In ecologically sensitive and geographically constrained plateau regions, the dynamic relationship between cities and lakes constitutes a fundamental driver of regional sustainability. These landscapes exist in a state of deep interdependence, where the symbiotic interfaces - the transitional zones where urban and lacustrine systems converge-serve as vital arenas for continuous material and energy flows, as well as profound land use and land cover changes. The spatial configuration and functional management of these interfaces are therefore of paramount importance, directly influencing urban ecological resilience, biodiversity, microclimate regulation, and ultimately, the quality of human habitation. Focusing on the emblematic plateau lake-city system of Kunming and Dianchi Lake, this research employs a longitudinal, spatially-explicit analytical framework to unravel the complex co-evolution of urban development and lake ecology. By integrating multi-source remote sensing imagery, geographic information system (GIS) techniques, and statistical data spanning from 1990 to 2020, we systematically quantified the spatiotemporal patterns of urban expansion and lakeshore transformation. The core of our analysis lies in applying a coupled coordination degree model to evaluate the synergistic symbiosis level of the city-lake landscape system, moving beyond descriptive analysis to a quantified assessment of system harmony. The principal findings of this study reveal a nuanced trajectory of interaction and co-adaptation: 1) Spatial-Temporal Dynamics: The evolving tension and negotiation between urban spatial growth and the imperative for lake ecological protection have been the dominant force reshaping the landscape symbiotic interfaces. This has manifested in cyclical patterns of encroachment, retreat, and stabilization, fundamentally altering the structure and functionality of these critical edge zones. 2) Evolution of Synergy: The city-lake landscape relationship has undergone a significant qualitative shift, transitioning from a prolonged period of disharmony and maladjustment (characterized by urban sprawl at the expense of lake health) to an emerging phase of preliminary coordination and mutualism in recent years. Nevertheless, this coordinated state remains fragile and nascent, with the calculated coordination index indicating substantial scope for progression towards a more robust and stable symbiotic regime. 3) Multifaceted Drivers: The pathway towards synergistic development is not deterministic but is mediated by a complex, hierarchical set of interacting factors. Our analysis identifies a confluence of drivers including macro-level economic and demographic policies, the immutable constraints and opportunities presented by the natural terrain and hydrological environment, and the tangible impacts of specific urban planning decisions and construction activities. In conclusion, fostering ecologically livable cities in fragile plateau lake regions requires a holistic, system-level governance approach. This study posits that future strategies must pivot towards two synergistic core pillars: firstly, the intentional enhancement of ecosystem service quality through ecological restoration, blue-green infrastructure networks, and sustainable land use planning within the symbiotic interfaces; and secondly, the implementation of integrated, watershed-scale governance mechanisms that transcend administrative boundaries. Such mechanisms should coordinate water resource management, pollution control, spatial planning, and socio-economic development to align human activities with the carrying capacity of the lake ecosystem, thereby securing a sustainable and synergistic future for plateau city-lake landscapes. Notwithstanding these contributions and policy implications, this study acknowledges certain limitations. The construction of assessment indicators for the city-lake system was constrained by the availability and continuity of spatiotemporal data. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms driving city-lake symbiosis were primarily explored through qualitative analysis, warranting future quantification and mechanistic modeling. Looking ahead, we propose that future research adopt a more systematic and in-depth perspective to explore the synergistic co-evolution between the entire Dianchi water system-encompassing its tributaries, catchment, and hydrological cycles - and the urban fabric, which would further illuminate pathways toward sustainable coexistence in complex plateau lake basins.

