A Hybrid Inexact Optimization Model for Land-use Allocation of China

Land scarcity has become the prominent obstacle on the way to sustainable development for China. Under the constraints of land shortage, how to allocate the finite land resources to the multiple land users in China considering various political, environmental, ecological and economic conditions have become research topics with great significance. In this study, an interval fuzzy national-scale land-use model(IFNLM) was developed for optimizing land systems of China. IFNLM is based on an integration of existing interval linear programming(ILP), and fuzzy flexible programming(FFP) techniques. IFNLM allows uncertainties expressed as discrete interval values and fuzzy sets to be incorporated within a general optimization framework. It can also facilitate national-scale land-use planning under various environmental, ecological, social conditions within a multi-period and multi-option context. Then, IFNLM was applied to a real case study of land-use planning in China. The satisfaction degree of environmental constraints is between 0.69 and 0.97, the system benefit will between 198.25 × 1012 USD and 229.67 × 1012 USD. The results indicated that the hybrid model can help generate desired policies for land-use allocation with a maximized economic benefit and minimized environmental violation risk. Optimized land-use allocation patterns can be generated from the proposed IFNLM.

Size structure of urban agglomerations in China:rationality evaluation,patterns, and implications

This paper establishes a diagnostic model for assessing the rationality of size structure of urban agglomerations(UAs) in China. The model is designed to determine from a three-dimensional index including size distribution index(SDI), size compactness index(SCI), and size efficiency index(SEI). The spatio-temporal pattern of size structure involving the studied 19 UAs and its implications are explored. The results indicate that size structure of China's UAs advanced from a low rationality development stage to a moderate rationality development stage in 1995-2015.Among them, the SDI and SEI were reasonably high, and the SCI was relatively low. Spatially, the high rationality UAs were distributed across eastern China, while the low rationality UAs were located in western China. UAs with positive size structure possessed typically a dual-or multicenter urban structure, while UAs with negative size structure usually presented as a single-center structure. The evolutionary trajectories of rationality of size structure of UAs can be summarized as four different stages. Our findings suggest that, in addition to consolidating the status of national-level UAs, the development of regional-level UAs should be promoted. Also, the fostering focus and direction should be oriented toward an UA with dual-or multicenter spatial structure.

An approach to quick and easy evaluation of the dam breach flood

In the context of an impending dam failure, quick evaluation of dam breach flood is necessary. Previous studies provided an approach to calculate the dam breach hydrograph using an Excel spreadsheet based on the improved soil erosion model and numerical algorithm. However, calculation of the breach lateral enlargement requires the modeling of the successive collapse of the breach banks. It is time-consuming with special training, which is difficult to provide during an emergency. This study proposes that the lateral enlargement process can be modeled using a hyperbolic relationship with sufficient accuracy. Consequently, field engineers can perform the dam breach analysis along with the sensitive study for a target case within 1 h in an Excel spreadsheet which is self-tutorial. This paper presents this easy and quick approach based on only fifteen input parameters that can be determined based on the experience. This approach can also be used for the preliminary study when a dam safety planning work is undertaken.

Impact of urban landscape and environmental externalities on spatial differentiation of housing prices in Yangzhou City

In this study, housing prices data for residential quarters from the period 2001-2012 were used and Global Differentiation Index （GDI） was established to measure the overall differentiation trend in housing prices in Yangzhou City, eastern China. Then the influence of the natural landscape and environment on prices of global housing market and housing submarkets was evaluated by the hedonic price model. The results are shown as follows. （1） There have been increasing gaps among housing prices since 2001. In this period, the differentiation trend has shown an upward fluctuation, which has been coupled with the annual growth rate of housing prices. （2） The spatial distribution of residential quarters of homogenous prices has changed from clustered in 2001 into dispersed in 2012. （3） Natural landscape and environmental externalities clearly influence spatial differentiation of housing prices. （4） In different housing submarkets, the influence of natural landscape and environmental eternalities are varied. Natural landscape characteristics have significant impact on housing prices of ordinary commercial houses and indemnificatory houses, while the impact of environmental characteristics have obvious influence on housing prices of cottages and villas.