Cost-effectiveness analysis of different watershed management scenarios developed by simulation–optimization model

The effort to control sediment yield at watershed scale is an ongoing challenge that needs to take into account trade-offs between two conflicting objective functions, i.e. economic and hydrologic criteria. Therefore, researchers have coupled hydrologic and multi-objective optimization models to fin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science & technology. Water supply 2017-10, Vol.17 (5), p.1316-1324
Main Authors: Noor, Hamzeh, Fazli, Somayeh, Rostami, Mohammad, Kalat, Ali Bagherian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Classification
Computer simulation
Cost analysis
Costs
Criteria
Genetic algorithms
Hydrologic models
Hydrology
Management
Management decisions
Mathematical models
Multiple objective analysis
Optimization models
Pareto optimization
Pareto optimum
Runoff
Sediment
Sediment yield
Sediments
Soil
Soil water
Solutions
Sorting algorithms
Water quality
Water shortages
Water supply
Watershed management
Watersheds
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Summary:The effort to control sediment yield at watershed scale is an ongoing challenge that needs to take into account trade-offs between two conflicting objective functions, i.e. economic and hydrologic criteria. Therefore, researchers have coupled hydrologic and multi-objective optimization models to find Pareto-optimal solutions. However, very limited studies have been conducted to analyse the cost-effectiveness (C/E) of scenarios obtained in the Pareto-front optimal. This could provide new information leading to effective watershed management. Therefore, in the present study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate sediment yield under different combinations of best management practices (BMPs) and was coupled with the Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). The model attends to providing the Pareto-optimal solutions by minimizing the costs of BMPs and maximizing sediment reduction. The results of the application of the cost-effective optimization model in Mehran watershed, Iran, showed that the solutions in the Pareto-optimal front reduce sediment yield between 2% and 40.5% from baseline at costs of between $6,500 and $72,100, respectively. Finally, comparison of four sediment reduction solutions (i.e. 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) showed that the total cost and C/E ratio of solutions increased as the sediment reduction criteria increased.
ISSN:1606-9749
1607-0798
DOI:10.2166/ws.2017.029