Optimising the design of sewer networks using genetic algorithms and tabu search

This paper describes the application of heuristic techniques for designing gravity wastewater collection systems. Designing sewer networks can be a time-consuming task that is largely based on trial and error where suitable pipe diameters and slopes combinations for all pipelines between manholes must be identified. Since there is a large range of possible slopes, diameters and roughness coefficients of pipes, only a small number of combinations of these parameters are usually analyzed in traditional design processes. Identifying a minimum cost design is an important issue when constructing sewer networks. In this paper, genetic algorithms and tabu search techniques are implemented to solve this difficult optimization problem. An adaptive rule and a dynamic search strategy were developed to assist the search procedures find better solutions.