China’s coupled human-environment system(CHES) is assessed here via a systems schema that emphasizes the complex interactions of components and their attributes. In addition to the human and environment components, w...China’s coupled human-environment system(CHES) is assessed here via a systems schema that emphasizes the complex interactions of components and their attributes. In addition to the human and environment components, we identified two other components to evaluate the relationship. The four components are human activity intensity, resource carrying capacity, ecological constraints and system’s openness. Based on their interactions, we derived a cognitive schema for classifying the level of strain or stress of an area. The analysis draws on 11 indicators and 29 sub-indicators including remote sensing data and statistical data that are used to estimate the four components. The findings indicate that human activities are highly intense in a few geographical areas, particularly large urban systems and trade and investment zones on the eastern coastal areas. Nonetheless, these areas are also well-endowed in water resources and fertile soils although urban systems are increasingly stressed from negative pollution externalities. They are also open systems which allow them to bear a higher level of pressure and adjust accordingly. Desertification and soil erosion point to relatively fragile biophysical systems in the west and southwest, but human activities are still relatively less intense compared to their coastal counterparts. As a whole, only 14% of areas may be said to be relatively or highly strained. This however belies another one-third of areas that are currently unstable, and likely to become strained and thereby vulnerable in the near future.展开更多
The study of human-environment relationships in mountain areas is important for both theoretical and practical reasons, as many mountain areas suffer similar problems, such as depopulation, unemployment and natural ha...The study of human-environment relationships in mountain areas is important for both theoretical and practical reasons, as many mountain areas suffer similar problems, such as depopulation, unemployment and natural hazards. Medium mountains constitute a special case within mountains, because they are more populated but less attractive as tourist destinations than high mountains. In this context, the Apuseni Mts （Romania） are considered as a ease study. In this paper, we apply GIS-based, quantitative methods to characterize the strength and dynamics of human-environment interactions, taking into consideration some environmental factors （elevation, relative height, slope, river distance, lithology, land cover, natural attractions） as well as historical population and recent tourism data. We found that population density has strong （r2〉0.8） relationships with all relief factors （elevation, relative height, slope, river distance）, and that best-fit functions are nonlinear. We outlined the varying demographic scenarios by elevation zones and interpreted the historically switching sign of population change versus elevation relationship. We demonstrated that lithology also has an impact on the spatial distribution of population, although it is not independent from the relief effect. The land cover of the mainly cultural landscape is very strongly correlated with relief parameters （especially slope）, which suggests good adaptation. We pointed out the dominance of karst objects in the natural tourism potential of the Apuseni Mts and also explored further components of real tourism （spas, heritage, towns）. Finally, we concluded that the environmental settings investigated do in fact constrain the spatial framework of society, but soeio-economic changes in history can be explained from the side of society, which conforms to the theory of cultural possibilism.展开更多
Symmetrical relationships between humans and their environment have been referred to as an extension of symmetries in the human geographical system and have drawn great attention.This paper explored the symmetry betwe...Symmetrical relationships between humans and their environment have been referred to as an extension of symmetries in the human geographical system and have drawn great attention.This paper explored the symmetry between physical and human systems through fractal analysis of the road and drainage networks in Wuling mountainous area.We found that both the road and drainage networks reflect weak clustering distributions.The evolution of the road network shared a significant self-organizing composition,while the drainage network showed obvious double fraetal characteristics.The geometric fractal dimension of the road network was larger than that of the drainage network.In addition,when assigned a weight relating to hierarchy or length,neither the road network nor drainage network showed a fractal property.These findings indicated that the fractal evolution of the road network shared certain similarities with fractal distribution of the drainage network.The symmetry between the two systems resulted from an interactive process of destroying symmetry at the lower order and reconstructing symmetry at the higher order.The relationships between the fractal dimensions of the rural-urban road network,the drainage network andthe urban system indicated that the development of this area was to achieve the symmetrical isomorphism of physical-human geographical systems.展开更多