Under the global aspiration for carbon neutrality, enhancing urban carbon sink capacity has become an increasingly critical focus for nations worldwide. As urbanization continues at an unprecedented pace globally, the rapid expansion of cities has led to notable changes in land use patterns and increased habitat fragmentation, thereby exerting profound impacts on regional carbon balances. The development and optimization of ecological networks have emerged as vital strategies for safeguarding ecological security and promoting sustainable development. In recent years, an expanding body of research has demonstrated that ecological network construction is closely linked to the enhancement of urban ecosystems' carbon sequestration capacities, confirming that it is an effective approach to achieving the overarching goal of global carbon neutrality. The cities within the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), a prominent emblem of China's modernization, exemplify typical conflicts between urban expansion and ecological preservation. These conflicts highlight the urgency of adopting integrated ecological planning to reconcile urban growth with ecological integrity. In this context, the present study selects Suzhou, a key city in the YRD, as a case to investigate ecological network construction and optimization. Employing the mainstream "ecological source areas-ecological resistance surface-ecological corridors" framework, the research identifies critical ecological sources through morphological spatial pattern analysis and landscape connectivity indices. 8 factors - including dem, slope, NDVI, population density, land use, land cover, and so on - are incorporated to comprehensively evaluate landscape resistance. Using a least-cost path model, a combined ecological resistance surface is developed to quantify landscape resistance. Building upon this, core ecological corridors are extracted utilizing circuit theory and gravity models, enabling the identification of key pathways for ecological flow and connectivity. These corridors form the backbone of Suzhou's ecological network system, designed to enhance habitat connectivity and ecological stability. Subsequently, complex network theory is introduced to model the ecological topological network of Suzhou, facilitating an analysis of its structural features and their relationship with carbon sequestration capacity. Metrics such as degree centrality, clustering coefficient, and eigenvector centrality are employed to examine the network's topological roles and their influence on ecological function. The analysis reveals that Suzhou's ecological network exhibits typical water-network spatial characteristics, with primary source habitats mainly comprising lakes and forests. Ecological corridors are predominantly aligned along urban rivers and tributaries, yet the spatial distribution of ecological resources displays a notable imbalance. Correlation analyses demonstrate that the carbon sequestration capacity of ecological sources is significantly positively related to network characteristics such as degree, clustering coefficient, and eigenvector centrality. Improving these metrics - by adding ecological "stepping stones" and expanding corridors - proves effective in enhancing the network's overall carbon sequestration function. Based on the above findings, the study proposes a series of ecological network optimization strategies aimed at ecological function restoration and carbon sequestration capacity enhancement. Notably, 11 ecological stepping stones and 15 new corridors are incorporated into the network. Robustness assessments - evaluating the network's resilience and attack tolerance - show that the optimized network demonstrates higher stability and resistance against disturbances, confirming the scientific validity and practical feasibility of the optimization approach. These results validate that targeted ecological network modifications can enhance its resilience and carbon sequestration capacity. The study's outcome highlights that Suzhou's ecological network embodies a water-centric spatial pattern, with key ecological sources mainly being lakes and forests, and corridors predominantly along rivers. Although the spatial distribution of ecological resources remains uneven, targeted interventions through adding stepping stones and corridors can significantly enhance the network's carbon sequestration ability. The research aims to deepen understanding of the spatial relationship between ecological topological structures and carbon sequestration capacity, providing a scientific foundation for ecological network optimization centered on ecological function recovery and carbon storage enhancement. Overall, this study offers valuable insights for optimizing urban ecological networks in water-rich cities, with significant implications for regional ecological resilience, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sink functions. The findings hold important theoretical and practical significance for advancing urban ecological planning and contributing to the broader goals of ecological security and climate change mitigation.

