Spatial constraints of this nature can be solved using a sub-optimal procedure that iteratively evaluates the models against a constraint until a stable balance is achieved. The paper describes a method to include spatial constraints for a resource allocation problem. The process is applied to a relatively complex case study for balancing production and environmental interests in managing commercial forests. The objective of production is to get the maximum timber yield from the forest in the most cost effective manner. Regulations control some environmental aspects of what can be harvested, e.g. terrain slopes, old growth habitat and hydrology.
Costs relate to harvesting and transporting logs to the closest mill.
Utilisation of the mills is also important so the milling workload must be approximately distributed evenly to several mill locations. The MCE analysis evaluates a cartographic model to determine suitable areas for logging, and then selects areas that satisfy a constraint to evenly allocate the resource to a number of mills. Bailey T.C. and Gatrell A.C . A Parameterized Region-Growing Programme for Site Allocation on Raster Suitability Maps. Fotheringham A.S. and O'Kelly M.E .