His research focuses on land use change and natural resources assessment, integrating cutting-edge technologies and big data analytics. Specific interests include:

(1) AI-Driven Remote Sensing and Spatial Modeling of Land Use Change

Addressing core scientific questions in land use change, he leverages artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and multi-source data fusion (integrating satellite remote sensing, GIS, and field survey data) to extract critical information on land use types, quality, and intensity. By combining spatial analysis, deep learning-based models, and digital twin approaches, he investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of regional land use change, reveals underlying driving mechanisms and constraints, and explores its impacts on resources, the environment, ecosystems, and human well-being.

(2) Integrated Assessment of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services

To support national ecological civilization goals and the Belt and Road Initiative, he conducts integrated assessments of water, land, biological, energy, and mineral resources, along with ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting). His work applies big data analytics, cloud-based platforms, and decision support systems to inform territorial spatial planning, early warning of resource-environment carrying capacity, carbon peaking and carbon neutrality strategies, ecological engineering, natural capital accounting, and performance evaluation of resource-efficient utilization.

Major Research Achievements:

(1) Intelligent Identification of Cropland Multi-Cropping and Advancement of Land Use Intensity Research

Taking the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Plain and the North China Plain as case studies, and based on significant changes in vegetation indices during critical crop phenological windows, this research systematically investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of cropland use intensity and its rapid response mechanisms to economic incentives and agricultural policies through grid-based assessments of multi-cropping systems and cropping intensity. It precisely revealed the regional land–water–food nexus and simulated the impacts of cropland multi-cropping on regional water resources and grain production under different scenarios. The findings provide scientific support for identifying high-quality cropland, delineating permanent basic farmland, uncovering patterns of cropland conversion to non-agricultural and non-grain uses, coordinating watershed land and water resource management, and informing territorial spatial planning and governance.

(2) Resources Geography Studies Supporting National Ecological Restoration Effectiveness Assessment

Through integrated analysis of satellite remote sensing data and field ecological monitoring observations, this research revealed the significant effectiveness and spatiotemporal heterogeneity of large-scale ecological restoration efforts in China. It identified that regions with annual precipitation of 200–400 mm, particularly the Loess Plateau, exhibited the most pronounced vegetation improvement. However, despite notable increases in natural precipitation, vegetation greening, and substantial reductions in soil erosion, the water conservation capacity in the main stem and tributaries of the middle and upper Yellow River did not significantly improve. It is recommended that high-quality ecological restoration in the Yellow River Basin should shift from traditional afforestation and soil erosion control toward context-specific approaches that enhance multiple ecosystem services. These research outcomes have been adopted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

(3) Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Photovoltaic (PV) Expansion Under the Carbon-neutral Strategy and Future Scenario Simulation

In response to emerging land use changes driven by the rapid expansion of photovoltaic (PV) and other renewable energy sources, this research developed a long-term (2000–2025) spatiotemporal PV coverage dataset using Landsat-8, Sentinel-2 imagery, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, leveraging an improved object-based random forest algorithm. It systematically revealed the spatial distribution, temporal dynamics, land occupation characteristics, external risks, and renewal pathways of PV coverage in China. On this basis, the CLUMondo model was employed to simulate the spatiotemporal evolution and expansion pathways of national PV land use under future carbon peaking and carbon neutrality scenarios. These findings provide a scientific basis for coordinating the achievement of dual-carbon goals, optimizing renewable energy land use policies, and advancing renewable energy resource surveys.

Professor, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) (2025-)

Associate Professor, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGSNRR, CAS) (2009-2025)

Deputy Director, Key Laboratory for Resources Use & Environmental Remediation, IGSNRR, CAS (2014-2019)

Deputy Director, Division of Water and Land Resources, IGSNRR, CAS (2009-2014)

Deputy Secretary General, China Society of Natural Resources (2009-2024)

Coordinator for CCICED Task Force on Ecosystem Service and Management Strategy (2008-2010)

Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA (2006-2007)

Assistant Professor, IGSNRR, CAS (2006-2009)

Research Fellow, Global Land Project (GLP) Beijing Nodal Office (2007-2016)

Secretary of Youth Committee, China Society of Natural Resources (2006-2011)

   

[1] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Liwen Yang. Scenario-based simulation of future photovoltaic land expansion in China: Balancing energy demands and ecological conservation. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2025.108203

