GAnet: genetic algorithm platform for pipe network optimisation

The marriage of object-oriented programming techniques and genetic algorith ms (GAs) provides a uniquely flexible environment for the development of ev olution programs with technical applications. Computerised representations of hydraulic network models are used in various guises throughout the water industry. As well as being commonly linked to relational databases to form asset management systems and to geographic information systems (GIS) to pr ovide visualisation and mapping facilities, common applications include mod elling the hydraulic performance of the network and use in network optimisa tion applications. This paper describes an architecture for an integrated o ptimisation application, GAnet, which comprises a GA application, a GIS and a hydraulic network solver. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.