Abstract
Here, we combine route planning for linear infrastructure with strategic conservation offset decision making in a unified framework to identify efficient opportunities for both routing and impact mitigation. The routing component is spatially explicit and links two or more target nodes via a network of connected planning units with fixed costs while accounting for impacts on features of conservation concern. The offsetting component identifies efficient solutions for mitigating the unavoidable impacts of linear infrastructure. We demonstrate the benefits of solving both planning objectives simultaneously by contrasting the cost-effectiveness of the integrated solutions with those found by solving the problems sequentially.
We formulated these planning problems in a mathematical optimisation framework in which space is discretised into planning units. Four sets of attributes were quantified for each planning unit as inputs to the optimisation problem: (i) the expected loss of conservation value resulting from linear infrastructure development for each of the conservation features (e.g. species); (ii) the cost of linear infrastructure development; (iii)the cost of offsetting; and (iv) the estimated benefit of offsetting with respect to the conservation features. The decision variables determine whether each planning unit is part of the routing solution, the offsetting solution,or neither. The mitigation effort is required to be sufficient to offset all of the impacts on biodiversity (no net loss) generated by the linear infrastructure development.
We describe an integer linear programming formulation of the optimisation problem and evaluate its efficacy through simulation. We find that solving both problems simultaneously can dramatically improve efficiency compared to solving the routing and offsetting problems sequentially. Furthermore, a sequential approach resulted in infeasible offsetting problems in 25% of cases. This work suggests both linear infrastructure and conservation offset planning could benefit from greater coordination in the early stages of the planning process.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | MODSIM2015, 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation |
| Editors | Robert Anderssen, Tony Weber, Malcolm McPhee |
| Place of Publication | Australia |
| Publisher | Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand |
| Pages | 1427-1433 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780987214355 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | International Congress on Modelling and Simulation 2015: Partnering with industry and the community for innovation and impact through modelling - Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Australia Duration: 29 Nov 2015 → 4 Dec 2015 Conference number: 21st https://web.archive.org/web/20150627050926/http://www.mssanz.org.au:80/modsim2015/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150626200712/http://mssanz.org.au:80/modsim2015/index.html |
Conference
| Conference | International Congress on Modelling and Simulation 2015 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | MODSIM2015 |
| Country | Australia |
| City | Broadbeach |
| Period | 29/11/15 → 4/12/15 |
| Other | The 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2015) was held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach, Queensland, Australia from Sunday 29 November to Friday 4 December 2015. It was held jointly with the 23rd National Conference of the Australian Society for Operations Research and the DSTO led Defence Operations Research Symposium (DORS 2015). The theme for this event was Partnering with industry and the community for innovation and impact through modelling. |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- Conservation planning
- linear infrastructure
- Mixed integer programming
- Optimisation
- Offsetting
Cite this
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Integrated planning of linear infrastructure and conservation offsets. / Bunton, J D; Ernst, A T; Hanson, J. O.; Beyer, H L; Hammill, E; Runge, C. A.; Venter, O; Possingham, H P; Rhodes, J R.
MODSIM2015, 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation. ed. / Robert Anderssen; Tony Weber; Malcolm McPhee. Australia : Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, 2015. p. 1427-1433.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Paper › Research › peer-review
TY - GEN
T1 - Integrated planning of linear infrastructure and conservation offsets
AU - Bunton, J D
AU - Ernst, A T
AU - Hanson, J. O.
AU - Beyer, H L
AU - Hammill, E
AU - Runge, C. A.
