Design Comparison between the Economic Series Method and the Heuristic Method in a Pressurized Irrigation Network

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the axes corresponding to development that faces innovation challenges every day. One of the most important aspects in this field is the design of pressurized collective irrigation systems. The aim of this paper is to compare the design of pressurized collective irrigation networks by using the method of optimization of the Improved Economic Series (MSEM) with an optimization method using a Genetic Algorithm (GA). For this purpose, a methodology with an ordered sequence was developed with the input of the network topology, agronomic conditions, and design parameters. Then, the respective configurations of the two optimization models used are made. Consequently, the objective function and decision variables, as well as the constraints are defined. The design results of four networks selected for this implementation and operating in shifts show that it is possible to use evolutionary algorithms and analytical methods for the economic design of irrigation networks, where we obtain significant economic and similar economical savings.