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Water Distribution Modeling and Management


Darwin Calibrator Module

Automated model calibration for water distribution systems

Streamline the time-consuming model calibration process by evolving and testing millions of solutions and identifying those that best simulate your network.

Leverage multiple field data sets and a sophisticated Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization engine to quickly adjust roughness, demands and element status and develop an unparalleled level of confidence in your model as a decision-making tool.

Darwin Calibrator is one of the available efficiency and optimization modules for WaterCAD and it is included with WaterGEMS.


Features and Benefits of Purchasing Darwin Calibrator
Interface and organization

The all-in-one integrated Darwin Calibrator module lets you choose automatic calibration using a genetic algorithm or manual calibration to manually tweak or adjust model parameters for sensitivity analysis of the calibration solutions.

You can also maintain a traceable record of calibration runs performed on the model so that other users can quickly identify the steps that were taken and continue work in the shortest amount of time.

Field Data
Darwin Calibrator Field Data Sets manager allows easy management of any number of field data sets. Simply select the model scenario upon which to base your calibration and you're ready to work.

The field data from SCADA or other data source can easily be imported in Darwin Calibrator.

Calibration hydraulics are simulated by determining the correct demands for the time of day and all field data sets can be considered in the same calibration run ensuring that your calibration is accurate under the widest variety of loading conditions.

Calibration

Flexibly determine optimal values for any combination of the model parameters such as pipe roughness, junction demands and link (pipes and valves) operational status, that best match the real-life situation in your hydraulic system.

Pipe roughness and demand adjustment groups: These are defined to easily aggregate model parameters and reduce the problem dimension for expeditious calculation.

Multiple demand loading conditions: Simultaneously calibrate the model for multiple demand loading conditions that accurately capture the demand variation over time and allow emergent demand conditions such as fire flow testing be taken into account to ensure the calibration accuracy.

Multiple boundary conditions: Enable consistent multiple boundary conditions such as pump speed, tank levels and valve settings that correspond to the actual times of field data collection, for remarkable solution quality.

Parameters control: Get full control of the goodness-of-fit evaluation type, flow weighting functions, flow vs. pressure weightings to ensure the calibration treats your field measurements with the correct level of importance.

Output

Create and view professional-looking HGL and Flow Correlation reports in addition to being able to produce detailed calibration reports.

Quickly and intuitively compare different calibration solutions and exemplify the accuracy of your calibrations against all observed field data sets, or drill right down to the individual measurements and compare hydraulic grades and flows directly.

Export calibration results back to the base model as either a new scenario, or new model alternatives.


White Papers

Introduction to Calibration for Water Distribution Systems Modeling Thomas M. Walski, senior advisory product manager for Bentley. AWWA Information Management & Technology. March 4-7, 2007

Genetic Algorithm Plays a Role in Municipal Water Systems Zheng Wu, Ph.D, advisory software engineer for Bentley. As featured in the SIGEVOlution newsletter, the ACM special interest Group on Genetic and Evolutionary Computation.

Water Loss Detection via Genetic Algorithm Optimization-Based Model Calibration ASCE 8th Annual International Symposium on Water Distribution System Analysis, Cincinnati (OH), August 2006

Integrated Hydraulic Model and Genetic Algorithm Optimization for Informed Analysis of a Real Water System ASCE 8th Annual International Symposium on Water Distribution System Analysis, Cincinnati (OH), August 2006

Determining the Accuracy of Automated Calibration of Pipe Network Models ASCE 8th Annual International Symposium on Water Distribution System Analysis, Cincinnati (OH), August 2006

Water Quality Model Calibration by Means of Fast Messy Genetic Algorithm World Water & Environmental Congress, Anchorage (AK), May 2005


What you need to know to Install Darwin Calibrator

Prerequisite: A WaterCAD or WaterGEMS license is required to run Darwin Calibrator.

Processor: Pentium III at 1 GHz (Recommended: Pentium 4 at 1.2 Ghz)

Operating System: Windows 2000 and Windows XP

Memory: 128 MB (256 MB recommended)

Hard Disk: 250 MB of free storage space, with additional room for data files

Display: 800 x 600 resolution, 256 colors