www.nature.

com/scientificreports

OPEN Application of ArcGIS 3D modeling

technology in the study of land use
policy decision making in China
Pengfei Cong , Dongming Zhang * & Mingxuan Yi

In this paper, a land use management information system based on ArcGIS 3D modeling technology
is constructed to process land use policy decisions through ArcSDE spatial data engine and Oracle
relational database to realize a land use planning management information system. Using genetic
algorithm in order to use for regional land use optimization allocation, the introduction of multi-
intelligent body system in this algorithm will be able to enhance the optimization search ability of
the algorithm and make the genetic algorithm to obtain land use planning supported. The behavior of
the main body of the integrated land use planning decision maker will guide the development of the
quantitative structure of land use in terms of spatial layout toward sustainability. The experimental
results prove that the target is better than the other three types of scenarios under the integrated
benefit model, then it is reduced by 18.67%, 15.98% and 16.61%, and the number of spatially
contiguous areas is increased by 9.4%, 13.8% and 0.8%, respectively. The proposed model can
reasonably configure the regional land use quantitative results and spatial layout, and coordinate the
needs of different land use decision makers.

With the rapid progress of industrialization and urbanization, the utilization and conservation of land resources
face multiple challenges, including the need for development and preservation, the imbalance between supply
and demand, and the pressure to balance resource utilization with ecological p ­ rotection1–5. Therefore, achiev-
ing optimal land use allocation is crucial for both informed decision-making and promoting sustainable land
resource utilization and ­efficiency6–9. Optimal land use allocation is a complex spatial optimization problem that
involves determining the allocation of land resources among different sectors and their spatial arrangement, con-
sidering the natural characteristics of the land and regional socioeconomic c­ onditions10–13. Existing methods for
optimal land use allocation can be classified into bottom-up and top-down models. Bottom-up models focus on
simulating the decision-making processes of various land use entities and local-scale land use changes, employing
approaches such as meta-automata and multi-intelligent body s­ ystems14–18. Top-down models focus on the overall
regional situation and are able to consider the regional global objectives to obtain a series of optimal solutions.
These models mainly include mathematical models such as linear programming and objective programming
and intelligent algorithms such as genetic algorithms and particle swarm algorithms, which are characterized
by large openness, high efficiency, and strong problem optimization solving a­ bility19–21. According to previous
­studies22, the demand for 3D digital technology is increasing alongside the advancements in digital earth and
digital city development. 3D GIS has emerged as a prominent trend due to its ability to provide a more realistic
representation of the objective world compared to traditional 2D G ­ IS23. It employs 3D modeling technology to
present geospatial phenomena in a realistic manner, capturing both planar updates and vertical relationships
between spatial objects. Additionally, 3D GIS offers unique functionalities for spatial browsing and a­ nalysis24.
The core component of 3D GIS is the 3D spatial database, which requires careful consideration of factors such
as aesthetics, shape, vegetation, building characteristics, and water resources during data design. Integration
between 2 and 3D data dimensions, accurate positioning of 3D models, and the correspondence of spatial
information are also important ­considerations25. Establishing a scientific, standardized, and comprehensive land
use planning management information system using advanced technologies is crucial to meet the operational
requirements of land use policy decision-making and overcome limitations of previous systems. This endeavor
holds significant present and practical significance.
This article constructs an application based on ArcGIS 3D modeling technology for land use policy decision
making research through a GIS software development platform combined with a land use planning manage-
ment information system. In the process of platform construction, firstly, ArcSDE spatial data engine and Oracle

Langfang Comprehensive Survey Center of Natural Resources, China Geological Survey, Langfang 065000, China.
*
email: zdm881015@163.com

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 1

Vol.:(0123456789)
 www.nature.com/scientificreports/

relational database are used to process land use policy decision in order to realize land use planning management
information system. Secondly, genetic algorithm is proposed to be used for optimal regional land use allocation
and data analysis is performed based on the experimental results. Finally, the introduction of multi-intelligent
body system in the genetic algorithm will be able to enhance the optimization search ability of the algorithm
and make the genetic algorithm obtain the support of land use planning knowledge, synthesize the behavior of
land use planning decision makers and guide the development of land use quantity structure in spatial layout to
sustainable aspects. The paper introduces a new approach to land use management using ArcGIS 3D modeling,
ArcSDE spatial data engine, and Oracle database. It incorporates genetic algorithms and multi-intelligent body
systems to optimize regional land use allocation and considers land use planning knowledge. The model focuses
on achieving sustainable land use by guiding the development of land use quantity structure in spatial layout.
This research provides valuable insights for decision makers aiming to achieve optimal land use allocation.
This study aims to address the existing knowledge gaps and research limitations by developing a comprehen-
sive land use planning management information system that integrates ArcGIS 3D modeling, genetic algorithms,
and multi-intelligent body systems. The authors identified a lack of studies combining these elements to optimize
regional land use allocation and guide decision-making towards sustainable land use. The depth of the study
encompasses the construction and implementation of the information system, utilization of advanced technolo-
gies and algorithms, analysis of experimental results, and consideration of various factors in land use planning.
The authors provide a thorough examination of the proposed model and its implications for decision makers.

