Maximizing sustainability of ecosystem model through socio-economic policies derived from multivariable optimal control theory

Current practices in natural resources consumption are unsustainable and may eventually lead to ecosystem extinction. Sustainable ecosystem management is necessary to ensure that human and ecological needs of the present are satisfied without compromising the ability of future generations to meet th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clean technologies and environmental policy 2015-08, Vol.17 (6), p.1573-1583
Main Authors: Doshi, Rohan, Diwekar, Urmila, Benavides, Pahola T., Yenkie, Kirti M., Cabezas, Heriberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Compartments
Consumption
Control theory
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Economic policy
Economics
Ecosystem management
Ecosystem models
Ecosystems
Emission standards
Environment
Environmental Economics
Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology
Environmental impact
Globalization
Housing
Industrial and Production Engineering
Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering
Mathematical models
Natural resources
Optimal control
Original Paper
Policies
Resource consumption
Socioeconomic factors
Socioeconomics
Sustainability
Sustainable Development
Sustainable ecosystems
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Summary:Current practices in natural resources consumption are unsustainable and may eventually lead to ecosystem extinction. Sustainable ecosystem management is necessary to ensure that human and ecological needs of the present are satisfied without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. This paper uses a simple mathematical model of an integrated ecological and economic system representing our planet’s sectors, including, but not limited to, natural, industrial, housing, and energy production sectors. The aim of the project is to maximize the sustainability of this system, using Fisher information as a statistical measure as a measure of sustainability, and derive socio-economic policies using optimal control techniques. By controlling six policy parameters, we were able to sustain all the ecological mass compartments (which were not sustainable in the consumption increase scenario of the future), thus significantly increasing the lifespan of all the species in the model.
ISSN:1618-954X
1618-9558
DOI:10.1007/s10098-014-0889-2