Ron Janssen

A genetic algorithm approach to multiobjective land use planning

This paper describes a class of spatial planning problems in which different land uses have to be allocated across a geographical region, subject to a variety of constraints and conflicting management objectives. A goal programming/reference point approach to the problem is formulated, which leads however to a difficult nonlinear combinatorial optimization problem. A special purpose genetic algorithm is developed for the solution of this problem, and is extensively tested numerically. The model and algorithm is then applied to a specific land use planning problem in The Netherlands. The ultimate goal is to integrate the algorithm into a complete land use planning decision support system.

Why are spatial decision support systems not used? some experiences from the Netherlands

Spacial decision support systems (SDSS) are popular tools in decision-making processes. Despite their popularity there are many systema that are never or hardly used. The present study searches for explanations or reasons for success or failure of such tools by comparing five representative examples of SDSS for coastal zone and water management. The findings of the comparison show, amongst others, that SDSS only provide limited or no support for analysing and evaluating the output generated by SDSS. Also, no or poor support for spatial evaluation is offered which might be one of the reasons why some SDSS are not used.

Multicriteria analysis and geographical information systems: an application to agricultural land use in the netherlands

Regional and urban planning problems are often hard to solve for various reasons. Large amounts of data are needed, due to the number of spatial units involved or the range of phenomena taken into account. Uncertainties of various kinds have an important influence on technological developments and on the decisions of policy makers at the macrolevel. Another reason why these planning problems are so difficult is that political conflicts between spatial units or between policy objectives are intense. Geographical information systems have been designed to contribute to the solution of such planning problems. For this purpose, GIS systems have been supplied with various facilities for analysis, modelling and forecasting. Here, we consider the integration of GIS with another facility: multicriteria analysis (MCA), which aims at analysing the intensity and nature of conflicts between policy criteria, generating compromise alternatives and rankings of alternatives according to their degree of attractiveness. Thus, linking GIS with MCA enables policy conflicts to be analysed in a spatial context.

Interactive Marine Spatial Planning: Siting Tidal Energy Arrays around the Mull of Kintyre

The rapid development of the offshore renewable energy sector has led to an increased requirement for Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and, increasingly, this is carried out in the context of the ‘ecosystem approach’ (EA) to management. We demonstrate a novel method to facilitate implementation of the EA. Using a real-time interactive mapping device (touch-table) and stakeholder workshops we gathered data and facilitated negotiation of spatial trade-offs at a potential site for tidal renewable energy off the Mull of Kintyre (Scotland). Conflicts between the interests of tidal energy developers and commercial and recreational users of the area were identified, and use preferences and concerns of stakeholders were highlighted. Social, cultural and spatial issues associated with conversion of common pool to private resource were also revealed. The method identified important gaps in existing spatial data and helped to fill these through interactive user inputs. The workshops developed a degree of consensus between conflicting users on the best areas for potential development suggesting that this approach should be adopted during MSP.

Multiobjective decision support for land use planning

The overall objective of this paper is to show how a formal decision support method can be used effectively to support a land-use planning problem. Central to our approach is a heuristic algorithm based on a goal-programming/reference-point approach. The algorithm is tested on a small region in the Netherlands. To demonstrate the potential use of the algorithm, a planning problem is defined for this region. An interactive session with a land-use planner is then simulated, to show how feedback from the planner is used to generate a plan in a number of rounds. It is concluded that the approach has potential for the support of land-use problems especially in the first rounds of policy design as long as maps are used to interface between planner and algorithm. It is also shown that computational problems still hinder the achievement of realistic detail in the representation of the plan area.

