Abstract:

Two intelligent algorithms,tabu search (TS) and genetic algorithm (GA)are coupled respectively with the groundwater flow simulator MODFLOW and the contaminant transport simulator MT3DMS to solve optimal groundwater management models. Based on the summarization of the basic principles of two intelligent algorithms and the components of groundwater management model,the comparisons between TS and GA are performed in the quality of optimal solutions and calculation efficiency in the two ideal test problems. Two case studies reveal that TS can produce designs with 160 m³/d less pumping rate in the first case and 470 000￥ less remedial design cost in the second case than those of GA approach with ten times and twentyseven times higher computation efficiency. The results indicate that TS has a good prospect of application and extension in solving groundwater management models.

Key words: tabu search, genetic algorithm, groundwater management model, global optimization