Chinese civilization has continuously developed and formed on the foundation of China’s unique natural environment.Its formation process and cultural characteristics are intimately and intricately linked to the histo...Chinese civilization has continuously developed and formed on the foundation of China’s unique natural environment.Its formation process and cultural characteristics are intimately and intricately linked to the historical evolution of the natural environment,including changes in climate,hydrological systems,and land use.Currently,academic scholarship on the historical evolution of Chinese civilization is predominantly based on the findings of the humanities;the influence of natural environmental change has not been systematically and scientifically considered in unveiling the formation and development of the civilization.Adopting a perspective of deep interdisciplinary integration between the natural sciences and humanities,this study synthesizes existing research on the historical changes in natural geographical elements,such as the climate and environment,since the Holocene.It systematically reviews evidence from disciplines such as archaeology and historical geography,comprehensively analyzes the natural environmental factors within the spatiotemporal process of the formation of Chinese civilization,and reveals the significance of the human-environment relationship in shaping its evolution.Based on this systematic review,the study presents three main scientific findings:(1)The uniqueness of China’s geographical environment laid the foundation for the endogenous nature and the fundamental pattern of“unity in diversity”of Chinese civilization.(2)Climate change facilitated the early origins of Chinese civilization and subsequently drove ethnic exchange and integration throughout its historical development.(3)Throughout historical periods,the primary strategy of the human-environment relationship was human adaptation;yet,the influence of human agency on the natural world progressively increased.In conclusion,there is an urgent need to conduct systematic and scientific research on Chinese civilization from the perspective of the human-environment relationship.Through in-depth interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration between the fields of geography,climatology,history,and archaeology,we can deepen our understanding of the historical development of Chinese civilization and provide historical lessons and insights for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.展开更多
河流的形成及演变与区域环境和人类活动密切相关。红水河位于石羊河流域中游,是研究中国西北地区环境变化和古文化演变的重要地区。本文基于从红水河沿岸连续采集的5个剖面,结合历史地理资料和TraCE-21ka模拟,探究了晚全新世红水河形成...河流的形成及演变与区域环境和人类活动密切相关。红水河位于石羊河流域中游,是研究中国西北地区环境变化和古文化演变的重要地区。本文基于从红水河沿岸连续采集的5个剖面,结合历史地理资料和TraCE-21ka模拟,探究了晚全新世红水河形成与演变过程中的自然与人文因素,并通过分析HSH01、HSH04和HSH05剖面典型湖相层的沉积物粒度分布特征,揭示了晚全新世红水河水动力变化过程。研究发现,晚全新世西北地区呈现干旱化趋势,古湖泊武始泽完全萎缩,红水河现代河道开始下切形成。汉唐明清等强盛的中原王朝为加强对河西走廊的控制,采取屯田实边政策以及大兴水利,使得红水河流域农业迅速发展,农业用水激增,红水河流量进一步减少。晚全新世红水河流域沉积环境复杂,沉积相多变,2 ka BP以来红水河流域可能发生了强降水事件或洪水事件。展开更多
Amid ongoing global environmental change and the critical pursuit of sustainable development,human-environment systems are exhibiting increasingly complex dynamic evolutions and spatial relationships,underscoring an u...Amid ongoing global environmental change and the critical pursuit of sustainable development,human-environment systems are exhibiting increasingly complex dynamic evolutions and spatial relationships,underscoring an urgent need for innovative research frameworks.Integrated geography synthesizes physical geography,human geography,and geographic information science,providing key frameworks for understanding complex human-environment systems.This editorial proposes an emerging research framework for integrated geography—“Composite driving-System evolution-Coupling mechanism-Synergistic regulation(CSCS)”—based on key issues such as climate change,biodiversity loss,resource scarcity,and social-ecological interactions,which have been highlighted in both recent critical literature on human-environment systems and UN assessment reports.The framework starts with diverse composite driving forces,extends to the evolution of human-environment system structures,processes,and functions that these drivers induce,explores couplings within human-environment systems,and calls for regulation aimed at sustainable development in synergies.Major research frontiers include understanding the cascading“evolution-coupling”effects of shocks;measuring system resilience,thresholds,and safe and just operating space boundaries;clarifying linkage mechanisms across scales;and achieving synergistic outcomes for multi-objective sustainability.This framework will help promote the interdisciplinary integration and development of integrated geography,and provide geographical solutions for the global sustainable development agenda.展开更多