[2] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Liwen Yang, Huixia Zhao. Spatio-temporal exposure of photovoltaic farms to typhoon disasters for sustainable development in China's Coastal Regions. Resources, Environment and Sustainability, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resenv.2025.100272

[3] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Liwen Yang. Rapid expansion of photovoltaic land in China's coastal regions: A doubling from 2020 to 2023. Land Use Policy, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107836

[4] Liwen Yang, Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. More than doubled in 2023: Mapping the photovoltaic power plants in China based on satellite data and machine learning. Renewable Energy, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124381

[5] Liwen Yang, Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Spatiotemporal dynamics and ecological impact of photovoltaic power plants in China (2000–2023): a remote sensing approach. Big Earth Data, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1080/20964471.2025.2583587

[6] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. A new method for alpine timberline peaks extraction based on remote sensing and inverted digital elevation model. Geo-spatial Information Science, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1080/10095020.2025.2514816

[7] Zelin Yu, Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Quantifying and separating the impact of climate change and human activities on vegetation in transboundary regions. Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100943

[8] Gaowei Yan, Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Remote Sensing Identiffcation of Major Crops and Trade-Off of Water and Land Utilization of Oasis in Altay Prefecture. Land, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071426

[9] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Rediscovering the location of agricultural production: Spatial linkage of farmland use intensity and labor opportunity costs in Central China. Habitat International, 2024, 152: 103160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2024.103160

[10] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Cheng Yang. Trade-off between the future water resource utilization and grain production in a water-deffcient region from the perspective of the Water-Land-Grain nexus. Journal of Hydrology, 2024, 131697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131697

[11] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Spatiotemporal dynamics of COVID-19 pandemic city lockdown: Insights from nighttime light remote sensing. GeoHealth, 2024, 8, e2024GH001034. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GH001034

[12] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Dynamic assessment of the COVID-19 lockdown in the Xinjiang region using night-time light remote sensing. International Journal of Digital Earth, 2024,17,1. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2023.2300317

[13] Haixia Xu, Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Mapping the potential distribution of Asian elephants: Implications for conservation and human–elephant conflict mitigation in South and Southeast Asia. Ecological Informatics, 2024, 80, 102518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2024.102518

[14] Haixia Xu, Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Assessing the Accuracy and Consistency of Cropland Products in the Middle Yangtze Plain. Land, 2024, 13, 301. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030301

[15] Ruoqi Liu, Jinwei Dong, Luguang Jiang, Yong Ge, Chang Fan, Tong Yang, Geli Zhang. Agricultural flood resistance enhanced after returning farmlands to lakes. PNAS, 2024, 121(39), e2410967121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2410967121

[16] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Si Wu. Spatiotemporal Variation and Stability of Rice Planting Using Landsat-MODIS Fusion Images from 1990 to 2020. Remote Sensing, 2023, 15(19), 4814. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15194814

[17] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Should Desert and Desertification Regions Be Confused? New Insights Based on Vegetation Quality and Its Inter-Decadal Variations. Land, 2023, 12(9), 1734. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091734

[18] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Haixia Xu. Variation in Vegetation Quality of Terrestrial Ecosystems in China: Coupling Analysis Based on Remote Sensing and Typical Stations Monitoring Data. Remote Sensing, 2023, 15(9), 2276. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15092276

[19] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. China's Largest City-Wide Lockdown: How Extensively Did Shanghai COVID-19 Affect Intensity of Human Activities in the Yangtze River Delta? Remote Sensing, 2023, 15(8), 1989. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15081989

[20] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Response of Runoff-Sediment System to Vegetation Variation in the Yellow River Basin in the Last 20 Years. Land, 2023, 12(2), 428. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020428 

[21] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Haixia Xu. Losing the Way or Running Off? An Unprecedented Major Movement of Asian Elephants in Yunnan, China. Land, 2023, 12(2), 460. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12020460

[22] Luguang Jiang*, Si Wu, Ye Liu. Change Analysis on the Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Main Crop Planting in the Middle Yangtze Plain. Remote Sensing, 2022, 14(5): 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14051141

[23] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu. Grain Security in Light of the Current Geopolitical Background and Agricultural Policy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Sustainability, 2022, 14, 9276. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159276

[24] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Si Wu, Cheng Yang. Analyzing ecological environment change and associated driving factors in China based on NDVI time series data.  Ecological Indicators, 2021, 129: 107933. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind. 2021.107933

