No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Geographic Information System-based Pipeline Route Selection Process
Abstract
The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy recently began construction of the Point of the Mountain Aqueduct. This 1,524 mm (60 in.) diameter pipeline will convey finished water approximately 9 km (12 mi) through mostly developed areas of two communities. Construction of a large-diameter transmission pipeline through heavily developed cities creates many engineering, construction, and public relations challenges. A geographic information system (GIS)-based route selection process was used to provide a rational basis for narrowing hundreds of potential alternatives into one final alignment corridor. The route selection process was based on construction costs as well as important noncost issues. The use of GIS data and GIS analysis software was critical to the success of this project. The GIS software allowed large amounts of pipeline cost-related data to be collected, stored, and documented for each alignment alternative. It was also used to analyze the network of possible alternatives to quickly determine the optimum route between two points based upon construction costs. This allowed for a logical selection and ranking of alternatives, resulting in one final alignment corridor that was acceptable to all of the stakeholders in the project. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
... Pipelines are the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly means of fluid transport [6], [7]. Transmission or trunk pipelines are examples of engineering marvel requiring high project cost and long development periods and operating life. ...
... Therefore, this study pursuits to address a progressive choice using GIS in the direction of substituting the manual strategy in pipeline routing to improve the least-cost pipeline path. Being one of the scientific-analytical technology, Geographic Information System (GIS) could integrate, store and analyze the spatial correlation between diverse layers of spatial data to define areas of suitability interest and enact a critical approach to develop a pipeline route with the least-cost path GIS techniques [6], [18]. The term cost involves two things; time and expenditure. ...
... An optimal oil pipeline route was generated using GIS analysis and spatial modeling incorporating multicriteria decision with environmental, engineering, technical, and social factors being the key criteria [25].In comparing the existing pipeline routes to the proposed pipeline routes for Keystone XL, Nebraska state USA the least-cost paths accurately detail routes that are amazingly similar and effective in providing a path from the documented source and destination points within Nebraska [26]. In addition to these researches conducted by [3], [6], [27], [28], a variety of other studies have been performed to choose the most suitable route between many routes or corridors which replaces the traditional approach of route selection. Different implementations have been carried out in these studies using GIS techniques. ...
Optimal pipeline planning is an emerging problem of the environment and economic development in uneven terrain areas that requires the most sophisticated scientific methods of path analysis. During the planning of the most suitable routes for the pipeline, the topography, proximity to the road, settlement, water resources, protected sites and other critical landmarks have always acted as an important role as a constraint. With the Application of Analytical Hierarchical Process, the suitability analysis to derive the relative preferences of the different factors affecting the route is achieved.
... By using GIS and a lower-cost routing model, we get the most efficient way to evaluate pipeline routes (Aissi et al., 2012). The accuracy of the route for large-scale projects has seen improvements because of the latest GIS methods which allow us to collect, store and analyze large volumes of cost analysis data (Luettinger and Clark, 2005). ...
... One advantage of this algorithm is that it can generate cost-accumulated surfaces with various patterns that give a unique way of solving the problem in many types of models (Luettinger and Clark, 2005;Iqbal et al., 2006). A technique, which is widely used to calculate the least expensive route through a surface, is the Dijkstra algorithm and it is one of the simplest methods. ...
Optimum route planning in the marine environment and on the seafloor is a daunting problem that requires analytical techniques and many criteria to be met. Through researches we can identify and compare the different inevitable route planning conditions and through that offer a model of an integrated route planning system using the least cost approach. This study aims to uncover the appropriate and least costly route from the wells in the Erin block of the Tano basin, Ghana to the Atuabo Gas Plant and the Sanzule Gas Plant. Slope and existing pipelines (infrastructure) were considered to be obstacles that needed to be avoided. The study area has a rather gentle slope with some few areas having an undulating surface. Although a straight line from the wells to their various destinations is shorter, the cost involved in constructing a pipeline that can carry the crude oil or gas from the wells to their respective destinations would be more expensive than the least cost path done in this study, because such a straight path may present structures and a geology that may cause damages to possible pipelines. The least cost path was compared to the traditional method of using maps of the area to find the shortest path for a pipeline without having to use GIS to find the least cost path of the area as well as straight line from the various wells to the various destinations. This study integrated the main factors in routing a large-scale pipeline project into a relevant cost surface using similar studies from literature as context and as a guide, which was then able to conduct a least-cost path analysis and produce a connected route. It presents the least cost path from four wells (two oil and two gas wells) to the gas plants. The study concentrated on two different overlays which helped in finding the least cost route for the 4 wells. The least cost path from well 4 passes directly beside the current pipeline demonstrating how accurate the least cost route is.
... Afshar et al. [6] developed a DP model to optimally integrate hydropower plant into a water supply main. In order to provide a rational basis for narrowing existing potential alternatives into a final alignment corridor, a Geographical Information System (GIS) based route selection process was introduced by Luettinger and Clark [7]. ...
... The weight l ω of solution l s is calculated by a Gaussian function as [21]: π ω (7) q ( ) 0 > is a tuning parameter, the value of which is highly affect the convergence rate of algorithm. Smaller the values, more fast the convergence speed and vice versa. ...
Ant colony optimization algorithms (ACOs) have been basically introduced to discrete variable problems and applied to different research domains in several engineering fields. Meanwhile, abundant studies have been already involved to adapt different ant models to continuous search spaces. Assessments indicate competitive performance of ACOs on discrete or continuous domains. Therefore, as potent optimization algorithms, it is encouraging to involve ant models to mixed-variable domains which simultaneously tackle discrete and continuous variables. This paper introduces four ant-based methods to solve mixed-variable problems. Each method is based upon superlative ant algorithms in discrete and/or continuous domains. Proposed methods' performances are then tested on a set of three mathematical functions and also a water main design problem in engineering field, which are elaborately subject to linear and non-linear constraints. All proposed methods perform rather satisfactorily on considered problems and it is suggested to further extend the application of methods to other engineering studies.
... In recent years, research aimed at solving problems of this nature has leaned towards the use of geographic information systems (GIS), considering not only water pipelines as application objects but also other long engineering works, such as highways, gas pipelines, and hydraulic canals. The works published by Jankowski & Richard (1994), Luettinger and Clark (2005), Nonis et al. (2007), Hardin et al. (2008), Salah & Atwood (2011), Balogun et al. (2012), Marcoulaki et al. (2012), Huseynli (2015), Roy et al. (2017) and Simon et al. (2021), exemplify well this form of approach that typifies the state of the art. Jankowski & Richard (1994) present an approach to integrating a GIS-based land suitability analysis and multicriteria evaluation in a spatial decision support system for water pipeline route selection. ...
... Jankowski & Richard (1994) present an approach to integrating a GIS-based land suitability analysis and multicriteria evaluation in a spatial decision support system for water pipeline route selection. Luettinger & Clark (2005) used GIS as a rational basis for narrowing hundreds of potential alternative routes of a water supply pipeline, obtaining a final alignment corridor, from which the ideal route was obtained, according to construction costs and other issues not involving costs. When addressing the route of a gas pipeline in India, Nonis et al. (2007) point out the lack of a structured methodology to derive the relative preferences of the different factors that affect the route as the main drawback of using GIS. ...
