Designing a Multisector Model for Land Conversion Study

This paper presents a multisector goal programming model to study the interrelations among biophysical, social, and economic factors in three major resource sectors: agriculture, forestry, and wetland. An important function of the model is to deal with interactions between resource sectors and to consider various land use goals. This was achieved by designing an integrated model structure and by building special mechanisms in a goal programming model. In particular, resource conversion variables and joint constraints were created in the goal programming model. In particular, resource conversion variables and joint constraints were created in the goal programming to represent linkages among resource sectors. The analysis system was applied to a case study for land conversion impact analysis. An integrated database was established for the case study. The structure of the multisector model and its applications are discussed in detail.