Canal Operation Research Articles

Robotic Solutions for Arctic Transit Corridor Cargo Autonomous Undersea Vehicles

The development of regular navigation through the Arctic Ocean transit transport corridor from Southeast Asia to Western Europe can provide economic advantages comparable in importance with the construction and operation of the main canals between the oceans – the Suez and Panama. Cost-effective year-round navigation on the northern transport corridor is possible with an undersea (under-ice) scheme of cargo delivery. The construction of reinforced concrete Cargo Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (CAUVs) and the lighter transportation scheme allow solving technical and economic problems. The complicated scheme of undersea transportation gives birth to a new class of ships and raises a number of unsolved technical tasks. Among them are the loading of lighters on CAUVs, the formation of CAUVs trains and the locomotion control tasks. All these tasks require control of a large number of parameters and are complex for humans. Robotic CAUVs are regarded as an option of choice to deal with these control tasks.

A Multi-Objective Hierarchical Model for Irrigation Scheduling in the Complex Canal System

Due to population growth, environmental pollution and climate change, the lack of water resources has become a critical factor which threatens sustainable agricultural development. Reasonable irrigation scheduling strategies can reduce the waste of water and enhance agricultural water-use efficiency. In the present study, the decomposition-coordination theory was adopted to analyze the hierarchical canal system. A novel nonlinear multi-level multi-objective optimization model for complex canal systems was established, taking account of the multiple demands from decision makers and realistic factors of canal operation. An interactive method of the technique for order preference using similarity algorithm and genetic algorithm was proposed to solve the developed model. The developed model was successfully applied for the operational strategy making of a canal system located in the arid area of northwest China. The results indicated that the optimization model could help shorten the operational duration by two days, achieve about 26% reduction of irrigation water consumption, and improve the efficiency of water delivery from 0.566 to 0.687. That will be very favorable for the promotion of the agricultural water productivity, the relief of water shortage crisis and the sustainable development of agriculture. The outcomes can provide a wide range of support for decision making and make irrigation decision-making more scientific and systematic.

Assessing the functional and operational relationships between the water control infrastructure and water governance: A case of Tugela Ferry Irrigation Scheme and Mooi River Irrigation Scheme in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Water governance is a multi-level and multi-actor decision-making process. The multi-actors are grouped under formal and informal institutions, and they collectively determine how irrigation scheme infrastructure is operated or managed. Infrastructure and governance interactions are precursors to a fully functional irrigation scheme, consequently enhancing agricultural productivity, which subsequently boosts rural economies. Water control infrastructure is a critical component that determines management of canal operation and use, and therefore, has to be built within a water governance framework that considers multisector and multilevel actors. This paper sought to establish an operational and functional relationship between water control infrastructure and the existing water governance in Mooi River Irrigation Scheme (MRIS) and Tugela Ferry Irrigation Scheme (TFIS). The technology adopted was imposed rather than being setup in a participatory manner and only considered engineering and hydraulics and not human and institutional aspects. This study uses a fuzzy model to establish a link between water control infrastructure, i.e., its characteristics, operational requirements, on one hand, and the existing water governance frameworks in the respective irrigation schemes, on the other. The approach was based on Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS). The FAHP techniques was used to determine the fuzzy weight of the water control infrastructure aspects and the FTOPSIS was used to rank the water governance aspects, i.e., institutions, processes, procedures, rules and regulations, with respect to the infrastructure weights. Due to the high uncertainty and vagueness, the linguistic variable were expressed, as triangular fuzzy numbers. Questionnaires were administered to five irrigation experts from each scheme. The Closeness Coefficient (CCi) was used for ranking. The study revealed that TFIS had strong institutional setups (CCTFIS=0.18), as compared to MRIS (CCMRIS=0.13). However, TFIS showed a low ranking on rules and regulation (CCTFIS=0.14) as compared to MRIS (CCMRIS=0.20). Farmers’ unwillingness to pay water tariffs and contribute funds for operation and maintenance is illuminated under the rules and regulations governance pillar. A collective and participatory approach is required to improve on the water governance shortcomings. In consequent, this will improve the scheme performance.