ArcGIS 3D modeling
System structure
ArcGIS, developed by ERSI, is a powerful platform with a robust and collaborative user community, offering
extensive customization options for advanced developers. It supports various programming languages for cus-
tomizing and extending its functionality, including the industry-standard VBA for script programming and
customization. The ArcGIS geodatabase model, based on the ArcSDE application server, serves as a standard
relational database for data management, acting as a bridge between ArcGIS and the relational database. This
enables users to manage geographic information across multiple data management systems and makes the data
accessible to all ArcGIS applications. In the land use information system, the GIS software development platform
selected is ArcEngine of ArcGIS, the spatial data engine is ArcSDE, and the relational database chosen is Oracle,
facilitating the creation of graphical and attribute databases. The system follows a Client/Server (C/S) architec-
ture, logically divided into three layers: the application layer, middle layer, and database layer, as depicted in Fig. 1.
The specific analysis of Fig. 1 is as follows:
Based on ArcGIS for architecture, the application layer realizes GIS functions and regular business functions
required for land update survey business, such as retrieval, query, browsing, etc. The application layer only com-
municates with the middle layer.
The land use planning management information system is structured into three layers: the data layer, the
processing layer, and the presentation layer. The data layer utilizes ArcSDE spatial data engine and an Oracle
relational database to store and manage land use data, policy decisions, and related information. The processing
layer integrates ArcGIS 3D modeling technology and genetic algorithms to develop optimization models for
regional land use allocation. It also incorporates multi-intelligent body systems to enhance the search capabili-
ties of the genetic algorithm and incorporate land use planning knowledge. The presentation layer offers a user
interface through a GIS software development platform, enabling decision makers to interact with the system
and access relevant information. It may utilize 3D GIS technology to provide realistic representations of spatial
layout and land use scenarios. The middle layer serves as a bridge between the application layer and the data-
base layer. It facilitates information transfer and processing between the client and server, handling tasks such
as extraction, transmission, and pre-processing of attribute and graphic data for the application layer. ArcSDE
for Oracle9i acts as the channel for exchanging spatial data between the client program and the spatial database
server. It provides a convenient means of organizing vector data into the database, establishing data links, and
performing pre-processing of spatial data. The database layer is built on the Oracle9i large relational database
system and consists of two components: the spatial database and the spatial data engine. The spatial database

System Graphics Business

Application
Layer Management Tools Management Application System

ArcObjects COM ArcEnging

Middle
layer
Space Data Sheet Property Data Table

ArcSDE ADO
Data
Layer
Spatial Database Attribute Database

Figure 1.  System architecture diagram.

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 2

Vol:.(1234567890)
www.nature.com/scientificreports/

is used by Oracle to store various types of spatial data, while ArcSDE provides database services to efficiently
operate both spatial and non-spatial data.

Construction of 3D geodatabase
1ArcSDE spatial database engine
ArcSDE is a tool that offers multi-user spatial data access for Oracle systems in land use planning management
information systems. It enables the organization of the relational database model within the Oracle application,
which can be accessed through a B/S (Browser/Server) or C/S (Client/Server) architecture. From a spatial data
management perspective, ArcSDE supports a continuous spatial data model, allowing Oracle to store and man-
age extensive spatial data, including vector data, raster data, and metadata. The spatial data engine of ArcSDE
utilizes a client/server architecture to facilitate communication between data. By integrating spatial data with
attribute data, ArcSDE extends the relational data processing capabilities of Oracle, enabling unified manage-
ment of both types of data.

Oracle relational database

The land use planning management database consists of an internal database and a shared database. It utilizes
the Oracle relational database management system to handle data management tasks and performs relevant
database operations using the Oracle SQL language. The database is shared with higher-level databases through
a dedicated land resource network or with remote data through other systems at different levels. The relational
database leverages its capabilities in managing massive data, transaction processing, record locking, concurrency
control, and data warehousing to facilitate the integration of spatial and non-spatial data. This integration enables
the realization of a real B/S (Browser/Server) or C/S (Client/Server) structure, ensuring connectivity and sharing
across the entire land planning management database. Figure 2 illustrates the Oracle relational database diagram.
As can be seen from Fig. 2, the land use planning management database can be divided into system database,
basic database, result database and auxiliary database by type.

(1) The system library contains some operation parameters, codes, etc. necessary for system operation.
(2) The basic database contains information such as land classification, location, tenure of the current land
use data and extended information related to the project. In order to carry out information processing
and extraction, thus realizing standardized storage of land use planning information data and information
resource sharing.
(3) The result database includes various land planning drawing result data and text result data. The drawing
results mainly refer to the land planning use zoning, the location of planned transportation and water
conservancy projects, the current status map of land use and other drawings.
(4) The auxiliary database refers to the auxiliary database for normal operation and functioning, mainly graphi-
cal data, such as basic topographic data, land use status data, construction land approval data, etc., which
can be directly called or called after conversion.

Genetic algorithm was used to conduct experiments on the land use of urban area B in province A between
2012 and 2021, and the experimental data included basic geographic information data such as slope and soil
type. A 100 m*100 m raster was used to rasterize the study area and Markov chains were used to determine the
transition probabilities between land use types in the study area, as shown in Table 1.

Provides remote Synchronization of

data sharing parent database
Through Through
other level this level
systems National Land Resources Network system

Shared Internal
Database database

LAN (Local Local Area Network)

Provide local planning business

management support

Figure 2.  Oracles relational database.

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 3

Vol.:(0123456789)
 www.nature.com/scientificreports/

Optimized land type

Present situation
Land type Cultivated land Garden plot Woodland Other agricultural land Land used for building Waters Unused land
Cultivated land – 0.3 0.5 0.5 0..6 0 0
Garden plot 0.4 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.4 0 0
Woodland 0 0.1 - 0.4 0 0 0
Other agricultural land 0.6 0 0 - 0 0 0
Land used for building 0 0 0 0 - 0 0
Waters 0 0 0 0 0 - 0
Unused land 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.8 0 -

Table 1.  Probability of conversion between regional land use types.

Land use policy decision algorithm

The multi-intelligent body system is used to simulate the decision-making subjects involved in land use plan-
ning, and the genetic algorithm calculates the optimal regional land use allocation scheme with the assistance
of multi-intelligent bodies. The genetic algorithm uses two-dimensional coding to characterize the geographic
raster space, chromosomes correspond to land use allocation schemes, and genes characterize land units. The
genetic algorithm provides a geospatial framework for multi-intelligent system decision making. The spatial
layout of land use characterized by chromosomes and the natural, social and economic elements above constitute
the geographic environment layer, which are observed and perceived by the land use planning multi-intelligent
body. At the same time, the land use layout behavior of the multi-intelligence body in turn influences the chro-
mosome, and a feedback relationship between the two forms a mutual operation, Fig. 3 shows the architecture
of the multi-intelligence body genetic algorithm.
As can be seen from Fig. 3, the site layout planning comes to initialize the chromosomes, and their spatial
decision-making behavior acts in the genetic optimal allocation operator of the intelligences to optimize the land
use allocation scheme. The objectives and constraints of multiple intelligences constitute the objective system
and constraint system of the model, and are translated into the fitness function of the genetic algorithm to guide
the generation of the optimal land use allocation scheme and maximize the economic, social and ecological
benefits of regional land use.

