A 3D irrigation canal alignment optimization model for a steep-sloping area with rectangular inclined drops

Abstract

Abstract Determining the canal route alignment and placing Rectangular Inclined (RI) drops in terms of the number and the height of each RI is a complex activity due to various technical, economic, and hydraulic issues. Although extensive research has been conducted to design the optimal flow section parameters in a cost-effective manner, an intelligent optimization model that simultaneously evaluates different aspects of the design of an irrigation canal needs further investigation. This paper presents a three-dimensional irrigation canal optimization model for optimally aligning the canal route, place the RI drops, and simultaneously design the flow section parameters. The model has been developed by integrating relevant geospatial information with a particle swarm algorithm to select a real-world option with the least cost without violating executive and hydraulic constraints in the steep-sloping area. The model has been employed with two examples to examine its capability in real-world applications. The results show that the model can optimize canal alignment and RI drop placement in areas with different terrain complexities and slopes. It is also found that while the placement of RI drops is nearly identical to the experimentally stated standards in conventional methods, the solution is obtained in a reasonably shorter computational duration. Pre-cost-estimation tables for different variants of canal routes and RI drop sets along the path of the canal are obtained. The results are very useful for efficient planning and design of irrigation canals.