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Designing higher value roads to preserve species at risk by optimally controlling traffic flow

Author

Listed:
  • Nicholas Davey

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Nicolas Langrené

    (BNU-HKBU United International College)

  • Wen Chen

    (CSIRO’s Data61)

  • Jonathan R. Rhodes

    (The University of Queensland)

  • Simon Dunstall

    (CSIRO’s Data61)

  • Saman Halgamuge

    (The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

The construction and operation of linear infrastructure has major impacts on biodiversity through loss of habitat, increased mortality and loss of connectivity. In particular, minimising the impact of roads which pass through ecologically sensitive areas on surrounding species at the construction and operational phases is critical for conservation. However, potential impacts are rarely known perfectly at the construction phase and early in the operational phase. To address this problem, a company could build flexibility into road operation so that it can respond rapidly to future ecological impacts if necessary. In this paper we analyse the value of this flexibility using stochastic dynamic programming and use the results to guide a global search algorithm to find high value roads in the region. We consider flexibility in terms of the proportion of traffic volume routed along the road, with the remainder passing along an existing higher-cost, lower-impact road. We applied this to an example scenario where a road must be routed through a region with a vulnerable species present. By incorporating flexibility, the proposed model was able to find a road that met a desired ending population of animals and was more valuable than roads found under existing design alternatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Davey & Nicolas Langrené & Wen Chen & Jonathan R. Rhodes & Simon Dunstall & Saman Halgamuge, 2023. "Designing higher value roads to preserve species at risk by optimally controlling traffic flow," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 320(2), pages 663-693, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:320:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10479-022-04779-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10479-022-04779-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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