An optimal control model for the surface runoff contamination of a large river basin Article

Bhat, MG, Fister, KR, Lenhart, S. (1999). An optimal control model for the surface runoff contamination of a large river basin . 12(2), 175-195. 10.1111/j.1939-7445.1999.tb00009.x

cited authors

  • Bhat, MG; Fister, KR; Lenhart, S

authors

abstract

  • In this paper surface water contamination in a large river basin is analyzed. We develop an optimal control model that incorporates variations in pollution loads, benefits and environmental damage costs across several subbasins into a basin-wide decision framework. The river basin is assumed to consist of multiple subbasins, where each of these is comprised of a water canal emptying into one major river flow. Thus, the chemical and sediment loading, which represents the control variable, is treated as a point inflow source of contaminant. The flow of contaminants in the main river is modelled by an advection-diffusion partial differential equation. The management problem is to determine the optimal pollutant loads at these different influx points such that the discounted economic return from the pollutant-generating activities less the environmental costs of the contaminant is maximized. Existence of a unique optimal solution for a finite time problem is proved. In addition, the management implications of this area-wide optimal control strategy are discussed. © 1999 Rocky Mountain Mathematics Consortium.

publication date

  • January 1, 1999

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 175

end page

  • 195

volume

  • 12

issue

  • 2