Background Exploring how immersive technologies can simulate and assess user experiences in designed environments is an important topic in architectural research.In this study,a multisensory virtual reality(VR)system ...Background Exploring how immersive technologies can simulate and assess user experiences in designed environments is an important topic in architectural research.In this study,a multisensory virtual reality(VR)system developed to support the study of human-built environment interactions under multimodal conditions(visual,olfactory,and auditory)was evaluated.Methods The effectiveness of the system was tested by conducting in-depth user studies using a mixed-method approach to provide quantitative and qualitative evidence.The results of the case study were discussed,key features of the proposed prototype were assessed,and limitations and opportunities for future studies were identified.Results Findings showed that multisensory elements can deepen participants’sense of presence,increase engagement levels,and enrich overall user experience in immersive environments.Integrating olfactory stimuli into virtual representations of architectural spaces revealed how multisensory feedback informs spatial perception and supports the development of more responsive and human-centered design strategies.Conclusions This study contributes to the emerging field of sensory architecture,aiming to move beyond visual simulation toward a richer embodied understanding of space.The proposed approach provides valuable insights into the development of multisensory VR environments in architecture,enabling future research and immersive research methodologies in wider fields.展开更多
The orientations of ancient tombs have attracted increasing scholarly attention,as they offer valuable insights into early social structures,cultural traditions,and the relationship between humans and their environmen...The orientations of ancient tombs have attracted increasing scholarly attention,as they offer valuable insights into early social structures,cultural traditions,and the relationship between humans and their environment.However,the application of machine learning algorithms to the study of tomb orientation remains relatively underexplored.In this study,we employed a Gaussian mixture model to conduct a systematic analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution of Neolithic tomb orientations in Central China.We also examined the relationship between tomb orientation and both environmental factors and sociocultural dynamics.The findings suggest a deliberate and methodical approach to the planning and alignment of tombs during the Neolithic Age.Tomb orientations in each chronological phase displayed clear clustering patterns,reflecting a developmental trajectory from uniformity to diversity,and ultimately toward integration.While early angular measurement techniques appear to have emerged,they do not show evidence of sustained technical progression.Instead,different periods seem to have achieved similar levels of directional accuracy.The predominance of westward-facing tombs may be closely tied to both topographic features and the symbolic association with sunset.At the same time,cultural evolution and interregional exchange played essential roles in shaping the distinctive patterns of prehistoric tomb orientation.This research contributes not only to the understanding of ancient funerary practices but also demonstrates the potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies in advancing archaeological analysis.展开更多
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)requires place-based solutions that reconcile global aspirations with local realities.Landscapes and regions represent a pivotal scale domain—large enough to capture cross...Achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)requires place-based solutions that reconcile global aspirations with local realities.Landscapes and regions represent a pivotal scale domain—large enough to capture cross-boundary ecological and socioeconomic processes,yet sufficiently grounded to enable context-sensitive understanding and governance.Landscape sustainability science offers a robust framework for bridging the global-local divide in SDG implementation.Rooted in the long-standing convergence between ecology and geography—tracing back to Humboldt’s unity of nature—landscape sustainability science advances a spatially explicit,systems-oriented approach guided by the principles of strong sustainability.Here we present the landscape sustainability science framework,structured around the core triad of landscape pattern,ecosystem services,and human wellbeing,and operationalized through dual feedback loops and the analysis–adaptation–assessment cycle.Our assessment shows that landscape sustainability science contributes directly to eight SDGs and indirectly to six others,offering actionable strategies for climate resilience,sustainable land management,and inclusive landscape governance.By helping to spatialize,localize,and operationalize global sustainability targets,landscape sustainability science provides a pragmatic pathway to advance the SDGs in diverse socioecological contexts.If global sustainability is to be achieved,we must think and act like a landscape.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41430636,No.41571159