This paper presents an algorithm capable of calculating the optimal route for pipelines that traverse terrain with or without additional displacement constraints to the difference in ground elevations and head losses to be overcome by pumping. The criterion used to determine the pipeline diameter and calculate feasible routes was minimizing the annual cost, which results from the sum of (i) annualized costs related to the acquisition of the pipeline and (ii) costs of payment for electric power to operate the system throughout its useful life. The geometry of the shortest routes in the multidimensional search space is calculated by the proposed algorithm, called BAGDA (Busca pelo Ajuste Geométrico da Despesa Anual, in Portuguese, or Search for the Annual Cost of Geometric Tuning, in English), thus obtaining the optimal combination of length and manometric head of the pipeline. The performed applications show the efficiency of the algorithm in providing subjectivity-free routes sensitive to the most important variables considered in the design of piping systems.
Keywords:
Pipelines; Route optimization; Search algorithms
... Há exemplos em que o traçado é definido de forma heurística, em que se testam diversos arranjos até que se encontre aquele que apresenta o menor custo (ROY et al., 2017;LUETTINGER;CLARK, 2005), outros que utilizam ferramentas de otimização de rede (SALAH; ATWOOD, 2011;YLDIRIM;YOMRALIOGLU, 2011;NONIS;VARGHESE;SURESH, 2007), em que se utilizam critérios como custos e características físicas para maximizar ou minimizar uma função-objetivo. O uso de ferramentas SIG não se limita a aplicações para traçado de adutoras para transporte de água. ...
... Há exemplos em que o traçado é definido de forma heurística, em que se testam diversos arranjos até que se encontre aquele que apresenta o menor custo (ROY et al., 2017;LUETTINGER;CLARK, 2005), outros que utilizam ferramentas de otimização de rede (SALAH; ATWOOD, 2011;YLDIRIM;YOMRALIOGLU, 2011;NONIS;VARGHESE;SURESH, 2007), em que se utilizam critérios como custos e características físicas para maximizar ou minimizar uma função-objetivo. O uso de ferramentas SIG não se limita a aplicações para traçado de adutoras para transporte de água. ...
RESUMO Neste trabalho discute-se um modelo de otimização multicritério baseado em Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIGs), que tem por finalidade a determinação dos locais com maior potencial para locação do traçado de adutoras por meio da utilização de variáveis de custo, bem como do melhor caminho para esse traçado. Em decorrência disso, foi possível simular rotas de custo mínimo para o traçado da adutora, considerando critérios relacionados com: as declividades e as altitudes da área, as distâncias de rios e áreas alagadas e a proximidade de rodovias. A análise leva em consideração a importância (peso) de cada critério no modelo. Para minimizar a subjetividade na escolha dos valores desses pesos, buscou-se a opinião de especialistas com relação aos critérios analisados. O método Análise Hierárquica de Pesos (AHP) foi utilizado para a ponderação dos critérios. Para aplicação da metodologia, utilizou-se como área de estudo um trecho da Adutora do Pajeú no Estado de Pernambuco e uma base de dados de alta definição do Programa Pernambuco Tridimensional (Programa PE3D), além da base de dados Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)/TOPODATA. Os resultados obtidos por meio de SIG permitiram identificar as áreas consideradas de maior aptidão para a locação do traçado da adutora e determinar uma rota otimizada para esse traçado. Na prática, significou na determinação de uma rota para implantação da tubulação da adutora, o que sugere que a utilização de SIG e técnicas de otimização pode auxiliar a tomada de decisão no que se refere aos projetos de sistemas adutores de abastecimento de água.
... According to Gitau and Mundia (2017), Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques are useful Spatial Decision Support (SDS) tools for making effective and timely decisions, particularly when multiple criteria are being considered. GIS and RS support the collection of large amount of cost-analysis data, storage and analyses, as well as improve the route accuracy for large-scale projects (Bagli, Geneletti, & Orsi, 2011;Lee, Freyberg, & Criddle, 2016;Luettinger and Clark, 2005). Allen (2008) reported that 70% of financial and work-order information in pipeline routing has a geospatial context. ...
... GIS' least-cost path analysis (LCPA) has been used to successfully identify suitable land corridors for linear infrastructures, computing the optimal path from the origin to destination over a cost or friction surface i.e. raster maps. LCPA is a grid-based GIS algorithm that appraises multiple criteria relating to pipeline routing by computing the relative significance (weights) of each of criterion using suitable multiple criteria evaluation (MCE) techniques and subsequently identifying suitable routes between two geographic points within the corridors of interest (Aguda & Uyeh, 2016;Atkinson, Deadman, Dudycha, & Traynor, 2005;Bagli, et al., 2011;Berry, King, & Lopez, 2004;Luettinger and Clark, 2005). ...
Selection of pipeline routes is a geospatial multi-criteria evaluation problem since it involves the assessment of technical, environmental and safety-related factors that influence pipeline system operations. This study determines the optimal pipeline route for transmission of oil and gas products using the Dangote Refinery Project in Nigeria as a case study. Pertinent route selection factors were identified and structured into the expert feedback model of the Analytical Network Process (ANP) for accurate prioritization. LANDSAT 8 imageries of the study area were processed and classified into various land use and land cover types, which were further modelled in ArcMap 10.2 GIS software for routing analysis. Findings reveal that the most highly prioritized factors for proper route selection were the environmental and geological factors, while the least prioritized was the economic factor. In the end, alternative Route 2 was identified as the optimal route among the four evaluated alternative routes because of its minimum route length, minimum passage length through sensitive settlement areas, and less number of river, stream and existing platforms' crossings.
... Two types of approaches, a traditional manual approach based on expert experience [6,15] and a Geographic Information System (GIS) based path selection approach, are commonly used in the path planning procedures of cables in practice. In fact, the second approach is currently only known to be used for path planning of pipelines [16], but it is potentially applicable also to optical fiber cables. ...
... 15: Let u(γ k+1 ) be the design level of the grid point nearest to γ k+1 . 16: end while 17: return γ and u(γ). ...
The paper provides a method for optimal shielding design and path planning of a long-haul optical fiber cable between two locations on the Earth’s surface. The method allows minimization of the cable laying cost including material and labor and the risks of future cable break associated with laying the cable through various areas, including earthquake-prone or other risky areas. Both cost per unit length and risk of cable damage may be different at different locations. Expensive shielding may be important in certain high risk areas and unnecessary in lower risk areas. We use ground motion intensity to estimate future cable repair rate (our measure of earthquake related cable damage risk), and a triangulated manifold to represent the surface of the Earth. With laying cost and expected total number of repairs of the cable as the two objectives, we formulate the problem as a multiobjective variational optimization problem. This formulation incorporating multiple design levels for cable shielding is converted into a single objective variational optimization problem by assigning different weights to each objective. The solution path of the latter problem is obtained by using the Fast Marching Method (FMM) with an additional minimization step. A new proof of the optimality of FMM for the problem is provided. Numerical results demonstrate that the FMM-based method outperforms existing raster-based algorithms. With billions of US dollars spent yearly on new cables, the potential savings is substantial. Furthermore, the computational complexity of FMM-based method is O(N log(N)), making it applicable to cables of realistic length.
... To utilize these weightages in the GIS solution and to implement this system in case studies in the Indian scenario. Luettinger et al. (2005) brings out the importance of the stakeholders perspective in the routing process [2]. They mention that the construction of a large-diameter transmission pipeline through heavily developed cities will create many challenges. ...
... To utilize these weightages in the GIS solution and to implement this system in case studies in the Indian scenario. Luettinger et al. (2005) brings out the importance of the stakeholders perspective in the routing process [2]. They mention that the construction of a large-diameter transmission pipeline through heavily developed cities will create many challenges. ...
