Historical Land Use Mapping Insights into Environmental and Socioeconomic Transformations

Abstract

Land use and land cover change (LULC) is increasingly important because of its impact on environmental and socioeconomic sustainability. The purpose of this research is to offer a theoretical analysis of traditional land use mapping and its application in understanding environmental and socioeconomic change. This study fills the gap in literature by combining technological innovations in geospatial analysis with theoretical insights from land system science and human-environment interaction approaches. The study followed a conceptual research design, using thematic synthesis and comparative analysis of previous research to investigate the development of land use mapping methods and their use. The results show a progression from conventional cartography to state-of-the-art remote sensing, geographical information systems (GIS) and machine learning techniques for more precise and dynamic mapping of land use. The research also illustrates the interplay between environmental and socioeconomic changes, showing how factors such as population dynamics, economic growth, and policy affect land use processes and outcomes. This study also introduces a holistic conceptual framework that connects drivers, processes and outcomes of land use change, including feedback loops between environmental and socioeconomic systems. This offers a holistic view of land system dynamics and aids decision-making. The research study suggests that cross-disciplinary collaboration and technological advancements are crucial for advancing land use science and supporting sustainable land management.