文摘China’s coupled human-environment system(CHES) is assessed here via a systems schema that emphasizes the complex interactions of components and their attributes. In addition to the human and environment components, we identified two other components to evaluate the relationship. The four components are human activity intensity, resource carrying capacity, ecological constraints and system’s openness. Based on their interactions, we derived a cognitive schema for classifying the level of strain or stress of an area. The analysis draws on 11 indicators and 29 sub-indicators including remote sensing data and statistical data that are used to estimate the four components. The findings indicate that human activities are highly intense in a few geographical areas, particularly large urban systems and trade and investment zones on the eastern coastal areas. Nonetheless, these areas are also well-endowed in water resources and fertile soils although urban systems are increasingly stressed from negative pollution externalities. They are also open systems which allow them to bear a higher level of pressure and adjust accordingly. Desertification and soil erosion point to relatively fragile biophysical systems in the west and southwest, but human activities are still relatively less intense compared to their coastal counterparts. As a whole, only 14% of areas may be said to be relatively or highly strained. This however belies another one-third of areas that are currently unstable, and likely to become strained and thereby vulnerable in the near future.
基金supported by the Hungarian National Science Foundation,OTKA 104811 projectsupported by the János Bolyai Scolarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
文摘The study of human-environment relationships in mountain areas is important for both theoretical and practical reasons, as many mountain areas suffer similar problems, such as depopulation, unemployment and natural hazards. Medium mountains constitute a special case within mountains, because they are more populated but less attractive as tourist destinations than high mountains. In this context, the Apuseni Mts （Romania） are considered as a ease study. In this paper, we apply GIS-based, quantitative methods to characterize the strength and dynamics of human-environment interactions, taking into consideration some environmental factors （elevation, relative height, slope, river distance, lithology, land cover, natural attractions） as well as historical population and recent tourism data. We found that population density has strong （r2〉0.8） relationships with all relief factors （elevation, relative height, slope, river distance）, and that best-fit functions are nonlinear. We outlined the varying demographic scenarios by elevation zones and interpreted the historically switching sign of population change versus elevation relationship. We demonstrated that lithology also has an impact on the spatial distribution of population, although it is not independent from the relief effect. The land cover of the mainly cultural landscape is very strongly correlated with relief parameters （especially slope）, which suggests good adaptation. We pointed out the dominance of karst objects in the natural tourism potential of the Apuseni Mts and also explored further components of real tourism （spas, heritage, towns）. Finally, we concluded that the environmental settings investigated do in fact constrain the spatial framework of society, but soeio-economic changes in history can be explained from the side of society, which conforms to the theory of cultural possibilism.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China project(Grant Nos.41201130,41101361,and 41371183)
文摘Symmetrical relationships between humans and their environment have been referred to as an extension of symmetries in the human geographical system and have drawn great attention.This paper explored the symmetry between physical and human systems through fractal analysis of the road and drainage networks in Wuling mountainous area.We found that both the road and drainage networks reflect weak clustering distributions.The evolution of the road network shared a significant self-organizing composition,while the drainage network showed obvious double fraetal characteristics.The geometric fractal dimension of the road network was larger than that of the drainage network.In addition,when assigned a weight relating to hierarchy or length,neither the road network nor drainage network showed a fractal property.These findings indicated that the fractal evolution of the road network shared certain similarities with fractal distribution of the drainage network.The symmetry between the two systems resulted from an interactive process of destroying symmetry at the lower order and reconstructing symmetry at the higher order.The relationships between the fractal dimensions of the rural-urban road network,the drainage network andthe urban system indicated that the development of this area was to achieve the symmetrical isomorphism of physical-human geographical systems.
