Bio-economics of a renewable resource subjected to strong Allee effect

In this article bio-economics of a renewable resource that is subjected to strong Allee effect (multiplicative Allee effect) is investigated from sole owner perspective. The considered optimal harvesting problem has been solved using Pontryagin maximum principle. The control problem admits multiple singular equilibrium solutions in contrast to the case where the growth of the resource is of compensatory nature. Thus the choice of optimal singular solution and the nature of associated approach paths make the problem pertinent and interesting.     

A MIXED CONTROL PROBLEM OF THE MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

In this paper, we study the optimal solutions of a model of natural resource management which allows for both impulse and continuous harvesting policies. This type of model is known in the literature as mixed optimal control problem. In the resource management context, each type of control represents a different harvesting technology, which has a different cost. In particular, we want to know when the following conjecture made by Clark is an optimal solution to this mixed optimal control problem: if the harvesting capacity is unlimited, it is optimal to jump immediately to the steady state of the continuous time problem and then to stay there. We show that under a particular relationship between the continuous and the impulse profit function, the conjecture made by Clark is true. In other cases, however, it is either better to use only continuous control variables or to jump to resource levels which are smaller than the steady state and then let the resource grow back to the steady state. These results emphasize the importance of the cost functions in the modeling of natural resource management.     

The structure of optimal solutions for harvesting a renewable resource

We consider the problem of optimal harvesting of a renewable resource whose dynamics are governed by logistic growth and whose payoff is proportional to the harvest. We consider both the case of a finite and an infinite time horizon and analyse the structure of the optimal solutions and their dependence on the parameters of the model. We show that the optimal policy can only have one of three structures: (1) maximal harvesting effort until the resource is depleted, (2) zero harvesting during an initial time interval followed by a subsequent switch to maximal harvesting effort, or (3) a singular solution, which corresponds to an intermediate level of harvesting, accompanied by the most rapid approach path. All three scenarios emerge, with minor variations, with finite and infinite time horizons, depending on the particular combination of parameters of the system. We characterize the conditions under which the singular solution is optimal and present suggestions for designing an optimal and sustainable harvesting strategy. Recommendations for Resource Managers :

• We have rigorously explored a standard optimal harvesting model and its steady states.
• We show that three different types of solutions may emerge: (i) maximal harvesting eventually leading to a complete depletion of the stock; (ii) maximal harvesting with a potential period of idleness leading to a positive stock; (iii) an initial phase of either no or full harvesting followed by a period of intermediate harvesting intensity leading to a positive stock (singular solution).
• With some modifications, similar results hold for a finite planning horizon.
• Which of these three scenarios emerges in the finite horizon case depends not only on the parameter values but also on the length of the planning horizon.

     

Singular mean-field control games

This article studies singular mean field control problems and singular mean field two-players stochastic differential games. Both sufficient and necessary conditions for the optimal controls and for the Nash equilibrium are obtained. Under some assumptions the optimality conditions for singular mean-field control are reduced to a reflected Skorohod problem, whose solution is proved to exist uniquely. Motivations are given as optimal harvesting of stochastic mean-field systems, optimal irreversible investments under uncertainty and mean-field singular investment games. In particular, a simple singular mean-field investment game is studied, where the Nash equilibrium exists but is not unique.     

Singular Optimal Control Model of Stock-Dependent Environmental Policies

In many countries, forest policies consist of a system of various regulations, taxes, and subsidies. In this article, we focus on those policies that regulate selective harvesting and study the example of Central Africa. We use a deterministic singular optimal control model of renewable resources to assess these policies with respect to a first best situation which integrates a social surplus or externality function. In particular, in contrast to earlier articles, we analyze a stock dependent tax, for which the objective function is piecewise differentiable. We use a theorem proposed by Hartl and Feichtinger to solve the mathematical problem. We show that this tax is the most flexible instrument with respect to fund collection.     