This study delves into the intricate mechanisms by which park landscape elements and their combinations exert influence on the heart rate and speed of individuals engaged in fitness walking, taking into account diverse demographic attributes and various types of walking activities. In modern society, as more people turn to park walking for fitness, understanding these mechanisms is of utmost importance for optimizing park design and promoting healthy lifestyles. By uncovering these relationships, the research endeavors to offer well-founded scientific recommendations for the planning and design of park pathways that are highly suitable for fitness walking. This, in turn, will assist individuals with different fitness requirements to make informed and rational choices when selecting park walking routes. The research methodology was comprehensive and systematic. First, advanced web scraping techniques were utilized to gather user data from the Strava platform. This data pertained to individuals who had recorded fitness walking activities within Shanghai Century Park. It included detailed personal characteristics such as gender, age, and weight, as well as crucial exercise metrics like heart rate and speed. Second, an on-site field photography campaign was carried out at Century Park. High-resolution landscape images were captured, and then semantic segmentation technology was applied. This technology was crucial in precisely identifying and quantifying 17 distinct landscape elements, ranging from natural elements like water bodies and mountains to man-made elements such as benches and pavilions. Subsequently, the participants were carefully categorized into multiple groups based on gender, age, weight, and the specific type of walking activity, whether it was a leisurely walk or a brisk run. Finally, Spearman's correlation analysis was meticulously carried out to explore the quantitative relationships between heart rate, speed, and the 17 landscape elements across all the different groups. The analysis yielded several significant findings. Firstly, it was discovered that the impact of the same landscape element on the physiological indicators of walkers varied minimally between genders. This implies that in park pathway planning and design, there is no need for gender-specific adjustments to landscape elements. Secondly, landscape combinations dominated by sky, herbaceous plants, and trees were shown to be highly effective in stabilizing the heart rate of elderly individuals during walking. The serene and comfortable environment created by these combinations helps the elderly maintain a steady physiological state. Thirdly, semi-enclosed pathways dominated by trees were found to be more effective in increasing the heart rate and speed of individuals with higher body weight. These paths add an element of spatial interest and a mild challenge, which encourages greater exercise engagement. Fourthly, natural-style routes featuring pedestrian pathways supplemented by trees and sky elements were more suitable for walking, while paths with a larger sky view, minimal tree obstruction, and greater width were better for running. This provides clear guidance for individuals to choose the most appropriate routes based on their walking activities. In conclusion, the findings of this study offer targeted and practical recommendations for the planning and design of park pathways. When designing park pathways, it is essential to fully consider the diverse needs associated with different demographic attributes and types of walking activities. By rationally configuring landscape elements and their combinations, the suitability of park pathways for fitness walking can be significantly improved. This will ultimately contribute to promoting scientific and healthy walking practices among a wide range of population groups, enhancing the overall well - being of park visitors.

Phylogenetics, originally developed from the life sciences, investigates the entire lifecycle of organisms, thereby uncovering the evolutionary traits and patterns of their subjects of study. Spatial-Temporal characteristics of traditional settlement landscape from the perspective of phylogenetics are helpful to analyze the spatial characteristics of traditional settlement landscape from the dual dimensions of the constantly updated dynamic construction process and the synchronic characteristics formed by spatial superposition, and further clarify the mechanism affecting the Spatial-Temporal characteristics of traditional settlement landscape. Taking the traditional commercial settlement Baimazhai village in Fengcheng, Jiangxi as the research object, the historical environment is regarded as a process of dynamic construction, restoring the historical landscape form of settlements under the influence of "dual commercial activities" from a phylogenetics standpoint, and carried out for the construction of historical landscape of the settlement space is "time evolution" and "spatial congruence" models from the perspective of commercial trade, and presenting a complex system of "multilayered spatiotemporal integration". The results show that: 1) From the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty to modern times, Baimazhai village saw major geographical modifications as a result of natural circumstances, sociocultural causes, and economic growth, considering the impact of Baimazhai village's commercial activities, this study projects historical elements observed in the synchronic state into the diachronic evolution of the village, thus reconstructing its historical spatial development. The evolution process has gone through four stages: the relocation of the foundation period: the beginning of the dragon vein and the separation of sides; During the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty: the houses are lined up horizontally and in a row; During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty: distributed like a comb and clearly partitioned; Modern: differentiation and integration with blurred partitions. 