MODELING TO GENERATE ALTERNATIVES - THE HSJ APPROACH AND AN ILLUSTRATION USING A PROBLEM IN LAND-USE PLANNING

The Hop, Skip, and Jump (HSJ) method has been developed to produce alternative solutions that are very different from previously generated solutions. Each solution generated is good in the sense that it meets targets specified for modeled objectives. The technique is described and illustrated using a multiobjective linear programming model of a land use planning problem provided by a regional planning commission. In this case, the method is shown to be capable of generating alternative solutions that perform well with respect to the modeled objectives and that are drastically different with respect to the land use pattern specified. Differences among solutions are discussed using the capabilities of existing mathematical programming packages.