An entropy approach to data collection network design

Abstract

A new methodology is developed for data collection network design. The approach employs a measure of the information flow between gauging stations in the network which is referred to as the directional information transfer. The information flow measure is based on the entropy of gauging stations and pairs of gauging stations. Non-parametric estimation is used to approximate the multivariate probability density functions required in the entropy calculations. The potential application of the approach is illustrated using extreme flow data from a collection of gauging stations located in southern Manitoba, Canada.