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Core-periphery structure for district metered areas partitioning of urban water distribution systems

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Manuel HerreraORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

As urban areas expand and water demand intensifies, the need for efficient and reliable water distribution systems becomes increasingly critical. A widely used infrastructure management approach involves partitioning water distribution networks (WDNs) into district metered areas (DMAs). However, if not well designed, DMA partitioning can lead to inefficiencies and increased costs. This paper presents a core-periphery-informed approach to DMA design, explicitly utilising the natural division between a densely connected core and a sparsely connected periphery. Incorporating this structural framework enhances network resilience, improves water pressure stability, and optimises boundary device placement. The proposed core-periphery-informed DMA design follows a multi-step process that integrates hydraulic and topological analysis to identify central and peripheral network areas. A community structure detection algorithm is applied, conditioned by these areas, followed by an optimisation model to determine the optimal placement of boundary devices. This enhances network resilience and reduces costs. Applied to the WDN of Modena, in Italy, the proposed approach demonstrates superior performance in maintaining stable pressures and achieving cost savings compared to traditional methods. Overall, the findings highlight the practical benefits of core-periphery-based DMA design, offering a scalable and data-driven solution for urban water distribution systems.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Solis Jacome R, Anchieta T, Brentan BM, Herrera M, Delgado Galvan X, Arciniega Nevarez JA, Mora Rodriguez J

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Water Science and Engineering

Year: 2025

Volume: 18

Issue: 3

Pages: 262-273

Print publication date: 01/09/2025

Online publication date: 15/04/2025

Acceptance date: 02/04/2025

Date deposited: 21/03/2025

ISSN (print): 1674-2370

ISSN (electronic): 2405-8106

Publisher: Elsevier

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wse.2025.04.006

DOI: 10.1016/j.wse.2025.04.006

ePrints DOI: 10.57711/cmzm-mg59


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