Terrain is not only one of the important factors affecting the spatial layout and land use change,but also a prerequisite for land evaluation and land planning.A good understanding of the relationships between land use types and terrain gradient is essential for land management.In this paper,elevation,slope,and terrain niche were conceptually divided into 13 classes,which were used to describe the terrain difference across the study area,Liuyang City in Hunan province.The nondimensional distribution index w...