Land use planning decisions

Based on the hierarchy of regional land use optimization allocation, the main body of land use planning deci-
sion making is divided into three levels: government, department, and public. The government, as the macro
policy-making body, needs to determine the strategic direction of land use, designate land use control indexes
and implement spatial control measures. Departments organize functional land use zoning and carry out sectoral
land use layout planning, and the public realizes land unit allocation according to their individual interest needs.

Land Use Planning

Multi-Intelligent Body
Shared Decision Government Smart Body Goals and
Co onfli
flic ing

Making
ord cts

Constraints
con dinat

for la ion

c
ts

Ap or lan

ina
nd
icat
or

pli
f

tin
Co

cat d
Appl

g
ion

Target System
Department Public Maximum land
economic output
Maximum ecological
Intelligent body genetic service value
optimization
Genetic algorithm operation space Maximum Intensive
configuration operation
Land Use Allocation Chromosomes Savings
Program
Intelligent selection factor
Two- Adaptability
Smart Cross Factor Binding System
dimensional
Intelligent variation factor coding
Land unit Genes Quantitative structural
constraints
Program Selection Regional Exchange Spatial layout
Plot changes
constraints

Figure 3.  Multi-intelligence genetic algorithm frameworks.

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 4

Vol:.(1234567890)
www.nature.com/scientificreports/

The model sets up these three types of intelligences, which do not occupy geospatial units, but participate in the
land use planning decision-making process.

Government
The government acquires departmental and public land requests and coordinates their conflicts, as in Eq. (1).
Ct (i, j) = Ud (i, j, t) + α · Ud (i, j, t) + pt (1)
In Eq. (1), Ct (i, j) denotes the utility function of cell (i, j) on land class t to the sector and the public. α denotes
the degree of public participation (0 ≤ α ≤ 1), and a larger value indicates a higher degree of participation. pt
is the sectoral priority (pt ≥ 0) using land class t , and the higher the priority the more competitive the sector is.
As the number of applications from departments or the public for a site increases, its probability of using the
site increases to reflect the government’s full consideration of departmental requirements and public meanings
in planning. The model simulates the process by adjusting the competition degree to achieve feedback operation
among multiple intelligences as in Eq. (2).
Ct′ (i, j) = Ud (i, j, t) + nd · �Pd + np · �Pp (2)
In Eq. (2), Ct′ (i, j) represents the adjusted competition degree. nd is the number of times the department applies
for a site on the unit. Pd is the size of the increase in competition per application. np is the number of times the
public applies for a site on the unit. Pp is the size of the increase in competition per application.

Sector
Sectors pursue the maximization of their own sectoral interests, they apply for sites to the government, and
coordinate with other sectors under the coordination of the government for the conflicts arising from site size
and location choices. The dynamic random utility model and discrete choice model are used here to simulate the
site layout behavior of the sector, and the selection probability of plot unit (i, j), as in Eq. (3).
exp(Ud (i, j, t)) exp(Rneigh · Sijt )
P(i, j, t) =  =  (3)
exp(Ud (i′ , j′ , t)) exp(Rneigh · Sijt )

In Eq. (3), Rneigh is the proportion of the number of sectoral sites in the neighborhood to reflect the principle
of spatial concentration and contiguity. Sijt is the suitability of the sectoral land use on the unit.

Public
The public can be mainly divided into two categories, urban residents and rural residents, with urban residents
mainly participating in urban construction land layout decisions and rural residents mainly participating in
rural land preparation decisions. The layout behavior of the public is basically the same as the sector, which is
simulated using dynamic random utility model and discrete choice model, but it does not consider the neighbor-
hood factor, and the selection probability of plot unit (i, j), as in Eq. (4).
exp(Up (i, j, t)) exp(Rneigh · Sijt )
P(i, j, t) =  ′ ′
=  (4)
exp(Up (i , j , t)) exp(Rneigh · Sijt )

Optimize the configuration of the target system

The model is designed with 3 types of objective functions to maximize the economic, social and ecological
benefits of regional land use.

(1) Economic benefit is selected to maximize the total economic output of regional land use as the economic
benefit objective, as in Eq. (5).

Feconomy = Gt · St (5)

  In Eq. (5), Feconomy is the total economic output of regional land use/billion RMB. Gt is the GDP per
unit area of t land use category, billion k­ m2, which is obtained by various methods such as gray forecast,
regression forecast and trend forecast. St represents the area of regional t land use category, ­km2.
(2) Social benefits choose maximizing the degree of regional land intensification and saving as the social benefit
objective, and use the neighborhood homogeneity index as the index, as in Eq. (6).
J
I 

Fsociety = Aij (6)
i−1 j−1

  In Eq. (6), Fsociety is the target value of the regional land intensive saving degree. I and J are the scope of
regional regular grid. Aij represents the number of parcels with the same land type in the neighborhood of
parcel unit (i, j). In the paper, the degree of intensive saving of construction land is mainly evaluated.
(3) Ecological benefit is selected to maximize the regional organic carbon storage as the ecological benefit
target, as in Eq. (7).

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 5

Vol.:(0123456789)
 www.nature.com/scientificreports/


Feco log y = Ct · St (7)

  In Eq. (7), Feco log y is the regional organic carbon storage volume/million tons. Ct indicates t land types
per unit area to kill that organic carbon fixation, million tons k­ m2.

Optimize the configuration of the constraint system

The model constraints mainly include 3 types of constraints: quantity structure constraints, land type constraints
and land class conversion rules.