... These data are stored in a database, allowing the GIS user to sort and analyze this information in an infinite number of ways. As a result, GIS technology is ideally suited for a pipeline route selection study because of the extremely large amount of data that must be managed for a project of this size (Luettinger and Clark, 2005). ...
... Digital mapping includes various kinds of spatial and non-spatial data such as recent aerial photography, state and local parks, wildlife management areas, forests, public lands, associated landowner information, foreign pipelines and other utilities that cross the proposed route, road, railroad and water crossings, boundaries of states/provinces, counties, and cities, threatened and endangered species, and also wetlands and other environmentally sensitive properties (Luettinger and Clark, 2005). ...
In accordance with demands and needs, the natural gas transmission pipeline (NGTP) is one of the most appropriate transportation methods used in the distribution of existing reserves. Decreasing the cost and time of construction and minimizing environmental damage for such projects all depend on the determination of the optimum route at the beginning. Route determination is a complex process in which many variables are simultaneously analyzed, and thus, is one of the most important steps in NGTP projects. However, in developing countries such as Turkey, route determination is usually carried out manually with the help of traditional methods. This technique is not effective in many situations because it does not take into consideration the factors that affect the route as a whole. Technical, economic, environmental and sociological issues should all be considered and examined in the route determination process. This study was aimed at carrying out route determinations and dynamically creating an optimal NGTP route by developing a raster-based decision-support model based on geographical information system (GIS) technologies. In this context, the main factors affecting the NGTP route, along with the required geographical data coverage, were determined and classified based on the standards. Weights of factors and sub-factors were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and a raster-based route determination model was developed. A GIS-based interface was then developed in accordance with the requirements of this model. Using this interface, the factor selection was done dynamically, based on current integral data in the interface, and alternative routes for different purposes were then determined by optionally changing predetermined factor weights. The model was applied for the optimization of the current Bayburt (Demirozu)-Trabzon NGTP, having a length of 104 km, and in this process, the model was tested for such criteria as performance, speed and accuracy. The effectiveness of this method was proven by comparing the existing route with the optimal route determined by using this model.
... GIS is consequently a tool used by modern infrastructure planners to enable a quick evaluation and selection of the most advantageous route between any two desired source and destination points (Saha et al., 2005). GIS has been used to locate the optimum alignment of pipelines (Feldman et al., 1995;Luettinger and Clark, 2005), forest road networks (Musa and Mohamed, 2002), and even a link road through the Himalayas based on minimising maintenance costs by effectively avoiding landslide risk areas (Saha et al., 2005). Various route planning algorithms such as that presented by Yu et al. (2003) and Rees (2004), which are often based on graph theory developed by Dijkstra (1959), can be applied to layered information surfaces created in a GIS environment. ...
... indicating an optimal route based on predefined design criteria (Luettinger and Clark, 2005). ...
... Afshar et al. [6] developed a DP model to optimally integrate hydropower plant into a water supply main. In order to provide a rational basis for narrowing existing potential alternatives into a final alignment corridor, a Geographical Information System (GIS) based route selection process was introduced by Luettinger and Clark [7]. ...
... The weight l ω of solution l s is calculated by a Gaussian function as [21]: π ω (7) q ( ) 0 > is a tuning parameter, the value of which is highly affect the convergence rate of algorithm. Smaller the values, more fast the convergence speed and vice versa. ...
Ant colony optimization algorithms (ACOs) have been basically introduced to discrete variable problems and applied to different research domains in several engineering fields. Meanwhile, abundant studies have been already involved to adapt different ant models to continuous search spaces. Assessments indicate competitive performance of ACOs on discrete or continuous domains. Therefore, as potent optimization algorithms, it is encouraging to involve ant models to mixed-variable domains which simultaneously tackle discrete and continuous variables. This paper introduces four ant-based methods to solve mixed-variable problems. Each method is based upon superlative ant algorithms in discrete and/or continuous domains. Proposed methods' performances are then tested on a set of three mathematical functions and also a water main design problem in engineering field, which are elaborately subject to linear and non-linear constraints. All proposed methods perform rather satisfactorily on considered problems and it is suggested to further extend the application of methods to other engineering studies.
... The aim here was to then be able to choose the optimum path for the connection sequence of the sewer system and detect the proposed locations for pump stations. However, in spite of this capacity, GIS still cannot replace the professional designers' judgment, which informs the designers about avoiding barriers and choosing the best routes (Luettinger and Clark 2005). That said, the geometric network that GIS provides is a dynamic facility which help builds a sewer system network and define the topology or the relationship between its elements. ...
The development of new technologies has made it possible to build models for sewerage systems which include the history and background for each element. Most developed and developing countries have built digital databases for infrastructure services. However, the referencing and numbering systems for various elements in the database are still applied in different ways. The result is that each area has its own system for identifying the sewer system’s elements depending on the originator such as designers, water utilities or city authorities. The resulting databases are very confusing and comparison with other databases is difficult. This paper proposes a standardized system methodology for national and international sewer identification by using the area code for the country, city, sub area, type of sewer (sanitary, storm or combined), and numbering of the elements (X, Y) in the network, using numbering of manholes as a reference. Innovative software matched with GIS was used to number sewer systems.
... The use of decision support systems to identify a finite number of routing options is a convenient choice in grid-like environments where the number of possible paths is relatively straightforward to identify. An example is the computation of lowest cost paths in urban routing problems of water pipelines (Simpson et al., 1994;Luettinger and Clark, 2005), where blocks and the existing infrastructure become hard restrictions to the routing. Differently from such configurations, cross-country pipelines offer enormous amounts of possibilities, and thus are best tackled with combinatorial optimization schemes. ...
One of the important aspects pertaining the mining industry is the use of territory. This is especially important when part of the operations are meant to cross regions outside the boundaries of mines or processing plants. In Chile and other countries there are many long distance pipelines (carrying water, ore concentrate or tailings), connecting locations dozens of kilometers apart. In this paper, the focus is placed on a methodological comparison between two different implementations of the lowest cost route for this kind of system. One is Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), a metaheuristic approach belonging to the particle swarm family of algorithms, and the other one is the widely used Dijkstra method. Although both methods converge to solutions in reasonable time, ACO can yield slightly suboptimal paths; however, it offers the potential to find good solutions to some problems that might be prohibitive using the Dijkstra approach in cases where the cost function must be dyamically calculated. The two optimization approaches are compared in terms of their computational cost and accuracy in a routing problem including costs for the length and local slopes of the route. In particular, penalizing routes with either steep slopes in the direction of the trajectory or high cross-slopes yields to optimal routes that depart from traditional shortest path solutions. The accuracy of using ACO in this kind of setting, compared to Dijkstra, are discussed.
... Such networks are mainly those operating for oil and gas distribution and are in scales of 100 km or more (Dey and Gupta 2001;Dey 2002;Yildirim et al. 2012;Macharia 2014). However, in recent times, with high resolution satellite imagery and thematic data, medium scale water distribution networks are also being efficiently planned using geospatial platforms (Luettinger and Clark 2005;Nonis et al. 2007;Lee et al. 2016). ...
The article outlines a procedure of pre-feasibility analysis of planned rural water supply pipeline grids in India. Usually, these type of pre feasibility studies prior to actual implementation, is carried out based on ground surveys and is time consuming. In this work, we use thematic spatial data, such as geomorphology and landuse–landcover along with digital elevation model (DEM) to carry out the pre-feasibility assessment of proposed pipeline grids. DEM generated from CartoSat-1 stereo data has been used to understand the possible topographic hindrances along the planned pipeline route and optimise the same. Further, topographic data also indicates the possible routes of gravity assisted flow. The geomorphology thematic data interpreted from Resourcesat-1 LISS III imagery is used to identify possible geomorphologic hindrances along the pipeline route. Similarly, landuse–landcover information derived from Resourcesat-2 LISS III images, was used to assess the land use/cover impact of the planed pipeline corridor. This has been demonstrated, in the current article using a hypothetical pipeline route. The activity can be carried in a specially designed geo-spatial interface in NRSC/ISRO Bhuvan geoportal. This type of assessment can prove to be time saving and cost effective at a pre-feasibility stage.
