Search Results (1,270)

Forest structural complexity underpins habitat quality, microclimate buffering, and resilience, yet it remains poorly characterized across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) where field inventories and airborne LiDAR are difficult to scale across rugged terrain. Conservation planning and protected-area evaluation in the HKH therefore often rely on canopy height or cover proxies that do not directly represent vertical structural organization. Here we develop a repeatable, uncertainty-aware indicator of forest structural complexity from GEDI waveform LiDAR using the Waveform Structural Complexity Index (WSCI) and its prediction intervals. We first define a conservative analysis footprint (“trustable pixels”) by combining a woody-vegetation screen with minimum GEDI sampling support and canopy-stature plausibility, and by excluding the highest-uncertainty tail using a relative prediction-interval criterion. To separate complexity from canopy height, we model the HKH-wide expected WSCI–RH98 relationship and map height-normalized excess complexity (observed minus expected), identifying structural complexity hotspots and coldspots as the upper and lower tails of the excess distribution. Anomaly patterns are strongly organized along elevation and treeline-relevant belts and show coherent departures among ecoregions that persist after stratified adjustment for elevation and mean annual precipitation, indicating additional controls beyond broad environmental gradients. Protected areas exhibit systematically lower hotspot prevalence than surrounding landscapes, and within-elevation comparisons suggest this association is not explained by elevation alone, highlighting the need to interpret protected-area signals in the context of placement and land-use pressure. Overall, the anomaly atlas provides an operational indicator framework to stratify monitoring, prioritize field validation, and support the landscape-scale assessment of structural conditions beyond canopy height across one of the world’s most critical mountain forest systems. Full article

The deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on rooftops in urban environments is to reduce land area required for electricity generation. These deployments may encounter shading and masking on the PV collectors from surrounding building walls, thus reducing the generated electricity. The present article proposes a novel anisotropic diffuse radiation model and investigates the diffuse masking losses stemming from obscuring part of the visible sky to the PV collectors by front rows and by walls erected near the collectors. Monthly and annually collected energies of the anisotropic and the isotropic diffuse radiation models are compared for four different simulated configurations of PV systems deployed near walls. The proposed novel modified model uses the original Klucher (1979) analytical diffuse radiation model for comparing the energies. The anisotropic model predicts a diffuse energy between 4.5% and 13% higher than the isotropic model for a site with 30% diffuse radiation, and nearly 30% higher diffuse energy for a site with 50% diffuse radiation, depending on system configuration. Applying the proposed anisotropic model allows us to assess more accurately the contribution of the diffuse radiation to the generated electric energy of PV systems. Full article

Sustainable water use behavior in households is a crucial component in facing the impacts of climate change on water conditions, especially in urban areas and their surroundings in countries like Indonesia. This study examines household water use behavior in urban and peri-urban areas of Surabaya and Sidoarjo in Indonesia by integrating environmental spatial characteristics and using psycho-social factors. This research methodology includes statistical analysis with the aim of examining the variable in relation to household water behavior and then integrating with spatial analysis using nearest neighborhood analyses and spatial overlay with land use/land cover (LULC) and Urban Heat Island (UHI) data, doing so to identify behavioral clustering patterns and assess spatial risk distribution. The results suggest that there is generally positive orientation toward sustainable household water use among respondents. Households in peri-urban areas show better water management behavior than those in urban areas. The implications of spatial risk in urban areas are higher due to poor behavior facing high environmental pressures. On the other hand, when overlaid with clusters of well-behaved respondents, the risk of water shortages decreases, supporting climate change mitigation efforts. Full article

