Quantification of robustness in water resource systems

Abstract

System robustness is defined as a system's capability of adjusting its operation to accommodate changes in design conditions. To measure a system's performance under changes in the design conditions, an operation model is proposed. A robustness index in terms of the dual variables associated with the resource constraints of the operation model is suggested. For illustrating the proposed methodology, a simple example of a hypothetical agricultural expansion is used. Via a planning model, planning alternatives for this example are generated. Performance of the alternative plans measured in terms of achieved net benefits, and their robustness under various conditions of resource inputs, are determined. The conflict between system performance and robustness is investigated.