Combination between land suitability evaluation and multi-objective optimization mathematics model to sustainable agricultural land use planning in the coastal zone of the Mekong Delta, Viet Nam
Creators: name: Nguyen, Huu Kiet
Publisher: name: Technische Universität Dortmund
Year: 2019
Subjects: subject: Fuzzy multi-objective linear programming (FMOLP)
subject: Land evaluation
subject: 710
subject: Bodennutzung
subject: Nachhaltigkeit
subject: Agrarplanung
subject: Vietnam

description: Land evaluation is the primary content in the land-use planning process. There were many land evaluation methods which have been improved based on the FAO framework, but most of them have not been effectively assessed. The requirements of land characteristics and physical conditions supply a common view of land use types for land suitability. It is difficult in precise decision making for agricultural planning. Decision makers have to optimize productive agriculture and promote farmers’ socio-economic conditions. The obstacle of the decision makers is the uncertainty because most criteria have interactive features in reality. The simulation of land-use options is essential to support decision makers. It helps to evaluate and adjust the effects of plans because the parameters in reality are always changing. It is an excellent solution to maximize land-use efficiency. Besides, combining modelling approaches in land use planning is necessary because every approach with its single effectiveness cannot entirely assess the different parameters of sustainable land-use planning. Considering these challenges and limitations in the last studies, this dissertation aims for the development of a methodology for the monitoring and analysis of the combination between land suitability evaluation and a multi-objective optimization mathematics model to support effective land use planning towards sustainable agricultural land use planning in the coastal zone of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The Mekong Delta (MD) in Vietnam has faced severe risks from the significant change of ecological systems. Especially, saltwater intrusion, sea level rise and the increasing hydroelectricity dams have sharply impacted land use. One of the significant modifications is the change from rice cultivation to shrimp cultivation where the fresh water zones are converted to brackish water zones. As an inevitable consequence, it leads to advantages and disadvantages as outcomes for the economy, society and environment which strongly affect the livelihood of farmers. So four coastal districts of Soc Trang province, the MD in Vietnam were chosen as the case study. By comparing four evaluation methods in the crisp environment (FAO-, MCE-Method) and the fuzzy environment (methods of MAX operator and LUKASIEWICZ operator), we could find that the method of LUKASIEWICZ operator is the best method for land suitability analysis. The fuzzification via membership functions for four linguistic terms of suitability classification was used. The results reflect the mathematical cardinality of the LUKASIEWICZ operator in the fuzzy environment because this operator integrates all characteristics. Therefore, this method is useful in the land evaluation. The LUKASIEWICZ operator in the fuzzy environment is applied in sustainable land evaluation. The objectives of the economy, society, environment and natural resources are considered for sustainable land evaluation. The LUKASIEWICZ operator coordinated the preferences of multi-objectives and continuously expressed the suitability classification in the fuzzy environment. By comparing three results of land suitability analysis: land physical suitability (by FAO method), economic suitability (by the method of LUKASIEWICZ operator) and land sustainable suitability (by the method of LUKASIEWICZ operator), we can confirm the effectiveness of sustainable land evaluation. As a necessity, it should be applied in advanced studies in sustainable land use planning. For this study area, it can be strongly recommended for agricultural land use planning during a ten year period as a master plan. The application of FAHP (Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process) for multiple criteria decision-making is based on fuzzy pair-wise comparison matrices. The result illustrates that it incorporated the preferences of nine decision makers (DMs) by weights as a compromise index. FAHP proved a useful role in multiple criteria decision-making. It is an important tool for making decision by connecting and satisfying multiple criteria of land use planning . The FMOLP (Fuzzy Multi-Objective Linear Programming) is satisfied with the conflict of qualitative and quantitative interests of five objectives (Income, Benefit per Cost ratio, Employment, Land and Environment). We established eight scenarios to find a suitable result by the alternative priorities of five objectives. The result allocates spatial planning for 5 LUTs (Land Use Types) and handles the problem of optimization to support better agricultural land use planning. It creates a balance between the land use supply and demand for land use change. This study suggests changing land use planning by Scenario 2 (More priority for economic and environmental protection development) for the 2020-2025 period in this study area.