Optimal Design of Rural Drainage Networks

Abstract

In this paper, a novel procedure is presented and demonstrated for the optimal design of rural drainage networks, based on the coupling of a genetic algorithm with suitable hydrologic and hydraulic models. The models, which allow the evaluation of water depth and discharge through the network, differ for the levels of simplification introduced into the representation of physical phenomena (rainfall-runoff transformation and flood wave propagation through channels). Their applications are shown and the use of oversimplified approaches is discussed: although very popular in practice, they can adversely affect the characteristics of the optimal network.