... GIS-based LCP is a grid-based GIS technique that identifies the optimal route between two locations by applying sequential GIS filters weighted to account for economic, environmental, or legal constraints. (Bagli et al., 2011;Berry et al., 2004;Luettinger and Clark, 2005). This algorithm works well when there is a single delivery point or when the delivery points are dispersed (Berry et al., 2004), but such algorithms do not identify shared distribution pipelines that deliver water to multiple users, a situation typical of urban environments. ...
Pipeline design of urban recycled water networks involves thousands of decisions to ensure delivery of water to multiple use locations with pipelines and pump stations correctly located, optimally sized, and compatible with existing infrastructure. Here, we introduce PRODOT, Pipeline ROuting and Design Optimization Tool, software that identifies near-minimum-cost pipeline routes; accounts for existing configurations, legal, environmental or safety concerns, and trade-offs in pipeline length, pipe installation methods, traffic congestion during construction; optimizes pump station locations, pumping energy, pipe diameters and pressure classes; and includes theoretical additional capacity of each pipe, facilitating future expansion. We illustrate the utility of PRODOT with a case study for a local utility comparing PRODOT-generated configurations to a configuration proposed by an experienced consulting firm. The comparison shows that PRODOT produces pipeline configurations similar to the consulting firm's proposal with improvements by effectively and more broadly incorporating options the consultant may not have considered.
... Least-cost path routing defines an optimized route between two points located on a geocost composite surface for transportation corridors such as deepwater petroleum pipelines, onshore petroleum pipelines, power lines, sewer lines, and roads (e.g. Haneberg et al., 2013;Balogun et al., 2013;Chandio et al., 2012;Bagli et al., 2011;Yildirim and Yomralioglu, 2011;Byron, 2010;Price, 2010;Choi et al., 2009;Yildirim et al., 2007;Moghaddam and Delavar, 2007;Nonis et al., 2007;Iqbal et al., 2006;Atkinson et al., 2005;Luettinger and Clark, 2005;Saha et al., 2005;Yu et al., 2003;Thomaidis, 2000;Feldman et al., 1995). Given a set of individual geocost maps as described above, a least-cost pipeline route is calculated by creating a composite geocost map and performing a least cost path route optimization using functions available in standard GIS software. ...
Pipeline routes have traditionally been selected in the early stages of prospect development, using low-resolution datasets, with minimal consideration for seafloor and shallow subsurface geological conditions, and rudimentary rules about seafloor gradients and pipeline curvature. We describe advantages of a modern GIS-based approach using least-cost path optimization over a composite geocost surface, which provides a structured framework for quantifiable decision-making, incorporates formal risk assessment as part of the route acceptance process, and forms the basis for a forthcoming industry guidance document. The workflow that we propose comprises: 1) geophysical data acquisition, geotechnical investigations, and geological studies during the initial stages of development to evaluate potential pipeline routes; 2) systematic evaluation of geological, geotechnical, ecological, and cultural factors that determine pipeline route suitability; 3) the classification and weighting of all identified geohazards and constraints to develop a geocost composite map; 4) determination of an optimal route using least-cost path optimization within a geographic information system; 5) risk assessment of the least-cost route; and, finally, 6) route acceptance. The classification and weighting of component hazard maps, as well as the risk assessment, are best performed collaboratively by a multi-disciplinary team that includes expertise in marine engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, pipeline engineering, marine ecology and archaeology, and health, safety, and environmental personnel. We will demonstrate a step-by-step application of the method, which has already been used for pipeline route determination on geologically challenging deepwater projects. If geohazards are not identified in early stages and used to guide route selection, changes to the original pipeline route or mitigation - either of which could affect schedules and budgets - may be necessary. This method is relatively new to subsea pipeline route determination, however, it offers important advantages over previous methods and can be applied starting in the earliest conceptual phases of field development, iterating if necessary, as new information becomes available.
... A composite cost surface is created by adding several individual geohazard cost surfaces that have been developed on the basis of geologic mapping and evaluation of the relative severity of their components (e.g., Haneberg et al. 2013). Least-cost path methods have been used to evaluate options for deep-water petroleum pipelines, onshore petroleum pipelines, power lines, sewer lines, and roads (Haneberg et al. 2013, Bagli et al. 2011, Price 2010, Choi et al. 2009, Yildrim et al. 2007, Iqbal et al. 2006, Atkinson et al. 2005, Luettinger & Clark 2005 ...
Deep-water pipeline route selection is guided by primary and secondary constraints ranging from the mechanical properties of the pipe to the presence of seafloor geohazards. Using the example of a 33 km long proposed pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico, we show how largely qualitative categorical geohazard maps can be combined with quantitative information about seafloor geometry to produce composite geocost maps and optimal pipeline route estimates in the early stages of projects. This stands in contrast to the alternative of evaluating potential geohazards only after a route has been selected and surveyed, at which point it may be difficult to select alternates. Seafloor conditions encountered between the two pipeline termini in this project included a variety of static and dynamic, geological and geometric hazards such as zones of tectonic uplift, landslides, and areas of rough seafloor that may give rise to pipeline problems such as spanning, burial, or loading. Of particular concern was a geologically young anticline with pronounced seafloor expression and evidence of chronic slope instability along its steeply-dipping western limb. Because the component maps used to create the composite geocost surface each contain their own inherent subjectivities, uncertainties, and limits of resolution, we used a resampling based Monte Carlo approach to generate a cloud of 100 equally probable optimized routes for each of two scenarios. Areas in which the equally probable routes were tightly clustered indicate low sensitivity to input variations and well-defined optimal route corridors. Areas characterized by significant dispersion of routes, however, indicate high sensitivity to input variations, the absence of a single well-defined corridor at the resolution of the available data, and a need for additional detailed information. These results were used to define corridors of interest in which more detailed surveys could be undertaken to further refine the route options.
... Therefore, this study aims to address an innovative alternative using GIS towards substituting the manual approach in pipeline routing. Being one of scientific analytical technology Geographic Information System (GIS) could integrate, store and analyze spatial relationship between different layers of spatial data to define areas of suitability, concern and critical change [5]. It is a decisionmaking tool in solving geographically and environmentally-referenced problems, from determining the best possible site of oil reservoir to finding the best pipeline routing plan [6]. ...
The objective of this study is to analyze the least cost subsea pipeline routing using GIS. A past pipeline routing project has been adopted in this research as a case study where the GIS-generated pipeline route will be compared with the existing pipeline route designed using contemporary method. Amongst the parameters affecting the pipeline routing includes, submarine geographical features such as seabed conditions and slopes, obstructions such as coral reefs, wildlife preservation areas, as well as availability of existing services such as pipelines and platforms. In order to obtain the best route with the least cost, GIS Spatial Analyst features using cost-weighted distance function was utilized. The result generated has shown similar alignment with the existing route. The GIS-generated route is 0.09km longer than the existing route. Although longer in length, the least cost route crosses less steep areas at length of three times more than the existing route. It crosses prawns' areas at 4% less than existing route as well. Therefore, the least cost path reduces the construction cost and increases the ease of construction as compared to the existing route. Hence, GIS-generated route satisfies the criteria of economical, least obstructions, safe and ease of construction in producing subsea pipeline route. Comparison between GIS method and contemporary pipeline routing method highlighted unique benefits of GIS that proved its feasibility in pipeline routing improvisation.
