crucial for integrating ecologically fragile areas into the national “dual carbon” goals and supporting regional high-quality development. Based on a systematic literature review, field investigations in typical regions, and multi-case comparative analysis, this paper analyzes the challenges and opportunities for the new energy industry in ecologically fragile areas as well as the mutually reinforcing mechanisms between new energy industry development and land consolidation. On this basis, it explores pathways for comprehensive land consolidation in coordination with new energy development. Building on local practices, it further identifies five typical models. The results show the following: (1) The development of the new energy industry in ecologically fragile areas faces multiple challenges, including a fragile ecological environment, inadequate infrastructure, a mismatch between resource supply and demand, and land use conflicts. Against the backdrop of the energy transition, breakthroughs in key technologies, and the guidance of territorial spatial planning, the value of wind and solar resources in these areas are becoming increasingly prominent, offering broad prospects for the new energy industry. (2) The development of the new energy industry and comprehensive land consolidation in ecologically fragile areas are mutually reinforcing. Factors such as resource endowment, ecological constraints, new quality productive forces, and investment and financing mechanisms interact and integrate with each other, resulting in diversified synergistic pathways. (3) Based on the priorities of new energy industry development and the primary objectives of consolidation, five models are identified: Ecological Restoration-led Model, Resource Development-led Model, Industrial Collaboration-led Model, Technological Innovation-led Model and Integrated Development Model. Each model has distinct priorities and applicable scenarios. This study will provide a reference for new energy development and sustainable development in ecologically fragile areas, including desertified and Gobi desert areas, coal mining subsidence areas, and areas rich in wind, solar, and hydropower resources. Full article

Municipal consolidation, a widespread form of local government restructuring, has attracted growing scholarly attention worldwide. The majority of research on municipal consolidation investigates impacts instead of motives. Using prefecture- and county-level data from China, this study comprehensively examines the local drivers of county-to-district conversion (CTD) events during the 2010s, a period marked by a significant wave of CTDs. The results show that cities with a developable land shortage, a single district, or a higher economic ranking within a province are more likely to implement CTD. All else equal, counties in closer proximity to the central city, more lagged behind the city in development, or having a higher fiscal revenue per capita are more likely to be consolidated. Together, these factors explain about 40% of the odds of CTD at both the city and county levels. These findings highlight the importance of local incentives and characteristics in shaping jurisdictional changes and provide guidance for mitigating selection bias in future impact evaluations of municipal consolidation. Full article

Land subsidence has emerged as a critical geohazard affecting major urban centers worldwide, particularly in coastal and deltaic regions where intensive groundwater extraction and rapid urbanization are prevalent. It is estimated that subsidence threatens more than 1.6 billion people globally, with reported subsidence rates exceeding 100 mm/year in several rapidly urbanizing cities and cumulative ground lowering exceeding 10 m in extreme cases such as Mexico City. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the hydrogeological drivers, impacts, and sustainable mitigation pathways of land subsidence based on a systematic literature review of 167 peer-reviewed studies following the PRISMA framework and bibliometric network analysis. The findings confirm that groundwater extraction is the dominant driver, causing pore pressure decline and irreversible consolidation of compressible aquitards, while geological conditions, recharge imbalance, and climate variability strongly influence subsidence magnitude and persistence. The consequences are severe and multidimensional, including increased flood risk, infrastructure damage, groundwater storage loss, ecosystem degradation, and significant socio-economic impacts. Global case studies from major subsiding cities demonstrate that subsidence often contributes more to relative sea-level rise and urban flood vulnerability than climate-driven ocean rise alone. Mitigation strategies, including groundwater regulation, managed aquifer recharge, water-sensitive urban design, geotechnical stabilization, and satellite-based monitoring, have shown effectiveness but remain limited when implemented independently. This study proposes an integrated management framework combining continuous monitoring, hydrogeological assessment, sustainable groundwater management, engineering and nature-based solutions, and governance integration. The findings highlight that early intervention, groundwater sustainability, and coordinated policy actions are essential to reduce subsidence and enhance long-term urban resilience. These insights support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), particularly in strengthening disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in subsidence-prone urban areas. Full article

