We propose a model-predictive control (MPC) approach to solve a human-in-the-loop control problem for a non-automatic networked system with uncertain dynamics. There are no sensors or actuators installed in the system and we involve humans in the loop to travel between various nodes in the network and to provide the remote controller with measurements as well as actuating the system according to the control requirements. We compute the time instants at which the measurements and actuations should take place to yield better performance with respect to current control methods. We present simulation results using a numerical model of a real canal, the West-M canal in Arizona, and we demonstrate the superiority of the new method over previously proposed ones for such setting.

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We propose a model-predictive control (MPC)-based approach to solve a human-in-the-loop control problem for a network system lacking sensors and actuators to allow for a fully automatic operation. The humans in the loop are, therefore, essential; they travel between the network nodes to provide the remote controller with measurements and to actuate the system according to the controller’s commands. Time instant optimization MPC is utilized to compute when the measurement and actuation actions are to take place to coordinate them with the network dynamics. The time instants also minimize the burden of human operators by tracking their energy levels and scheduling the necessary breaks. Fuel consumption related to the operators’ travel is also minimized. The results in a digital twin of the Dez Main Canal illustrate that the new algorithm outperforms previous methods in terms of meeting operational objectives and taking care of human well-being, but at the cost of higher computational requirements.@en

A variety of methods are in use for the design of controllers for adjusting canal gate positions to maintain a constant water level immediately upstream from check gates. These methods generally rely on a series of tests on the water level's response to changes in canal gate position or flow, either by simulation or on the canal itself. This paper presents a method for tuning these controllers based on wave celerity through use of the integrator delay zero (IDZ) model. These equations can be used to determine the resonance peak height and resonance frequency. Unsteady-flow canal simulation models are used to show the response of controller design using these theoretical equations with a test case for ASCE Test Canal 1. A novel method is presented for avoiding disturbance amplification by considering the delay times in all canal pools downstream.

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Model Predictive Control (MPC) is one of the most advanced real-time control techniques that has been widely applied to Water Resources Management (WRM). MPC can manage the water system in a holistic manner and has a flexible structure to incorporate specific elements, such as setpoints and constraints. Therefore, MPC has shown its versatile performance in many branches of WRM. Nonetheless, with the in-depth understanding of stochastic hydrology in recent studies, MPC also faces the challenge of how to cope with hydrological uncertainty in its decision-making process. A possible way to embed the uncertainty is to generate an Ensemble Forecast (EF) of hydrological variables, rather than a deterministic one. The combination of MPC and EF results in a more comprehensive approach: Multi-scenario MPC (MS-MPC). In this study, we will first assess the model performance of MS-MPC, considering an ensemble streamflow forecast. Noticeably, the computational inefficiency may be a critical obstacle that hinders applicability of MS-MPC. In fact, with more scenarios taken into account, the computational burden of solving an optimization problem in MS-MPC accordingly increases. To deal with this challenge, we propose the Adaptive Control Resolution (ACR) approach as a computationally efficient scheme to practically reduce the number of control variables in MS-MPC. In brief, the ACR approach uses a mixed-resolution control time step from the near future to the distant future. The ACR-MPC approach is tested on a real-world case study: an integrated flood control and navigation problem in the North Sea Canal of the Netherlands. Such an approach reduces the computation time by 18% and up in our case study. At the same time, the model performance of ACR-MPC remains close to that of conventional MPC.@en

Open water systems such as irrigation canals are used to transport and deliver water from the source to the user.Water loss in these systems by seepage, leakage, evaporation, or unknown water offtakes can be large. If this loss is unknown to the model used, it will not be considered by the controller and create a real system model mismatch. This mismatch will affect the water level directly and create an offset from the reference set point of the water level. A control configuration for open water canals, model predictive control (MPC) based on moving horizon estimation (MHE-MPC), to deal with offset problems resulting from real system-model mismatch is described in this paper. MHE uses the past predictions of the model and the past measurements of the system to estimate unknown disturbances and systematically removes the offset in the controlled water level. This control configuration is numerically tested on an accurate hydrodynamic model of the Control Algorithms Test Canal of the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC-PAC). The results presented in this paper show that MHE-MPC can realize offset-free control and the results are better than those of the well-known disturbance modelling offset-free control scheme. @en

Barriers between experts and lay people are fading. Budget cuts and the demand for societal relevance of research induce the involvement of citizens. At the same time small, cheap sensors are widely available in mobile phones. This provides opportunities for mobile crowd sensing in water management. The fresh water demand is increasing, while several factors threaten the quantity and quality of the supply. Citizen science may enhance science by data collection, analysis or interpretation and could serve as education mean. A common challenge is ensuring sufficient quality of data. In this study the potential of citizen science in mobile crowd sensing in water quality monitoring was explored, by using a mobile crowd sensing application for water quality measurements. This consists of a colorimetric analysis using smartphone cameras and citizens to collect the data. Purposes of citizen science, target audiences, possible substances, opportunities, challenges and key success factors were identified based on nine interviews with representatives of Dutch water boards, nature managers and citizen associations. The results were compared to literature findings.

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