... Recently, GIS technology is being effectively used for route selection, feasibility studies, progress monitoring, asset management, and operation and maintenance management for linear projects (Luettinger and Thayne, 2005;Prest, et al. 2007;Zheng, 2008). Furthermore, hazard map preparation is a very common use of GIS in risk assessment in natural catastrophes such as earthquake risk assessment, hurricane impact risk assessment and environmental risk assessments such as oil spilling at the sea and fire risk assessment modelling at forestry (Sala and Vighi, 2008;Zhang et al. 2009). ...
This paper describes an on-going study that aims to develop a web-based spatial decision support system model for proactive health and safety management in linear construction projects. Currently, health and safety management is usually performed reactively instead of proactive management since hazard identification and risk assessment is mostly performed on paper based documents that are not effectively used at site. This leads to accidents and fatalities at construction sites. The proposed system automatically identifies the spatial risks according to the topographic and layout map of the site, project specification and health and safety regulations by means of spatial analysis. It enables the workers and management personnel to access the possible hazards and thematic risk map of any portion of the construction site for linear projects.
Finally, the described approach provides the proposed mitigation measures for the identified hazards. The developed system is expected to raise awareness in H&S among workers and engineers, and increase participation of workers to health and safety management.
... Unit costs are obtained from finished pipeline projects and their cost reports (Trabzon Natural Gas Pipeline, Ordu-Giresun Natural Gas Pipeline and Rize Natural Gas Pipeline). The interface developed the work flow of the model and the process steps of the database design are listed in Figure 2. In the studies conducted to determine the weights required for optimal pipeline routing (Gutierrez and Rubio 2004, Dey and Gupta 2001, Luettinger 2005, Moghaddam and Delavar 2007, Bailey 2003, Saha et all 2005, Dey 2003, Nataraj 2005, Gutierrez et all 2002, Atkinson et all 2005, the surface/underground conditions of the study area and the benefits expected from pipeline project and by making required examinations and analysis are taken into consideration. Weight can be changed over the model in case an alternative route need arises or when the model is to be implemented in any part of the country. ...
Raster-based GIS routing models prevent pipelines from becoming an economic burden on the companies and countries involved in their construction and operation by minimizing not just the economic costs, but also the environmental and social costs of any new project. Reducing pipeline construction costs, potential environmental damage, and construction time requires appropriate route planning. Planning should analyze all factors that will affect the route. Frequent changes of surface (land use, topography, streams, etc.) and underground (soil, geology, etc.) characteristics result in a dense data set. Geographical information systems based on raster data models can efficiently manage and analyze this data. This article presents the raster-based GIS model developed for pipeline routing and lists the model’s advantages in pipeline implementation. Routes defined with network analysis techniques over raster-based GIS models minimize economic, environmental, and time costs, depending on the quality of data used.
... GIS is an effective engineering tool for systematically organizing factors affecting route determination. When these factors are identified based on the length of the project, a GIS should be used to evaluate these factors simultaneously [1,11,12]. Additionally the GIS based visualization technologies and cartographic abilities are generally adequate to determine the effective routes [3]. Route problems, including route selection, route planning, finding the optimal route, corridor analysis and side selection, can be solved using network analysis based on GIS. ...
Pipelines are one of the most effective methods of transferring energy sources like petroleum and gas. In pipeline projects, decreasing the cost, reducing environmental issues and shortening the construction time are related to determining the right route at the beginning of the project. Route determination is usually carried out manually with the help of traditional methods. However, this technique is not effective in many situations because it does not evaluate the factors that affect the route as a whole. In fact, technique , economy, environmental and sociological issues should be examined as a whole in the route determination process. Evaluation of the factors affecting the route is possible with the analysis of many spatial datasets from the same system. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have been shown to be an effective way for analyzing these types of intensive datasets. In this study, a suggestion related to the NABUCCO Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline project has been made using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), which is a technique using GIS and multi-criteria decision making. The effectiveness of this method was proven by comparing part of the determined Optimal Route with a length of 557 km with the Proposed Route, which has currently been planned. 1 Introduction A pipeline is one of the most effective methods for transmitting energy sources like petroleum and gas [1–4]. Thus, it is the most preferred transmission method throughout the world. Pipelines are constructed over a long distance with a large budget. Decreasing the cost of pipeline projects, reducing the environmental impact and decreasing the construction time are related to determining the right route at the beginning of the project. Route determination is a complex process because many factors must be considered at the same time, and it is an important
... When these factors are identified based on the length of the project, a GIS should be used to evaluate these factors simultaneously. Additionally the GIS based visualization technologies and cartographic abilities are generally adequate to determine the effective routes [4,5,6,7,8]. ...
Natural gas has traditionally been used as a feedstock for the chemical industry, and as a fuel for process and space heating. Recent advances in exploration, drilling techniques and hydraulic fracturing have made it possible for natural gas to become available in abundance (as of 2012). As natural gas displaces traditional petroleum use in various sectors, a certain amount of disruption is likely. In such a changing landscape, this book tries to chronicle the state-of-the-art in various aspects of natural gas: exploration, drilling, gas processing, storage, distribution, end use and finally the impact on financial markets. Review articles as well as research papers contributed by leading authorities around the world comprise individual chapters of this book. Modeling approaches, as well as, recent advances in specific natural gas technologies are covered in detail.
... CBS teknolojisi, güzergâh seçiminde, güzergâha etki eden faktörleri sistematik yapıda düzenleyen etkili bir mühendislik aracıdır. Projenin uzunluğuna bağlı olarak irdelenmesi gereken faktörlerin çok çeşitlilik göstereceği dikkate alındığında, bu faktörleri eş zamanlı olarak değerlendirebilmek için CBS'nin konumsal analiz yeteneklerinin kullanılması bir zorunluluktur (Rosado et al. 2005; Luettinger ve Clark 2005; Jozi and Irankhahi 2010). ...
... The selection is performed between a set of feasible alternatives whereby the best route is chosen that will satisfy a set of pre-set project goals. These goals will include both cost and non-cost issues (Luettinger & Clark, 2005). In congested urban areas, community disruption has become a significant issue in urban infrastructure decision-making and hence this process will usually involve a high level of public involvement. ...
Information interoperability initiatives in the infrastructure domain have consistently lagged behind their counterparts in the building sector. Urban infrastructure development involves a tremendous amount of stakeholders that necessitate a seamless exchange of information and a mechanism to capture and reuse knowledge. One of the processes that have been found to involve a large amount of information exchange and rely on a considerable amount of cross-sector knowledge is the process of infrastructure route selection. As such, this paper presents a schema for representing spatial constraints that pertain to buried urban utility systems. These constraints drive the process of utility route selection that is a vital step in design. Constraints that are included in the interoperable model include tacit knowledge that experienced designers use in route selection. Although these constraints can be considered as 'best practices' rather than hard constraints, they are motivated by criteria that are often overlooked in traditional engineering design guidelines (sustainability, impact on businesses, maintainability, constructability, etc…). As a design tool to assist infrastructure routing in urban environments, the aforementioned model is implemented in a prototype web-based GIS decision support portal that can be used by designers of new utility systems.
