USGS Optimization Training

Basic Concepts

Identify and meet decistion makers

• Identify the physically-based and political entities that make or significantly affect water-management decisions.
• Meet with progessively larger groups of these entities.
• Consider forming a technical advisory committee

Define the water-management problem

• Define general water-management issues.
• Define water-management items that can be controlled (decision variables).
• Write objectives and constraints in commonly used words.
• Define the water-management time frame (management horizon)

Formulate the problem mathematically

• Write objectives and constraints as mathematical equations.
• Formulate an optimization model to solve a specific problem.
  

Choose computer codes

• Determine method of calculating response of the groundwater-flow system.
• Select constrained optimization software.
• Review formulation with water-management decision makers.
  

Solve the optimization problem

• Solve the constrained optimization model using selected software and,
  if necessary, a groundwater-flow model.
• Review optimization results with decision makers.
• Reformulate the optimization problem, if necessary.
  

Develop water-management monitoring system

• Define and plan to collect additional hydrologic data needed to confirm
  critical water-management assumptions and conclusions.
• Monitor key decision variables and constraints to determine ongoing
  success of the water-management plan.

Implement water-management plan