After one decade of development, the methods to explore the temporal and spatial process of Land Use and Land Cover Change (LUCC) have been improved greatly, and a methodology framework used to study the temporal and spatial process is being developed. The methodology framework is based on the integration of the classical theories of Geography and technologies of remote sensing and GIS, which is a new research field to meet the need for scientific information on the adaptation to the global environmental change and fore achieve the sustainable development.

For the past two decades, numerous scientists have unrelentingly promoted continued progress and commitment to LUCC research and Global Land Project (GLP). Four aspects with the relevant themes are specifically focused on the detection of, the driving mechanism analysis on, the description and simulation for the impact assessment of the spatial and temporal process of LUCC.

Viewed globally, breakthroughs of the newly developed remote sensing and GIS were used to describe the temporal and spatial differentiation rule of LUCC and realize the dynamic division of land use based on methods of system theory in the detection of temporal and spatial process of LUCC. At the same time, driving mechanism analysis has become one of the core research topics of the temporal and spatial process of LUCC. Exploration of the temporal and spatial pattern in an open land system and chooses the proper model to describe and simulate its process at a multi-scale dimension have become popular among the academic circles. In addition, assessment on the impacts of macro-ecological effect of the temporal and spatial process of LUCC has been greatly promoted and a new technical approach, which is an important methodology basis for macro-ecological effect has already based shaped.

Scientists from China have done a lot of research by describing and simulating the temporal and spatial process of LUCC. They carried out the simulation at two scales, the regional scale and the grid scale. Efforts have also been made to extensively understand the driving mechanism of various influencing factors on temporal and spatial process of LUCC and the policies for land use administration. In addition, the description, explanation, prediction and relating policy analysis of the temporal and spatial process and pattern succession of LUCC are strongly emphasized and addressed in the domestic research.

After reviewing the temporal and spatial process of LUCC research, researchers of the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research conclude that there are existing limitations and problems, such as data accumulation, model integration and the construction of theory system. The methodology system needs to be improved and validated by doing more cases studies in the typical regions.