The impact of the variability of parameters related to transport costs and parcel shape on land reallocation results

Abstract

Land reallocation is a time-consuming but vital stage of land-consolidation projects, hence the many attempts to automate and optimize this process. Transport costs related to distances from parcels to farm buildings and costs related to areas and shapes of parcels reduce the profitability of agricultural production. These factors are taken into consideration in some of land reallocation algorithms as separate, independent parameters. The objective of the study was to demonstrate that it is possible to simplify the optimization of land reallocation with a single, dimensionless parameter, a ratio of costs related to the shape and area of a parcel to transport costs. The linear programming method employed uses binary variables, making it a heuristic research method. The optimization model considers several additional conditions to reflect actual land-consolidation projects better: the result of interviews with landowners; equal holding values before and after reallocation; the reduction of the average distance to parcels. The study has demonstrated how the variability of the proposed parameter affects results of optimization in the form of an objective function of the parcel area, shape, and distance to buildings. The proposed modification improves the versatility of the land reallocation model as it allows the researcher to employ a single parameter, which may vary in time, by region, by initial land fragmentation parameters, or changes in farming inputs prices, including fuel and labour. The results proved that very high variability of the examined parameter translates into no more than 10% increase in the value of the objective function in relation to its minimal, optimal value. The research has demonstrated that it is sufficient to assume a specific ratio of costs related to parcel shape to transport costs to devise a proposal of an optimal boundary arrangement for given economic conditions and area.