Minimum Cost Irrigation Network Design Using Interactive Fuzzy Integer Programming

Abstract

Minimum cost irrigation network design has been conventionally based on crisp pressure requirements at the hydrants of the network. In order to incorporate obscure knowledge on these pressure requirements at the design stage, an interactive fuzzy integer programming methodology is proposed. In the integer linear programming, formulation membership functions are adopted for expressing pressure constraints. Also, the interactive character of the proposed methodology enables the designer to select a less demanding range of pressures at some “critical” hydrants. By using the proposed methodology significant economic gains may be achieved reducing the cost of the network, since the energy line is adapted more satisfactorily to the ranging pressure requirements. Finally, an application of the methodology to an irrigation network is presented.