1. fire the process of distributing a resource through a network based on demand —note firefighters and equipment (the resources) need to be delivered to fires (the demand) by using roads (the network) 2. physiology the process of distributing carbon to different plant tissues, e.g., roots, stem, or foliage 3. planning committing a given area of land or resource to one or more specific uses —note allocation is necessary when there are limitations on either the amount of resources available or on the way in which they can be used, such that each separate activity cannot be performed in the most effective way 4. utilization the process of accumulating a resource from a network based on capacity —note the resource (logs) needs to go to mills (having adequate capacity) by using roads (the network) This definition last updated 10/23/2008