Genetic algorithm usage in water quality monitoring networks optimization in Gediz (Turkey) river basin

Selection procedure of the optimum station combination for decreasing the station number from 33 to 14 in water quality monitoring network of Gediz river basin was applied using an optimization method. Gediz basin is one of the important basins and it covers 2.3% of the total surface area of Turkey. The technique includes two stages as the data preparation and the optimization. In the data preparation stage, firstly, alternative station combinations decreased and then station combination scores obtained from assigned selection criteria for point and nonpoint pollution management objectives. Finally, genetic algorithm applied to select the best combination. The results were compared with a prior solution that used dynamic programming as the optimization technique.