Self-Adaptive Cuckoo Search Algorithm for Optimal Design of Water Distribution Systems

Self-adaptive cuckoo search algorithm is used to optimize the design of water distribution system problems. It is proposed to dynamically adjust the two sensitive parameters of the algorithm, (i) step size control parameter ‘α’ and (ii) discovering probability parameter ‘Pa’ which largely govern the exploration and exploitation search strategies of the algorithm. These parameters are essential for enhancing the performance of the algorithm and normally the values of these parameters needs careful selection according to the type of problem. Single objective self-adaptive cuckoo search algorithm (SACSA) and multi-objective self-adaptive cuckoo search algorithm (SAMOSCA) are proposed in this study. Robustness and efficiency of these algorithms in single (minimization of cost) and multi-objective scenarios (minimization of cost and maximization of resilience) is validated using standard water distribution benchmark problems i.e. Two loop and Hanoi network. These are later applied to solve a medium size real-life water distribution system located at Pamapur, Telangana, India. A simulation-optimization based program combining the water distribution network simulation software EPANET 2.2 and MATLAB is used for computation. The proposed methodology has provided better results in terms of computational efficiency as well as found better solutions when compared to the previously reported results in both single and multi-objective scenarios. In the case of multi-objective problems, it has been observed that SAMOCSA has been able to find new points in pareto front when compared to the best-known pareto front reported in the literature. Self-adaptive cuckoo search algorithm has been found to be an attractive alternative in both exploration and exploitation of larger search spaces for finding better optimal solutions.