Effectiveness of collaborative map-based decision support tools

This article reports on the results of an empirical analysis of the effectiveness of a set of collaborative spatial decision support tools developed to support a land use allocation problem in a peat-meadow polder in the Netherlands. The tools feature spatial multicriteria analysis as the means to make spatially explicit trade-offs between stakeholder objectives in three different ways: as colors on multiple printed maps, qualitatively on a single digital map and quantitatively on a single digital map. An interactive mapping device is used as the interface between spatial information and participants. A series of controlled experiments was conducted with 30 participants, who were asked to use the tools and perform specific individual and group allocation tasks. Data on the responses of the participants were collected through questionnaires, observer notes, video film and multicriteria scores. The analysis focused on three aspects of effectiveness: usefulness of the tools; clarity of tool information; and impact on decisions. The findings of this analysis are discussed within the context of the information offered by the tools, individual and collaborative work of participants and the spatial and numerical quality of the resulting land use plans. From the experiments, it is clear that the cognitive effort related to the volume and format of information is a critical issue in spatial decision support. This holds true for both the level of detail per item of information and the amount of information to be supplied to the participants. Although the quantitative tool provided the most information, the participants did not consider this tool the most useful and it did not produce the best results.

Definite : a system to support DEcisions on a FINITE set of alternative

Part 1 Getting Started Setting Up DEFINITE. Tutorial. Part 2 Reference Manual: Procedures of the Main Menu and Utilities. Problem Definition Procedures. Problem Presentation Procedures. Problem Evaluation Procedures. Sensitivity Analysis Procedures. Report Generation. Part 3 Examples from the Practice of Environmental Decision Making. Introduction to the Examples. The Forest and Timber Inquiry in Australia. Soil Conservation in Maphutseng, Lesotho. Environmental Effects of Electricity Production in the Netherlands. Siting Nuclear Plants in the Netherlands. Appendix: Technical Manual.

A Multiobjective GIS-Based Land Use Planning Algorithm

Abstract This paper purposes an enhanced land use optimization model for land-use planning with a new spatial component. This component uses a simple representation of the proximity of related land uses to each other as a function of distances between parcel centroids. A special purpose genetic algorithm is developed for solving the resultant optimization problems for both the direct (additive) objectives and the indirect (spatial) objective. The context relates to interactive decision support for land use planning in which the data are stored in a vector-based GIS, and the requirement was to integrate the multiobjective optimization with the GIS structure. The present work thus extends earlier work by the authors which used a grid (raster) structure. The model is based on a reference point approach in which both additive and spatial goals can be specified. Numerical testing of the algorithm, and experimentation with possible user inputs, are described in the context of a real case study from a region of The Netherlands. It is shown that the simplified spatial proximity measure and the associated algorithm produce consistent results in which the spatial distribution of activities are essentially the same as with more complex modeling of spatial goals, achievable in the particular case study with little loss in terms of the additive objectives.

Presentation of information for spatial decision support A survey on the use of maps by participants in quantitative water management in the IJsselmeer region, The Netherlands

Abstract Spatial decision support systems generate a diversity of information presented in tables, graphs, text and maps. Which form is used is dictated partially by the nature of the information but also by those who prepare information to be used in a decision-making process. The users of the information do not necessarily have the same preference for the way the information is presented. A survey has been conducted amongst stakeholders in a decision-making process to see what their preferences are. The purpose of the survey was to gain insight into the ability of stakeholders to use information presented at different levels of detail when comparing alternatives. This paper reports on the survey’s results. Possible relations between level of detail, the ease of use of information, confidence in correctness and value of the information are presented. The results show that maps and graphs are preferred above tables and text. A high preference for maps is, however, not a measure of the ability to use maps. In addition, the results show that even though the ability to use the information increased with decreasing level of detail, detailed information is found more valuable.

Multicriteria Evaluation of Land-Reallotment Plans: A Case Study

In this paper an ex post evaluation of a land-reallotment plan carried out in the Netherlands during the 1960s and 1970s is presented. Given the wide range of effects taken into consideration, a multicriteria approach is adopted. Because of the ‘soft’ nature of many elements involved, special attention is paid to multicriteria methods dealing with qualitative priorities and plan impacts. Outcomes for methods using qualitative and quantitative data are compared.