... Disregarding the discrete nature of some design variables, [2] employed a non-linear mixed integer programming to optimize the design of a water supply pipeline system. [6] conducted the route selection process employing the Geographical Information System (GIS) to provide a rational basis for narrowing existing potential alternatives into a final alignment corridor. In a more recent work, [1] established a linear model for the optimal design of a long distance water transmission system to achieve a minimum annual cost. ...
Most real world engineering design problems, such as cross-country water mains, include combinations of continuous, discrete, and binary value decision variables. Very often, the binary decision variables associate with the presence and/or absence of some nominated alternatives or project's components. This study extends an existing continuous Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm to simultaneously handle mixed-variable problems. The approach provides simultaneous solution to a binary value problem with both discrete and continuous variables to locate and size design components of the proposed system. This paper shows how the existing continuous ACO algorithm may be revised to cope with mixed-variable search spaces with binary variables. Performance of the proposed version of the ACO is tested on a set of mathematical benchmark problems followed by a highly nonlinear forced water main optimization problem. Comparing with few other optimization algorithms, the proposed optimization method demonstrates satisfactory performance in locating good near optimal solutions.
... Several studies have been developed relying on GIS data for risk management [e.g. [4][5][6]. The application of spatial analysis methods provides a better understanding of the possible failure patterns and trends in water distribution networks. ...
The lifelines seismic risk assessment is based on a fuzzy classification
on parameters related to geometry (effective length distribution L) and
constructive details (material type C) along with urban (U) and economic
(E) parameters. Then a functional value G = f(L, C, U, E) is constructed
as an indicator of risk of the element/system under investigation. In
the present study a new functional Fg is introduced in a GIS
environment. The application of spatial analysis methods provides a
better understanding of the possible failure patterns and trends in
water distribution networks. The Fg parameter takes into account the
influence of geological and seismotectonic environment in a local scale,
constructed in a way to reflect the amplification factor A
( X ), where X local coordinate of the cell,
which experimentally could be estimated. The Fg=
f(A( X ), U( X ),
L( X )) is strongly affected by the local
geotectonic conditions as well the spatial distribution of population
and the geometrical lattice of pipe line system. The proposed index was
applied in the city of Chania, Crete island, as the functioning of the
infrastructure during and especially after a destructive earthquake, in
the front of the Hellenic Arc, is of vital importance for the society
and contributes to the rescue and emergency operations. We propose Fg
mainly for systems where site effects are important and present a
significant spatial inhomogeneity while at the same time the examined
urban system has no constructive variability it time and space.
... For instance, GIS was used in the pipeline route selection process for the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy to supply drinking water approximately 9 km through mostly developed areas of two communities. In this case, GIS allowed for a logical selection and ranking of alternatives, resulting in one final alignment corridor that was acceptable to all stakeholders in the project (Luettinger and Clark, 2005). Furthermore, GIS was also useful in analysing the suitability for construction aggregates recycling sites using regional transportation network and population density features. ...
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a useful tool for storing and manipulating geographical information to analyse patterns, relationships, and trends in order to gain new insights to make better and more informed decisions. Using the power of spatial organisation to suggest causes, explanations and relationships is signficantly more superior to other forms of data representation such as the table or graph. This paper examines the construction trends in the European Union (EU) by using GIS software as a computational and presentation tool. The performance trends of the construction market in EU countries relative to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), population and other economic sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing for a 20-year period between 1985 and 2004 were evaluated using GIS. Many EU countries seem to have a relationship with construction among the variables considered. This suggests that GDP, population, agriculture, and manufacturing are important factors that affect the role and development of the construction industry within an economy. GIS representation also demonstrated that it is capable of highlighting unique trends and features for further detailed analysis to be carried out.
Water supply lines constitute the most important network for the human being. With the increase in population, the demand for water is continuously increasing. To supply water from a source to different locations, an efficient routing of water supply pipelines is needed. In hill areas, deciding the route of water supply pipelines is a complex and highly individualistic problem because of the involvement of many locational and topographical factors. The present study focuses on identifying the factors affecting the route of water supply pipelines in a hill area. A comprehensive list of thirteen factors affecting pipeline route from the reported literature was prepared. The analytic hierarchy process was used for deciding their relative importance. The elevation was identified with the highest importance followed by the main factors slope, aspect, and land use land cover. The GIS-based methodology was developed for the consideration of factors affecting the water supply pipeline route and their relative importance in the selection of an optimal route using Dijkstra’s algorithm. The developed methodology was implemented by taking a case study, and an optimal route for the water supply pipeline between the two locations was decided. The identified pipeline route is environment-friendly due to the minimum disturbance to the surroundings.
Um dos desafios mais urgentes que a humanidade enfrenta diz respeito à gestão das águas. Em todo o mundo, regiões estão lidando com a crescente demanda por água potável, resultando em uma crise de escala global que está modificando a vida das pessoas, a agricultura, a indústria e o meio ambiente. Uma das estratégias adotadas para suprir a demanda hídrica é a construção de adutoras, sistemas que transportam água de fontes hídricas para as regiões consumidoras. A construção de uma adutora não é uma tarefa simples, é necessário considerar diversos fatores, como a topografia do terreno, a distância entre a fonte de água e o destino final, a minimização de impactos ambientais e a eficiência do sistema. É nesse contexto que o presente trabalho tem como objetivo realizar a revisão bibliográfica a respeito sobre métodos e procedimentos na busca por traçados de adutoras. Palavras-chave: Revisão sistemática; Otimização; Adutoras.
Originated with Bachelor's project in 2021 with three Bangaladesh young friends. Present third author suggested by second author. More refined and more precise version can be written.
Background: EEG provides researchers with an opportunity to study neural correlates in terms of temporal connectivity. This connectivity can shed light on the possible network topology between a healthy person versus a patient or help differentiate between two different groups (experts and non-experts). Purpose: With the help of machine learning models, the difference in network topology can be used to understand the neural correlations between healthy control and a patient with ease compared to traditional EEG analysis. Further, a comparative analysis between the different spectral connectivity measures provides the best suitable measure for the study. Methods: EEG data from a meditation study (n = 31) and Parkinson's study (n = 24) containing the resting-state EEG recordings are utilized here. The EEG data is converted to spectral connectivity: coherence, which becomes the input for the machine learning models, support vector machine, k-means clustering, deep convolution neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and graph neural networks. Results: Classification accuracies of SVM and RNN are 56.585 and 56%, whereas D-CNN provides an accuracy of 59.5%. Both (~ 7%) k-means and GNN failed in the off-the-shelf approach. Conclusion: The comparative study shows the application capabilities of neural networks machine learning with commonly used machine learning models and the impact the various connectivity measures have on model accuracy.
Finding an optimum route for laying natural gas pipelines is a geospatial problem involving decision-making based on the multiple-criterion evaluation technique and computer vision techniques. This study involves finding an optimum route for the gas pipeline from Mangalore to Kochi. Influential features were selected and added into the model of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). By using random forest (RF) classifier, Sentinel-2 imagery of the study area was classified. The classified image was used in ArcMap 10.7.1 with other geospatial features such as railways, rivers, and roads to produce a route. The results of this study revealed that the land cover and terrain of the region played a significant role in influencing the path of the pipeline as they have a considerable influence on the completion and operating cost of the project. Route 2 is selected to be optimum as it went through minimal crossings of roads and railways with a lesser elevation of the ground.
