Stormwater Pipe Performance Index Using Fuzzy Inference Method

Abstract

Stormwater utility managers have limited resources and funds to manage their pipe systems. To effectively make decisions on allocating limited resources and funds, a utility should be able to understand and assess the performance of its pipe system. There is no standard rating system or comprehensive list of performance parameters for stormwater pipe infrastructure. Previous research has identified performance parameters affecting stormwater pipes and developed a performance index using a weighted factor method. However, the weighted performance index model does not capture interdependencies between performance parameters. This paper develops a comprehensive list of parameters affecting stormwater pipe performance. This paper also develops a performance index using a fuzzy inference method to capture interdependencies among parameters. The performance index was evaluated and validated with the pipe ratings provided by one stormwater utility to document its effectiveness in real-world conditions.