Land-use planning via enhanced multi-objective evolutionary algorithms: optimizing the land value of major Greenfield initiatives

The successful implementation of major development initiatives relies on the sound allocation of land uses against critical design criteria and constraints. The discovery of optimum development plans introduces severe complexities in formulating and solving the underlying multi-objective optimization problem. Moreover, in the presence of conflicting planning criteria decision-makers should be provided with a set of alterative-yet-optimum solutions that uniformly cover the spectrum of feasible maps. The introduction of sophisticated optimization algorithms addresses this challenge by pursuing a complete approximation of the Pareto front containing all prominent spatial allocations. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a new evolutionary algorithm (UDT-MOEA) against the results of an established multi-objective genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) when applied on a major greenfield initiative against the optimum location(s), size and shape of three new land uses. Each algorithm performs best in different areas of the feasible objective space, providing planning alternatives with distinct characteristics.     

The impacts of warfare and armed conflict on land systems

ABSTRACT

Land-use decisions can change abruptly in response to shocks, and warfare and armed conflicts are among the most drastic and globally frequent shocks. Yet, our understanding of where armed conflict affects land systems, how land-use patterns are impacted, and how far-reaching and persistent these changes are, is partial. We used a spatially detailed dataset on armed conflict and a literature review to explore these questions. A number of key insights emerged from our study: (1) warfare and armed conflict affect land systems mainly in more densely populated areas, regardless of the dominating land use; (2) warfare and armed conflict can impact land systems in major ways, but these effects are diverse and not unidirectional; (3) warfare and armed conflict primarily affects land systems locally, but can forge telecouplings; and (4) although the impact of warfare and armed conflict is often immediate, it can instigate long-lasting land-use legacies.     

Pollution prevention for sustainable development: the land-use question

The central argument of the paper is that effective pollution prevention can be achieved only by integrated land-use planning which offers the broad framework for co-ordinating technological and non-technological means to achieve sustainable development. The paper first reviews the role of land-use in preventing or contributing to pollution over time, focusing especially on contemporary efforts to promote environmental protection through land-use planning and management. The relationship between land-use, pollution and sustainable development is analysed by examining the most important types of land-use-related problems, discussing their causes and identifying a number of land-use-related constraints to sustainable development. Finally, a land-use planning and policy framework approach to pollution prevention for sustainable development is outlined which emphasizes the need for integrated analysis of pollution problems and adoption of comprehensive approaches to their solution. Scientific, spatial, temporal and policy issues are addressed in the context of the proposed approach.     

Effects of land use on water quality of two high-altitude lakes and catchments in Yunnan Province,China

SUMMARY

Reclaiming farmland from lakes in China in the 1950s damaged the water quality of many lakes. Tremendous efforts have been made since the late 1990s to restore vegetation around the damaged lakes. This paper examines water quality of Fuxian and Qilu Lakes and land-use characteristics within the two catchments in the high-altitude area of Yunnan Province, China. Landsat TM data acquired in 1989, 1994, 1999 and 2005 were used to extract land use and land cover (LULC) information. Measurements of five water quality indices (WQIs), BOD, COD, pH, TN and TP, for the same period of time were examined. The results showed that the area of residential and forest/shrub increased, whereas that of cropland and barren land decreased from 1989 to 2005 in both catchments. Qilu Lake was much more polluted than Fuxian Lake, and pollution worsened over time for both lakes. The differences in water quality between the two lakes were caused by differences in LULC composition and continued degradation in water quality was caused by intensive farming and urban sprawl. Unless the landscape is converted back to its pre-1950 composition and structure, water quality in both lakes cannot be significantly improved and will continue to threaten sustainable development in the region.     

Evaluation of the sustainable land use status of the North China Plain

The North China Plain is one of the most important production areas for wheat and maize in China, and also has the densest agricultural population in China. How to use and develop the limited land resources reasonably, and improve and protect them, have become issues of major concern. This paper is based on sustainability theory, reviewing the fundamental principles of sustainability, and developing an index system with which to evaluate the sustainability status of land use. We also use this method to evaluate the land-use status of the North China Plain and to analyze current factors affecting sustainable land use in this area. In addition, we propose a specific method for evaluating sustainable land use.     