Natural gas pipelines are the most important networks which have to be dealt with care since methanegas have poisonous characteristics. Such pipelines are allowed to be laid with some seriousrestrictionsand regulations. Gas Authority Of India Limited (GAIL) has proposed to lay pipelines across India forthe transportation of methane gas. This project work has been suspended because of the protests setin by the owners ofthefarmland,which would affect the fertility of the land and crop production. Sore-routing or the suggestion of alternate routes becomes essential to complete the proposed pipeline network.Hence, the farmers of these areas demanded the route to be laid along the national highways andnot across their agricultural lands. This study aims at proposing an alternate route for the pipeline networkusing GIS for the transmission of NG. Several Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) features are consideredand a buffer zone is created amongst these features and avoided in order to identify a new route for thetransmission of NG. In this study, three new routes have been proposed and among the three routes, oneoptimal route, route 3 connecting covering a distance of 35 km is selected based on the proximity, availabilityand convenience for the transmission of the NG via pipelines without causing any hindrance to the environment. The other two routes, route 1 and route 2 are found to be unsuitable due to the fact thatlengths are 81 and 52 km and may prove to be inefficient. Having known the optimal route,thematerialsfortheconstruction,laying, and maintenance of the pipelines may besuggestedsuchashighcarbon steelin order to prevent leakage, and withstand thepressure within and outside the pipeline and protectedwith appropriate coating materials
Geographic information systems (GIS) Highway construction Stability analysis Slope ratio Slope angle Geographic Information System (GIS) is a vital tool used in numerous areas related to natural science and engineering studies. Managing complex data and obtaining accurate results from the analysis are essential functions of GIS. It is also efficiently used in highway designing both in project and application phases. This study proposes a new calculation method of slope angles to determine the suitable slope modal of a road by using topographic and geological datasets in a GIS environment. Using this method in the preparation phase of the project enables a more accurate calculation of earthwork volume. The proposed method was applied to a highway to prove this idea. The selected road is a significant tertiary of which project was completed by the Turkish General Directorate of Highways. In this study, the calculated values of the project were considered as references. Comparing both results obtained from the proposed method and application project, the accuracy of the slope modal of the proposed method is 71%, and the accuracy of its earthwork volume is 99%. The proposed approach will enable project managers and designers to determine more reliable earthwork volume during project feasibility studies without any application in the field.
Güzergâh belirleme işlemi, birçok değişkenin aynı anda analiz edilmesini gerektiren karmaşık bir süreçtir ve bütün Çizgisel Mühendislik Yapısı (ÇMY) projeleri için önemli işlem adımlarından biridir. ÇMY'lerin optimum şekilde tesis edilebilmesi, güzergâhın en uygun şekilde belirlenebilmesine bağlıdır. Bunun için öncelikle ÇMY güzergâhına etki eden temel faktörlerin tespit edilmesi gerekmektedir. Her bir faktörün güzergâha etki derecesi bir ağırlık katsayısı olarak belirlenmeli ve bunlar bir bütünlük içinde değerlendirilip konumsal bazda analiz edilmelidir. Bu çalışmada öncelikle Doğalgaz iletim hattı güzergâhlarına etki eden faktörler tespit edilmiş ve bu faktörlerin ağırlıkları Analitik Hiyerarşi Yöntemi (AHY) kullanılarak hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucunda bir doğal gaz iletim hattı için optimum güzergahın belirlenmesinde Coğrafi Bilgi Sistem desteği ile AHY'nin sağlayacağı avantajlar ortaya koyulmuştur.
Route determination process is a complex process that requires analysis of many variables at the same time, and it is one of the important steps for all process in the Linear Engineering Structure (LES) projects. To promote LES optimally, the route should be identified in a most appropriate way. Firstly, the basic factors affecting the LES route should be determined.
The establishment of policies regarding energy efficiency has been a very significant issue recently. Such energy policies should consider pipeline routing modeling since it includes several advantages. Pipelines are the most efficient, cost effective economical and environmentally friendly means of fluid transportation. When selecting the route of a cross-country pipeline, the goal is to provide the best utility for the public while minimizing the negative impacts on the population and the natural environment. Hence, the manual routing processes are very tedious. The presented model consists of forty factors, each of which is weighted according to its impact. The relationship between factors underlying traditional decisions in a calculative math model is presented for the first time. The current model is able to accelerate the process of routing by allowing those companies that do not have capability, to apply the geographic information systems. National Iranian Gas Engineering ranked the optional routes
A resampling-based stochastic simulation approach was used to evaluate the uncertainty that may be associated with geologically constrained least-cost path pipeline route optimization. A smoothed version of a composite geocost surface from a deep-water pipeline routing project was resampled and the results used to generate a series of equally probable cost surface realizations, which were in turn used as the basis for the same number of route optimizations. Eighty percent of the simulated routes followed a 500-2,000 m wide corridor nearly parallel to the baseline route (based upon complete information) between two hypothetical pipeline termini located about 25 km apart. Twenty percent followed an alternate corridor of approximately the same width. These results suggest that, while the general method of geologically constrained pipeline route optimization is a relatively robust one, uncertainties in geological input will at the least create a least-cost route corridor rather than a single least-cost route and may suggest realistic alternatives that must be critically evaluated in light of the available geological information.
The shortest route from home to work may not be the best alternative, and a longer route may be fastest or safest. Hence, the best route reflective of one factor may not be the ultimate best alternative. This paper discusses a geographic information system (GI)-based application to analyze and rank a number of potential pipeline routes based on accumulated weights of individual segments composing the route. The goal of this application was to automate the process of defining more than one potential route. Designers and stakeholders determine project-specific criteria and assign weighting factors to each. Additionally, individual scores are assigned to each segment in the so-called decision matrix which is a project-specific spreadsheet. The weights and costs are extracted from the decision matrix and imported as attributes for each segment in the GIS pipe network layer based on the unique segment ID. A network analyst routine was programmatically used to identify a number of potential pipeline routes that were then stored in an output feature class and eventually exported to Microsoft Excel, where a summary chart was generated to summarize the findings. The application was used on a test case in the western United States. The application was developed using Visual Basic for Application and ArcObjects and was intended for use in ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.
Qualitative maps of past seafloor slope failures can be combined with physics-based probabilistic simulations of potential future failures to help constrain deep-water pipeline route selection using cost surface optimization workflows. The qualitative maps are produced using standard techniques to visually identify and, where possible, estimate relative ages of past slope failures based upon geomorphological criteria. The quantitative probabilistic maps are produced using a non-iterative first-order, second-moment infinite slope approximation well suited to large bathymetric data sets comprising tens of millions of bins or rasters. The qualitative and quantitative maps are then used, optionally with additional geomorphologic or geohazard maps, to develop geohazard cost surfaces from which a least cost pipeline route can be calculated using GIS software. The final step is to manually perform slight adjustments using an in-house interactive application to ensure that no portion of the proposed route fall below the minimum acceptable radius of curvature. Application of the method is illustrated using a hypothetical pipeline route across a 3100 km2 deepwater demonstration area containing a variety of submarine slope hazards.
Introduction Selection of a deepwater pipeline route is a process that ideally incorporates information about the locations of the pipeline termini, the material characteristics of the pipe and the fluid being transported, soil-pipe interaction, spanning potential, cultural features such as shipwrecks and unexploded ordnance, and potential and actual geohazards along the route. Tootill et al (2004) considered primary factors like pipeline terminus locations, secondary factors that included geological and biological constrainst, and cost. They further wrote, "Therefore, the challenge for any pipeline route selection team is to find the shortest route while conforming to the requirements set out by the primary and secondary factors.?? The difficulty of working in deep and ultradeep water makes remediation of unfavorable situations largely impossible. Therefore, the most effective mitigation strategy is early identification and avoidance of significant problems during route selection.