[25] Luguang Jiang*, Ye Liu, Si Wu, Cheng Yang. Study on Urban Spatial Pattern Based on DMSP/OLS and NPP/VIIRS in Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Remote Sensing, 2021, 13(23): 4879. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13234879

[26] Luguang Jiang*, Si Wu, Ye Liu, Cheng Yang. Grain security assessment in Bangladesh based on supply-demand  balance analysis. PLoS ONE, 2021, 16(5): e0252187. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252187

[27] Jiang Luguang, Lv Peiyi, Feng Zhiming, Liu Ye. Where Should the Start Zone Be Located for Xiong'an New Area? A Land Use Perspective. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2018, 9(4): 374-381. DOI:10.5814/j.issn.1674-764x.2018.04.005

[28] Luguang Jiang, Kathleen Bergen, Daniel Brown, Tingting Zhao, Qing Tian, Shuhua Qi. Land-cover change and vulnerability to flooding near Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, China. Photogrammetric Engineering & Remote Sensing, 2008, 74 (6): 775-786

[29] Qing Tian, Luguang Jiang, Maria Lemos, Shuhua Qi. Interactions of social, natural, and technological subsystems and synergy between development and adaptation to floods around Poyang Lake. Annals of GIS, 2018, 24(3): 209-220. DOI: 10.1080/19475683.2018.1471520

[30] Xiaona Liu, Luguang Jiang, Zhiming Feng, Peng Li. Rubber Plantation Expansion Related Land Use Change along the Laos-China Border Region. Sustainability, 2016, 8, 1011. DOI:10.3390/su8101011

[31] Peng Li, Luguang Jiang, Zhiming Feng, Sage Sheldon, Xiangming Xiao. Mapping rice cropping systems using Landsat-derived Renormalized Index of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (RNDVI) in the Poyang Lake Region, China. Frontiers of Earth Science, 2016, 10(2): 303-314. DOI:10.1007/s11707-016-0545-8

[32] Peng Li, Luguang Jiang, Zhiming Feng. Cross-Comparison of Vegetation Indices Derived from Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) Sensors. Remote Sensing, 2014, 6(1): 310-329

[33] Zhang Jinghua, Jiang Luguang*, Feng Zhiming, Li Peng. Detecting Effects of the Recent Drought on Vegetation in Southwestern China. Journal of Resources and Ecology, 2012,3(1): 43-49

[34] Xiubo Yu, Luguang Jiang*, Lifeng Li, Jinxin Wang, Limin Wang, Gang Lei, Jamie Pittock. Freshwater management and climate change adaptation: experiences from the central Yangtze in China. Climate and Development, 2009, 1: 241-248 

[35] Shi Tongguang, Jiang Luguang, Li Yue. Disaster analysis and countermeasures of land subsidence caused by coal cutting in China. Chinese Geographical Science, 2003, 3(2): 130-133

[36] Niannian Fan, Zhongxin Chu, Luguang Jiang, Marwan A. Hassan, Michael P. Lamb, Xingnian Liu. Abrupt drainage basin reorganization following a Pleistocene river capture, Nature Communications,  2018, 9:3756. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-06238-6

[37] Rui Zhang, Qing Tian, Luguang Jiang, Andrew Crooks, Shuhua Qi, Ruixin Yang. Projecting cropping patterns around Poyang lake and prioritizing areas for policy intervention to promote rice: A cellular automata model. Land Use Policy, 2018, 74:248-260. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837716313874

[38] Xiaowei Li, Xiubo Yu, Luguang Jiang, Wenye Li, Yu Liu, Xiyong Hou. How important are the wetlands in the middle-lower Yangtze River region: An ecosystem service valuation approach. Ecosystem Services, 2014, 10:54-60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.09.004

[39] Peng Li, Zhiming Feng, Luguang Jiang, Chenhua Liao, Jinghua Zhang. A Review of Swidden Agriculture in Southeast Asia. Remote Sensing, 2014, 6(2):1654-1683. DOI: 10.3390/rs6021654

[40] Xiaona Liu, Zhiming Feng, Luguang Jiang, Peng Li, Chenhua Liao, Yanzhao Yang, Zhen You. Rubber plantation and its relationship with topographical factors in the border region of China, Laos and Myanmar, Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2013, 23(6):1019-1040. DOI: 10.1007/ s11442-013-1060-4