(1) The area of each land use type in the region should meet the land use quantity structure constraints, such
as setting a red line for the amount of arable land to ensure food security and setting an upper limit for
construction land to prevent excessive growth, as in Eq. (8).

dk (A) = Dk′ , M dk (A) = D0 (8)

  In Eq. (8), dk (A) represents the number of grids with land type k in the region, and Dk′ represents the
number of grids with land type k in the optimized structure.
(2) The value domain of the land type corresponding to the land type constraint grid, as in Eq. (9).
SM ∈ {1, 2, . . . , M} (9)
(3) Set constraints in areas such as basic farmland protection zones and ecological protection zones of rivers
and lakes to prohibit unsuitable land use conversions, as in Eq. (10).
0 ≤ pn (m → m′ ) ≤ 1 (10)
  In Eq. (10), pn (m → m′ ) represents the probability that the grid Sn site type is converted from m to m′.

Genetic optimization of intelligent body configuration

Intelligent body genetic optimization allocation operation, firstly, the department and the public observe and
perceive the current land use allocation scheme, plan the layout according to the random utility model and
discrete choice model, and submit the land use application to the government. The government determines the
conflict area according to the land use application, coordinates the land use conflict based on the competition
degree function, and updates the competition degree of land class. The model is designed with 3 categories of
intelligent selection, intelligent crossover, and intelligent variation to achieve the optimization of the allocation
scheme. The model evaluates the new generation of allocation schemes based on the land use optimization
objective system and constraint system, and finally judges the termination conditions.

Intelligent selection operator

In the land use planning management system, an intelligent selection operator was developed to facilitate the
selection of appropriate land use allocation options. This operator consists of two stages to effectively guide the
evolutionary process. The first-stage selection operator employs the roulette wheel criterion. After the population
of chromosomes undergoes crossover and mutation, the operator selects the chromosome with higher fitness as
the parent for the next generation. The roulette wheel criterion assigns a probability value to each chromosome
based on its fitness, and the selection process is akin to spinning a roulette wheel, where the likelihood of selection
is proportional to the fitness value. By favoring chromosomes with higher fitness, this operator ensures that the
most promising solutions have a higher chance of being selected for further evolution. The second-stage selec-
tion operator focuses on comparing chromosomes before and after crossover or mutation. After the completion
of crossover or mutation, individual chromosomes are evaluated to determine their performance improvement
or deterioration. This operator retains the chromosomes that show better performance after the evolutionary
process and eliminates those with inferior performance. By doing so, it enhances the efficiency of the algorithm’s
search process by eliminating suboptimal or inefficient solutions. The combination of these two selection opera-
tors helps to guide the evolutionary process towards better land use allocation options. The first-stage operator
ensures that chromosomes with higher fitness contribute to the next generation, while the second-stage operator
further refines the population by eliminating weaker solutions. Together, they contribute to improving the overall
efficiency and effectiveness of the algorithm in searching for optimal land use allocation solutions.

Intelligent crossover operators

The intelligent cross-calculus is mainly used to adjust the contradictions between the sectoral and public land use
layout plans and the current land use allocation scheme, and Fig. 4 shows the intelligent cross-calculus diagram.
As can be seen from Fig. 4, in the departmental and public planning of arable land and town layout, there
are some areas where the planned land types do not match with the current land use allocation scheme. The
intelligent crossover operator screens a pair of 2 non-conforming areas with exactly opposite types and spatial
proximity, such as the site types of A and B, for crossover to meet the planned needs.

Intelligent variational operators

The variation of land unit types is used to solve the conflict of different types of land layout. When departments
and the public make land layout according to their respective needs, some parcels with good natural conditions

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 6

Vol:.(1234567890)
www.nature.com/scientificreports/

Identify areas of
non-compliance
Before crossover AB

Agricultural sector
Rural residents Intersection area
Arable land
layout planning
Construction
Department
Urban residents
Town layout After
planning crossover

Figure 4.  Intelligent cross operator.

and better location conditions may be selected by more than one, forming land conflict areas, Fig. 5 shows the
intelligent variation operator diagram.
As can be seen from Fig. 5, the intelligent variation operator constructs the probability of parcels changing
in different directions pt (i, j) based on the competitive degree function Ct (i, j) set by the government for each
land class, and uses a roulette wheel approach to resolve land conflicts, as in Eq. (11).
Ct (i, j)
pt (i, j) =  ′ (11)
Ct (i, j)
In order to achieve the action purpose, Agent (AI) i will maximize its adaptation degree provided that the
operating conditions of the algorithm are satisfied. In solving the urban land use space optimization allocation
problem equation, the adaptation value f (i) of Agent i is, as in Eq. (12).
f (i) = eval(x) = z(x)p(x) (12)
In Eq. (12), z(x) is the weighted form of multiple objectives. p(x) is the adaptive penalty function.
q

�
′

z(x) = wk,i fk,i (x)





k=1
� �α (13)
 p(x) = 1 − 1 �bk,i (x)




 m �bk,i max

In Eq. (13), is the number of targets. wk,i is the weight of the k rd goal of individual i in the group. fk,i ′ (x) is
the normalized form of the k th objective fk,i (x) of individual i in the group. �bk,i (x) is the violation value of
the k th constraint for individual i in the group. bk,i max is the maximum violation value of the k th constraint for
individual i . m is the number of constraints to be processed in the roundup. α can be considered as the index of
the penalty function greater than 0, which can be set according to the actual situation and is generally taken as 1.
Each solution is considered as a particle of a certain volume in a d -dimensional search space. The cur-
rent position of Agent Li,j in the solution space is the knowledge it possesses, and its position vector in the
solution space of the optimal land use space allocation problem is denoted as Li,j = (Li,j+1 , Li,j+2 , . . . , Li,j+d ).
Li,j+1 , Li,j+2 , . . . , Li,j+d represents the attribute values corresponding to the land use decision variables selected
by Agent Li,j . The flight speed of Agent Li,j is denoted as Vi,j = (Vi,j+1 , Vi,j+2 , . . . , Vi,j+d ). Mi,j is the Agent Li,j
is the Agent with the maximum fitness in the neighborhood environment and Mi,j = (m1 , m2 , . . . , mn ). Pc is

Calculate the plot

transformation
probability Pt
Conflict areas

Land class Roulette wheel

Before competition degree selection After
mutation mutation

Figure 5.  Intelligent variational operators.

