Research/Application of System Engineering to Water Resources Systems

Abstract

Throughout 20 years, especially the recent decade, system engineering has been extensively researched on and applied to the water conservancy and hydroelectric power in China, involving the development and utilization of water resources, irrigation and drainage, flood control and water‐logging prevention, water‐supply and water‐quality protection in their survey, planning, design, construction, operation, and management. These applied fields deal with most of the theories and methods of optimization, such as mathematical programming, simulation techniques, system dynamics, utility decision‐making theory, large systems analysis, hierarchical analysis, model systems, and so on. System engineering brings into play an important role in the undertakings of water conservancy and hydroelectric power in our country. Some achievements and developments are reviewed in this paper. The optimization methods of large‐scale and multipurpose systems, expert systems, and decision‐making support systems will be vigorously developed in China in the days to come.