Application of Modified Invasive Weed Algorithm for Condition-Based Budget Allocation of Water Distribution Networks

Water Distribution Network is one of the critical components in water supply systems. Most water systems around the world are subjected to severe aging and deterioration which could lead to disastrous failures or sudden shutdowns. Optimizing maintenance and repair works of these systems triggers the need for a rigorous budget allocation model. In view of this situation, this paper presents a model for optimizing maintenance and replacement of the water networks using a set of metaheuristic algorithms. It introduces a modified invasive weed optimization algorithm to amplify the search mechanism of the classical invasive weed optimization algorithm by enhancing both exploration and exploitation of the exhaustive search space. The proposed optimization algorithm is validated through comparisons with the particle swarm optimization algorithm, shuffled frog leaping algorithm, and artificial bee colony algorithm. The capabilities of the developed model are exemplified through its application in a case study in Shaker Al-Bahery, Qalyubia governorate, Egypt. The results reveal that the proposed method exhibited superior results when compared to the aforementioned algorithms, which eventually leads to the establishment of more efficient decision-making models.