2015 Volume 94 Issue 9 Pages 1057-1065
To promote the utilization of biomass energy, it is important to evaluate the potential resource and its distribution and accessibility appropriately. In this study, the available amount of various kinds of biomass resources was estimated based on several statistical data. These data are aggregated into the geodatabase with a uniformed and fine spatial resolution of 1km mesh by estimating its spatial distribution using geographic information system (GIS). Furthermore, the accessibility analysis was performed by the GIS-based network analysis based on the real road network in each region. As a result, the relationship between the accessible time and the resource potential was figured out in each region by this method. Moreover, the transportation costs of each resource were estimated by applying a cost condition. For instance, in Furano City, thinning woods have the highest potential in the entire region. However, crop residues have higher potential in the region accessible from the municipal office as a demand site within 20 minutes. Also, crop residues are considered more reasonable than the others throughout the region in terms of transportation costs.