The Spatiotemporal Changes in Ecological–Environmental Quality Caused by Farmland Consolidation Using Google Earth Engine: A Case Study from Liaoning Province in China

Farmland consolidation (FC) is among the measures to solve farmland issues, such as fragmentation, and its impact on ecological environment has always been controversial. In terms of long-term series large-area analysis, calculation a large amount data makes analysis ecological–environmental quality very difficult. To this problem, our study applied remote sensing index model Google Earth Engine platform analyze changes in two prefecture-level cities Liaoning Province over past 20 years. addition, we analyzed impacts FC projects from 2006 2018 compared them without consolidation. The results show that caused negative during period (2006–2018) FC’s positive effects take time develop. each phase, showed exhibited before 2010 because proportion reductions (0–47.67%) was higher than increases (9.62–46.15%) those phases. Since 2011, area experiencing benefits (31.96–72.01%) enabled by (2.24–18.07%). This seems be triggered policy evolution. Based trend areas with improved grew faster (Gini decreased 0.09) 0.05) after FC. Moreover, new (2011–2018) performed better early (2006–2010), which may due evolution technological advancements. However, dramatic decrease small number constraints. conclusion, believe could improve farmland, whereas some are needed reduce temporal quality, human interference. obtained using provided an effective reliable method for detecting farmland. provide basis support monitoring at regional level.