Optimal Control of Spatial-Dynamic Processes: The Case of Biological Invasions

Rebecca Epanchin-Niell and James Wilen

RFF Working Paper Series from Resources for the Future

Abstract: This study examines the spatial nature of optimal bioinvasion control. We develop a spatially explicit two-dimensional model of species spread that allows for differential control across space and time, and we solve for optimal spatial-dynamic control strategies. We find that the optimal strategies depend in interesting ways on the shape of the landscape and the location, shape, and contiguity of the invasion. For example, changing the shape of the invasion or using landscape features to reduce the extent of exposed invasion edge can be an optimal strategy because it reduces long-term containment costs. We also show that strategies should be targeted to slow or prevent the spread of an invasion in the direction of greatest potential long-term damages. These spatially explicit characterizations of optimal policies contribute to the largely nonspatial literature on controlling invasions and our general understanding of how to control spatial-dynamic processes.

Keywords: invasive species; spatial-dynamic processes; spatial spread; reaction-diffusion; management; cellular automaton; eradication; containment; spatial control; integer programming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q16 Q20 Q22 Q23 Q54 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-03-03
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Optimal control of spatial-dynamic processes: The case of biological invasions (2010)
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