Multi-objective game-theory models for conflict analysis in reservoir watershed management

This study focuses on the development of a multi-objective game-theory model (MOGM) for balancing economic and environmental concerns in reservoir watershed management and for assistance in decision. Game theory is used as an alternative tool for analyzing strategic interaction between economic development (land use and development) and environmental protection (water-quality protection and eutrophication control). Geographic information system is used to concisely illustrate and calculate the areas of various land use types. The MOGM methodology is illustrated in a case study of multi-objective watershed management in the Tseng-Wen reservoir, Taiwan. The innovation and advantages of MOGM can be seen in the results, which balance economic and environmental concerns in watershed management and which can be interpreted easily by decision makers. For comparison, the decision-making process using conventional multi-objective method to produce many alternatives was found to be more difficult.

► MOGM model is developed for balancing economic and environmental concerns.
► Game theory is used as an alternative tool for analyzing strategic interaction.
► MOGM methodology is illustrated in a case study of the Tseng-Wen reservoir in Taiwan.
► The innovation of game model can be interpreted easily by decision makers.