Coordination degree of composite systems and its application

A composite system (CS) is an organic whole composed of multiple subsystems. It has the property of operating in a coordinated manner through the interconnection and interaction between its subsystems, which could be evaluated by the indicator of coordination degree of composite systems (CDoCS). However, there is currently a lack of quantitative methods for CDoCS and the CDoCS-based technology for composite system optimization. As a result, there is a lack of effective solutions to the problems caused by the disharmony of composite systems such as the mountain-water-forest-farm-lake-grass-sand systems (i.e., composite ecosystems) and the social-economic-natural systems. Therefore, the connotation of CDoCS within the system (goal, structure, function coordination) and outside the system (management and intra-external coordination) was expounded in this study. Then, the quantitative method and the mechanism model of CDoCS were proposed. A methodology framework for the coordination management of composite systems was established and illustrated with an example. The research results provide a theoretical basis for achieving the systematic management of the mountain-water-forest-farm-lake-grass-sand composite systems and promoting the coordination and sustainable development of the social-economic-natural composite systems.