2) In terms of site selection and construction, Baima Village's ancestors stressed the harmonious relationship of humans and environment, landscape care/Yin-Harmonizing/ancestral temple ceremonial/social interaction/defensive barrier, clan faction, and housing structure landscape space. These zones gradually overlapped and blended, resulting in a village environment distinguished by its proximity to natural landscapes, a rich historical setting, and a community living in harmony and prosperity. 3) The historical landscape of the settlement presents the following three characteristics, namely, "circle-based" + "orderly" landscape space system, "center + group" patriarchal cultural landscape space, and "village-fort-style" + "row-type" combination form. 4) Baimazhai village is more than just a traditional settlement; its evolution is governed by multiple interwoven mechanisms. Firstly, endogenous evolution is primarily fueled by clan kinship, serving as both the evolutionary drive and the connective tissue for spatial development, fundamentally shaping the expansion of social spaces within the settlement. Secondly, embedded evolution is driven by distinctive features, characterized by the strategic incorporation of functional and event-specific spaces, tailored to suit local conditions. The third mechanism, mediated evolution, is propelled by historical events, resulting in the integration of institutional and anticipatory spaces designed for collaborative engagement. Baima Village's development is influenced both by its internal clan dynamics and by external pressures such as merchant guild activities, warfare, and resource disputes. These elements are projected into the settlement's form through its spatial organization, where they interact and coalesce to shape the overall spatial configuration of the settlement, imbuing it with distinct regional cultural significance. Using phylogenetic approaches to investigate its geographical development process, features, and driving forces is conducive to fully understanding the value characteristics of dual-merchant settlements and further deepening the theoretical research system of traditional settlements landscape.

As important supplementary green spaces in high-density urban environments, sky gardens have been increasingly recognized for their potential to promote public physical and mental health. Existing studies have preliminarily evidenced their restorative benefits; however, the underlying mechanisms linking spatial environmental characteristics, physiological responses, and psychological perceptions remain insufficiently understood. In particular, there is still a lack of evidence-based guidance at the level of specific spatial elements, which limits the translation of theoretical findings into practical design and optimization strategies. Against this background, this study takes sky gardens as a research object and aims to systematically measure, interpret, and optimize their restorative benefits from an integrated "spatial-physiological-psychological" perspective. First, drawing on computer vision-based semantic segmentation and a comprehensive literature review, key spatial composition elements and restorative indicators of sky gardens are identified, providing a quantitative foundation for subsequent analysis. Based on this framework, eye-tracking experiments are conducted to capture individuals' visual physiological responses during restorative processes, including attention allocation and visual stress indicators. Meanwhile, psychological restorative perceptions are assessed using the perceived restorativeness scale, covering dimensions such as being away, fascination, coherence, and compatibility. By integrating objective physiological data and subjective psychological evaluations, this study constructs a hierarchical association model linking spatial attributes, visual physiological responses, and psychological restorative outcomes. Subsequently, the proposed "spatia-physiological-psychological" model is applied to different types of sky gardens to identify key spatial indicators that significantly influence restorative benefits. To further enhance the applicability of the findings, an importance-performance analysis (IPA) is employed to distinguish priority spatial elements that require targeted intervention and optimization in design practice. This approach allows not only the identification of influential factors, but also the formulation of practical strategies for improving restorative performance under constrained urban conditions. The results reveal several notable patterns. First, spatial scale and visual depth are identified as critical factors in alleviating visual physiological stress, indicating that appropriate spatial openness and depth perception play a vital role in reducing visual load. Second, sky gardens designed at an embodied scale significantly enhance psychological restorative experiences, particularly in terms of temporarily forgetting responsibilities and obligations, alleviating fear and tension, and fostering immersive engagement with the environment. Third, users generally demonstrate a high level of acceptance of sky gardens within high-density urban living contexts. Among spatial attributes, void-to-solid ratio, sky openness, and facility cleanliness exhibit consistently positive effects on restorative benefits. In contrast, the effects of green landscapes are found to be dual in nature, showing both positive and negative influences depending on their spatial configuration and quality. This finding highlights the necessity of flexibly selecting appropriate indicators to represent greenery quality rather than relying solely on quantity-based measures. Overall, this study provides an integrated analytical framework for understanding and optimizing the restorative benefits of sky gardens by bridging spatial design, physiological responses, and psychological perceptions. By combining computer vision techniques, eye-tracking data, and subjective evaluations, the research offers evidence-based insights that support more precise spatial control and targeted design interventions. The findings contribute not only to the theoretical understanding of restorative environments in high-density cities, but also to the practical guidance for designing and upgrading sky gardens to better support public health and well-being.