At present, most plateau-constrained cities worldwide—plateau cities whose spatial form is strictly constrained by topography—have entered the late stage of urbanization. The relationship between urban form and the surrounding geographic spatial pattern has consequently exhibited distinctive new characteristics. However, planning and policy often continue to adopt green-space allocation schemes developed in the mid-stage of urbanization and based on the experience of plain cities, resulting in difficulties in plan implementation, intensified human–land conflicts, and imbalances in both the supply–demand relationship and equity of green public services with severe challenges to urban sustainable development, calling for urgent correction and reconstruction. Through a literature review and comparative case analysis, this study clarifies global trends in the paradigm shift in plateau-city planning and develops an evaluation system comprising “adaptability analysis of originally planned spaces within the built-up area + assessment of the potential for converting ecological value in green spaces outside the built-up area + integrated spatial optimization.” Building on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) weighting and spatial analysis, the study establishes a comprehensive assessment framework and applies it empirically to Kunming as a typical case, with the aim of proposing a correction-and-reconstruction paradigm for green-space allocation tailored to plateau-constrained cities to achieve sustainable development goals. The results indicate a widespread paradigm shift in many cities from “pattern optimization during incremental expansion” and “passive adaptation to ecological patterns” toward “enhancing governance effectiveness during stock-based renewal” and “proactive innovation in governance instruments.” The Kunming case shows that, during the mid-stage of urbanization, numerous parks and green spaces were planned within the built-up area (flat land), yet many of these proposals proved infeasible due to excessive costs and trade-offs. Meanwhile, the adjacent mountainous ecological spaces with substantial scenic and recreational potential were long excluded from the urban public service system. In response, this study proposes a three-dimensional allocation model that combines “optimized adaptation” within the built-up area and “potential conversion” in adjacent peri-urban areas together with differentiated policy instruments and an implementation/transfer assurance mechanism. This approach not only offers practical planning guidance for Kunming but also provides a broadly applicable set of theoretical and practical tools for improving land-use efficiency and promoting green equity in similar cities worldwide. Full article

Against the backdrop of dietary structure evolution and the “big food concept” strategy, there has been a shift from the traditional grain-centric perspective toward a diversified supply system. Taking Hubei Province—a major grain-producing region in China—as a case study, this research establishes a multi-criteria evaluation system and conducts analysis using statistical yearbooks and land survey data. By integrating natural conditions, economic benefits, and production capacity, the suitability of cultivated land for growing grain crops, cash crops, and forage crops is assessed. Concurrently, landscape pattern indices were applied to quantify the degree of farmland fragmentation. Employing a self-organizing mapping (SOM) neural network model, we synthesized suitability and fragmentation data to delineate differentiated farmland conservation zones. The results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in crop suitability and fragmentation levels. High-suitability zones for grain crops were concentrated in the Jianghan Plain, while forage crops exhibited higher suitability in northeastern and southeastern Hubei. Farmland fragmentation showed a spatial pattern of lower levels in central Jianghan Plain, gradually increasing toward surrounding hilly and mountainous areas. SOM clustering effectively partitioned farmland into six functional zones: multifunctional agricultural zones, mixed farming zones, grain crop zones, cash crop zones, forage crop zones, and production improvement zones. This multi-source geographic and statistical data-driven zoning framework provides scientific basis for targeted policy interventions. It enables the quantitative management, quality enhancement, and spatial optimization of farmland resources, thereby operationalizing the big food concept to strengthen regional food security. Full article

Railway corridors create persistent linear habitats embedded within intensively managed agricultural landscapes and can simultaneously support native biodiversity and facilitate the spread of undesirable taxa. We evaluated vegetation composition across five habitat types associated with railway line no. 250 (Havlíčkův Brod–Tišnov, Czech Republic): railway yard, railway embankment, railway land, field margin, and adjacent arable land. Vegetation was recorded using phytosociological relevés (10 m²) at four localities during three surveys in the 2021 growing season. In total, 83 plant taxa were identified, with pronounced differences among habitat types. Species richness and vegetation structure were highest in railway embankments, railway land, and field margins, whereas the railway yard and arable land exhibited lower diversity consistent with high disturbance intensity and substrate constraints. Canonical correspondence analysis distinguished habitat-affinity assemblages, indicating strong habitat filtering along the railway–agriculture gradient. Classification by origin and invasion status showed that non-native and invasive taxa were concentrated predominantly in railway embankments and adjacent habitats, suggesting elevated propagule pressure and potential spread into surrounding farmland. Colonization success (ICS) and colonization potential (ICP) indices indicated that railway-associated habitats can host taxa with high establishment capacity, contributing to successional stability within the corridor. These findings highlight railways as multifunctional elements of agricultural landscapes that require integrated vegetation management to balance biodiversity benefits with operational safety and invasive species risk. Full article

