Development of a Fuzzy Based Pipe Condition Assessment Model Using PROMETHEE

Abstract

The deterioration of pipes in water distribution systems is a serious problem for water utilities. In order to rehabilitate the deteriorated pipes in a planned and proactive way, there is a need to have a better understanding of pipe condition assessment. Pipe condition assessment can be regarded as a multiple criteria decision making problem. A new model for pipe condition assessment is developed using fuzzy PROMETHEE II. The model processes four first-level and seven second-level pipe condition indicators and then generates a pipe condition index for each pipe in the system. The weight for each indicator is generated by using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The paper presents the application of the new method to some pipes in a water distribution system. This application demonstrates both the stability of the new method and its ability to generate results that will greatly assist decision makers in the development of their rehabilitation strategies.