基金supported by the Consultation and Evaluation Project of the Academic Department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.2022-DX05-B-021).
文摘Chinese civilization has continuously developed and formed on the foundation of China’s unique natural environment.Its formation process and cultural characteristics are intimately and intricately linked to the historical evolution of the natural environment,including changes in climate,hydrological systems,and land use.Currently,academic scholarship on the historical evolution of Chinese civilization is predominantly based on the findings of the humanities;the influence of natural environmental change has not been systematically and scientifically considered in unveiling the formation and development of the civilization.Adopting a perspective of deep interdisciplinary integration between the natural sciences and humanities,this study synthesizes existing research on the historical changes in natural geographical elements,such as the climate and environment,since the Holocene.It systematically reviews evidence from disciplines such as archaeology and historical geography,comprehensively analyzes the natural environmental factors within the spatiotemporal process of the formation of Chinese civilization,and reveals the significance of the human-environment relationship in shaping its evolution.Based on this systematic review,the study presents three main scientific findings:(1)The uniqueness of China’s geographical environment laid the foundation for the endogenous nature and the fundamental pattern of“unity in diversity”of Chinese civilization.(2)Climate change facilitated the early origins of Chinese civilization and subsequently drove ethnic exchange and integration throughout its historical development.(3)Throughout historical periods,the primary strategy of the human-environment relationship was human adaptation;yet,the influence of human agency on the natural world progressively increased.In conclusion,there is an urgent need to conduct systematic and scientific research on Chinese civilization from the perspective of the human-environment relationship.Through in-depth interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration between the fields of geography,climatology,history,and archaeology,we can deepen our understanding of the historical development of Chinese civilization and provide historical lessons and insights for addressing contemporary environmental challenges.
文摘河流的形成及演变与区域环境和人类活动密切相关。红水河位于石羊河流域中游,是研究中国西北地区环境变化和古文化演变的重要地区。本文基于从红水河沿岸连续采集的5个剖面,结合历史地理资料和TraCE-21ka模拟,探究了晚全新世红水河形成与演变过程中的自然与人文因素,并通过分析HSH01、HSH04和HSH05剖面典型湖相层的沉积物粒度分布特征,揭示了晚全新世红水河水动力变化过程。研究发现,晚全新世西北地区呈现干旱化趋势,古湖泊武始泽完全萎缩,红水河现代河道开始下切形成。汉唐明清等强盛的中原王朝为加强对河西走廊的控制,采取屯田实边政策以及大兴水利,使得红水河流域农业迅速发展,农业用水激增,红水河流量进一步减少。晚全新世红水河流域沉积环境复杂,沉积相多变,2 ka BP以来红水河流域可能发生了强降水事件或洪水事件。
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants No.W2412144,42271292)the 111 project,and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China.
文摘Amid ongoing global environmental change and the critical pursuit of sustainable development,human-environment systems are exhibiting increasingly complex dynamic evolutions and spatial relationships,underscoring an urgent need for innovative research frameworks.Integrated geography synthesizes physical geography,human geography,and geographic information science,providing key frameworks for understanding complex human-environment systems.This editorial proposes an emerging research framework for integrated geography—“Composite driving-System evolution-Coupling mechanism-Synergistic regulation(CSCS)”—based on key issues such as climate change,biodiversity loss,resource scarcity,and social-ecological interactions,which have been highlighted in both recent critical literature on human-environment systems and UN assessment reports.The framework starts with diverse composite driving forces,extends to the evolution of human-environment system structures,processes,and functions that these drivers induce,explores couplings within human-environment systems,and calls for regulation aimed at sustainable development in synergies.Major research frontiers include understanding the cascading“evolution-coupling”effects of shocks;measuring system resilience,thresholds,and safe and just operating space boundaries;clarifying linkage mechanisms across scales;and achieving synergistic outcomes for multi-objective sustainability.This framework will help promote the interdisciplinary integration and development of integrated geography,and provide geographical solutions for the global sustainable development agenda.