[41] Li Peng, Feng Zhiming, Jiang Luguang*, Liu Yujie, Xiao Xiangming. Changes in rice cropping systems in the Poyang Lake Region, China during 2004-2010. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 2012, 22(4): 653-668

[42] Chuanfu Zang, Junguo Liu, Dieter Gerten, Luguang Jiang. Influence of human activities and climate variability on green and blue water provision in the Heihe River Basin, NW China. Journal of Water and Climate Change, 2015, 6(4): 800-815. DOI:10.2166/wcc.2015.194

[43] Shuhua Qi, Daniel G. Brown, Qing Tian, Luguang Jiang, Tingting Zhao, Kathleen M. Bergen. Inundation Extent and Flood Frequency Mapping Using LANDSAT Imagery and Digital Elevation Models. GIScience & Remote Sensing, 2009, 46(1):101-127. DOI:10.2747/1548-1603.46.1.101

[44] Chiwei Xiao, Peng Li, Zhiming Feng, Zhen You, Luguang Jiang, Khampheng Boudmyxay. Is the phenology-based algorithm for mapping deciduous rubber plantations applicable in an emerging region of northern Laos? Advances in Space Research, 2020, 65: 446-457. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.asr.2019.09.022

[45] Qing Tian, Daniel G. Brown, Lin Zheng, Shuhua Qi, Ying Liu, Luguang Jiang. The Role of Cross-Scale Social and Environmental Contexts in Household-Level Land-Use Decisions,Poyang Lake Region, China. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1080/00045608.2015.1060921

[46] Yongqin David Chen, Qiang Zhang, Mingzhong Xiao, Vijay P. Singh, Yee Leung, Luguang Jiang. Precipitation extremes in the Yangtze River Basin, China: regional frequency and spatial–temporal patterns. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 2014, 116(3-4): 447-461. DOI:10.1007/s00704-013-0964-3

[47] Shaoxia Xia, Xiubo Yu, Spike Millington, Yu Liu, Yifei Jia, Longzhu Wang, Xiyong Hou, Luguang Jiang. Identifying priority sites and gaps for the conservation of migratory waterbirds in China's coastal wetlands. Biological Conservation, 2017,210:72-82. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon. 2016.07.025

[48] Dongli Fan, Yidan Fan, Zhan Tian, Xiubin Li, Min Jiang, Laixiang Sun, Honglin Zhong, Kai Wang, Xiangyi Wang, Luguang Jiang. A vital option for food security and greenhouse gases mitigation: planting elite super rice in double- to single-rice cropping fields in China. Environmental Research Letters, 2021, 16(9): 094038. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac1e3e

[1] Luguang Jiang, Xiubo Yu, Lifeng Li, et al. (translated and edited) New Approaches to River Management (Chinese Version). Beijing: Science Press, 2006 (The English Version was edited by A.J.M. Smits, P.H. Nienhuis, R.S.E.W. Leuven from Netherlands)

[2] Zhiming Feng, Luguang Jiang, Jinghua Zhang, et al. Land Use and Sustainable Development of the Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River Basin. Beijing: Science Press, 2017

(1) 2021-2024, National Natural Science Foundation Project, Spatiotemporal Changes and Scenario 

Simulation of Farmland Utilization Intensity in Middle Yangtze Plain;

(2) 2023-2026, Ministry of Science and Technology, Natural Resource and Green Development of 

Cross-border Protected Areas of Mount Altai；

(3) 2022-2026, State Forestry and Grassland Administration Project, Ecological Restoration Strategies

 for Desert and Desertification Areas in China；

(4) 2015-2019, Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Remote Sensing 

Recognition and Spatiotemporal Change Simulation of Main Crop Planting Patterns;

(5) 2011-2015, Key Project from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Eco-compensation System Designing in China based on Carbon Credit;

(6) 2010-2012, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ecosystem Services Competition Modeling between Flood Regulation and Food Provisioning of Poyang Lake Region;

(7) 2009-2013, Sub-project from Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Land Use/Cover Survey and Mapping on the Middle and Lower Reaches of Lancang (Mekong) River and Grand Shangri-La Region;

(8) 2009-2013, Sub-project from National Basic Research Program (973 Program) of China, Ecosystem Services and Ecological Security of China