The study analyzed changes in land use in the Shiyang River Basin over 33 years using satellite images and geospatial technology. The researchers found significant shifts in land use patterns, with increases in forest and urban areas. The main transitions were from arable land to grassland, grassland to unused land, and unused land to arable and forest land. The model predicts no major changes in land use by 2020. These changes have led to desertification, changes in water runoff, loss of vegetation, and other environmental issues in the region.