Landscape change and perception along historical railway: the case of Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, China

Against the background of environmental change, this study investigates the relationship between landscape changes and perceptions along the historical railway using a combination of Historical Geographic Information Systems (HGIS) and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). After quantifying the changes by GIS, the research aims to understand how different types of landscape changes affect physical, psychological, and cultural perceptions among locals. By integrating historical maps with remote sensing data and questionnaire, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of landscape evolution over time. The findings reveal that cropland and urban areas both showed significant increases along the railway; forest and water body both decreased over 70 years. The presence of forest change led to significant cultural perceptions and cropland change influenced the psychological perceptions of landscape. This research contributes to the understanding of the interplay between landscape change and human perception, offering valuable insights for sustainable landscape management and heritage conservation.