TY - GEN
T1 - Spatial evolutionary algorithms for characterizing large-scale spatial groundwater-vegetation dynamics in arid region
AU - Wang, Jihua
AU - Cai, Ximing
AU - Valocchi, Albert J.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Vegetation in arid riparian zones heavily depends on groundwater, meanwhile the distribution of vegetation impacts the groundwater flow in the area. This study describes a methodology to characterize groundwater-vegetation dynamics using a spatial evolutionary algorithm (SEA). It incorporates spatial knowledge of groundwater and vegetation to facilitate the optimal search of vegetation distribution compatible to groundwater flow. Unlike a regular EA for spatial models, the SEA employs a hierarchical tree structure to represent spatial variables in a more efficient way. Furthermore, special crossover and mutation operators are designed in accordance with the tree representation. In this paper, the SEA is applied to searching for the maximum vegetation coverage associated with a distributed groundwater system in an arid region. The results of computational experiments demonstrate the efficiency of SEA for large-scale spatial optimization problems. Extension of the algorithm for other water resources management problems is discussed.
AB - Vegetation in arid riparian zones heavily depends on groundwater, meanwhile the distribution of vegetation impacts the groundwater flow in the area. This study describes a methodology to characterize groundwater-vegetation dynamics using a spatial evolutionary algorithm (SEA). It incorporates spatial knowledge of groundwater and vegetation to facilitate the optimal search of vegetation distribution compatible to groundwater flow. Unlike a regular EA for spatial models, the SEA employs a hierarchical tree structure to represent spatial variables in a more efficient way. Furthermore, special crossover and mutation operators are designed in accordance with the tree representation. In this paper, the SEA is applied to searching for the maximum vegetation coverage associated with a distributed groundwater system in an arid region. The results of computational experiments demonstrate the efficiency of SEA for large-scale spatial optimization problems. Extension of the algorithm for other water resources management problems is discussed.
KW - Ecosystem management
KW - Large-scale
KW - Spatial evolutionary algorithms (SEA)
KW - Spatial optimization
KW - Vegetation-groundwater Interactions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70350158106&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70350158106&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1061/41036(342)517
DO - 10.1061/41036(342)517
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:70350158106
SN - 9780784410363
T3 - Proceedings of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009 - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009: Great Rivers
SP - 5115
EP - 5124
BT - Proceedings of World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009 - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009
T2 - World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2009: Great Rivers
Y2 - 17 May 2009 through 21 May 2009
ER -