Enhancing agricultural land valuation in land consolidation projects through cooperative game theory and genetic algorithm optimization

The purpose of land valuation in land consolidation projects is to determine the relative value between lands of different quality, location and etc. This principle is crucial for ensuring fairness and justice among participants. Efficient land utilization and rural progress are hindered by the fragmentation of agricultural lands, necessitating land consolidation. However, fair valuation of parcels remains a challenge, impeding the success of consolidation efforts. This study delves into the intricate issues related to land consolidation and complex dynamics of decision-making in agricultural land valuation. This study aims to address the challenge of fair valuation in land consolidation projects by introducing a novel methodology that integrates cooperative game theory with metaheuristic algorithms. The goal is to increase the likelihood of stakeholders accepting land consolidation schemes by utilizing the interactive components of the decision-making process. This approach takes into account individual preferences of land owners and utilizes game theory to model competition, interaction, and cooperation among them. Central to this concept are genetic algorithm, which plays a key role in producing diverse solutions taking into account various landowners' priorities. A case study in Fartan village, Esfarayen city, Iran, is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the method. Two scenarios are examined: one combining unanimity fallback bargaining technique with Nash bargaining, and another incorporating fallback bargaining with impasse technique with Nash bargaining. Upon comparative analysis, the second scenario proves to be better in ensuring equity among stakeholders. It encourages landowners to negotiate decisively, using a process that integrates fallback bargaining with impasse and Nash bargaining, taking into account the varying levels of each owner's negotiation power in both steps. This ensures a negotiated outcome that respects the diverse priorities of each landowner. This scenario considers variations in individual negotiating power not only in Nash bargaining step but also in fallback bargaining and ensures a comprehensive and fair decision-making process during land valuation. This research introduces a novel strategy to enhance group decision-making in agricultural land valuation, fostering stakeholders' agreement and facilitating successful land consolidation projects. The proposed method provides a land valuation approach that can receive high degree of farmers' agreement and provides a good base to enter the next stages of the land consolidation.