The Carpathian Basin is a coherent biogeographic unit whose wildlife populations and pathogen dynamics are increasingly reshaped by administratively fragmented governance, land-use change and linear infrastructure. This review synthesizes evidence that the permeability patterns governing host movement also structure the transboundary exchange of genes and infections, creating a connectivity substrate for conservation genetics and One Health risk. Focusing on wild boar (Sus scrofa), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama) and the expanding golden jackal (Canis aureus), we integrate population genetic inferences with wildlife epidemiology to examine how highways, border fences and asymmetric management (e.g., supplemental, feeding practices, hunting pressure and surveillance regimes) can generate biological asymmetries across boundaries. We highlight African swine fever as an emblematic disturbance in wild boar populations, discuss cervid risks including tick-borne pathogens and chronic wasting disease (CWD) preparedness and evaluate zoonotic threats associated with carnivore expansion (e.g., Echinococcus spp.). We propose a Carpathian Basin-level monitoring and data-sharing architecture, coupling harmonized passive surveillance, strategic active surveillance for priority pathogens, and standardized genetic marker panels supported by interoperable metadata. A Basin-scale One Health approach is a pragmatic prerequisite for the coordinated prevention, early detection and resilient management of cross-border epizootics and zoonotic threats. Full article

Background: Anatomical variations in visceral arteries are not so uncommon (up to 20% of cases in general population), with splenic and hepatic artery anomalies being the most frequently reported. Aberrant arteries may be affected with aneurysmal lesions that are rare but potentially fatal conditions. In their treatment, a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the underlining anatomical variation are pivotal to prevent potential ischemic complications for the end organ. Methods: A comprehensive literature search on the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases was done using the terms: “anomalous visceral artery aneurysm”, “Aberrant visceral arteries”, and “anomalous origin visceral vessels”. Eligible studies published from inception to 30 June 2024 were identified. Only those that had included the adopted treatment strategies (open, endovascular or hybrid repair) and the related outcomes (mortality, bleeding, end-organ ischemia, lesions of the surrounding organ, need for reintervention) were analyzed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of each approach. A narrative analysis of the indications informing the selection of each interventional treatment, based on individual procedural risks, was also presented. Results: A total of 30 publications describing 36 patients (mean age 48.9 ± 12.8 years, range 22–73 years) with aneurysms involving aberrant visceral arteries were included. Most patients were female (25/36, 69.4%). True aneurysms predominated (with a mean size of 30.5 ± 11.5 mm, range 6–60 mm), being reported in 33/36 (91.7%) patients. Most lesions involved a splenic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery (27/36, 75.0%). Overall, 26/36 (72.2%) patients were symptomatic upon presentation, most commonly with abdominal or epigastric pain, often associated with nausea or vomiting, back pain or shortness of breath. All patients underwent preoperative Computed angiotomography or subtraction angiography to define the operative strategy. Most cases were managed electively (31/36, 86.1%), but 11.1% (4/36) of cases required urgent intervention (in one case the urgency status was not specified). Overall, 19/36 (52.8%) patients underwent purely endovascular repair, 15/36 (41.7%) were treated with open surgery, and 2/36 (5.6%) had hybrid procedures combining endovascular coiling with laparoscopic splenic artery ligation. Indication for treatment was based on vessel tortuosity, landing zones, and the presence of side branches supplying end organs. Early outcomes were favorable regardless of treatment strategies. A single organ-related complication was reported (1/36, 2.8%) following open/endovascular repair, consisting of mild pancreatitis, which resolved with conservative management. No perioperative or aneurysm-related deaths were reported in any of the included cases. No recurrent aneurysms or late aneurysm-related complications were described during the reported follow-up intervals (mean ≈ 10.5 months, range 1.5–42 months). Conclusions: Aneurysms arising from aberrant visceral arteries present unique challenges because their origin, course, and collateral networks deviate from standard anatomy. Patient selection and detailed anatomic mapping preoperatively are decisive as inadequate imaging or failure to recognize an aberrant origin can lead to the incomplete exclusion or inadvertent sacrifice of critical branches. Understanding the anatomy of visceral arteries and their variations is paramount in clinical practice, particularly when planning interventions for minimizing procedural risks, optimizing outcomes, and preventing potential complications. Contemporary practice favors endovascular repair due to lower perioperative morbidity, but success depends on vessel tortuosity, landing zones, and the presence of important side branches that supply end organs. Full article

