Markov chain cellular automata for simulating the spatial patterns of oil palm plantation
Nourqolipuor, Ramin et al.
In Malaysia areas under oil palm plantation have increased dramatically since the early 20th century. Increasing the land for oil palm plantation means decreasing forested lands and this pose a major concern for the government, public as well as international agencies. There is a greater pressure on forested land because oil palm is more profitable than forest products. This paper will address the simulation of spatial patterns of oil palm plantation in Kuala Langat district, Malaysia toward getting better insight into the plantation development demands in terms of occupying new potential lands with the assumption of current constant situation. It begins with the concept of cellular automata, the function of cellular automata in the simulation of land-use change trajectories, followed by exploring the development of spatial patterns of oil palm land use through Markov chain cellular automata simulation. New development of oil palm plantation cannot take place on restricted lands like residential areas, water bodies, environmental sensitive areas, flood prone areas as well as on already developed lands. The result shows the spatial pattern of further development of oil palm plantation that expands and covers the adjacent agriculture lands as well as open and undeveloped lands.
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