Author(s): Antonietta Simone; Luigi Berardi; Daniele B. Laucelli; Orazio Giustolisi

Linked Author(s): Orazio Giustolisi

Keywords: Digital water service; Topological domain analysis; Water distribution networks

Abstract: Water distribution networks management is a complex technical-scientific problem with a large socioeconomic impact. In recent years this problem has been addressed in a more efficient way using new approaches based on complex network theory, which allows to conceptualize water networks as graphs, composed of nodes and links, studying their behavior from a topological point of view, before using physically based hydraulic modelling. This work proposes using relevance-tailored edge betweenness to perform a topological domain analysis for real water distribution networks, identifying the shortest paths along which the main water volumes move within the pipes. This aims at investigating the emerging hydraulic behavior of networks even before the hydraulic analysis, allowing to recognize the most important pipes for the network, for consequent management-related activities, as hydraulic model calibration, districtualization, pipes rehabilitation, etc. The analysis provides a ranking of network pipes by considering their position, degree of connection with the other elements, intrinsic relevance of nodes and process of transfer along the shortest paths of the system, corresponding to the movement of water volumes for the case study. This work shows the strategy on an urban network characterized by multiple sources, comparing the analysis for subnetworks to the entire system one.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/HIC2024_P387

Year: 2024