The grey water footprint (GWF) is a critical indicator for assessing the impact of socio-economic activities on the water resources environment. To address the dual challenges of economic growth and water pollution associated with Land Consolidation Projects (LCPs) in the Loess Plateau, this study systematically analyzes the spatiotemporal distribution of GWF in the Yan’an region from 2000 to 2023 and employs the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) model to comprehensively explore its driving mechanisms. The SHapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) method was employed to quantify the dynamic contributions of the driving factors of GWF, while the threshold effects of these factors were assessed using partial dependence plot analysis. Additionally, spatial matching patterns between agricultural GWF (GWF_agr) and economic factors were examined using the Gini coefficient and imbalance index. These findings indicate that the total GWF (TGWF) peaked at 1.347 billion m³ in 2004 and declined due to improvements in water management efficiency. Spatially, TGWF is higher in the central and eastern regions, where GWF_agr is predominant. The permanent population and per capita GDP are the key driving factors, accounting for 21.1% and 15% of the total change in TGWF, respectively. In the spatial coupling relationship between agricultural GDP and GWF_agr, the overall imbalance index has significantly decreased. The synergistic effect between the Grain for Green Project and LCPs is becoming increasingly evident. These insights provide scientific support and policy guidance for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin. Full article

The rapid expansion of anaerobic digestion (AD) as a key technology for producing renewable energy has led to a substantial increase in digestate generation. This has intensified the need for sustainable management strategies that align with circular economy principles. While the solid fraction of digestate (SD) is traditionally applied to land or composted, its heterogeneous composition, regulatory constraints, and handling challenges restrict its wider use. This review aims to clarify the current state of SD treatment and highlight emerging opportunities to convert this underexploited resource into value-added bioproducts. A systematic bibliographic analysis of the past decade was conducted to identify consolidated and emerging SD valorisation technologies, supported by an evaluation of EU-level regulatory frameworks and the role of mechanical solid–liquid separation in enabling downstream valorisation. In addition, a comprehensive comparative table compiling physicochemical characterisation data of SD from various feedstocks and separation methods is presented, emphasising the significant variability in composition and its implications for valorisation pathways. The results show that, while composting and thermochemical routes, particularly pyrolysis, remain predominant, novel approaches such as advanced drying, pelletisation, vermicomposting, insect bioconversion, and fermentation-based pathways (including submerged and solid-state fermentation) are rapidly gaining interest. These emerging technologies enable the production of high-value products such as biochar, pellets, enzymes, microbial biopesticides, protein sources, and fungal biomass. However, their adoption is currently limited by feedstock heterogeneity, process complexity, scalability constraints, and economic considerations. Overall, SD is a versatile feedstock whose valorisation is expanding beyond agricultural applications. However, regulatory harmonisation, quality assurance, and process optimisation are still needed to encourage industrial uptake and to fully integrate SD into circular bioeconomy frameworks. Full article

Large-scale mining of graphite, a crucial strategic mineral, generates substantial amounts of graphite tailings (GT). The stockpiling of this solid waste occupies vast land resources and poses persistent environmental risks due to potential heavy metal leaching. Repurposing GT into construction materials presents a promising solution, with its use as a partial replacement for fine aggregates in cementitious composites being one of the most effective methods. This review systematically consolidates current research on graphite tailings cement mortar (GTCM) and graphite tailings concrete (GTC). Due to its physicochemical properties comparable to natural sand, GT is suitable for producing building materials. Studies consistently demonstrate that a substitution level of 10% to 20% optimizes overall performance. This optimal range enhances particle packing, promotes cement hydration via pozzolanic activity, and refines the microstructure, leading to improved workability, superior mechanical strength, and enhanced durability, including resistance to permeability, freeze–thaw cycles, and chemical attacks. Moreover, the inherent carbon content imparts electrical conductivity to GTC, enabling functional applications like de-icing and structural health monitoring. The successful utilization of GT also extends to lightweight foamed and autoclaved aerated concrete. However, research on the structural behavior of GTC components remains limited. Preliminary findings on beams and columns are encouraging, but comprehensive studies on their seismic performance and design methodologies are urgently needed to facilitate the widespread engineering application of this sustainable material and mitigate the environmental impact of tailings accumulation. Full article

