A comprehensive review on the design and optimization of surface water quality monitoring networks

Jiping Jiang,Sijie Tang,Dawei Han,Guangtao Fu,Dimitri Solomatine,Yi Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104792

Abstract

The surface water quality monitoring network (WQMN) is crucial for effective water environment management. How to design an optimal monitoring network is an important scientific and engineering problem that presents a special challenge in the smart city era. This comprehensive review provides a timely and systematic overview and analysis on quantitative design approaches. Bibliometric analysis shows the chronological pattern, journal distribution, authorship, citation and country pattern. Administration types of water bodies and design methods are classified. The flexibility characteristics of four types of direct design methods and optimization objectives are systematically summarized, and conclusions are drawn from experiences with WQMN parameters, station locations, and sampling frequency and water quality indicators. This paper concludes by identifying four main future directions that should be pursued by the research community. This review sheds light on how to better design and construct WQMNs.

Highlights

Surface water, such as streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes, estuaries and coasts, is the important source of water for human life and industry production and the most accessible and polluted in many countries
According to the difference in design drivers, i.e., input information for design, optimization methods proposed in studies can be divided into two classes: one group considers only the representativeness of water quality monitoring, and the other is based on multiple criteria that take natural and social conditions into account (Fig. 7)
Keeping in mind that the best monitoring network is a fit-for- purpose and cost-effective one, great care should be dedicated to the process ofdesigning such a network (Guigues et al, 2013)

Summary

Introduction

Surface water, such as streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes, estuaries and coasts, is the important source of water for human life and industry production and the most accessible and polluted in many countries. Monitoring activities can help understanding, protecting and improving aquatic habitats and water quality data analysis help to quantify envi ronmental changes and develop best management practices for informed decisions (YSI, 2020). The water quality monitoring network (WQMN) is a key element for managing and protecting water environ ment as it captures information about the states of water systems. WQMN design and deployment involves scientific, and economic, legal, and technical aspects. A WQMN usually needs to meet different administration requirements, such as regulation for violation and emergency monitoring of incidents. The earliest moni toring activity started in 1960s (Sanders et al, 1983), WQMN design remains a critical challenge in both developed and developing countries (Nguyen et al, 2019)

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion