Genetic algorithm supported by expert system to solve land redistribution problem

Land redistribution, a real-world optimization problem, involves the distribution of land parcels in predetermined blocks based on the landowners' preferences. This process, measured in weeks or months, is usually performed manually by a technician with the support of computer software. Although various techniques have been developed in recent years to solve this complex problem, they all require improvement. This study aimed to develop a new technique and produce applicable redistribution plans using a genetic algorithm (GA) in combination with an expert system. Blocks of cadastral parcels were determined by a GA using a new objective function to consider the overflow and residual areas as well as the landowners' preferences. The expert system was employed to close (reduce to zero) the overflow or residual areas occurring after the GA distribution. To investigate the performance of the proposed method, the system was used on a real study area and the results were compared against those obtained for the same cadastral situation undertaken by a technician using a similar method from published literature. The experimental results showed that the method proposed in this study performed better than the other methods because it provided a successful and applicable redistribution plan for the study area in a much shorter time.