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 7

Vol.:(0123456789)
 www.nature.com/scientificreports/

the neighborhood cooperation probability. Pm is the neighborhood competition probability U(0, 1) is a uni-
formly distributed random number, and if U(0, 1) < Pm, the neighborhood competition operator is executed.
If U(0, 1) < Pc , the neighborhood cooperation operator is executed.
If Li,j satisfies Eq. (14), its position in the solution space remains unchanged, and conversely the position of
Li,j in the solution space will be changed according to Eq. (15), and the type of Agent and the land use type of
the grid it is on will be adjusted to be consistent with Mi,j.
f (Li,j ) ≥ f (Mi,j ) (14)

lk = mk + rand(−1, 1) · (mk − lk ), k = 1, . . . , n (15)

In Eqs. (14) and (15), rand(−1, 1) is a random number between (−1, 1). If lk < xk min , then lk = xk min . If
lk > xk min , then lk = xk min . xmin = (x1 min , x2 min , . . . , xn min ) is the lower bound of the feasible solution space
of the optimization problem, and xmax = (x1 max , x2 max , . . . , xmax ) is its upper bound. Li,j not only retains its
original useful information, but also the industry fully absorbs the useful information of its neighbor Mi,j to
further increase its fitness value.
A hybrid crossover strategy is used to randomly select an intersection between Mi,j and Li,j , and the second
half of the intersection is exchanged with each other while crossing each other at the intersection to obtain a
new Agent. assuming that Mi,j and Li,j are crossed at position k , the two resulting child Agents are divided into
as, as in Eq. (16).
 ′
Mi,j (m1 , m2 , . . . , m′k , lk+1 , lk+2 , . . . , ln )
′ (16)
Li,j = (l1 , l2 , . . . , lk′ , mk+1 , mk+2 , . . . , mn )

In Eq. (16), m′k = mk + β(lk − mk ), lk′ = vk + β(uk − vk ). uk and vk are the range of values of lk , and β is a
random value within [0, 1].
k+1 k+1 k k
Vi,j,d = wVi,j,d + ϕ1 rand()(Pi,j,d − Li,j,d ) + ϕ2 rand()(Gi,j,d − Li,j,d ) (17)

k+1 k k
Li,j,d = Li,j,d + Vi,j,d (18)

Equations (17) and (18) in, the subscript k indicates the number of iterations. w is the inertia constant. ϕ1 and
ϕ2 are the learning factors, which regulate the maximum step of flight in the direction of the individual pole and
the global pole, respectively. rand() is a random number between (0,1). Li,j,dk+1 and V k+1 are the d -dimensional
i,j,d
components of the current position and velocity of the Agent in the k th iteration, respectively. Pi,j,d The d
-dimensional component of the optimal current position found by the Agent itself. Gi,j,d-dimensional optimal
Agent in the population.
The d-dimensional component of the current position. By exchanging information with the global optimal
Agent, it will speed up the information transfer of the Agent in the whole environment and improve the con-
vergence of its algorithm.

Experimental design and analysis of results

Land use conversion probability
Genetic algorithm was used to conduct experiments on the land use of urban area B in province A between 2012
and 2021, and the experimental data included basic geographic information data such as slope and soil type. A
100m*100m raster was used to rasterize the study area and Markov chains were used to determine the transition
probabilities between land use types in the study area, as shown in Table 1.
As can be seen from Table 1, with the support of ArcGIS technology, a land use management information
system software, the hierarchical analysis method is used to calculate the weights of different land classes under
four scenarios of maximizing economic benefits, maximizing social benefits, maximizing ecological benefits
and maximizing comprehensive benefits, which is used to determine the allocation order of land classes. The
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was utilized to determine the relative weights of various land types across
four scenarios: maximizing economic benefits, maximizing social benefits, maximizing ecological benefits, and
maximizing comprehensive benefits. AHP is a decision-making technique that systematically compares and
prioritizes multiple criteria. By employing AHP, the researchers assigned importance values to each land type
based on its contribution to the specific scenario’s objective. These importance values were then utilized to
establish the prioritized order of land classes, presenting a structured and unbiased approach to land use deci-
sion making. The integration of AHP with ArcGIS technology and genetic algorithms synergistically improved
the precision and effectiveness of the land use management information system, enabling well-informed and
optimized land allocation decisions.

Optimize land layout

The spatial distribution outcomes vary under different land use scenarios while maintaining equal optimization
objective weights. When prioritizing economic benefits, surveillance land exhibits noticeable clustering, and
new construction land is contiguous with existing construction land. In scenarios emphasizing social benefits,
the proportion of arable land and construction land is significantly higher than other types, leading to intense
spatial competition in the urban fringe area and reduced contiguity. Maximizing ecological benefits assigns higher