Calibrating the discharge of the Kut Barrage using related equations at different gates openings

The Kut Barrage is one of the most important hydraulic structures in Iraq, which is in place to regulate the flow from the Tigris River and distribute it between Graf River, Dujelah Channel, Dalmch Channels, and other irrigation projects. The barrage includes 56 sluice gates, each 6 m wide, which control the discharge of the Tigris River at the individual locations. According to observations and measurements, about 90% of the flow at the downstream has been modular (free flow) within the last five years. In the present study, a trial was attempted to calibrate some universal formulas that would offer a reliable means of determining the discharge under gates such as those presented by Rajaratnam and Subramanya, Swamme, and Ferro, which would make them suitable for Kut Barrage discharge calculation over a wide range of scenarios in terms of gate openings. A recent formula presented by Maatooq for canal operation was also adopted in order to test whether it was appropriate for application under the flow and geometric boundary conditions of the Kut Barrage. The available data was also used to extract an empirical equation for the coefficient of discharge used for calibration. A total of 221 measurements taken at the head at upstream, nine different gate openings, and at the discharges were employed for calibration, and 28 data points taken at six different gate openings were adopted for verification. The determined discharges using the calibrated formulas show good agreement with the measurements with the coefficient, R2 ranging between 0.874 using Rajaratnam and Subramanya and 0.880 using Maatooq.

Modernization of National Irrigation Systems in the Philippines: Linking Design, Operation and Water Supply

AbstractThe consistent gap between the irrigation service area and irrigated areas of national irrigation systems has been attributed to shortcomings either in design, technology, system operation, maintenance and management, policy, climate change, or a combination of these factors. Conventional rehabilitation, which mainly involves restoration of irrigation structures, has had little impact in closing this gap.This study examined the irrigation technology and water management techniques employed in two national irrigation systems. Its objectives were to identify technology constraints, cost‐effective improvement practices and the potential for improving system performance with an end view of formulating a relevant modernization approach for national irrigation systems. The study used a logical design framework, field measurements and selected procedures of the Mapping System and Services for Canal Operation Techniques (MASSCOTE) as analytical tools.The findings show that inconsistencies among the design philosophy, system and operational objectives, flow control structures and water supply of the irrigation systems are root causes of their suboptimal performance. Careful consideration of the logical coherence among the selected irrigation technologies, water distribution techniques and water supply availability would form a crucial part of a relevant irrigation modernization planning for the case study systems and other irrigation systems in similar situations. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Trash-polluted irrigation: characteristics and impact on agriculture

Trash pollution has been a problem in sustainable water resources management. Trash pollutes not only rivers, lakes and seas, but also irrigation canals and rice fields. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of solid waste (type, time of occurrence and sources of trash) and its impact on agriculture. The study was conducted in four irrigation areas, namely Gamping, Merdiko, Nglaren and Karangploso in Bantul District, Yogyakarta Special Region. We applied the Irrigation Rapid Trash Assessment (IRTA) as our field survey instrument. The results showed that trash was found throughout irrigation canals and rice fields, and the occurrence was influenced by water flow, time and farmer activities. The irrigation was dominantly polluted by plastic trash (52.2%), biodegradable waste (17.91%) and miscellaneous trash (12.3%). The IRTA score showed that Gamping Irrigation Area was at marginal condition, bearing a high risk of disturbing the operation and maintenance of the irrigation canals as well as farmers’ health. Trash in irrigation also generated technical impact of the irrigation operation and maintenance, environmental quality, and social life. This research also offered environmental policy integration approach and water-garbage governance approach as an alternative solution to manage water resources and agriculture in a sustainable manner, under the pressure of increasing amount of trash.

