Land Degradation Monitoring in the Ordos Plateau of China Using an Expert Knowledge and BP-ANN-Based Approach

Yaojie Yue, Min Li, A-xing Zhu, Xinyue Ye, Rui Mao, Jinhong Wan and Jin Dong
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Yaojie Yue: School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Min Li: School of Geography, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
A-xing Zhu: Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Jinhong Wan: China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, China
Jin Dong: Bureau of Land and Resources, Feicheng 271600, China

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Land degradation monitoring is of vital importance to provide scientific information for promoting sustainable land utilization. This paper presents an expert knowledge and BP-ANN-based approach to detect and monitor land degradation in an effort to overcome the deficiencies of image classification and vegetation index-based approaches. The proposed approach consists of three generic steps: (1) extraction of knowledge on the relationship between land degradation degree and predisposing factors, which are NDVI and albedo, from domain experts; (2) establishment of a land degradation detecting model based on the BP-ANN algorithm; and (3) land degradation dynamic analysis. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the development of land degradation in the Ordos Plateau of China in 1990, 2000 and 2010. The results indicate that the proposed approach is reliable for monitoring land degradation, with an overall accuracy of 91.2%. From 1990–2010, a reverse trend of land degradation is observed in Ordos Plateau. Regions with relatively high land degradation dynamic were mostly located in the northeast of Ordos Plateau. Additionally, most of the regions have transferred from a hot spot of land degradation to a less changed area. It is suggested that land utilization optimization plays a key role for effective land degradation control. However, it should be highlighted that the goals of such strategies should aim at the main negative factors causing land degradation, and the land use type and its quantity must meet the demand of population and be reconciled with natural conditions. Results from this case study suggest that the expert knowledge and BP-ANN-based approach is effective in mapping land degradation.

Keywords: land degradation; TM image; visual interpretation; NDVI; albedo; BP-ANN; Ordos Plateau (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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