Optimal Spatial Arrangement Research Articles

A survey of interculture practices and research in Sri Lanka

A survey on interculture research in Sri Lanka is outlined with details of species composition, spatial arrangement and justification for growing the crops as mixtures. The systems include interculture in tea, rubber and coconut plantations, spice gardens and alley cropping between leguminous tree crops. Soil conservation, generation of fuel and fodder, incentives for replanting and export diversification are some of the justifications put forward for interculture along with microclimate modification and reduction of pest incidence. The predominant expected yield criterion was some yield of associated intercrop with no reduction in tree crop yield rather than a land equivalence ratio of greater than unity. Major methodological problems were encountered due to lack of published information in mixture yields and the heterogeneity of experimental sites. Techniques for determining the biological basis of any yield advantage and the optimal spatial arrangement of intercrops were also missing.

Optimal space planning in practice

The Computer Aided Design Group's Space Planning System, a general facility for optimal spatial arrangement of activities in buildings, is described. Case studies of application in practice are presented and discussed, and the influence of practical experience with real spatial arrangement problems on the design of the software is described.

Optimal Facility Location in a One‐Dimensional Spatial Market

AbstractThis paper analyzes properties of the optimal spatial arrangement of what may be interpreted as a class of public facilities. Optimality is defined as cost minimization. Three different optimality criteria are considered, and for each, the necessary and, sufficient conditions, market area size, and production levels, are derived. The relationship between optimal production levels and number of facilities needed is also considered. Next the results of implementing various pricing strategies are analyzed with emphasis given to marginal and uniform pricing. It is shown that, given certain conditions, all facilities incur operating deficits, given marginal pricing. Estimates on the level of the deficits are derived in terms of location rents. Finally, in the appendix, several important results from other studies are derived as special cases of the basic model.