Addressing the Land-Sea Coordination plan and the development of resilient cities, the systematic identification and dynamic evaluation of damaged coastal landscape areas have increasingly emerged as critical concerns for the high-quality advancement of coastal city landscapes in China. Damaged space, which exhibits clear signs of problems such as reduced function, weakened structure, and lower health in coastal landscapes, is the primary target for assessing the quality and strength of urban coastal areas. In recent years, mechanisms for evaluating environmental quality, exemplified by Urban Physical Examination, have been progressively and comprehensively refined. These identified mechanisms may offer technical support for the identification, assessment, and management of degraded landscape areas and facilitate the transition of coastal landscape research from static evaluation to systematic diagnosis and targeted governance. Despite the rapid advancement of spatial analysis and prediction technologies, it is of paramount importance to develop quantitative, parameterized methods and tools tailored to the needs of damaged landscapes. This development is essential for the precise identification, characterization, and analysis of coastal landscape damage, as well as for effectively interpreting driving mechanisms and ultimately improving the efficacy of decision-making in urban coastal landscape regulation strategies. This study addresses current challenges in research on damaged coastal landscapes, including insufficient systematic analysis, incomplete identification systems, low simulation accuracy, and unclear regulatory strategies. This study integrates landscape resilience theory with existing research in landscape ecology. The researcher concentrates explicitly on elucidating the dynamic evolution patterns inherent in coastal city landscapes and seeks to establish a robust technical framework for the identification and representation of damaged coastal landscape spaces. Regarding the research methodology, the PLUS model is adopted to develop a dynamic simulation and representation analysis system that is specifically designed for landscape degradation. By leveraging GIS platforms to integrate land-use transfer matrix analysis and spatial autocorrelation techniques, this study distills core degradation trends and reveals spatial aggregation patterns. Additionally, it incorporates both single-factor and interaction-detection algorithms from geographic detector models to conduct precise identification, dynamic simulation, and mechanistic analysis of degradation spaces within urban coastal landscapes. In terms of empirical investigation, the researcher specifically selected the coastal zone of Yancheng City in Jiangsu Province to conduct a representative case study. Specifically, landscape-type data spanning 2010-2020, together with a comprehensive database of natural and socio-economic driving factors, were used for the assessment. The PLUS model and geographic detector were employed to simulate and analyze the evolutionary trajectories and spatial clustering characteristics of degraded areas. The analytical process then examined the pathways of landscape transformation and assessed the impacts of various driving processes. The empirical findings of this study reveal that damaged landscape areas within the study region exhibit a general spatial pattern characterized by aggregation along the coastline and expansion toward the interior. Specific locales, including coastal wetlands, reclaimed land areas, and the peripheries of urban expansion zones, are identified as notably high-value clusters of landscape degradation. Among natural landscape types, forests and wetlands have undergone considerable damage. The results from factor detection indicate that vegetation cover scale, climatic temperature conditions, population density, and land-use changes are the primary determinants of the evolution of degraded areas. These factors demonstrate not only significant individual explanatory power but also notable synergistic effects and interactive influences. Consequently, restoration and rehabilitation initiatives should be executed in a scientifically coordinated manner. In addition, strategic focus should be directed towards the multi-level governance of affected landscape areas and the integrated management of the principal driving variables and their interaction mechanisms. This paper presents a methodological framework for identifying and representing damaged coastal landscapes using the PLUS model. This framework allows researchers to perform accurate detection and simulation of damaged areas by integrating multi-source spatiotemporal data. Apart from that, the proposed approach offers robust technical support for the systematic diagnosis and strategic spatial planning of urban coastal landscapes. Furthermore, this paper provides a replicable methodological reference for future practices in landscape assessment, monitoring, and regulatory decision-making. The study results can also offer contributions to the broader goals of sustainable coastal zone management and resilient urban development.

