Multi-objective Programming and Social Welfare Analysis of Rural–urban Land Conversion Decision-making

Abstract

Rural–urban land conversion is an inevitable phenomenon in urbanization and industrialization. And the decision-making issue about this conversion is multi-objective because the social decision maker (the whole of central government and local authority) has to integrate the requirements of different interest groups (rural collective economic organizations, peasants, urban land users and the ones affected indirectly) and harmonize the sub-objects (economic, social and ecological outcomes) of this land allocation process. This paper established a multi-objective programming model for rural–urban land conversion decision-making and made some social welfare analysis correspondingly. Result shows that the general object of rural–urban land conversion decision-making is to reach the optimal level of social welfare in a certain state of resources allocation, while the preference of social decision makers and the value judgment of interest groups are two crucial factors which determine the realization of the rural–urban land conversion decision-making objects.     

FSILP: fuzzy-stochastic-interval linear programming for supporting municipal solid waste management

Although many studies on municipal solid waste management (MSW management) were conducted under uncertain conditions of fuzzy, stochastic, and interval coexistence, the solution to the conventional linear programming problems of integrating fuzzy method with the other two was inefficient. In this study, a fuzzy-stochastic-interval linear programming (FSILP) method is developed by integrating Nguyen's method with conventional linear programming for supporting municipal solid waste management. The Nguyen's method was used to convert the fuzzy and fuzzy-stochastic linear programming problems into the conventional linear programs, by measuring the attainment values of fuzzy numbers and/or fuzzy random variables, as well as superiority and inferiority between triangular fuzzy numbers/triangular fuzzy-stochastic variables. The developed method can effectively tackle uncertainties described in terms of probability density functions, fuzzy membership functions, and discrete intervals. Moreover, the method can also improve upon the conventional interval fuzzy programming and two-stage stochastic programming approaches, with advantageous capabilities that are easily achieved with fewer constraints and significantly reduces consumption time. The developed model was applied to a case study of municipal solid waste management system in a city. The results indicated that reasonable solutions had been generated. The solution can help quantify the relationship between the change of system cost and the uncertainties, which could support further analysis of tradeoffs between the waste management cost and the system failure risk.     

Suitability of short or long conservation contracts under ecological and socio-economic uncertainty

Acquisition of land rights has become a primary tool used to protect terrestrial biodiversity. Fixed length contracts are often used when trying to secure conservation benefits on private land in agri-environment schemes and payment for environmental services schemes, but the duration of the conservation contracts used in different programmes varies. To date, very little research has been undertaken to determine the situations in which contracts of differing lengths are optimal or when conservation agencies or groups should use a portfolio of different contract lengths rather than relying on a single type. Using stochastic dynamic programming and related heuristic methods, we investigate how the choice between short or long conservation contracts is affected by uncertainty regarding the future availability of sites and their ecological condition. We also examine the benefits offered by using a portfolio of different contract lengths. Conservation agencies must pay private landowners a premium to secure longer agreements and because of this, shorter contracts are advantageous if sites are likely to remain available for conservation in the future. Long contracts are preferred when future site availability becomes more unlikely. In contrast to uncertainty over site availability, uncertainty over future ecological conditions has little effect on contract selection and only markedly influences the choice between short and long contracts when there is heterogeneity across sites in expected conservation outcomes and future availability of sites is also uncertain. Finally, when future site availability is unlikely, the use of a portfolio of short and long contracts would offer greater conservation gains than using either type in isolation, even though this option is not yet one that is commonly found in conservation practice.     

A SPATIAL LINEAR PROGRAM FOR OPTIMALLY SCHEDULING FOREST MANAGEMENT TO MEET STORMFLOW OBJECTWES1

ABSTRACT: A spatial linear program that strategically arranges and schedules forest treatments so as to meet peak stormflow objectives is formulated and demonstrated. The approach uses simulated spatial routing of stormflows nested as short‐term time schedules within longer‐term forest planning time periods. A simple case example is used to demonstrate the formulation and explore its spatial sensitivity.     

滑坡预测的改进前馈网络方法研究

作者提出了滑坡位移预测的一种改进前馈网络方法——目的规划法,与通常的前馈网络方法相比,该方法改进了网络的准则函数,降低了网络的灵敏度,改善了网络的泛化性能,提高了滑坡位移的预测精度。同时它是一种面向数据的方法,适合于不同地区不同条件下滑坡的预测。清江隔河岩库区滑坡和卧龙寺滑坡的实例研究表明了该方法的可行性及有效性。     

矿产资源总体规划对四川省甘孜州资源-环境承载力影响分析研究

本文根据矿区资源环境承载力的内涵,构建了"目标层-准则层-因子层-指标层"资源环境承载力评价体系,并在此基础上通过专家咨询打分的方式,采用层次分析法(AHP法)计算得出甘孜州矿产资源总体规划实施现状年、近景年、远景年3个时间段资源-环境承载力综合指数,为四川省甘孜州矿产资源总体规划环评影响影响评价提供了技术支撑和科学根...     

海上应急保障资源调度的多目标模糊规划模型

针对现有应急资源调度模型无法完全适应海上应急保障环境的问题,建立了基于多目标模糊规划的海上应急资源调度模型.首先,将不确定的航行时间和资源需求量表示为三角模糊数,用时间隶属度函数的全积分对模糊应急开始时间进行确定化表示,用需求量隶属度表示需求点所接收的资源数量满足需求的程度.然后,考虑各需求点和各类资源的重要程度,以系统的时效性、需求满意度、安全性和经济性为优化目标建立多目标规划模型,最后,给出了模型的求解方法,并通过算例分析证明了方法的有效性.     

大气污染总量控制方案的区域排放当量制定方法

在分析现有的大气污染总量控制方案的制定方法的基础上,本文提出了区域排放当量概念及相应的大气污染物总量控制方法。应用该概念制定总量控制方案,首先是运用线性规划模型求解区域允许排放当量,线性规划模型中的技术系数是以区域内网格为基础的污染物转移函数;其次是分配区域允许当量至各个污染源,从而确定污染源的允许排放量。该方法已在南昌市的大气污染总量控制方案的制定中得到应用。     

A Spatial Analysis of the Economic and Ecological Efficacy of Land Retirement

This paper uses a cellular automata simulation model of a hypothetical landscape to investigate the role of location as it relates to the efficacy of land retirement in achieving two environmental goals: hydrological improvement and habitat improvement. Statistical analysis of simulation results is used to show how absolute and relative location relate to achievement of these objectives. Linear and nonlinear compromise programming frameworks then combine these two environmental objectives and a cost minimization objective into a measure that allows decision-makers to rank the desirability of different retirement strategies. These frameworks are explored to determine what each implies about the tradeoffs that must be made among objectives and among the spatial land parcel characteristics that contribute to those objectives.     

WATER-SURFACE PROFILES WITHOUT ENERGY LOSS COEFFICIENTS1

ABSTRACT: This paper describes a new method of computing water-surface profiles, which does not require the assumption of hydrostatic pressure or of roughness coefficients. The method is based upon distributing entropy production values along a channel as uniformly as boundary conditions permit. The method requires a discharge capacity rating at a channel cross-section within the limits of the reach of the channel. A new theoretical relationship between the kinetic and momentum coefficients for the velocity profile is used, together with a dynamic programming technique for optimal distribution of energy losses along the channel. A computer model was developed and was used to verify the methodology for flood flow and channel data at four locations.