Decision-making in irrigation networks: Selecting appropriate canal structures using multi-attribute decision...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Engineering
• Water Resource Management
• Decision Science

Background:

• Effective irrigation network management is crucial due to water competition between agriculture and other sectors.
• Selecting appropriate flow control structures in irrigation networks is complex, involving multiple decision-makers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a decision analysis (DA) framework for evaluating, ranking, and selecting check and intake structures for irrigation canals.
• To systematically aid decision-making processes for improving water flow control in irrigation networks.

Main Methods:

• Application of multi-attribute decision making (MADM) methodology.
• Development of a DA framework including attribute identification, scoring, data quality control, and an MADM model.
• Utilizing the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and Entropy method for analysis.

Main Results:

• The duckbill weir was identified as the preferred check structure, offering advantages over existing Amil gates.
• The Neyrpic® gate was the most preferred intake structure, noted for ease of operation and discharge measurement capabilities.
• The pivot weir and constant head orifice were ranked as least preferred for check and intake structures, respectively.

Conclusions:

• The proposed DA framework effectively aids in selecting appropriate structures for regulating water flows in irrigation canals.
• The framework's systematic approach captures decisions across various management levels and is applicable to new designs or improvements in existing networks.