Conventional metrics for evaluating equality in urban green space planning, primarily based on two-dimensional green space (2DGS) area coverage, are insufficient for characterizing the intricate distribution of green resources in three-dimensional space. These traditional measures overlook the substantial contributions of vertical vegetation structures, such as trees and shrubs, to urban ecological health, biodiversity, and aesthetic quality, potentially leading to suboptimal planning outcomes. To address this gap, this study establishes a novel analytical framework that synergizes high-precision remote sensing with advanced machine learning to enable a precise and comprehensive assessment of equality in three-dimensional green volume (3DGV) allocation, thereby supporting more integrated and effective urban green planning. The framework was implemented in the main city of Nanjing through four sequential stages: 1) 2DGS Extraction: Precise delineation of surface green coverage was achieved by applying a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier to high-resolution remote sensing imagery, generating an accurate foundational map for spatial analysis. 2) 3DGV Modeling and Calculation: A robust Random Forest regression model was developed to estimate 3DGV across the entire study area. This model was trained using detailed field-measured 3DGV data from sample plots and a suite of spectral vegetation indices derived from satellite data, effectively capturing non-linear relationships to ensure reliable volume inversion. 3) Accessibility-Based Equity Measurement: The equity of access to green resources was evaluated using the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method. This approach calculated the accessible 3DGV for each residential community by balancing the spatial supply of green volume with local population demand, highlighting fine-grained spatial disparities in availability. 4) Comparative Equity Analysis: The overall equity level was quantified using the Gini coefficient for accessible 3DGV, while the location quotient identified units with relative surplus or deficit. A direct comparison of equity indicators derived from 3DGV and conventional 2DGS metrics revealed the distinct analytical insights provided by the volumetric perspective. The analysis yields several key findings. First, inequalities in 2DGS distribution are amplified in the 3DGV, indicating that area-based disparities lead to even greater volumetric imbalances. Second, the dynamics of 3DGV are more complex and sensitive; it exhibits a lagged and non-linear response to significant changes in surface greenery, making its equity patterns during urbanization more volatile than those of 2DGS. This underscores the critical limitation of relying solely on planar metrics, as they mask these heightened and more sensitive volumetric inequalities. Therefore, the study concludes that achieving equitable green space allocation requires planning policies and regulatory interventions specifically designed to monitor and manage 3DGV. The proposed framework offers a multidimensional, scientifically robust basis for spatial decision-making, providing innovative methodology for advancing sustainable and just urban green environments.

To screen herbaceous plants that are adaptable to and conducive to stabilizing ecologically fragile garden slopes, this study selected 9 commonly used herbaceous slope-protection plants from Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area, a renowned mountain scenic spot in South China, and conducted tests on the shear strength, anti-scourability, and anti-erosion resistance of their root-soil composites. The results showed that all the tested plants could effectively improve slope stability, and the ranking of their comprehensive soil-fixing efficiency was as follows: Axonopus compressus > Arrhenatherum elatius 'Variegatum' > Calathea insignis>Wedelia trilobata > Hymenocallis littoralis >Hemerocallis fulva > Nephrolepis cordifolia > Ruellia simplex > Pilea notata. In terms of specific performance indicators reflecting different aspects of soil stability, Arrhenatherum elatius 'Variegatum', Hymenocallis littoralis, and Nephrolepis cordifolia had the highest shear strength in the upper soil layer; Arrhenatherum elatius 'Variegatum', Hymenocallis littoralis, and Calathea insignis exhibited the best performance in the shear strength of the lower soil layer; in terms of anti-scourability, Axonopus compressus, Wedelia trilobata, and Hemerocallis fulva showed the optimal performance; meanwhile, Calathea insignis, Ruellia simplex, and Hemerocallis fulva demonstrated the strongest anti-erosion resistance. The comprehensive evaluation based on all test indicators indicated that Axonopus compressus, Arrhenatherum elatius 'Variegatum', Calathea insignis, Wedelia trilobata, and Hymenocallis littoralis are highly suitable as excellent slope-protection plants for garden slopes in Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area and South China. To accurately quantify the relative contribution rate of each evaluation index to the overall soil-fixing effect, the entropy weight method was adopted to measure the contribution degree of each index. The results revealed that the contribution rates followed the order: anti-scourability (33.44%) > upper-layer shear strength (26.03%) > lower-layer shear strength (21.31%) > anti-erosion resistance (19.22%), indicating that the importance of different indicators varied. The upper and lower-layer shear strengths are the core indicators