Pete Bettinger, Jianping Zhu. (2006). A new heuristic method for solving spatially constrained forest planning problems based on mitigation of infeasibilities radiating outward from a forced choice. Silva Fennica vol. 40 no. 2 article id 477. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.477

Keywords: forest management; integer decision variables; integer programming

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

A new heuristic method to mitigate infeasibilities when a choice is forced into a solution was developed to solve spatially constrained forest planning problems. One unique aspect of the heuristic is the introduction of unchosen decision choices into a solution regardless of the resulting infeasibilities, which are then mitigated by selecting next-best choices for those spatial units that are affected, but in a radiating manner away from the initial choice. As subsequent changes are made to correct the affected spatial units, more infeasibilities may occur, and these are corrected as well in an outward manner from the initial choice. A single iteration of the model may involve a number of changes to the status of the decision variables, making this an n-opt heuristic process. The second unique aspect of the search process is the periodic reversion of the search to a saved (in computer memory) best solution. Tests have shown that the reversion is needed to ensure better solutions are located. This new heuristic produced solutions to spatial problems that are of equal or comparable in quality to traditional integer programming solutions, and solutions that are better than those produced by two other basic heuristics. Three small hypothetical forest examples illustrate the performance of the heuristic against standard versions of threshold accepting and tabu search. In each of the three examples, the variation in solutions generated from random starting points is smaller with the new heuristic, and the difference in solution values between the new heuristic and the other two heuristics is significant (p<0.05) when using an analysis of variance. However, what remains to be seen is whether the new method can be applied successfully to the broader range of operations research problems in forestry and other fields.

Bettinger, Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA E-mail: pbettinger@forestry.uga.edu
Zhu, Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA E-mail: jz@nn.us

Click this link to register to Silva Fennica.

If you are a registered user, log in to save your selected articles for later access.

Contents alert

Your selected articles
Send to email

Bäcklund S., Jönsson M. T. et al. (2015) Composition of functional groups of ground veget.. Silva Fennica vol. 49 no. 2 article id 1321 (remove) | Edit comment

Lamedica S., Lingua E. et al. (2011) Spatial structure in four Norway spruce stands w.. Silva Fennica vol. 45 no. 5 article id 75 (remove) | Edit comment

Vasiliauskas R., Stenlid J. (1998) Spread of Stereum sanguinolentum vegetative comp.. Silva Fennica vol. 32 no. 4 article id 672 (remove) | Edit comment

Kaunisto S., Sarjala T. (2003) Foliar potassium concentrations of bilberry, bog.. Silva Fennica vol. 37 no. 3 article id 492 (remove) | Edit comment

Dragotescu I., Kneeshaw D. D. (2012) A comparison of residual forest following fires .. Silva Fennica vol. 46 no. 3 article id 47 (remove) | Edit comment

Nuutinen T., Kellomäki S. (2001) A comparison of three modelling approaches for l.. Silva Fennica vol. 35 no. 3 article id 586 (remove) | Edit comment

Salminen H., Jalkanen R. (2005) Modelling the effect of temperature on height in.. Silva Fennica vol. 39 no. 4 article id 362 (remove) | Edit comment

Schweier J., Becker G. (2012) Harvesting of short rotation coppice – harvestin.. Silva Fennica vol. 46 no. 2 article id 61 (remove) | Edit comment

Matulevičiūtė D., Motiejunaite J. et al. (2018) Decline of a protected coastal pine forest under.. Silva Fennica vol. 52 no. 2 article id 7699 (remove) | Edit comment

Keltikangas V., (1959) Finnish feather-moss types and their position in.. Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 69 no. 2 article id 7490 (remove) | Edit comment

Yirdaw E., Tigabu M. et al. (2017) Rehabilitation of degraded dryland ecosystems – .. Silva Fennica vol. 51 no. 1B article id 1673 (remove) | Edit comment

Lähde E., (1971) Anaerobic conditions in various virgin peat soil.. Silva Fennica vol. 5 no. 1 article id 4836 (remove) | Edit comment

Seppänen O., (1939) Car transportation of roundwood and its signific.. Silva Fennica vol. no. 52 article id 4555 (remove) | Edit comment

Seppälä K., (1972) Ditch spacing as a regulator of post-drainage st.. Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 0 no. 125 article id 7559 (remove) | Edit comment

Heikkilä T., (1927) On examining the cross-sectional area of a stem Acta Forestalia Fennica vol. 32 no. 3 article id 7208 (remove) | Edit comment

Hytönen J., (1995) Effect of repeated fertilizer application on the.. Silva Fennica vol. 29 no. 2 article id 5550 (remove) | Edit comment

Leikola M., (1976) Measuring environmental factors in a forest ecos.. Silva Fennica vol. 10 no. 2 article id 4943 (remove) | Edit comment

Follow @SilvaFennica