Automatic calibration of urban drainage model using a novel multi-objective genetic algorithm

In order to successfully calibrate an urban drainage model, multiple calibration criteria should be considered. This raises the issue of adopting a method for comparing different solutions (parameter sets) according to a set of objectives. Amongst the global optimization techniques that have blossomed in recent years, Multi Objective Genetic Algorithms (MOGA) have proved effective in numerous engineering applications, including sewer network modelling. Most of the techniques rely on the condition of Pareto efficiency to compare different solutions. However, as the number of criteria increases, the ratio of Pareto optimal to feasible solutions increases as well. The pitfalls are twofold: the efficiency of the genetic algorithm search worsens and decision makers are presented with an overwhelming number of equally optimal solutions. This paper proposes a new MOGA, the Preference Ordering Genetic Algorithm, which alleviates the drawbacks of conventional Pareto-based methods. The efficacy of the algorithm is demonstrated on the calibration of a physically-based, distributed sewer network model and the results are compared with those obtained by NSGA-II, a widely used MOGA.