The Entrainment and Screening of Returning and Postspawning Adult Salmonids at Irrigation Canals of the Umatilla River, Oregon

Abstract Anadromous salmonids can be vulnerable to entrainment at diversion intake structures on streams, effectively trapping fish in irrigation canals and removing them from a population. Currently little is known about how the differences in timing and direction of movement among adult salmonids contribute to their risk of entrainment and how successful they are at escaping irrigation canals. Potential routes of escape include passing against water currents and through the headgate of an irrigation canal intake or by navigating through screen and bypass infrastructure primarily designed to return juvenile fish to a stream. In this study, passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) were used to track the movement of adult Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (n = 573), Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch (n = 39), and anadromous Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (steelhead, n = 853) as they entered areas of the Umatilla River basin (Oregon) with irrigation canals and as they attempted to escape irrigation canals after entrainment. Although adult steelhead and spring Chinook Salmon often encountered diversions at similar times, the vast majority of entrained adults were steelhead (94%). Between 2% and 8% of adult steelhead observed entering the area were entrained. The entrainment of steelhead was strongly associated with downstream movements and Umatilla River discharge below 40 m3/s. Many downstream-moving steelhead were postspawning fish (kelts). As a result, vulnerability of anadromous adults to entrainment differed by species due to the direction of their movements and how these movements coincide with canal operations and river flows. It is unlikely that the screened irrigation canals acted as an ecological sink; the majority of adult salmonids approached the screen and bypass infrastructure (≥88%) and later river detection confirmed that many had used that infrastructure to return to the river (≥47%). However, half of steelhead appeared to experience bypass delays at fish screens. Adult steelhead that approached the canal headgate after becoming trapped in the canal did not successfully return to the Umatilla River using this route. Unscreened irrigation canals elsewhere may disproportionally trap downstream-moving steelhead, like postspawning kelts, due to their propensity for entrainment and their difficulties escaping through the water intakes of irrigation canals. In streams with anadromous salmonids, fish screen and bypass infrastructure primarily designed to eliminate the permanent entrainment of juvenile fish can also prevent the removal of adult fish that may reproductively contribute to the population.

Evaluation of performance of irrigation canals using benchmarking techniques –a case study of Hirakud dam canal system, Odisha, India

The main motto behind the performance assessment of an irrigation system is to utilize the available water resources in an efficient and effective manner. In recent times there has been a growing concern that performance in the context of irrigated agriculture is less than that had been anticipated. Deficit water supply results in loss of production, while excess water delivery leads to waterlogging and salinity. Water supply at any given location is often poorly matched to crop need and is highly variable in both time and discharge. Good performance is not only a matter of high output, but also one of efficient use of available resources. In the present study, evaluating the performance of a canal system was conducted in two parts of Hirakud canal system namely Paramanpur distributary and Senhapali distributary. The flow measurement was done using flow tracker ADV, an instrument which measures the flow with relatively more accuracy. Various indicators of performance in a flow irrigation system, such as adequacy, variability, efficiency, inequity, conveyance performance, and irrigation performance were used to evaluate the performance of the canals. The evaluation indicates that more attention should be given for the canal operation strategy to get optimal output from the system.

Impact on operation of the Middle Route Project of South-to-North Water Diversion

The inter-basin water transfer project is one of the most important means to solve the uneven distribution of water resources in time and space, rationally allocate water resources, and promote the construction of water ecological civilization. Research on the operation impact and channel hydraulic response is meaning for the safe operation of long-distance water conveyance canals. Taking the Middle Route Project (MRP) of South-to-North Water Diversion (SNWD) as example, this paper built the onedimensional steady and unsteady flow model and investigated the impact of roughness change, emergency rescue technology and equipment, and sluice control failure. Results showed that increased roughness decreased the water diversion efficiency of MRP to some degree. The emergency rescue technology and equipment occupied the channel section and declined flow capacity. The occurrence of sluice control failure relatively played an increasing impact on upstream water level and a decreasing impact downstream water level and flow discharge. The impact of the above scenarios on the scheduling operation can be reduced to a certain extent by regular cleaning and maintenance, development of rational water emergency rescue project, development of staff skill, etc. This research can provide support for safe operation and regulation of the MRP of SNWD.

SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE TRANSPORT FORMULAS FOR ESTIMATION OF TRANSPORT AND DEPOSITION RATES AT BABREKA CANAL

Siltation is a significant factor, affecting the efficient operation and maintenance of the irrigation canals which influence the hydraulic behavior of the canals and economic benefits of irrigation. In last 25 years a tendency of silting up at the irrigation canals in Bulgaria is observed due to the following reasons: decreased area under irrigation, fluctuation in supply, non-regime section, ”berming” of the canal, economic, crime and safety situation. The large number of available bed load and permissible velocity formulas and the significant differences between obtained results enforce selection of appropriate sediment transport formulas in each particular case. In this study discharge and velocity approaches are used for estimation of sediment transport and deposition rates at Babreka Canal, Malka Vitska Irrigation Project in Bulgaria. Seven equations for prediction total bed load transport rates and five equations for minimum permissible velocity are compared. The results show substantial differences in performance. Two formulas for total bed load and two formulas for minimum permissible velocity are selected as appropriate for the studied canal.

Operation method of allowing variation interval of downstream water level in the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project

To realize demand-oriented operations in the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, this paper proposed a pool operation method that a variation interval of water level at the upstream of the check gate is allowed. In this method, water users’ demand for flow changes can be satisfied as much as possible. Accordingly, downstream water depth is kept to fluctuate within a certain range, which is determined considering the canal safety, the operation frequency of check gates and the pool delay. The method is tested using the self-developed simulation platform for the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project, which is established based on the Saint-Venant equations and programmed with the language Fortran. Results show that the flow changes demanded by water users, either increase or decrease, can be achieved effectively, while the water level variations can meet the restrictions for canal operation safety, and the frequency of gate adjustment is practically acceptable as well. Therefore, the operation method of allowing variation interval of downstream water level is suitable in the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project at the current stage.

Genetic evidence for canal-mediated dispersal of Mapleleaf,Quadrula quadrula(Bivalvia:Unionidae) on the Niagara Peninsula, Canada

Alterations to watercourses affect connectivity in aquatic systems and can influence dispersal of aquatic biota. Dams fragment populations and act as isolating barriers, but canals create connections between waterbodies that can be used as corridors for dispersal by opportunistic invaders. The Niagara Peninsula of Ontario, Canada, has a 200-y history of canal operation, resulting in major modification of the watercourses in the region. This modification allowed numerous invasive species to enter the upper Great Lakes (e.g., sea lamprey) and probably has facilitated dispersal in native species. The purpose of our study was to explore the effects of canal and dam construction on the genetic structure of Mapleleaf (Quadrula quadrula), a widespread and relatively common species in the central Great Lakes that has been found only recently in several western Lake Ontario harbors. Establishment of Q. quadrula in Lake Ontario may have been a recent event, facilitated by the Niagara Peninsula’s history of canal operation. We used analyses of microsatellite DNA genotypes to examine the effect of canals on the genetic structure of mussel populations. Structure analysis revealed a pattern of gene flow between lakes that cannot be explained by watercourse connections prior to the creation of the Welland Canal. Evidence suggestive of historical bottlenecks at some Lake Ontario sites may indicate that these populations became established after canal creation. After considering genetic structure, hydrogeography and isolation-by-distance (IBD) analysis, the first iteration of the canal (1829–1833) is most supported as the configuration that facilitated colonization. However, weak IBD signals across canal models may signify continued gene flow across configurations. Our study demonstrates the connective effect of canals on freshwater mussel populations and has the potential to improve conservation strategies for this and other unionid species at risk.

Diagnostic Assessment Approach for Formulating a Modernization Strategy for Small‐Scale National Irrigation Systems in the Philippines

AbstractThe utility of a logic design framework and the diagnostic tools of the mapping system and services for canal operation techniques (MASSCOTE) were tested in two small‐scale national irrigation systems (NIS) with an end view of developing a diagnostic assessment methodology that would be relevant to planning for small‐scale irrigation systems modernization. The applicability of the water‐related rapid appraisal procedure (RAP) external indicators and structures sensitivity assessment as diagnostic tools was limited by the lack of flow data and the infeasibility of field experiments due to tight rotational irrigation schedules and laissez‐faire direct offtakes. The discharge–head relations, the hydraulic flexibility concept and the findings from walkthroughs and interviews were pragmatic alternatives. The results of the study show that inconsistency in the system designs and lack of, or poorly performing, flow control structures are the main factors contributing to mediocre irrigation service. The combination of diagnostic techniques and analytical tools used in this study present a useful framework for system diagnosis in small and ungauged irrigation systems. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Canal Operations Planner. III: Minimizing Inequity with Delivery Performance Ratio Relaxation

AbstractFor many large irrigation systems, distributing water equitably is a stated management objective. Canal operations plans specify which canal to operate at what discharge for each irrigation...

