The researchers used satellite technology and mapping software to study how the landscape in Shunchang County changed over time. They looked at different types of land, like forests and buildings, and measured how diverse and balanced the landscape was. They found that forests were the main type of land, but some forests decreased while building areas increased. The diversity of the landscape varied across the county, with more diversity in the southwest. Over the years, more land was used for buildings, which started to harm the environment by breaking up natural areas.