Performance-based maintenance analysis and resource allocation in irrigation networks

Abstract

The irrigation network is a critical infrastructure network consisting of reservoirs, canals, and croplands. However, the operation of irrigation networks is often disrupted by natural disasters like droughts, which can lead to serious losses. Timely and effective maintenance can minimize the yield losses. Many maintenance strategies have been proposed to improve the efficiency of maintenance resource utilization and reduce costs. But in the existing literature, the maintenance of irrigation networks under the influence of droughts is still under-explored. To bridge this gap, this paper proposes a maintenance metric for improving the performance of an irrigation network. A novel optimum maintenance efficiency model is then developed to get the optimal resource allocation. A case study, which investigates an irrigation network consisting of 27 nodes, is used to verify the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed method.