Microbial components are part of the composition of all waste, including lignocellulosic biomass (e.g., agricultural, domestic, industrial, and municipal wastes) generated via human activities. If little attention is given to these wastes or if they are not adequately managed, they tend to end up in the environment (soil, water, and farmland), decomposing naturally through microbial activities, producing greenhouse gases, causing eutrophication, preventing sunlight penetration, and depleting oxygen in the water. Several treatment methods are applicable to these wastes. However, anaerobic digestion is presented as the best option to properly treat the waste. It is regarded as the best technique to achieve sustainable energy development in both developing and developed countries. During anaerobic digestion, the organic matter in the waste is converted via the concerted activities of microbes belonging to different trophic levels, in the absence of oxygen, to yield biogas (renewable energy), bio-fertiliser, and sanitisation of the waste, rendering it better and safer for human handling. Varying levels of loss of bacterial viability and their antibiotic-resistance genes are observed with this process, as bacteria differ in susceptibility to temperature, pH, nutrient scarcity, and the presence of antimicrobials. Anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues and the immediate processing (post-treatment) of the digestate help to stabilise the digestate, making it safe for land applications, tackling waste management, and protecting food chains from contamination, in addition to the environment. This review focuses on the anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass, yielding biogas as energy, alongside sanitising the wastes by inactivating microbial components found therein, therefore reducing the contamination potential of the effluent or digestate discharged from the biodigester following the process. Several findings registered by different researchers through different studies performed in different countries under different scenarios while employing varying methods have been assembled in a chronological fashion to emphasise similarities and divergences or variations that deepen knowledge pertaining to the significance of the anaerobic digestion process in terms of the microbial interactions responsible for producing energy, addressing sanitisation and hygiene crisis, and the post-treatment of the digestate to ensure its use as biofertiliser. In other words, it is a comprehensive review that synthesises knowledge from multiple fields covering comparative aspects of anaerobic digestion in terms of sanitation, hygiene, and energy production and consolidates it in a single document to present and address the problem of waste management through anaerobic digestion technology. Full article

In the Hetao Irrigation District of China, land consolidation to expand cultivated areas has disrupted the regional water–salt balance, increasing soil salinization risks. This study investigates the spatial optimization of cultivated land and salt-accumulating wasteland, using the SahysMod model to simulate soil water–salt dynamics and develop multi-scenario plans. The objective is to identify optimal strategies for regulating the dry drainage system and controlling salt accumulation by optimizing three key parameters: cultivated land-to-wasteland area ratio, elevation difference between cultivated land and wasteland, and spatial layout schemes. The results show that the SahysMod model accurately simulates soil water–salt interactions. Under the current scenario, the root zone ECe of cultivated land is projected to reach 6.16 dS·m⁻¹ by 2030, surpassing the salt tolerance threshold for sunflowers and threatening crop yield. The optimized scenario, which reduces the cultivated land-to-wasteland ratio from 14.41 to 12.97, increases wasteland area to 22.01 hm² and raises the elevation difference from 20 cm to 40 cm, significantly improving salt accumulation efficiency. By 2030, the ECe in the root zone decreases to 5.37 dS·m⁻¹, bringing soil conditions within the tolerance range for major crops in the region. Between 2021 and 2025, salt accumulation in cultivated land decreases dramatically from 19.08% to 5.60% under the optimized scenario, demonstrating effective early-stage salt control. However, from 2026 to 2030, the annual salt accumulation rate stabilizes at 24.88% (optimized) versus 25.20% (current), with a difference of only 0.32%. This finding reveals that while spatial optimization effectively mitigates short-term salt buildup, it has limited efficacy in preventing long-term salt accumulation. Spatial simulations suggest that a northern concentrated and southern patchwork wasteland layout enhances salt-accumulating capacity. These results demonstrate that spatial optimization of cultivated land and wasteland configuration alone is insufficient to fundamentally resolve soil salinization. Therefore, comprehensive measures, including drainage system improvements, soil amendments, and refined irrigation management, are necessary for sustainable salt management in arid irrigation regions. Full article