reflecting the mechanical effects of root-soil composites, with the contribution rate of upper-layer shear strength being higher than that of the lower layer, while anti-scourability and anti-erosion resistance are the key indicators characterizing hydrological effects. Both mechanical and hydrological effects play significant and indispensable roles in the soil-fixing function of slope-protection plants. It is worth noting that the cumulative contribution rate of hydrological effect indicators reached 52.66%, which was equivalent to that of mechanical effect indicators (47.34%). Correlation analysis further revealed that there was a highly significant positive correlation (P<0.01) among upper-layer shear strength, lower-layer shear strength, and anti-erosion resistance, while anti-scourability was only highly significantly correlated with anti-erosion resistance (P<0.01). These findings collectively indicate that there is a clear synergistic mechanism between mechanical and hydrological effects during the soil-fixing process of slope-protection plants, and provide important theoretical support for the scientific selection of slope-protection plants in South China.

The maze represents a significant spatial typology within the formal gardens of Western classicism. Its formal origins can be traced back to choreographic ritual symbols from antiquity, which later frequently appeared as sacred geometric patterns in medieval religious spaces, and ultimately evolved into a spatial feature within aristocratic gardens during the Renaissance. Although diverse cultural types of maze spaces existed across different periods and regions in the West, they all share commonalities in spatial formal composition and experiential engagement. Post-Renaissance garden mazes transformed these planar formal commonalities into three-dimensional labyrinthine spaces that offer more profound landscape experiences. Drawing upon materials such as mythology, dance, painting, architecture, and garden imagery, and employing research methodologies including iconology, cross-referencing of historical, sources, and diagrammatic analysis, this study examines the constitutive mechanisms of maze spatial forms from three perspectives: the origins and evolution, typological variations, and essential components of Western maze culture. It interprets the historical, conceptual, and the significance of spatial experience inherent in the maze. The research aims to provide specific design references for contemporary landscape practice and to contribute to deepening the comparative study of Chinese and Western gardens, particularly regarding the cultural experience and perception of this distinctive spatial type. The maze's foundational form derives from ancient ritual dances, where patterned movements inscribed symbolic trajectories onto the ground, serving as early spatial representations of cosmological or spiritual narratives. During the medieval period, these forms were assimilated into Christian contexts, most notably as pavement labyrinths in cathedrals, such as the renowned example at Chartres. These functioned as sites for symbolic pilgrimage, condensing a spiritual journey into a compact, contemplative physical path. The transition to the Renaissance witnessed the secularization and aestheticization of the maze. Integrated into the elaborate designs of expansive gardens, such as those at the Villa d'Este or Hampton Court, it became an instrument of courtly leisure, allegory, and demonstration of humanist control over nature. The spatial experience shifted from devotional meditation to one of amusement, disorientation, and eventual discovery, often imbued with metaphorical meanings related to love, fate, or knowledge. Despite varying contextual interpretations - sacred, symbolic, or recreational - the core formal principle of the maze remained a single, non-branching but intricately coiling path leading to a center. This unicursal model emphasizes process and journey over puzzle-solving. However, later developments, especially the hedge maze, introduced multicursal layouts with dead ends and choices, thereby emphasizing confusion, decision-making, and playful challenge. This evolution from a unicursal ritual path to a multicursal recreational puzzle marks a significant shift in spatial experience. The study analyzes the maze's formal constituents: the path (its width, texture, and modulation by planting or walls), the nodal points (turns, decision points, or centers), and the vertical boundaries (hedges, walls, or terraces) that define the sensory experience of enclosure, revelation, and surprise. The interaction between the predetermined geometry of the plan and the kinesthetic, perceptual, and psychological experience of the user is central to its spatial mechanism. In conclusion, the Western maze constitutes a rich palimpsest of cultural meanings encoded in spatial form. By deciphering its historical layers and operational logic, this research seeks to abstract transferable principles of path sequencing, perceptual manipulation, and narrative spatialization. These insights can inform contemporary landscape architecture, offering strategies for creating immersive, sequential, and meaningful spatial journeys. Furthermore, a structured understanding of the maze provides a concrete framework for cross-cultural comparison, illuminating how different traditions conceive of, design, and experience manipulated ritual or recreational pathways, thereby enriching the discourse on global garden history and spatial culture.

