Plant lighting system evaluation

A model was developed to simulate the decision process of selecting a lighting system for plant growth and development. The model uses an additive utility equation to combine 43 attributes of the decision process, resulting in a utility value for the lighting system. The rank spread weighting equation was developed for use in the model, as was the inverse partial utility function. Expert input is required both for the attribute weights and for the partial utility functions. The model was applied to two plant growth scenarios---a greenhouse scenario and a BLSS scenario, and the output was tested using variation of parameters and Monte-Carlo simulations.;The model successfully simulated the lighting system decision process, giving higher utility values to systems that are more desirable for use. However, additive independence was not strictly maintained among the attributes, resulting in erroneously high utility values for a few lighting system scenarios. The rank spread weighting equation gave lower errors than other weighting equations tested. Expert input, in the form of rank order data, showed agreement between expert panelists, and suggested normality of perceived weights. Testing of the model output from the two scenarios showed that output agrees with common understanding of system performance, and that differences between the utilities calculated are statistically significant.