Drought is a highly destructive natural disaster that inflicts severe economic losses. Its formation mechanisms are complex, yet existing studies have often focused on single driving factors, leaving the synergistic effects of multiple factors insufficiently explored. Based on multi-source data from Xinjiang spanning 1981–2020, this study systematically examined the combined impacts of atmospheric circulation, underlying surface conditions, and human activities on drought, using the multi-temporal-scale Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Standardized Soil Moisture Index (SSI), along with partial correlation analysis, spatial autocorrelation, and principal component analysis. The results show that Xinjiang experienced a pronounced drying trend over the past 40 years, with the seasonal SPEI and SSI both exhibiting significant declines. Drought intensity was higher in northern Xinjiang than in the south. Correlations between drought indices and circulation indices, such as Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), were relatively weak, indicating a limited regulatory influence of large-scale circulation on regional drought under the dual constraints of topography and an inland setting. Among underlying surface factors, slope significantly influenced drought spatial patterns. Mountainous areas and basin interiors showed positive spatial correlations, characterized respectively by high–high clustering (high slope and high drought index) and low–low clustering (low slope and low drought index). In contrast, basin margins exhibited low–high clustering (low slope surrounded by high drought index), reflecting negative spatial correlation. Aspect showed no significant effect. Vegetation cover displayed clear seasonal coupling with drought, with strong negative correlations in spring due to intensified water stress. Human activities also played a prominent role. Since the mid-1990s, the expansion of built-up land and increased agricultural water use have shifted drought–land use relationships toward low–high clustering (low drought index surrounded by high land-use intensity) in southern Xinjiang oases, and toward low–low clustering (low drought index and low land-use intensity) in eastern Xinjiang. Meanwhile, ecological restoration projects promoted a transition from low–high to high–high clustering (high drought index and high land-use intensity) in some areas, alleviating local drying trends. Principal component analysis further revealed a shift in the dominant driver: land-use change was the primary factor before 2005, whereas vegetation cover became the key driver thereafter. By clarifying the mechanisms underlying multi-factor interactions in drought in Xinjiang, this study provides scientific support for integrated water resource management, ecological conservation, and climate adaptation strategies in arid regions. Full article

This study develops an integrated geospatial framework to examine the spatial-temporal relationship between urban land-use change and tropospheric ozone dynamics within a mid-sized functional urban system, using Bolu, Türkiye, as a case study. Mid-sized urban systems remain underrepresented in air-quality and land-use research despite increasing environmental pressures under ongoing urbanization. The spatial framework was defined to encompass the central urban area and its surrounding peri-urban and transportation-influenced transition zones. Future land-use patterns were estimated to 2030 using the MOLUSCE model, while tropospheric ozone indicators were derived from Sentinel-5P observations for the 2020–2024 period and descriptively extended to 2030 using the Theil–Sen slope estimator. A fishnet-based spatial regionalization approach enabled consistent comparison between ozone trends and urban expansion intensity, quantified using the Urban Expansion Intensity Index (UEII). The integrated framework provides a spatially coherent basis for understanding land–atmosphere interactions in mid-sized urban systems. Full article

This paper investigates the application of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles to the retrofitting of historic Gulf urban cores through a comparative analysis of Souq Waqif (Doha) and Qasr Al Hokm (Riyadh). The research employs field observation, thematic mapping, and qualitative diagnosis using the Integrated Modification Methodology (IMM) to assess compactness, intricacy, and connectivity within walkable station catchments. The findings indicate that Souq Waqif has a highly compact and intricate historic core with robust pedestrian activity, yet exhibits discontinuities at its periphery, such as car-dominated streets, fragmented green spaces, and weak connections between the metro station, parks, and adjacent blocks. In Qasr Al Hokm, the analysis affirms the value of its fine-grained historic fabric and civic landmarks, but also identifies deficiencies in shading, last-mile connectivity, and land-use balance surrounding the new metro station. Drawing on lessons from Souq Waqif, the paper proposes a TOD-oriented urban design framework for Qasr Al Hokm, emphasizing shaded pedestrian corridors, active ground floors, intermodal hubs, and heritage-compatible mixed-use intensification. This comparative approach demonstrates how TOD can foster more livable, accessible, and climate-responsive historic cores in Gulf cities, while maintaining respect for local identity and governance structures. Full article