AU - Venter, O
AU - Possingham, H P
AU - Rhodes, J R
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Linear infrastructure (e.g. roads, railways, utility corridors) is critical to the functioning of modern industrialised societies, but has profound impacts on ecological systems and their biological diversity. The ecological impacts of linear infrastructure may be exacerbated by the failure to anticipate and plan for them early on. Moreover, poor planning can lead to the costly redesign or abandonment of projects to avert unforeseen ecological impacts. Explicitly considering trade-offs between linear infrastructure development and conservation requirements at an early planning stage provides the greatest opportunities for achieving both routing and offsetting objectives cost-effectively.Here, we combine route planning for linear infrastructure with strategic conservation offset decision making in a unified framework to identify efficient opportunities for both routing and impact mitigation. The routing component is spatially explicit and links two or more target nodes via a network of connected planning units with fixed costs while accounting for impacts on features of conservation concern. The offsetting component identifies efficient solutions for mitigating the unavoidable impacts of linear infrastructure. We demonstrate the benefits of solving both planning objectives simultaneously by contrasting the cost-effectiveness of the integrated solutions with those found by solving the problems sequentially.We formulated these planning problems in a mathematical optimisation framework in which space is discretised into planning units. Four sets of attributes were quantified for each planning unit as inputs to the optimisation problem: (i) the expected loss of conservation value resulting from linear infrastructure development for each of the conservation features (e.g. species); (ii) the cost of linear infrastructure development; (iii)the cost of offsetting; and (iv) the estimated benefit of offsetting with respect to the conservation features. The decision variables determine whether each planning unit is part of the routing solution, the offsetting solution,or neither. The mitigation effort is required to be sufficient to offset all of the impacts on biodiversity (no net loss) generated by the linear infrastructure development.We describe an integer linear programming formulation of the optimisation problem and evaluate its efficacy through simulation. We find that solving both problems simultaneously can dramatically improve efficiency compared to solving the routing and offsetting problems sequentially. Furthermore, a sequential approach resulted in infeasible offsetting problems in 25% of cases. This work suggests both linear infrastructure and conservation offset planning could benefit from greater coordination in the early stages of the planning process.
AB - Linear infrastructure (e.g. roads, railways, utility corridors) is critical to the functioning of modern industrialised societies, but has profound impacts on ecological systems and their biological diversity. The ecological impacts of linear infrastructure may be exacerbated by the failure to anticipate and plan for them early on. Moreover, poor planning can lead to the costly redesign or abandonment of projects to avert unforeseen ecological impacts. Explicitly considering trade-offs between linear infrastructure development and conservation requirements at an early planning stage provides the greatest opportunities for achieving both routing and offsetting objectives cost-effectively.Here, we combine route planning for linear infrastructure with strategic conservation offset decision making in a unified framework to identify efficient opportunities for both routing and impact mitigation. The routing component is spatially explicit and links two or more target nodes via a network of connected planning units with fixed costs while accounting for impacts on features of conservation concern. The offsetting component identifies efficient solutions for mitigating the unavoidable impacts of linear infrastructure. We demonstrate the benefits of solving both planning objectives simultaneously by contrasting the cost-effectiveness of the integrated solutions with those found by solving the problems sequentially.We formulated these planning problems in a mathematical optimisation framework in which space is discretised into planning units. Four sets of attributes were quantified for each planning unit as inputs to the optimisation problem: (i) the expected loss of conservation value resulting from linear infrastructure development for each of the conservation features (e.g. species); (ii) the cost of linear infrastructure development; (iii)the cost of offsetting; and (iv) the estimated benefit of offsetting with respect to the conservation features. The decision variables determine whether each planning unit is part of the routing solution, the offsetting solution,or neither. The mitigation effort is required to be sufficient to offset all of the impacts on biodiversity (no net loss) generated by the linear infrastructure development.We describe an integer linear programming formulation of the optimisation problem and evaluate its efficacy through simulation. We find that solving both problems simultaneously can dramatically improve efficiency compared to solving the routing and offsetting problems sequentially. Furthermore, a sequential approach resulted in infeasible offsetting problems in 25% of cases. This work suggests both linear infrastructure and conservation offset planning could benefit from greater coordination in the early stages of the planning process.
KW - Conservation planning
KW - linear infrastructure
KW - Mixed integer programming
KW - Optimisation
KW - Offsetting
M3 - Conference Paper
SP - 1427
EP - 1433
BT - MODSIM2015, 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation
A2 - Anderssen, Robert
A2 - Weber, Tony
A2 - McPhee, Malcolm
PB - Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand
CY - Australia
ER -