Developing a dual entropy-transinformation criterion for hydrometric network optimization based on information theory and copulas

Hydrometric information collected by monitoring networks is fundamental for effective management of water resources. In recent years, entropy-based multi-objective criterions have been developed for the evaluation and optimization of hydrometric networks, and copula functions have been frequently used in hydrological frequency analysis to model multivariate dependence structures. This study developed a dual entropy-transinformation criterion (DETC) to identify and prioritize significant stations and generate candidate network optimization solutions. The criterion integrated an entropy index computed with mathematical floor function and a transinformation index computed with copula entropy through a tradeoff weight. The best fitted copula models were selected from three Archimedean copula families, i.e., Gumbel, Frank and Clayton. DETC was applied to a streamflow monitoring network in the Fenhe River basin and two rainfall monitoring networks in the Beijing Municipality and the Taihu Lake basin, which covers different network classification, network scale, and climate type. DETC was assessed by the commonly used dual entropy-multiobjective optimization (DEMO) criterion and was compared with a minimum transinformation (MinT) based criterion for network optimization. Results showed that DETC could effectively prioritize stations according to their significance and incorporate decision preference on information content and information redundancy. Comparison of the isohyet maps of two rainstorm events between DETC and MinT showed that DETC had advantage of restoring the spatial distribution of precipitation.