Amid rapid urbanization, the rapid increase in urban vehicles has exacerbated parking scarcity, particularly in areas surrounding hospitals. As the core city of the Huaihai Economic Zone, Xuzhou’s medical institutions serve a broad region spanning 178,000 square kilometers. The pronounced mismatch between parking supply and demand in these areas severely impacts traffic efficiency and public service quality. To address this challenge, this study proposes a data-driven parking resource planning methodology for the identification and planning of informal/shared parking spaces (utilizing underutilized idle spaces) in hospital vicinities, integrating multi-source geospatial data from OpenStreetMap, remote sensing imagery, and field surveys. The methodology involves data preprocessing (e.g., format conversion, building boundary calibration), parking space identification and classification (e.g., buffer zone delineation, vacant land categorization, shape-based division), and layout optimization using a genetic algorithm combined with manual refinement. Applied within a 1 km radius around two hospitals in Xuzhou, the results demonstrate significant improvements in space utilization and provide a scientific basis for temporary parking facility planning. The results provide practical decision support for urban spatial management and temporary parking governance in high-demand public service areas. Full article

Publicly accessible spaceborne remote sensing datasets often lack the spatial resolution required to reliably distinguish archeological features from their surrounding geomorphological contexts. In this study, we assess the potential of super-resolution (SR) products derived from multiple public-domain remote sensing datasets for a systematic archeological survey in the Caral–Supe region. We focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and topographic datasets—including Sentinel-1, Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR), and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)—because of their capacity to detect subtle surface expressions and shallow subsurface structures obscured by vegetation or sediment cover. Using state-of-the-art deep learning algorithms, primarily employing the Enhanced Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Network (ESRGAN) architecture, we integrated multi-source SAR imagery and DEM data to generate SR products that reveal distinct signatures in areas containing dense archeological remains and clearly delineate shallow, buried anthropogenic features. We further developed deep learning classification models that combine SR SAR and DEM inputs and trained them on known archeological site locations. This approach enabled the detection of previously undocumented structural features distributed along the coastal margin and throughout the Supe Valley. Our findings indicate that enhancing publicly available remote sensing datasets with advanced SR techniques can provide cost-effective and practical high-resolution archeological data, compared to data mining using aerial photography and high-resolution commercial satellite imagery, in terms of both cost and obstacle penetration. Full article

(1) The bird colouration is the result of adaptation to environmental conditions, predator–prey relationships, and sexual selection (intraspecific competition and signalling of quality). Only a few studies have explicitly explored the plumage colouration of birds at the level of species communities. (2) Methods: We combined data with bird plumage colours and their spatial distribution at a large spatial scale in Italy, exploring the relationship between community colours and different types of habitats and landscape heterogeneity. (3) Results: Overall, we found that the more representative colours of avian communities were grey, white, black, and brown. The percentage of black colour in the community was smaller in close habitats (e.g., forests). A high percentage of brown was observed in forests and shrublands, whereas a high percentage of white was found in wetlands, water bodies, and urban areas. The percentage of yellow was relatively low overall, but it was slightly higher in deciduous forests. Land use richness increased the percentage of brown, green, rufous, and yellow, while negatively affecting other pigments (black and grey = melanins, purple = structural, and red = carotenes). The community colour inequality decreased when the species and land use richness increased, while it increased when the weighted edge density of surrounding landscapes increased. Finally, we found that bird communities that are made up of closely related species show a wider variety of colours (e.g., lower colour inequality). This supports the idea that closely related species that live together develop different features to improve species recognition. (4) Conclusions: We found that the colours of bird communities are related to the type of environment. Full article

To ensure farmland soil quality and enable the systematic management of heavy metal contamination, this study assessed cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) levels in 114 surface soils from farmlands across four cities in Heilongjiang Province, China. The heavy metal elements were determined and comprehensively evaluated using four indices (geo-accumulation index, single factor contamination index, Nemerow index, and potential ecological risk index). Monitoring results showed that most soil samples exhibited concentrations of Cd, Hg and As that were below the risk screening values specified in relevant standards, except for those with slightly higher Cd concentration in a few soil samples from Suihua City. Comprehensive evaluation indicated a slightly to moderately Cd contamination across the study area, with Suihua City demonstrating the most prominent pollution levels. Factors such as railway traffic emissions might have caused Cd contamination in the surrounding farmland soil. Health risk assessments confirmed that the study area posed no significant carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic risks to children or adults via soil exposure. These findings highlight the need for priority monitoring of heavy metal concentrations and implementation of targeted soil protection measures to ensure both human health and sustainable agricultural development. It is necessary to closely monitor various potential pollution sources during the operation of surrounding railway lines, which is to prevent the formation of Cd-contaminated areas due to the long-term effects of railway transportation. The results of this study will have certain significance for the evaluation and management of regional farmland land pollution. Full article