Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI

The ecological environment in arid regions is fragile, with its quality highly sensitive to human activities. The ecological quality (EQ) of arid land river basins is crucial for the populations living within and the overall societal development. This study examines the characteristics and driving f...

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Main Authors: Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun, Han Yang, Nuerbiye Aobuliaisan, Kamuran Maimaitiaili, Ouyang Chenyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Ecological Indicators
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014924
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author Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun
Han Yang
Nuerbiye Aobuliaisan
Kamuran Maimaitiaili
Ouyang Chenyu
author_facet Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun
Han Yang
Nuerbiye Aobuliaisan
Kamuran Maimaitiaili
Ouyang Chenyu
author_sort Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun
collection DOAJ
description The ecological environment in arid regions is fragile, with its quality highly sensitive to human activities. The ecological quality (EQ) of arid land river basins is crucial for the populations living within and the overall societal development. This study examines the characteristics and driving factors of EQ changes in a typical arid land river basin from the perspective of capturing subtle variations in the EQ. Firstly, utilizing the Pixel Information Expert Engine (PIE) remote sensing big data platform, the yearly Remote Sensing Based Ecological Index (RSEI) were computed from 2001 to 2023. Subsequently, the Sen’s slope analysis and Mann-Kendall (M−K) trend test were employed to analyze the level of EQ changes in the Urumqi River Basin (URB). Finally, the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) model was utilized to quantitatively assess the driving factors of EQ changes and discuss their underlying reasons. Findings indicate: 1. The URB’s complexity resists representation by individual ecological indicators. RSEI, from the first principal component, captures the basin’s EQ; 2. From 2001 to 2023, the URB showed an EQ deficiency, with areas of improvement, deterioration, and stability at 32.34 %, 22.99 %, and 25.46 % respectively—an overall enhancement. Improvement focused in developed areas, deterioration in reservoirs and middle-lower reaches; 3. Over 23 years, factors like NDVI, NDBSI, and LST had strong influence on RSEI, while Slope, Clay, and Sand had weaker impacts. Interactions among factors boosted RSEI’s explanatory power; 4. Urban expansion in the URB, driven by unused land development, pivotal for improving EQ. Despite requisitioning cultivated land, forest, and grass—key for regional balance—sustained deterioration is not anticipated due to their small areas and potential for recovery. This study aids understanding EQ dynamics in arid river basins, offering sustainable development insights.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Ecological Indicators
spelling doaj-art-0a0d1b0615d243d58a39c7cb074e42b82025-01-31T05:10:35ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170113035Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEIAizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun0Han Yang1Nuerbiye Aobuliaisan2Kamuran Maimaitiaili3Ouyang Chenyu4College of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China; Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Area, Urumqi 830054, ChinaCollege of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China; Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Area, Urumqi 830054, China; Corresponding author at: College of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China.School of Public Management, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China; Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Area, Urumqi 830054, ChinaCollege of Geographic Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China; Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region/Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Area, Urumqi 830054, ChinaThe ecological environment in arid regions is fragile, with its quality highly sensitive to human activities. The ecological quality (EQ) of arid land river basins is crucial for the populations living within and the overall societal development. This study examines the characteristics and driving factors of EQ changes in a typical arid land river basin from the perspective of capturing subtle variations in the EQ. Firstly, utilizing the Pixel Information Expert Engine (PIE) remote sensing big data platform, the yearly Remote Sensing Based Ecological Index (RSEI) were computed from 2001 to 2023. Subsequently, the Sen’s slope analysis and Mann-Kendall (M−K) trend test were employed to analyze the level of EQ changes in the Urumqi River Basin (URB). Finally, the Optimal Parameters-based Geographical Detector (OPGD) model was utilized to quantitatively assess the driving factors of EQ changes and discuss their underlying reasons. Findings indicate: 1. The URB’s complexity resists representation by individual ecological indicators. RSEI, from the first principal component, captures the basin’s EQ; 2. From 2001 to 2023, the URB showed an EQ deficiency, with areas of improvement, deterioration, and stability at 32.34 %, 22.99 %, and 25.46 % respectively—an overall enhancement. Improvement focused in developed areas, deterioration in reservoirs and middle-lower reaches; 3. Over 23 years, factors like NDVI, NDBSI, and LST had strong influence on RSEI, while Slope, Clay, and Sand had weaker impacts. Interactions among factors boosted RSEI’s explanatory power; 4. Urban expansion in the URB, driven by unused land development, pivotal for improving EQ. Despite requisitioning cultivated land, forest, and grass—key for regional balance—sustained deterioration is not anticipated due to their small areas and potential for recovery. This study aids understanding EQ dynamics in arid river basins, offering sustainable development insights.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014924EQSpatiotemporal variation characteristicsOPGDPIE EngineRSEIURB
spellingShingle Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun
Han Yang
Nuerbiye Aobuliaisan
Kamuran Maimaitiaili
Ouyang Chenyu
Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI
Ecological Indicators
EQ
Spatiotemporal variation characteristics
OPGD
PIE Engine
RSEI
URB
title Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI
title_full Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI
title_fullStr Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI
title_full_unstemmed Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI
title_short Assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality: A study utilizing the PIE engine platform and RSEI
title_sort assessing subtle changes in arid land river basin ecological quality a study utilizing the pie engine platform and rsei
topic EQ
Spatiotemporal variation characteristics
OPGD
PIE Engine
RSEI
URB
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24014924
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