Multi-objective Linear Programming Model with Interval Parameters for Water Resources Allocation in Dalian City

• Published in: Water resources management Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 449 - 463
• Main Authors: Han, Yan, Huang, Yue-Fei, Wang, Guang-Qian, Maqsood, Imran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 2011; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allocations; Atmospheric Sciences; Civil Engineering; Consumption; Dalian city; Decision making; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Economic development; Economics; Environment; Exact sciences and technology; Freshwater resources; Geotechnical Engineering & Applied Earth Sciences; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Interactive compromising; Interval optimization; Intervals; Linear programming; Mathematical models; Monte Carlo simulation; Multi-objective model; Nonlinear programming; Objectives; Optimization; Resource management; Society; Studies; Uncertainty; Water consumption; Water quality; Water resources; Water resources allocation; Water resources management; Water shortages; China; Dalian China; Multi-objective model; Interval optimization; Uncertainty; Water resources allocation; Dalian city; Interactive compromising; algorithms; models; natural resources; water supply; consumption; linear programming; water; lead; decision support systems; planning; water resources; water quality; solution; optimization; water resource management
• ISSN: 0920-4741; 1573-1650
• DOI: 10.1007/s11269-010-9708-7

Water resources management has been of concern for many researchers since the contradiction between increased water demand and decreased water supply has become obvious. In the real world, water resources systems usually have complexities among social, economic, natural resources and environmental aspects, which leads to multi-objective problems with significant uncertainties in system parameters, objectives, and their interactions. In this paper, a multi-objective linear programming model with interval parameters has been developed wherein an interactive compromising algorithm has been introduced. Through interactive compromising conflicts among multi-objectives, a feasible solution vector can be obtained. The developed model is then applied to allocation of multi-source water resources with different water qualities to multiple users with different water quality requirements for the Dalian city for 2010, 2015 and 2020 planning years. The model pursues the maximum synthesis benefits of economy, society and the environment. The results indicate that the proportion of reused water to the total water amount is gradually increasing, and the proportion of agricultural water consumption to the total water consumption is gradually decreasing. The allocation of multi-source water resources to multiple users is improved due to incorporation of uncertain factors into the model that provide useful decision support to water management authorities.