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This research aims to apply the Harris hawks optimization (HHO) technique connected with a reservoir simulation model to search optimal rule curves of the network reservoir system in Thailand. The downstream water demand from the network reservoir that required shared water discharge, hydrological data, and physical data were considered in the reservoir simulation model. A comparison of the situation of water shortage using optimal rule curves from HHO technique, genetic algorithm (GA), and wind-driven optimization (WDO) is presented. The results showed that the new rule curves derived from the HHO technique with network reservoir searching were able to alleviate the water shortage and over-flow situations better than the current rule curves. The efficiency of using rule curves from HHO technique compared to GA and WDO techniques showed that the HHO technique can provide a better solution that reduced water scarcity and average over-flow compared with the current rule curves by up to 4.80%, 4.70%, and 4.50%, respectively. In addition, HHO was efficient in converging rule curve solutions faster than GA and WDO techniques by 15.00% and 54.00%, respectively. In conclusion, the HHO technique can be used to search for optimal network reservoir rule curves solutions effectively.

The aim of this research was to identify optimal choices in decision support systems for network reservoirs by using optimal rule curves under four scenarios related to water scarcity and overflow situations. These scenarios were normal water shortage, high water shortage, normal overflow and high overflow situations. The application of various optimization techniques, including Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Wind-Driven Optimization (WDO) and the Marine Predator Algorithm (MPA), in conjunction with a reservoir simulation model, was conducted to produce alternative choices, leading to suitable decision-making options. The Bhumibol and Sirikit reservoirs, situated in Thailand, were selected as the case study for the network reservoir system. The objective functions for the search procedure were the minimal average water shortage per year, the minimal maximum water shortage and the minimal average water spill per year in relation to the main purpose of the reservoir system using the release criteria of the standard operating policy (SOP) and the hedging rule (HR). The best options of each scenario were chosen from 152 options of feasible solutions. The obtained results from the assessment of the effectiveness of alternative choices showed that the best option for normal water scarcity was the rule curve with the objective function of minimal average water shortage per year, using HR and recommended SOP for operation, whereas the best option for high-water shortage situation was the rule curves with objective function of minimal of maximum water shortage using HR and recommended HR for operation. For overflow situation, the best option for normal overflow situation was the rule curves with objective function of minimal average water spill per year using HR and the recommended SOP for operation, whereas the best option for the high overflow situation was the rule curve with the objective function of minimal average water spill per year using HR and the recommended HR for operation. When using the best curves according to the situation, this would result in a minimum water shortage of 153.789 MCM/year, the lowest maximum water shortage of 1338.00 MCM/year, minimum overflow of 978.404 MCM/year and the lowest maximum overflow of 7214.00 MCM/year. Finally, the obtained findings from this study would offer reliability and resiliency information for decision making in reservoir operation for the multi-reservoir system in the upper region of Thailand.

This paper reviews applications of optimization techniques connected with reservoir simulation models to search for optimal rule curves. The literature reporting the search for suitable reservoir rule curves is discussed and examined. The development of optimization techniques for searching processes are investigated by focusing on fitness function and constraints. There are five groups of optimization algorithms that have been applied to find the optimal reservoir rule curves: the trial and error technique with the reservoir simulation model, dynamic programing, heuristic algorithm, swarm algorithm, and evolutionary algorithm. The application of an optimization algorithm with the considered reservoirs is presented by focusing on its efficiency to alleviate downstream flood reduction and drought mitigation, which can be explored by researchers in wider studies. Finally, the appropriate future rule curves that are useful for future conditions are presented by focusing on climate and land use changes as well as the participation of stakeholders. In conclusion, this paper presents the suitable conditions for applying optimization techniques to search for optimal reservoir rule curves to be effectively applied in future reservoir operations.

Decision support systems tackle problems and require systematic planning. They consider physical data, hydrological data, and sediment levels to achieve efficiency and adaptability in various situations. Therefore, this research aims to identify alternative engineering choices for the management of a river basin with a single reservoir system. Optimization techniques, including marine predator algorithm (MPA), genetic algorithm (GA), genetic programming (GP), tabu search (TS), and flower pollination algorithm (FPA), were applied to find the optimal reservoir rule curves using a reservoir simulation model. The study focused on the Ubolratana Reservoir in Thailand’s Khon Kaen Province, considering historic inflow data, water demand, hydrologic and physical data, and sedimentation volume. Four scenarios were considered: normal water scarcity, high water scarcity, normal excess water, and high excess water. The optimal rule curves derived from the reservoir simulation model, incorporating sedimentation and hedging rule (HR) criteria, were found to be the best engineering choices. In the normal and high water scarcity scenarios, they minimized the average water shortage to 95.558 MCM/year, with the lowest maximum water shortage 693.000 MCM/year. Similarly, in the normal and high excess water scenarios, the optimal rule curves minimized the average excess water, resulting in a minimum overflow of 1087.810 MCM/year and the lowest maximum overflow 4105.660 MCM/year. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating optimization techniques and a reservoir simulation model to obtain the optimal rule curves. By considering sedimentation and incorporating HR criteria, the selected engineering alternatives demonstrated their ability to minimize water shortage and excess water. This contributes to improved water resource management and decision-making in situations of scarcity and excess.