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 8

Vol:.(1234567890)
www.nature.com/scientificreports/

weights to garden land and forest land, resulting in significantly higher spatial agglomeration and suitability
compared to other land types. In the pursuit of comprehensive benefits, the clustering of arable land, construction
land, and ecological land is relatively balanced, yet falls short of the optimal targets in the other three modes.
Detailed optimal allocation results for different land use scenarios are presented in Table 2.
As can be seen from Table 2, the MCB (modular adaptability test version) objective in the integrated ben-
efit model is better than the other three types of scenarios, then it is reduced by 18.67%, 15.98% and 16.61%,
respectively, and the number of spatially contiguous areas increases by 9.4%, 13.8% and 0.8%. The combined
benefits need to take into account the suitability and agglomeration of all land classes, which affects the genetic
algorithm and convergence efficiency.
Under the comprehensive benefit model, a comparative analysis of the optimized allocation scheme and the
current spatial layout reveals that the spatial layout of unused land, arable land and construction land changed
significantly during the optimization process. Among them, there is a slight increase in the quantity of arable
land and a significant improvement in quality. Among the new arable land, the largest proportion comes from
unused land and other agricultural land, indicating that the unused land in the study area has greater develop-
ment potential, and Fig. 6 shows the layout of the optimal land use allocation.
As can be seen from Fig. 6a, the land use policy decision algorithm and the comparison chart show that arable
land and pastureland are the main force of land use in the experimental area, and arable land, pastureland waters,
and construction land all show a continuous growth trend year by year. Among them, pastureland is the fastest
growing, increasing by 0.318 ­snhm2 from 2013 to 2020, with a growth rate of 148%. The rise of five types of land is
pastureland > construction land > cultivated land > waters, and only forest land footprint shows a decreasing state.
As can be seen from Fig. 6b, the sources of unused land and other agricultural land account for a relatively
large proportion of the new arable land. Although the arable land area decreased by 10,300,000 ­hm2 in the

Scene MCB MSC Weighted sum Number of partitions Convergence times

Economic performance 194,810 20,399 0.47 1266 473
Social results 191,546 21,074 0.52 1218 483
Ecological benefit 190,317 20,916 0.54 1374 447
Comprehensive benefits 209,840 25,081 0.38 1389 557

Table 2.  Optimal configuration under different scenario models.

0.5

0.4
Footprint (hm²)

0.3

Arable land
0.2 Grazing land
Woodland
Water City
0.1 Construction Land

0.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Year
(a) Utilized land
0.7

0.6

0.5
Footprint (hm²)

0.4

0.3

0.2 Arable land

Grazing land
Woodland
0.1 Water City
Construction Land
0.0

-0.1
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Year
(b) Unused land

Figure 6.  Land use optimization configuration layout.

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 9

Vol.:(0123456789)
 www.nature.com/scientificreports/

conversion of unused land types, the production of arable land products did not decrease significantly, which is
directly related to the improvement of arable land output efficiency. Construction land newly increased to 16,000
­hm2, but the construction land footprint, although slightly decreasing in 2013, 2014, and 2017 compared to the
previous year, remained a continuous increase in general. In contrast, the forest land footprint shows a decreas-
ing trend each year, decreasing by 0.05 ­snhm2 in 7 years. In the experimental area, arable and pastureland are
the main land use types, with pastureland growing the fastest. Construction land and cultivated land also show
growth, while forest land decreases. Unused and agricultural land contribute to new arable land, offsetting the
decrease in arable area. Arable production remains stable, indicating improved efficiency. Construction land
increases overall, with slight fluctuations. Forest land consistently decreases. The analysis highlights dominant
land use types, growth rates, and observed changes in the experimental area.
Several works present recent advancements in a wide range of research areas, encompassing subjects such
as unsupervised data modeling, track prediction methods, denoising techniques, imaging methods for space
debris, discrimination between different types of ­ices26–30. Also, the underground space utilization, spectrum
allocation pricing policies, task offloading strategies, crop mapping utilizing satellite imagery, echo detection
systems for LiDAR, buffering algorithms, flight trajectory prediction, thermospheric density distribution has
been ­investigated31–35. The urban heat islands, lake boundary prediction, water quality assessment, wafer manu-
facturing, source rock characterization, natural gas origins, and the coupled transfer of water, heat, and solute in
saline ­loess36–40. The land use conversion rate and the optimized allocation results are overlaid and compared to
analyze the allocation scheme and spatial layout. In general, the changed land use is mainly arable land, pasture
land and construction land, while the change of water and forest land is not s­ ignificant41–45. A wide range of
topics have been explored in various research articles, including investigations on the mechanical properties of
polymer membranes with nanoparticle reinforcement, scaffold fabrication using 3D printing and freeze-drying
techniques, stability analysis of ceramic materials reinforced with nanoparticles, effects of graphene and copper
oxide nanoparticles on composites, optimization of drone delivery systems, the relationship between knowledge
management and operational performance in medical tourism, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and cata-
lyst regeneration using supercritical C ­ O246–50. Experimental results demonstrate that a land use optimization
allocation model, based on a multi-intelligent genetic algorithm, effectively allocates the quantitative structure
and spatial layout of regional land use. This approach significantly enhances the economic, social, and ecological
benefits of land use while promoting sustainable utilization of land r­ esources51–55. It ensures compliance with
the red line requirements for retaining arable land and increases the quantity of high-quality farmland. The col-
laborative decision-making process involving different types of intelligence caters to the needs of government,
departments, and the public at all ­levels56, 57.

Conclusion
In this paper, we propose to establish a graphical database and an attribute database by establishing a land use
planning management information system with ArcEngine of ArcGIS as the GIS software development platform,
ArcSDE as the spatial data engine, and Oracle selected as the relational database of the land use information sys-
tem. The application of land use policy decision making is studied and the design effect of the method is verified
in the process of experiments. The conclusion of the experiment shows that the MCB target is better than the
other three types of scenarios in the comprehensive benefit model, while the MSC is reduced by 18.67%, 15.98%
and 16.61%, and the number of spatially contiguous areas is increased by 9.4%, 13.8% and 0.8%, respectively. The
unused land within newly available arable areas demonstrates significant development potential, as its increased
proportion indicates. This finding suggests that the land use optimization allocation model, employing a multi-
intelligent body genetic algorithm, effectively distributes the regional land use quantity structure in spatial layout.
Consequently, this model brings about noticeable enhancements in the economic, social, and ecological benefits
of regional land use, thereby promoting the sustainable utilization of regional land resources.

Data availability
All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article.