An optimal policy for a fish harvest

A dynamical model for harvesting a fish population system is proposed by introducing control into the known Verhulst-Pearl model. An optimal control problem including some parameters is stated, and the usual necessary conditions are applied. For specific parameter values, the candidate control policy is deduced, and optimality is verified by applying a sufficiency theorem. The optimal trajectories may contain maximum and minimum control arcs as well as a singular subarc. The significance of the singular arc is interpreted in terms of the system dynamics.     

Optimal control in a quantum cooling problem

The optimal control for cooling a quantum harmonic oscillator by controlling its frequency is considered. It is shown that this singular problem may be transformed with the proper choice of coordinates to an equivalent problem which is no longer singular. The coordinates used are sufficiently simple that a graphical solution is possible and eliminates the need to use a Weierstrass-like approach to show optimality. The optimal control of this problem is of significance in connection with cooling physical systems to low temperatures. It is also mathematically significant in showing the power and limitations of coordinate transformations for attacking apparently singular problems.     

Optimal Control for the Degenerate Elliptic Logistic Equation

We consider the optimal control of harvesting the diffusive degenerate elliptic logistic equation. Under certain assumptions, we prove the existence and uniqueness of an optimal control. Moreover, the optimality system and a characterization of the optimal control are also derived. The sub-supersolution method, the singular eigenvalue problem and differentiability with respect to the positive cone are the techniques used to obtain our results.     

Optimal Control for the Degenerate Elliptic Logistic Equation

We consider the optimal control of harvesting the diffusive degenerate elliptic logistic equation. Under certain assumptions, we prove the existence and uniqueness of an optimal control. Moreover, the optimality system and a characterization of the optimal control are also derived. The sub-supersolution method, the singular eigenvalue problem and differentiability with respect to the positive cone are the techniques used to obtain our results.     

On Necessary Optimality Conditions for Singular Controls in Dynamical Systems with a Delay in Control

Abstract

In this article, an optimal control problem with a delay in control is considered. The second-order necessary condition is obtained for the optimality of singular (in the sense of the maximum principle) control. Also, the notion of degenerate singular control of order k (k?≥?1) is introduced and for optimality of this, the high-order necessary condition is obtained. Moreover, while studying the problem, one of the strengthened version of an analog of the maximum principle is shown. Finally, the rich content of the obtained results is illustrated by specific examples.     

Finding candidate singular optimal controls: A state of the art survey

Pontryagin's maximum principle gives no information about a singular optimal control if the problem is linear. This survey shows how candidate singular optimal controls may be found for linear and nonlinear problems. A theorem is given on the maximum order of a linear singular problem.This paper is based in part on the research undertaken by the author at the Hatfield Polytechnic, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, for the Ph.D. Degree.     

Optimal harvesting policy of an inland fishery resource under incomplete information

A new mathematical model for finding the optimal harvesting policy of an inland fishery resource under incomplete information is proposed in this paper. The model is based on a stochastic control formalism in a regime‐switching environment. The incompleteness of information is due to uncertainties involved in the body growth rate of the fishery resource: a key biological parameter. Finding the most cost‐effective harvesting policy of the fishery resource ultimately reduces to solving a terminal and boundary value problem of a Hamilton‐Jacobi‐Bellman equation: a nonlinear and degenerate parabolic partial differential equation. A simple finite difference scheme for solving the equation is then presented, which turns out to be convergent and generates numerical solutions that comply with certain theoretical upper and lower bounds. The model is finally applied to the management of Plecoglossus altivelis, a major inland fishery resource in Japan. The regime switching in this case is due to the temporal dynamics of benthic algae, the main food of the fish. Model parameter values are identified from field measurement results in 2017. Our computational results clearly show the dependence of the optimal harvesting policy on the river environmental and biological conditions. The proposed model would serve as a mathematical tool for fishery resource management under uncertainties.     