Enhancing farmers’ livelihood resilience is a cornerstone of sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation consolidation in developing countries. While tourism has emerged as a prominent rural revitalization strategy, the mediating role of tourism-induced land use transitions in building resilience—and the underlying spatial mechanisms through which these transformations operate—remains inadequately understood. This study integrates Henri Lefebvre’s spatial production theory with land systems analysis to examine how tourism-driven land use transitions influence farmers’ livelihood resilience in rural China. Using provincial panel data and three waves (2018, 2020, 2022) of nationally representative household survey data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), we construct a comprehensive tourism development index emphasizing land transformation dimensions and employ panel regression models with instrumental variables and threshold analysis. The findings reveal that tourism-induced land use transitions significantly enhance farmers’ livelihood resilience through three distinct spatial mechanisms: land-based rural infrastructure investment, industrial land structure rationalization, and cultural facility land development. Importantly, this relationship exhibits a double-threshold effect with diminishing marginal returns, and the positive impact is substantially stronger in heritage-rich regions with comparative policy advantages. By establishing land use transitions as a critical spatial production pathway linking tourism to sustainable livelihood outcomes, this study advances land systems science, offering a novel theoretical framework for integrating people–nature interactions in heritage-rich rural areas and practical guidance for strategic land use planning in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

China, the world’s predominant carbon emitter, is instrumental in advancing green and low-carbon urban land development globally. Urban land green use efficiency (ULGUE) in China is shaped by a multifaceted array of economic and social factors. Given the incongruous results observed in prior research, a comprehensive evaluation of these factors is paramount. This study consolidates data from previous research that explored the determinants of ULGUE in China. Utilizing the IPAT model as a foundational framework, the influencing factors were classified, and meta-analysis was employed to quantify their overall impact. The results show the following: (1) Population agglomeration exhibits a nonlinear effect on ULGUE, with moderate density enhancing efficiency but excessive concentration yielding diminishing returns; (2) Economic development efficiency positively affects ULGUE, with both gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and industrial structure advancement showing significant positive associations; (3) Social development equity demonstrates a threshold effect, where excessive governmental intervention or disproportionate investment in science and education may constrain ULGUE; (4) Resource endowment sustainability, including per capita green space and road infrastructure, consistently enhances ULGUE; (5) The impacts of these factors vary across regions, highlighting the importance of context-specific strategies. These findings provide robust evidence for policymakers to design targeted interventions that account for nonlinearities, threshold effects, and regional heterogeneity, thereby supporting sustainable, green, and low-carbon urban land use in China. Full article

A systematic assessment of the impact and mechanisms of Land Consolidation policy on ecological environment can provide valuable insights for optimizing territorial spatial development and restoring ecological functions, both in China and globally. Utilizing 2015–2022 township-level panel data from Zhejiang Province, this study employs satellite remote sensing to construct an Ecological Vulnerability (EV) index. We empirically examine the impact of Whole Region Comprehensive Land Consolidation (WRCLC) on EV and its transmission channels by applying a multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID) model and a mediating effect model. The results indicate that the implementation of WRCLC pilot policies significantly reduces EV, a finding that remains robust after parallel trend tests, placebo tests, and other robustness checks. The mediating effects within the “Element-Pattern-Effect” framework indicate that the transition of land elements toward ecological functions and the absence of significant land use conflicts at the pattern level are key mechanisms driving these outcomes. Furthermore, the study reveals that WRCLC exerts a significant negative spatial spillover effect on adjacent areas. It is therefore recommended to promote this policy, providing valuable insights for land consolidation initiatives in other Chinese provinces and developing countries worldwide. Full article

Multi-criteria decision-making models are very useful tools for use in the process of land consolidation project choice. However, they can lead to wrong or suboptimal choices. Under limited budgetary conditions (where the available budget does not cover all project candidates’ requirements for their realization), it is necessary to make a proper choice regarding financial asset distribution. This process should lead to the best possible budget distribution, i.e., to the choice of land consolidation projects that promises the maximal return on the assets invested. In this research, the authors have conducted theoretical research based on real data to determine the sensitivity of the choice of land consolidation projects with regard to the influence of the chosen criteria for decision-making. The utilized data were obtained via four multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods (AHP, VIKOR, SAW and TOPSIS). The method used for investigating the influence of certain criteria on decision-making was based on a multidimensional linear regression method where the rank of a land consolidation project is a dependent variable, while the values of criteria are independent variables. Full article