Abstract：
Urban water distribution networks (WDNs) in developing economies often refrain from investing in sensor-based leakage management technologies due to financial constraints and other techno-managerial issues. Thus, this study proposes a generalized decision support framework based on network sensitivity analysis (NSA) and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) to assess the prospect of effective leakage control through robust sensor placement in existing deficient WDNs. Four sensitivity parameters are formulated for NSA to ascertain the pressure response of the potential sensor positions for diverse hydraulic and leak scenarios. Subsequently, selecting the optimal number of sensors and their relative positions within the WDN is framed as an MCDM problem that entails the simultaneous maximization of Euclidean distances among the potential sensor positions and the leak-induced pressure residuals obtained at these sensors. The proposed methodology is developed on a numerical benchmark network assuming ideal conditions, and its applicability is verified on a sensor-equipped experimental network considering realistic system uncertainties. The outcome of this study aims to provide an insightful understanding of the system behavior that governs its leak localization potential and ascertain the practical challenges of sensor-based leakage monitoring in existing WDNs. Decision-makers of resource-strained utilities can beneficially utilize the proposed framework to assess the environmental and cost trade-offs of employing sensor-based technologies for leakage management and proactive decision-making before its actual implementation.
摘要：
由于资金限制和其他技术管理问题，发展中经济体的城市供水管网（WDN）通常不投资基于传感器的渗漏管理技术。因此，本研究提出了一种基于网络灵敏度分析（NSA）和多准则决策（MCDM）的广义决策支持框架，以评估通过现有有缺陷的WDN中的鲁棒传感器放置进行有效泄漏控制的前景。为NSA制定了四个灵敏度参数，以确定各种液压和泄漏情况下潜在传感器位置的压力响应。随后，选择传感器的最佳数量及其在WDN内的相对位置被构建为MCDM问题，该问题需要同时最大化潜在传感器位置之间的欧几里得距离以及在这些传感器处获得的泄漏引起的压力残差。所提出的方法是在假设理想条件的数值基准网络上开发的，并在考虑现实系统不确定性的配备传感器的实验网络上验证了其适用性。这项研究的结果旨在提供对控制其泄漏定位潜力的系统行为的深刻理解，并确定现有WDN中基于传感器的泄漏监测的实际挑战。资源紧张的公用事业的决策者可以有益地利用拟议的框架来评估在实际实施之前采用基于传感器的技术进行泄漏管理和主动决策的环境和成本权衡。