Junction times in singular optimal control

Finding junction times on partially singular optimal control trajectories is in general difficult analytically and especially so when the optimal control is explicitly dependent on both the state and adjoint variables. This paper presents a new approach for linear problems whereby variations in the final state, measured from a reference optimal solution, can be used to find corresponding junction times. The approach is shown to be effective when applied to a problem which has an optimal solution involving a single bang/singular junction for certain choices of end state.     

Optimizing venture capital investments in a jump diffusion model

We study two practical optimization problems in relation to venture capital investments and/or Research and Development (R&D) investments. In the first problem, given the amount of the initial investment and the cash flow structure at the initial public offering (IPO), the venture capitalist wants to maximize overall discounted cash flows after subtracting subsequent investments, which keep the invested company solvent. We describe this problem as a mixture of singular stochastic control and optimal stopping problems. The second problem is concerned with optimal dividend policy. Rather than selling the company at an IPO, the investor may want to harvest technological achievements in the form of dividend when it is appropriate. The optimal control policy in this problem is a mixture of singular and impulse controls. E. Bayraktar was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, under grant DMS-0604491.     

On a class of singular stochastic control problems driven by Lévy noise

A class of singular stochastic control problems whose value functions satisfy an invariance property was studied by Lasry and Lions (2000). They have shown that, within this class, any singular control problem is equivalent to the corresponding standard stochastic control problem. The equivalence is in the sense that their value functions are equal. In this work, we clarify their idea and extend their work to allow Lévy type noise. In addition, for the purpose of application, we apply our result to an optimal trade execution problem studied by Lasry and Lions (2007).     

AN OPTIMIZATION APPROACH TO IDENTIFYING TIMBER SUPPLY FUNCTION COEFFICIENTS

This paper examines an optimization approach to identifying short-run timber supply function coefficients when the form of the supply function is known. By definition, a short-run timber supply function is a functional relationship between the optimal harvest level in each period (e.g., each year) and the actual forest-market state in the same period. The short-run timber supply function represents the optimal harvest decision policy, and therefore, the problem of optimal harvesting can be formulated as a problem of determining this function. When the form of the supply function is known, the problem becomes one of identifying the coefficients of the supply function. If the management objective is to maximize the expected present value of net revenues from timber harvesting over an infinite time horizon, and the timber price process is, in a sense, stationary, the supply function coefficients correspond to the optimal solution to an anticipative optimization problem. In this case, the supply function coefficients can be determined by maximizing the expected present value of the net revenues from timber harvesting, where periodic harvest levels are determined using the supply function. Numerical results show that the short-run supply functions determined using this approach gives good approximations of the true supply function.     

On relaxed control and singular solutions

A relation is shown to exist between relaxed problems and singular control. It is shown that a problem that does not possess an optimal solution, but satisfies some general assumptions, has a singular relaxed solution.     

一类半线性时变种群系统的最优捕获控制

讨论了年龄相关的半线性时变种群系统的最优捕获控制问题.根据微积分方程及泛函分析的知识证明了最优捕获控制的存在性,得到了捕获控制为最优的必要条件.     

Classical differential geometry solution of the brachistochrone tunnel problem

The Frenet-Serret equations of classical differential geometry are used to describe the quickest descent tunneling path problem. The optimal tunnel is shown to have a constant turn rate with zero torsion and is equivalent to Edelbaum's hypocycloid solution. The solutions are obtained using the maximum principle and singular arc conditions. The optimal curvature is a first-order singular arc and the optimal torsion is a second-order singular arc. Our treatment includes both the normal and the abnormal optimal control problems. Our problem is abnormal for the case where the final speed is zero. Analytical solutions for the optimal time histories are derived for all states and all adjoint states. One of Leitmann's sufficiency field theorems is used to establish optimality of the solutions.     

年龄相关的半线性种群扩散系统的最优收获控制

研究年龄相关的半线性种群扩散系统的最优收获控制问题，证明了最优收获控制的存在性，得到了收获控制为最优的必要条件和由偏微分方程与变分不等式所构成的最优性组，由最优性组确定最优控制．