Environmental Constraint Mapping and Linear Optimization Model

This project enhanced the automatic GIS-based network design tool GeoPlanNet that integrates environmental factors into front end project design to improve environmental performance while maintaining business performance goals. The process integrates baseline environmental data with other constraint criteria to produce environmental constraint maps for project development areas. These maps feed into a GIS-based optimization model that refines project layouts to minimize impacts on critical environmental resources. The model supports both the planning of new in situ projects and the expansion of existing developments.

GeoPlanNet enables a fully automated, “all-at-once” approach to optimize both individual planning elements and the overall network in approximately 12 hours. This approach is significantly more efficient than the traditional method, which relies on manual, one-at-a-time planning and individual optimization, making it far more time-consuming.