Vol. 36 (2026): Volumen 36
Artículos de Investigación

Spatiotemporal landscape modeling using cellular automata: a prospective approach in the Solís Dam watershed

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  • Martha Sofia Medina Acuña,
  • Michelle Farfán Gutierréz,
  • Ismael Orozco Medina
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15174/au.2026.4609

Published 2026-03-04

How to Cite

Medina Acuña, M. S., Farfán Gutierréz, M., & Orozco Medina, I. (2026). Spatiotemporal landscape modeling using cellular automata: a prospective approach in the Solís Dam watershed. Acta Universitaria, 36, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.15174/au.2026.4609

Copyright (c) 2026 Martha Sofia Medina Acuña, Michelle Farfán Gutierréz, Ismael Orozco Medina

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Anticipating land cover and use changes is vital to understanding and mitigating their impacts on the hydrological cycle, aquifer recharge, droughts, flood risks, and environmental degradation. Hence, this study focused on assessing, through cellular automata, land cover and land use changes projected to the year 2035. The case study was conducted in the contributing watershed of the Solís Reservoir. Results demonstrated substantial changes, notably a 90.54% increase in urban expansion, a 25.07% decline in forest cover, and a 2.72% reduction in agricultural land. It is highlighted that it is important to promote land-use planning instruments fostering responsible land use practices and supporting the restoration and protection of forest cover.

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