Author(s)

A. De Corte & K. S¨orensen

Abstract

The water distribution network (WDN) optimisation problem is shown to be a NP-hard problem. Many (metaheuristic) techniques have already been developed in this research area. Despite the aforementioned scientific attention, only a few, high-quality benchmark networks are available for algorithm testing, which, in turn, hinders profound algorithm testing, sensitivity analysis and comparison of the developed techniques. This absence of high-quality benchmark networks motivated us to develop a tool to algorithmically generate close-to-reality virtual WDNs. The tool, called HydroGen, can generate WDNs of arbitrary size and varying characteristics in EPANET or GraphML format. HydroGen is used to generate an extensive library of realistic test networks on which (metaheuristic) methods for the optimisation of WDN design can be tested, allowing researchers in this area to run sensitivity analyses and to draw solid conclusions on the robustness and performance of their methods. An iterated local search technique is developed and tested on a set of Hydrogen-generated water distribution networks. Keywords: HydroGen, water distribution network design optimisation, iterated local search.

Keywords

HydroGen, water distribution network design optimisation, iterated local search.