An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands

We evaluated the potential of simulated annealing as a reliable method for optimizing thinning rates for single even-aged stands. Four types of yield models were used as benchmark models to examine the algorithm’s versatility. Thinning rate, which was constrained to 0–50% every 5 years at stand ages...

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Main Authors: Kai Moriguchi, Tatsuhito Ueki, Masashi Saito
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:International Journal of Forestry Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/173042
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author Kai Moriguchi
Tatsuhito Ueki
Masashi Saito
author_facet Kai Moriguchi
Tatsuhito Ueki
Masashi Saito
author_sort Kai Moriguchi
collection DOAJ
description We evaluated the potential of simulated annealing as a reliable method for optimizing thinning rates for single even-aged stands. Four types of yield models were used as benchmark models to examine the algorithm’s versatility. Thinning rate, which was constrained to 0–50% every 5 years at stand ages of 10–45 years, was optimized to maximize the net present value for one fixed rotation term (50 years). The best parameters for the simulated annealing were chosen from 113 patterns, using the mean of the net present value from 39 runs to ensure the best performance. We compared the solutions with those from coarse full enumeration to evaluate the method’s reliability and with 39 runs of random search to evaluate its efficiency. In contrast to random search, the best run of simulated annealing for each of the four yield models resulted in a better solution than coarse full enumeration. However, variations in the objective function for two yield models obtained with simulated annealing were significantly larger than those of random search. In conclusion, simulated annealing with optimized parameters is more efficient for optimizing thinning rates than random search. However, it is necessary to execute multiple runs to obtain reliable solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-03b99325d9da451aa607ed3e463ea0cc2025-08-20T03:55:32ZengWileyInternational Journal of Forestry Research1687-93681687-93762015-01-01201510.1155/2015/173042173042An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged StandsKai Moriguchi0Tatsuhito Ueki1Masashi Saito2Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kami-ina-gun, Nagano 399-4511, JapanInterdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kami-ina-gun, Nagano 399-4511, JapanInterdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kami-ina-gun, Nagano 399-4511, JapanWe evaluated the potential of simulated annealing as a reliable method for optimizing thinning rates for single even-aged stands. Four types of yield models were used as benchmark models to examine the algorithm’s versatility. Thinning rate, which was constrained to 0–50% every 5 years at stand ages of 10–45 years, was optimized to maximize the net present value for one fixed rotation term (50 years). The best parameters for the simulated annealing were chosen from 113 patterns, using the mean of the net present value from 39 runs to ensure the best performance. We compared the solutions with those from coarse full enumeration to evaluate the method’s reliability and with 39 runs of random search to evaluate its efficiency. In contrast to random search, the best run of simulated annealing for each of the four yield models resulted in a better solution than coarse full enumeration. However, variations in the objective function for two yield models obtained with simulated annealing were significantly larger than those of random search. In conclusion, simulated annealing with optimized parameters is more efficient for optimizing thinning rates than random search. However, it is necessary to execute multiple runs to obtain reliable solutions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/173042
spellingShingle Kai Moriguchi
Tatsuhito Ueki
Masashi Saito
An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands
International Journal of Forestry Research
title An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands
title_full An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands
title_fullStr An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands
title_full_unstemmed An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands
title_short An Evaluation of the Use of Simulated Annealing to Optimize Thinning Rates for Single Even-Aged Stands
title_sort evaluation of the use of simulated annealing to optimize thinning rates for single even aged stands
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/173042
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