文摘Background Exploring how immersive technologies can simulate and assess user experiences in designed environments is an important topic in architectural research.In this study,a multisensory virtual reality(VR)system developed to support the study of human-built environment interactions under multimodal conditions(visual,olfactory,and auditory)was evaluated.Methods The effectiveness of the system was tested by conducting in-depth user studies using a mixed-method approach to provide quantitative and qualitative evidence.The results of the case study were discussed,key features of the proposed prototype were assessed,and limitations and opportunities for future studies were identified.Results Findings showed that multisensory elements can deepen participants’sense of presence,increase engagement levels,and enrich overall user experience in immersive environments.Integrating olfactory stimuli into virtual representations of architectural spaces revealed how multisensory feedback informs spatial perception and supports the development of more responsive and human-centered design strategies.Conclusions This study contributes to the emerging field of sensory architecture,aiming to move beyond visual simulation toward a richer embodied understanding of space.The proposed approach provides valuable insights into the development of multisensory VR environments in architecture,enabling future research and immersive research methodologies in wider fields.
基金The Basic Scientific Research of Henan Academy of Sciences,No.20250601010National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41971016+2 种基金The Innovation Team Project of Henan Academy of Sciences,No.20230103Science and Technology Innovation Platform Cultivation and Promotion Project of Henan Academy of Sciences,No.241001037The Soft Science Project of Henan Province,No.252400410524。
文摘The orientations of ancient tombs have attracted increasing scholarly attention,as they offer valuable insights into early social structures,cultural traditions,and the relationship between humans and their environment.However,the application of machine learning algorithms to the study of tomb orientation remains relatively underexplored.In this study,we employed a Gaussian mixture model to conduct a systematic analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution of Neolithic tomb orientations in Central China.We also examined the relationship between tomb orientation and both environmental factors and sociocultural dynamics.The findings suggest a deliberate and methodical approach to the planning and alignment of tombs during the Neolithic Age.Tomb orientations in each chronological phase displayed clear clustering patterns,reflecting a developmental trajectory from uniformity to diversity,and ultimately toward integration.While early angular measurement techniques appear to have emerged,they do not show evidence of sustained technical progression.Instead,different periods seem to have achieved similar levels of directional accuracy.The predominance of westward-facing tombs may be closely tied to both topographic features and the symbolic association with sunset.At the same time,cultural evolution and interregional exchange played essential roles in shaping the distinctive patterns of prehistoric tomb orientation.This research contributes not only to the understanding of ancient funerary practices but also demonstrates the potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies in advancing archaeological analysis.
文摘Achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)requires place-based solutions that reconcile global aspirations with local realities.Landscapes and regions represent a pivotal scale domain—large enough to capture cross-boundary ecological and socioeconomic processes,yet sufficiently grounded to enable context-sensitive understanding and governance.Landscape sustainability science offers a robust framework for bridging the global-local divide in SDG implementation.Rooted in the long-standing convergence between ecology and geography—tracing back to Humboldt’s unity of nature—landscape sustainability science advances a spatially explicit,systems-oriented approach guided by the principles of strong sustainability.Here we present the landscape sustainability science framework,structured around the core triad of landscape pattern,ecosystem services,and human wellbeing,and operationalized through dual feedback loops and the analysis–adaptation–assessment cycle.Our assessment shows that landscape sustainability science contributes directly to eight SDGs and indirectly to six others,offering actionable strategies for climate resilience,sustainable land management,and inclusive landscape governance.By helping to spatialize,localize,and operationalize global sustainability targets,landscape sustainability science provides a pragmatic pathway to advance the SDGs in diverse socioecological contexts.If global sustainability is to be achieved,we must think and act like a landscape.
