Optimization of land use decisions using binary integer programming: The case of Hillsborough County, Florida, USA

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Urban planning
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Urban expansion often conflicts with environmental sustainability.
• Traditional land use planning methods struggle with complex geographical data and decision-making.
• Resource consumption by human labor necessitates improved planning strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel land assignment model (ILAM) for optimizing land use planning.
• To address the limitations of traditional decision-making tools in land use planning.
• To evaluate the model's effectiveness in handling diverse land use scenarios.

Main Methods:

• Developed the inquired land assignment model (ILAM).
• Integrated binary integer programming with Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
• Applied the model to three land use scenarios in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Main Results:

• The ILAM produced reasonable and consistent land use assignments and allocations.
• The model demonstrated capability in evaluating complex geographical data for planning.
• The methodology proved effective for upper-level planning scales.

Conclusions:

• The ILAM offers a robust approach to minimizing negative environmental impacts of urban growth.
• The model's flexibility allows for application across various scales and planning practices.
• Enhanced planning support tools are crucial for sustainable development.