Combining an R-Based Evolutionary Algorithm and Hydrological Model for Effective Parameter Calibration

Abstract

The hydrological model assessment and development (hydromad) modeling package is an R-based package that can be applied to simulate hydrological models and optimize parameters. As the hydromad package is incompatible with hydrological models outside the package, the parameters of such models cannot be directly optimized. Hence, we proposed a method of optimizing the hydrological-model parameters by combining the executable (EXE) file of the hydrological model with the shuffled complex evolution (SCE) algorithm provided by the hydromad package. A physically based, spatially distributed, grid-based rainfall–runoff model (GRM) was employed. By calibrating the parameters of the GRM, the performance of the model was found to be reasonable. Thus, the hydromad can be used to optimize the hydrological-model parameters outside the package if the EXE file of the hydrological model is available. The time required to optimize the parameters depends on the type of event, even for the same catchment area.

Component Combination Test to Investigate Improvement of the IHACRES and GR4J Rainfall–Runoff Models

“…For the calibration of the parameters of the rainfall-runoff models, we selected the shuffled complex evolution (SCE) global optimization method [21,22], which is one of the popular parameter optimization methods [23][24][25][26]. The SCE algorithm incorporates the strengths of the simplex procedure [27], competitive evolution [28], controlled random search [29], and the concept of complex shuffling [21].…”

Sensitivity Analysis to Investigate the Reliability of the Grid-Based Rainfall-Runoff Model

“…Runoff is calculated using the kinematic wave equation, and infiltration is calculated using the Green-Ampt model. The GRM can properly simulate short-term flood events using a short simulation time interval, such as a 10 min time interval (e.g., in References [17,18]). The governing equations of GRM are as follows.…”

“…This model uses GIS techniques such as a digital extraction model (DEM), soil map, and land use cover. This model has been used for various studies [16][17][18], and is used as an important model for flood simulation in Korean catchments.…”