典型岩溶区不同土地利用方式下雨季、旱季岩溶作用研究

2006年4月-2007年4月,通过野外溶蚀标准试片法,测试得出重庆金佛山岩溶区山腰碧潭泉和山顶水房泉两泉域5种典型土地利用方式下的6个测试点雨季和旱季溶蚀量.测试结果表明:雨季溶蚀量明显高于旱季,位于生态保护良好的山顶原始生态区测试点溶蚀率高于保护区、非保护区交界地带且受人类活动影响较大的山腰测试点;同一时段内不同土地利用方式下的测试点溶蚀速率也存在较大差异;6个测试点的年均溶蚀量由大到小依次为:水房泉竹林地>水房泉林地>水房泉草地>碧潭泉林地>碧潭泉灌草丛>碧潭泉耕地.从测试点的土壤基本理化性质分析得出,在研究区域内局地气候(降雨量、温度)影响的基础上,除了土壤CO_2浓度,土壤有机质也是控制两泉域岩溶速率的主要因素之一.     

基于土壤酶总体活性评价铅锌尾矿砂坍塌区土壤重金属污染

为探讨利用土壤酶总体活性表征铅锌尾矿砂造成的土壤重金属污染程度,本文对阳朔思的村水稻田、柑橘园和玉米地土壤中铅、锌、铜、镉的有效态质量分数以及参与土壤碳、氮、磷循环的纤维素酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶和酸性磷酸酶活性进行了测定。结果表明：供试土壤中镉、铅、锌的有效态质量分数（分别为2.39-4.42、173.71-221.66、140.11-244.10 mg＆#183; kg-1）均高于其全量在GB15618-1995《土壤环境质量标准》中的Ⅱ级标准,分别是Ⅱ级标准值的9.56-14.73、2.18-2.77、0.77-1.22倍,并且土壤中有效态镉带来的潜在生态风险最高。为进一步评价铅锌尾矿砂给不同土地利用类型土壤带来的生态环境风险,在对土壤重金属有效态质量分数进行归一化处理后,发现土壤重金属污染程度从高到低依次为水稻田、柑橘园、玉米地。由于土壤中的重金属复合污染物铅、锌、铜、镉对土壤酶活性的影响既有抑制作用,又有激活作用,因此不同土地利用类型下的单一土壤酶活性状态与土壤所遭受的重金属污染程度呈现出不一致的变化规律。而以土壤总体酶活性指数对各样本进行分类,发现水稻田、柑橘园、玉米地的土壤总体酶活性指数分别为4.345、5.153、5.502,其结果与以重金属有效态归一化处理之后获得的综合污染指数划分结果呈反比,从而说明利用土壤总体酶活性指数来表征不同土地利用类型下的土壤重金属综合污染状况是切实有效的。     

京杭大运河无锡段水质和土地利用的响应关系

以京杭大运河无锡段2003年7月和12月两景SPOT-5正射影像为数据源,结合断面水质数据,利用基于最小二乘法的多元回归方法,建立了枯水期和丰水期水质参数与土地利用的响应模型。结果表明:以监测断面为中心的缓冲区距离的空间变化与水质监测指标之间有很明显的响应关系,建立的模型显示,丰水期DO、CODMn、BOD5、TN和TP的最大响应宽度分别为100、100、300、200和100 m,枯水期的最大响应宽度则为500、200、300、400和200 m。运河的水质污染主要受离河岸较近的土地利用结构的影响,耕地上产生的农业污水、商业和工业中的废水以及大面积裸地上居民生活垃圾和建筑垃圾产生的污水是导致京杭大运河无锡段水质恶化的重要原因。     

利用TM图像逐级分类提取非点源信息

探讨了运用逐级分类从TM图像中提取与非点源污染有关的土地利用信息的方法.研究表明,逐级分类与一般的最大似然度分类相比效果更佳,具有简化复杂问题、突出研究重点和方法灵活等优点,能够快速有效地提取所需要的信息.     

洞庭湖区不同利用方式下农田土壤有机碳含量特征

土地利用方式是影响土壤有机碳含量和动态的重要因子之一。其利用方式的改变必将引起土壤有机碳含量发生相应的变化。在洞庭湖腹地选取典型样区,通过调查走访和密集取样,分析了不同土地利用方式（旱地、水旱轮作地、一季稻水田和双季稻水田）下623个农田耕层土样有机碳含量。结果表明,研究区内土壤有机碳含量高低顺序为双季稻水田（28.12 g/kg） > 一季稻水田（27.03 g/kg） > 水旱轮作地（24.79 g/kg） > 旱地（17.96 g/kg）,其差异均达到极显著水平（P < 0.01）。土地生产力、秸秆还田量和土壤水文状态是导致不同利用方式下耕层土壤有机碳含量差异的主要原因。进一步分析表明：加强作物秸秆还田（土）、提高土地复种指数、增加地表覆盖是维持和提高洞庭湖区耕作土壤有机碳含量的可行措施,尤其是旱作土壤。