A GIS-embedded system for land consolidation project location: Spatial optimization and fuzzy evaluation

This paper describes a spatial optimization and fuzzy evaluation system embedded in a geographic information system (GIS) environment for obtaining an optimal land consolidation project site. The system was done by integrating the cellular automata model (CA), simulated annealing model (SA), and the fuzzy model into ArcGIS 9.2 as a toolbar (DLL) using ArcObjects in ArcGIS and Visual Basic. In this system, a GIS-based interface module was used together with a CA and spatial connectivity model in order to obtain the local optimum land consolidation district, then obtained global optimum site selection programs under the different constraints through the SA model, finally took advantage of the fuzzy model to choose the best optimal program as the land consolidation project site. The selected site showed high-connectivity, high-potentiality, eco-environmental situations, and economical project volume features. The system supports the preliminary study stage of land consolidation, reduces time and cost of land consolidation plans, decreases subjective effects, improves scientific land consolidation project site selection, and can be applied to land consolidation projects of major grain production areas in central China, shows the system is feasible and effective.