Quantifying the Effect of Land Use Change Model Coupling

Author(s)

Stepanov, Oleg ^[1] ; Camara, Gilberto ^[2] ; Verstegen, Judith A. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Munster, Inst Geoinformat, D-48149 Munster - Germany

^[2] Natl Inst Space Res INPE, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: LAND; v. 9, n. 2 FEB 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Land-use change (LUC) is a complex process that is difficult to project. Model collaboration, an aggregate term for model harmonization, comparison and/or coupling, intends to combine the strengths of different models to improve LUC projections. Several model collaborations have been performed, but to the authors' knowledge, the effect of coupling has not been evaluated quantitatively. Therefore, for a case study of Brazil, we harmonized and coupled the partial equilibrium model GLOBIOM-Brazil and the demand-driven spatially explicit model PLUC, and then compared the coupled-model projections with those by GLOBIOM-Brazil individually. The largest differences between projections occurred in Mato Grosso and Para, frontiers of agricultural expansion. In addition, we validated both projections for Mato Grosso using land-use maps from remote sensing images. The coupled model clearly outperformed GLOBIOM-Brazil. Reductions in the root mean squared error (RMSE) for LUC dynamics ranged from 31% to 80% and for total land use, from 10% to 57%. Only for pasture, the coupled model performed worse in total land use (RMSE 9% higher). Reasons for a better performance of the coupled model were considered to be, inter alia, the initial map, more spatially explicit information about drivers, and the path-dependence effect in the allocation through the cellular-automata approach of PLUC. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/50495-4 - Land use change impacts of increased bioenergy demand in Brazil
• Grantee: Gilberto Camara Neto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants