Optimization – Simulation Model for Detention Basin System Design

A model for the design of detention basin systems is presented that interfaces a simulated annealing (SA) optimization procedure with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Hydrologic Engineering Center - Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS). The optimization model is based upon the simulated annealing method to optimize the size and location of detention basin system including the outlet structures subject to design constraints. The program is implemented in Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) interfacing the simulated annealing model with the HEC-HMS model using an MS Excel environment. The respective result files are created by using a VBA executed Python script to extract the appropriate data from the HEC-HMS project DSS file after each simulation performed for the SA procedure. Example applications include a single detention basin system and multiple detention basin systems considering two scenarios. Though the implementation requires considerable computational effort with respect to the number of hydrologic simulations, simulated annealing proves to be an effective tool in the optimal design of detention basin systems as compared to traditional standards of practice.