Water distribution networks are vital hydraulic infrastructures, essential for providing consumers with sufficient water of appropriate quality. The cost of construction, operation, and maintenance of such networks is extremely large. The problem of optimization of a water distribution network is governed by the type of water distribution network and the size of pipelines placed in the distribution network. This problem of optimal diameter allocation of pipes in a distribution network has been heavily researched over the past few decades. This study describes the development of an algorithm, ‘Smart Optimization Program for Water Distribution Networks’ (SOP–WDN), which applies genetic algorithm to the problem of the least-cost design of water distribution networks. SOP–WDN demonstrates the application of an evolutionary optimization technique, i.e., genetic algorithm, linked with a hydraulic simulation solver EPANET, for the optimal design of water distribution networks. The developed algorithm was applied to three benchmark water distribution network optimization problems and produced consistently good results. SOP–WDN can be utilized as a tool for guiding engineers during the design and rehabilitation of water distribution pipelines.

Water distribution networks are vital infrastructure, needed for providing consumers with sufficient water of appropriate quality. The cost of construction, operation, and maintenance of such networks is extremely large. The problem of optimization of a water distribution network is governed by the type of water distribution network and the size of pipelines placed in the distribution network. This problem of the optimal diameter allocation of pipes in a distribution network has been heavily researched over the past few decades. This study describes the development of a computer program, ‘Smart Optimization Program for Water Distribution Networks’ (SOP–WDN), which applies Genetic Algorithm to the problem of the least-cost design of water distribution networks. SOP–WDN demonstrates the application of an evolutionary optimization technique, Genetic Algorithm, linked with a hydraulic simulation solver EPANET, for the optimal design of water distribution networks. The developed program was applied to three benchmark water distribution network optimization problems and produced consistently good results. SOP–WDN can be utilized as a tool for guiding engineers during the design and rehabilitation of water distribution pipelines.

Ensuring stable and continuous water supplies in isolated but populated areas, such as islands, where the water supply is highly dependent on external factors, is crucial. Sudden loss of function in the water supply system can have enormous social costs. To strengthen water security and to meet multiple water demands with marginal quality, the optimized selection of locally available, diversified multi-water resources is necessary. This study considers a sustainable water supply problem of Yeongjong Island, 30 km west from Seoul, South Korea. The self-sufficiency of several locally available water resources is calculated for four different scenarios based on the volume and quality of the various water sources. Our optimization results show that using all the available local sources can address the water security issues of the island in the case of interruption in the existing supply system, which is fed from a single source of mainland Korea. This optimization framework can be useful for areas where water must be secured in the event of emergency.

Water is a limited resource that needs to be properly managed and distributed to the ever-growing population of the world. Rapid urbanization and development have drastically increased the overall water demand worldwide. Ageing water distribution networks are vulnerable to deterioration and leakage, thereby causing an estimated annual loss of about 48 trillion liters of water. To address these issues, efficient and reliable leakage detection and management techniques are necessary. In this paper, the results of the experiments performed on a looped water distribution network in AnSeong, Korea are discussed. Transient-based techniques were used and physical data were collected for the detection and localization of leakages in the experimental water pipes. The results obtained from the experiments demonstrated the applicability of transient techniques for leak analysis in looped water distribution networks.

본 논문에서는 하모니 서치 알고리즘이 그동안 수자원 공학에 적용되었던 주요한 응용사례를 리뷰한다. 응용사례로는 우선 상수도 관망의 최적설계를 들 수 있는데, 각 노드에서 요구되는 수량 및 수압조건을 만족시켜주며 가장 경제적인 링크 크기(관경)를 찾을 수 있었다. 다음으로 수문모형의 파라메터 추정에서는 홍수나 강우량 같은 수문량의 모형계산치와 실측치간의 오차를 최소화 하는 파라메터 값을 찾을 수 있었으며 수생태 보전을 위한 하수처리문제에서는 하천의 용존산소량 조건과 지하수의 수질조건, 관개용수 질소용량조건 등을 만족시키며 초기 시설비와 연간 운영비 측면의 경제성을 고려한 하수처리 시스템의 최적 설계를 할 수 있었다. 이외에도 발전이익과 관개이익을 최대로 하는 댐군의 연계 운영, 펌프식 관로의 에너지 절감 운영, 해양 방파제 피복석의 안정성 예측 등에 하모니 서치 알고리즘이 적용된 사례를 보여준다. 이를 통해 수자원 분야의 연구자나 여러 과학기술분야의 연구자들이 향후 자신의 연구분야에 하모니 서치를 도입하여 좋은 성과를 내보기 기대한다.