Received: 12 May 2023; Accepted: 9 November 2023

References
1. Luo, W., Jin, C. & Shen, L. The evolution of land resource carrying capacity in 35 major cities in China. Sustainability 7, 14 (2022).
2. Fan, W. et al. Integrating environmental impact and ecosystem services in the process of land resource capitalization—A case study
of land transfer in Fuping, Hebei. Sustainability 34, 13 (2021).
3. Parker, D. P. & Thurman, W. N. Private land conservation and public policy: Land trusts, land owners, and conservation easements.
Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 11(1), 1–18 (2019).
4. Zhou, X. Dynamic monitoring and management system for land resource based on parallel network algorithm and remote sensing.
J. Intell. Fuzzy Syst. 37(1), 1–14 (2019).
5. Pilare, P., Mahato, C., Khergade, C., Agrawal, S. & Thakre, P. Implementation of hand gesturecontrolled mouse using artificial
intelligence. 3C Tecnol. Glosas Innov. Apl. Pyme 11(2), 71–79. https://​doi.​org/​10.​17993/​3ctec​no.​2022.​v11n2​e42.​71-​79 (2022).
6. Malek, I. et al. Local land-use decision-making in a global context. Environ. Res. Lett. 14(8), 083006 (2019).
7. Lundsgaard-Hansen, L. M. et al. Whose agency counts in land use decision-making in Myanmar? A comparative analysis of three
cases in Tanintharyi Region. Sustainability 10(10), 3823–3823 (2018).
8. Effatpanah, S. K. et al. Comparative analysis of five widely-used multi-criteria decision-making methods to evaluate clean energy
technologies: A case study. Sustainability 14, 33 (2022).
9. Wang, L. et al. Identification and evaluation of land use vulnerability in a coal mining area under the coupled human-environment.
Open Geosci. 11, 47–56 (2019).

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 10

Vol:.(1234567890)
www.nature.com/scientificreports/

10. Gaffney, B. & Gaffney, B. M. Digital commons @ du evaluation of novel high-density EMG feedback parameters on the spatial
distribution of trapezius muscle activity evaluation of novel high-density EMG feedback parameters on the spatial distribution of
trapezius muscle activity. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 102(3), 325–333 (2019).
11. Gabrielle, R. et al. Using geomorphological variables to predict the spatial distribution of plant species in agricultural drainage
networks. Plos One 13(1), e0191397 (2018).
12. Yan, Z. et al. Understanding temporal and spatial distribution of crop residue burning in China from 2003 to 2017 using MODIS
data. Remote Sens. 10(3), 390 (2018).
13. Lü, J. et al. Origin and spatial distribution of heavy metals and carcinogenic risk assessment in mining areas at You’xi County
southeast China. Geoderma 310, 99–106 (2018).
14. Sujil, A., Verma, J. & Kumar, R. Multi agent system. Artif. Intell. Rev. 8, 1–30 (2018).
15. Amine, B. & Mostafa, R. Modeling the impact of immigration and climatic conditions on the epidemic spreading based on cellular
automata approach. Ecol. Inform. 46, 36–44 (2018).
16. Wang, X. et al. Molecular quantum dot cellular automata based on diboryl monoradical anions. J. Phys. Chem. C 4, 122 (2018).
17. Gong, B. et al. Modeling HDV and CAV mixed traffic flow on a foggy two-lane highway with cellular automata and game theory
model. Sustainability 14, 5899 (2022).
18. Palii, A. et al. Toward multifunctional molecular cells for quantum cellular automata: exploitation of interconnected charge and
spin degrees of freedom. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 23, 26 (2021).
19. Gauthier, I., Chua, K. W. & Richler, J. How holistic processing of faces relates to cognitive control and intelligence. J. Vis. 18(10),
934 (2018).
20. Everton, G. et al. Application of computational intelligence to improve education in smart cities. Sensors 18(1), 267 (2018).
21. Bin, Y. U. & Kumbier, K. Artificial intelligence and statistics. Front. Inf. Technol. Electron. Eng. 19(01), 6–9 (2018).
22. Pratte, J. F. et al. 3D photon-to-digital converter for radiation instrumentation: Motivation and future works. Sensors 21(2), 598
(2021).
23. Byun, Y. & Sohn, B. S. ABGS: A system for the automatic generation of building information models from two-dimensional CAD
drawings. Sustainability 12, 6713 (2020).
24. Jang, H. J. et al. Correction: An efficient grid-based k-prototypes algorithm for sustainable decision making using spatial objects.
Sustainability 10, 2614 (2018) (Sustainability, 2019, 11).
25. Schaffer, L. et al. Spatial information based OSort for real-time spike sorting using FPGA. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 68(1), 99–108
(2021).
26. Fan, W., Yang, L. & Bouguila, N. Unsupervised grouped axial data modeling via hierarchical Bayesian nonparametric models with
Watson distributions. IEEE Trans. Pattern Anal. Mach. Intell. 44(12), 9654–9668 (2022).
27. Zheng, Y., Lv, X., Qian, L. & Liu, X. An optimal BP neural network track prediction method based on a GA–ACO hybrid algorithm.
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 10(10), 1399 (2022).
28. Li, R. et al. Denoising method of ground-penetrating radar signal based on independent component analysis with multifractal
spectrum. Measurement 192, 110886 (2022).
29. Zhuo, Z., Du, L., Lu, X., Chen, J. & Cao, Z. Smoothed Lv distribution based three-dimensional imaging for spinning space debris.
IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. 60, 1–13 (2022).
30. Liu, H. et al. Discrimination between dry and water ices by full polarimetric radar: Implications for China’s first martian explora-
tion. IEEE Trans. Geosci. Remote Sens. 61, 11 (2022).
31. Chen, Y. et al. Underground space use of urban built-up areas in the central city of Nanjing: Insight based on a dynamic population
distribution. Undergr. Sp. 7(5), 748–766 (2022).
32. Wu, H., Jin, S. & Yue, W. Pricing policy for a dynamic spectrum allocation scheme with batch requests and impatient packets in
cognitive radio networks. J. Syst. Sci. Syst. Eng. 31(2), 133–149 (2022).
33. Wang, Y., Han, X., & Jin, S. MAP based modeling method and performance study of a task offloading scheme with time-correlated
traffic and VM repair in MEC systems. In Wireless Networks (2022).
34. Tian, H. et al. Mapping winter crops in China with multi-source satellite imagery and phenology-based algorithm. Remote Sens.
(Basel, Switzerland) 11(7), 820. https://​doi.​org/​10.​3390/​rs110​70820 (2019).
35. Tian, H. et al. Garlic and winter wheat identification based on active and passive satellite imagery and the Google Earth engine in
northern China. Remote Sens. (Basel, Switzerland) 12(3539), 3539 (2020).
36. Zhou, G. et al. An innovative echo detection system with STM32 gated and PMT adjustable gain for airborne LiDAR. Int. J. Remote
Sens. 42(24), 9187–9211 (2021).
37. Zhou, G. et al. Gaussian inflection point selection for LiDAR hidden echo signal decomposition. IEEE Geosci. Remote Sens. Lett.
33, 1–5 (2021).
38. Zhou, G., Zhang, R. & Huang, S. Generalized buffering algorithm. IEEE Access 9, 27140–27157 (2021).
39. Zhang, Z., Guo, D., Zhou, S., Zhang, J. & Lin, Y. Flight trajectory prediction enabled by time-frequency wavelet transform. Nat.
Commun. 14(1), 5258 (2023).
40. Cheng, B., Zhu, D., Zhao, S. & Chen, J. Situation-aware IoT service coordination using the event-driven SOA paradigm. IEEE
Trans. Netw. Serv. Manag. 13(2), 349–361 (2016).
41. Liu, X. et al. Monitoring house vacancy dynamics in the Pearl River delta region: A method based on NPP-VIIRS night-time light
remote sensing images. Land 12(4), 489 (2023).
42. Yin, L. et al. Study on the thermospheric density distribution pattern during geomagnetic activity. Appl. Sci. 13(9), 96 (2023).
43. Yin, Z., Liu, Z., Liu, X., Zheng, W. & Yin, L. Urban heat islands and their effects on thermal comfort in the US: New York and New
Jersey. Ecol. Indic. 154, 110765 (2023).
44. Yin, L. et al. U-Net-STN: A novel end-to-end lake boundary prediction model. Land 12(8), 1602 (2023).
45. Li, Y. et al. Urbanization and agriculture intensification jointly enlarge the spatial inequality of river water quality. Sci. Total Environ.
878, 162559 (2023).
46. Song, F., Liu, Y., Jin, W., Tan, J. & He, W. Data-driven feedforward learning with force ripple compensation for wafer stages: A
variable-gain robust approach. IEEE Trans. Neural Netw. Learn. Syst. 33(4), 1594–1608 (2022).
47. Xu, Z. et al. Characteristics of source rocks and genetic origins of natural gas in deep formations, Gudian depression, Songliao
Basin, NE China. ACS Earth Sp. Chem. 6(7), 1750–1771 (2022).
48. Xu, J. et al. Modeling of coupled transfer of water, heat and solute in saline loess considering sodium sulfate crystallization. Cold
Regions Sci. Technol. 189, 103335 (2021).
49. Farazin, A., Aghadavoudi, F., Motififard, M., Saber-Samandari, S. & Khandan, A. Nanostructure, molecular dynamics simula-
tion and mechanical performance of PCL membranes reinforced with antibacterial nanoparticles. J. Appl. Comput. Mech. 7(4),
1907–1915 (2021).
50. Karimi, M. et al. Fabrication of shapeless scaffolds reinforced with baghdadite-magnetite nanoparticles using a 3D printer and
freeze-drying technique. J. Mater. Res. Technol. 14, 3070–3079 (2021).
51. Rajaei, A., Kazemian, M. & Khandan, A. Investigation of mechanical stability of lithium disilicate ceramic reinforced with titanium
nanoparticles. Nanomed. Res. J. 7(4), 350–359 (2022).

