Formulation and Optimization of Robust Sensor Placement Problems for Drinking Water Contamination Warning Systems

Journal Article · Fri Nov 13 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Infrastructure Systems

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1076-0342(2009)15:4(330)· OSTI ID:1426941

Watson, Jean-Paul ^[1]; Murray, Regan ^[2]; Hart, William E. ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States). Dept. of Discrete Math and Complex Systems
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH (United States)

We report that the sensor placement problem in contamination warning system design for municipal water distribution networks involves maximizing the protection level afforded by limited numbers of sensors, typically quantified as the expected impact of a contamination event; the issue of how to mitigate against high-consequence events is either handled implicitly or ignored entirely. Consequently, expected-case sensor placements run the risk of failing to protect against high-consequence 9/11-style attacks. In contrast, robust sensor placements address this concern by focusing strictly on high-consequence events and placing sensors to minimize the impact of these events. We introduce several robust variations of the sensor placement problem, distinguished by how they quantify the potential damage due to high-consequence events. We explore the nature of robust versus expected-case sensor placements on three real-world large-scale distribution networks. We find that robust sensor placements can yield large reductions in the number and magnitude of high-consequence events, with only modest increases in expected impact. Finally, the ability to trade-off between robust and expected-case impacts is a key unexplored dimension in contamination warning system design.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1426941
• Report Number(s): SAND--2007-4595J; 522395
• Journal Information: Journal of Infrastructure Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Infrastructure Systems Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 15; ISSN 1076-0342
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Drinking water
Hydraulic design
Municipal water
Probe instruments
Risk management
Water pollution
Water supply systems