Coupling hydrodynamic models and value of information for designing stage monitoring networks

Abstract

Because the collection of data in water systems is important for making informed decisions, monitoring networks are designed and installed in such systems. Traditionally, the design of hydrometric monitoring networks has been concentrated on measuring streamflow/precipitation at particular key (gauged) sites so that streamflow/precipitation can be estimated accurately at ungauged sites. Although many methods take into account a set of final users of the information, there appears to be no method that explicitly considers them in the mathematical formulation of the decision-making process. This paper presents a novel approach for designing monitoring networks in a water system using the concept of value of information (VOI). This concept takes into account three main factors: (1) the belief that the decision maker has about the state of the water system before having any information; (2) the consequences associated with the decision of having to choose among several possible management actions given the state of the water system; and (3) the evaluation and update of new information when it becomes available. The methodology uses a water level time series generated by a hydrodynamic model at every computational point, each one being a potential monitor site. The method is tested in a polder system in the Netherlands, where monitoring is required to make informed decisions about the operation of a set of hydraulic structures to reduce flood impacts. © 2012. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.