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 11

Vol.:(0123456789)
 www.nature.com/scientificreports/

52. Safaei, M., Abedinzadeh, R., Khandan, A., Barbaz-Isfahani, R. & Toghraie, D. Synergistic effect of graphene nanosheets and copper
oxide nanoparticles on mechanical and thermal properties of composites: Experimental and simulation investigations. Mater. Sci.
Eng. B 289, 116248 (2023).
53. Shavarani, S. M., Nejad, M. G., Rismanchian, F. & Izbirak, G. Application of hierarchical facility location problem for optimization
of a drone delivery system: A case study of Amazon prime air in the city of San Francisco. Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 95, 3141–3153
(2018).
54. Ghasemi, M., Nejad, M. G. & Aghaei, I. Knowledge management orientation and operational performance relationship in medical
tourism (overview of the model performance in the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic era). Health Serv. Manag. Res. 34(4),
208–222 (2021).
55. Shirani, K. et al. A narrative review of COVID-19: The new pandemic disease. Iran. J. Med. Sci. 45(4), 233 (2020).
56. Ghadirinejad, N., Nejad, M. G. & Alsaadi, N. A fuzzy logic model and a neuro-fuzzy system development on supercritical C ­ O2
regeneration of Ni/Al2O3 catalysts. J. CO2 Utiliz. 54, 101706 (2021).
57. Ghasemi, M. et al. Performance measurment and lead-time reduction in epc project-based organizations: A mathematical modeling
approach. Math. Probl. Eng. 2022, 1–15 (2022).

Author contributions
All authors wrote the main manuscript text. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

Funding
National Land Change Survey National Field Verification (Langfang Center) DD20230518. National Forest
Resources Survey Special Task (Langfang Center) DD20208033.

Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information
Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to D.Z.
Reprints and permissions information is available at www.nature.com/reprints.
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and
institutional affiliations.
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or
format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the
Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this
article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the
material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not
permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from
the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://​creat​iveco​mmons.​org/​licen​ses/​by/4.​0/.

© The Author(s) 2023

Scientific Reports | (2023) 13:20695 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47171-z 12

Vol:.(1234567890)