The Best Weighted Combination of Indicators in Optimal Operation of Irrigation Canals Using SA Algorithm and Asymptotic Method for Validation

The Best Weighted Combination of Indicators in Optimal Operation of Irrigation Canals Using SA Algorithm and Asymptotic Method for Validation

Acceptance of Mobile Technology for Citizen Science in Water Resource Management

AbstractDutch water management is considered highly efficient, but it faces a lack of public awareness and other certain physical challenges. One proposed strategy to deal with these challenges includes increasing citizen participation and citizen science using mobile devices in particular. Such mobile crowd sensing (MCS) can be used to enhance canal operations and model predictive control (MPC) by nonexperts. The data collector often pushes implementations, and little knowledge and experience from the field of product design is used. This can lead to underperformance both with regards to the technology and the volunteer citizens. This study uses an adapted Technology Acceptance Model 3 (TAM3) to survey Dutch citizens’ intentions while operating a mock-up smartphone application to identify key drivers of their acceptance in an early design phase. Included among the important drivers of citizens’ behavioral intentions (BI) are usefulness, relevance to the task, and the demonstrability of benefits. These in...

Canal Operations Planner. I: Maximizing Delivery Performance Ratio

AbstractA key operational objective for the management of the Indus Basin Irrigation System of Pakistan is the distribution of water among tertiary canals in a transparent and equitable manner. Decisions on canal operations are disseminated as a Canal Operation Plan, or a Rotational Program, for each crop season for every canal system. The current practice for developing these plans is qualitative based on heuristics that have remain unchanged since the early development of this vast irrigation system. This paper uses operations research tools to develop a Canal Operations Planner. Allocation cost is defined as a function of the delivery performance ratio and maximizing this function. The performance of the modules is evaluated using spillage and the Gini index as a measure of equity. Two models, namely; linear programme-delivery performance ratio (LP-DPR) and non linear programme-delivery performance ratio (NLP-DPR) are presented and the results are compared to performance under current canal planning an...

Canal Operations Planner. II: Minimizing Inequity

AbstractEquity of water distribution is an oft-repeated and stated aim of the warabandi irrigation systems prevalent in Pakistan and parts of India. The Canal Operations Plan is one tool used to operationalize equitable distribution of water. These plans are created for every canal system every crop season. This companion paper applies operations research tools to this problem and explicitly minimizes inequity as measured by the Gini index of the cumulative depth of water supplied. The results are analyzed and compared with those obtained from the models of the companion paper that maximize delivery performance ratio (DPR) and conclude that the linear programme-delivery performance ratio (LP-DPR) model given in the companion paper is overall slightly superior to the linear programme-inequity (LP-INEQ) model presented in this paper. This paper highlights that a performance indicator of equity such as the Gini may not fully capture the sense of fairness from a farmer’s perspective. Application of this resea...

Improving Operation of a Main Irrigation Canal Suffering from Inflow Fluctuation within a Centralized Model Predictive Control System: Case Study of Roodasht Canal, Iran

AbstractMethods of handling drastic inflow fluctuations without any constructional changes in the canal or the off-take structures are studied. Regarding the operational problem, automation of the regulating structures in the main canal is proposed. To this end, a centralized model predictive controller (MPC) is designed to achieve better operational performance in combination with an in-line water storage strategy. The controller is tested in a wide range of operational conditions, representing conventional operation, operation under predictable and unpredictable inflow fluctuations, and operation with and without water storing capabilities within the canal. The test bench is an accurate mathematical model of a canal consisting of five water regulators and seven off-takes. The results show significant improvement for canal operations employing automation. For the predictablefluctuations scenario, the results show that the stored water within the canal effectively handles the fluctuation. Compared to the ...

Algorithm for Canal Gate Operation to Maintain Steady Water Levels Under Abrupt Water Withdrawal

Algorithm for Canal Gate Operation to Maintain Steady Water Levels Under Abrupt Water Withdrawal