At the request of the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Research Council (NRC) produced a report synthesizing the most advanced models for assessing land change. The report focuses on how each model can best be used to help agriculture, regional planning, and disaster relief.

The report identifies six categories of modeling approaches: machine-learning and statistical approach, cellular approach, sector-based economic approach, spatially disaggregate economic approach, agent-based approach, and hybrid approaches, in order to compare their strengths and weaknesses at analyzing different types of land use. The report recommends opportunities for improvement within existing land change models.

Sources: The National Academies Press