Generative artificial intelligence technology is profoundly affecting the field of landscape planning and design, bringing new opportunities and challenges to knowledge production and planning and design practice. The research is based on the difference between landscape planning and design practice before and after the intervention of artificial intelligence. Firstly, the development process of artificial intelligence in three key application scenarios of simulation prediction, scheme generation, and design evaluation is deeply analyzed. 1) Artificial intelligence in simulation and prediction scenarios is mainly used in dynamic simulation of landscape pattern, prediction of spatial pattern evolution, scene simulation, etc., to help predict the future development trend of landscape, which is usually in the current situation and problem analysis stage in the early stage of planning and design. From the initial empirical prediction of the urban dynamics model to the machine prediction stage of the analytical artificial intelligence stage. 2) In the context of scheme generation, artificial intelligence is mainly used in the rapid generation of spatial layout schemes, such as landscape plane generation and landscape rendering, which is usually in the mid-term scheme proposal stage of planning and design. With the evolution of artificial intelligence from non-intelligent tools to generative artificial intelligence, scheme generation has also achieved a leap from auxiliary drawing to generative design. 3) In the context of design evaluation, artificial intelligence is mainly used in landscape performance evaluation, landscape visual quality evaluation, landscape perception evaluation, etc., to help designers evaluate and improve planning and design schemes. It is usually in the early stage of planning and design, and the later stage of performance evaluation. Artificial intelligence tools have evolved from the earliest expert system to data-driven evaluation. Secondly, based on the time period theory and the subject-object dichotomy theory, an analytical framework is proposed to dialectically view the three roles of artificial intelligence of knowledge production in landscape planning and design practice: from the short-term perspective of technological and product innovation, human beings as the main body of planning and design practice, and generative artificial intelligence can be regarded as "servants"; from the medium-term perspective of industry change, generative artificial intelligence, as the main body of planning and design practice, has become an "opponent" under the negative impact of technology; from the long-term perspective of knowledge production and social communication change, when both are subjects, generative artificial intelligence can be regarded as a "partner". The importance of building a new model of human-machine collaboration is further emphasized, and a knowledge production model of landscape planning and design based on human-machine collaboration is proposed. Finally, the future development and challenges of artificial intelligence in the production of practical knowledge of landscape planning and design are prospectively discussed. It is still a big challenge for generative artificial intelligence to participate in the interdisciplinary and local knowledge production of landscape planning and design, and the knowledge production in the teaching and research of landscape planning and design. In the face of the new trend of knowledge production mode change brought by artificial intelligence, we should understand it from the perspective of knowledge production mode change, ideology and methodology evolution, and examine landscape planning and design practice and subject knowledge system with a new problem domain. Further thinking about the role and responsibility of artificial intelligence and planning designers in landscape planning and design practice, and how to better integrate the collaboration between humans and artificial intelligence to create more value.