In this paper, we show how two fundamentally different kinds of geohazard information—qualitative maps showing the locations and relative ages of past slope failures and quantitative maps produced by probabilistic slope stability models that predict the possible locations of future failures—can be combined to create a composite geohazard cost surface that is in turn used to calculate an optimal pipeline route that minimizes the total geohazard cost along the route. Other kinds of geohazards can be included in the optimization procedure if appropriate. For example, we included young and old erosional features, fluid expulsion features, young seafloor faults, slope angle, and pipeline spanning potential in addition to the kinds of slope stability information we describe here when recently performing a deepwater pipeline route optimization study. Likewise, cultural and biological data can also be included in the analysis if they are available and appropriate.
This paper presents a Web-based system for supporting the selection of the most suitable routes for buried urban utilities. The aim of the proposed system is to support (not make) decisions through a collaborative semiautomated environment, in which stakeholders can share information and/or study the impacts of different routing alternatives with respect to decision constraints. First, the knowledge relating to route selection for urban utilities is represented through an ontology. The ontology defines the types and attributes of infrastructure products and the surrounding areas. It also defines the impacts of routing options on surrounding areas through a set of decision criteria adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of any route in terms of its potential impacts. A set of constraints are also defined to help represent/study the decision criteria. Second, a GIS-based system has been created to help visualize route data, interact with users, and support the needed discussions among stakeholders. The portal also achieves data interoperability through wrapping existing geospatial data with ontology structures. Finally, a set of reasoners have been created to help quantify/augment some of the constraints. The system is capable of (1) extracting the attributes of each routing option, (2) testing the interaction/conflicts between route attributes and the constraints of the surrounding area, (3) studying the impacts of a route as stipulated in the ontology, (4) referring users to existing best practices to help enhance routes or address conflicts and, when needed, (5) develop objective measures for comparing different routes. On the microlevel (street level), route options are evaluated through a "constraint-satisfaction" approach. On the macrolevel (city level), route options are evaluated through a fuzzy inference scoring system. The proposed system focuses on facility life cycle, sustainability, and community impacts. Construction costing, scheduling, labor, and equipment along with other management issues can either be added to the system or, better, analyzed through integrating the system with four-dimensional (4D) modeling tools. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000269. (c) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.
Turkey SUMMARY Linear Engineering Structures (LES) such as roads, natural gas-oil pipelines, irrigation-drying channels, power lines and railways cover larger areas than other technical infrastructure facilities. Because of the need of route selection, linear engineering structures require strategic planning, evaluation and management. The operations to choose optimum route depends on the effective collection, processing, storing and analysis of spatial data such as topography, vegetation, geology, soil type, land use, and landslide areas about land. This situation requires to use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) by providing effective data management. In LES information management, spatial data belonging large study area are especially collected via Remote Sensing (RS) easily. In this context, using raster network analysis has some advantages for route selection operation with the assistance of these data. In literature, it is seen that, route selection operations of LES are determined optimally with the minimum cost. But, in some developing countries, route selections of linear engineering structures are determined via classical method on medium scale topographic maps and only slope data is taken into consideration. In this route selection operation, because of spatial data belonging land use is not used in many points route is changed and this causes an increase in the cost. Consequently, in these situations it is necessary that GIS based dynamic models have to be designed for LES information management. In this study, types of issues faced are determined for LES in route selection in developing countries and the needs of raster network analysis to solve these issues are investigated. In this respect, a model with pilot application is formed for natural gas pipeline route selection operations in a selected area in Turkey.
The use of geographic information systems (GIS) to define the optimum alignment of a transport route, based on either minimised construction cost, operating cost or a cost saving compromise between different issues to consider, is widely accepted. The aim of this research was to develop a similar application to be used to identify the most cost effective haulage roads for bulk agricultural haulage from sugarcane field loading zones to the nearest sugar mill. The application, named Fast Track, was designed with the ability to consider not only routes on existing roads, but also the construction and maintenance of new, alternative, vehicle-specific roads. The application is based on layered cost functions that are accumulated in order to produce a final differential cost surface. Fast Track was applied in a case study area at the Noodsberg sugar mill in South Africa. Three different vehicle configurations were selected for evaluation and a comprehensive economic analysis was carried out after the solutions were calculated. The approach allowed for a successful selection of the optimal route for each vehicle configuration, including a cost effective new road that could be constructed. A sensitivity analyses further supported the construction of the new road. Fast Track is the first published geospatial application that has been developed for the construction of shortcut roads in sugarcane transportation. The approach is generic and can potentially be applied to different industry sectors, such as coal, timber and rail applications.
Valve and pump shut-off in water pipeline systems lead to transient flow. This flow is a complex phenomenon and is potentially a very serious problem causing extra dynamic pressure in the system. Within the last few decades, the evolutionary and meta-heuristic algorithms, such as genetic algorithms, simulated annealing. More recently, however, ant-colony optimization algorithms have received considerable attention. In this paper the procedure and application of the ant-colony optimization algorithm to the design of a water supply pipeline system, considering dynamic pressures arising from valve closure, is presented. A simulation–optimization interaction loop (SOIL) is defined that cycles between the steady-state and transient flow modules to describe the hydraulics of the pipeline and ant colony optimization algorithm. A hydraulic simulation module is coupled with the ant colony optimization algorithm to form an efficient and powerful software program which locates the pumping stations at any possible or predefined locations while optimizing their specifications, along with pipe diameters, at each decision point. The model may equally regard or disregard the dynamic pressures.
Two examples are provided to illustrate the proposed methodology which is limited to the solution of any gravity and/or forced water supply pipeline which is typical for water supply systems.
An increase in the planning and environmental restrictions associated with wind energy has led to a growth in interest towards wave energy. However, as the connection cost of a wave energy development is a driving factor in the development's feasibility, existing wind farm cable-routing techniques used by renewable energy developers may not be satisfactory. A Geographical Information System (GIS) method is presented which optimises the cable route between a wave farm and the electricity network, while taking a range of exclusion zones, such as native vegetation, into account. The optimisation is presented for a South Australian study area, which subsequently showed that exclusion zones reduce the number of suitable locations for wave energy by almost 40%. The method presented also assesses the effect that each exclusion zone applied has upon the number of suitable locations within the study area. The analysis undertaken showed that National Parks and cliffs pose a significant limitation to the potential of a wave energy industry within South Australia. Allowing the transmission route to travel through a National Park, or traverse a cliff, resulted in an increase in the number of locations from which a connection could be made to the electricity grid for less than $10 million of 33% and 50%, respectively. Conservation Parks, Wilderness Areas and native vegetation also have an effect upon the number of suitable locations for wave energy within South Australia. The GIS methods developed may be of assistance to governments in setting appropriate marine renewable energy policy, and also in identifying existing policy which may require amending if the government wishes to pursue and support the development of wave energy.
Effective early planning is a key step in successful implementation of pipeline projects. Planning activities are often used to support permitting, financing, stakeholder acceptance, design and construction. One of the most important planning aspects of a pipeline project is the selection of an implementable pipeline route. Many resources are available to help evaluate the various factors influencing pipeline route selection. In this paper, a versatile route selection procedure is presented that provides an analysis tool to help organize and evaluate the many influencing factors and resources available to the planning team. The procedure is adaptable to projects ranging from simple to highly complex. It allows for either a specific cost-based analysis or a less specific relative cost approach and is adaptable for calibration to historic site-specific cost data, if applicable. The procedure also provides a method to incorporate the cost analysis with non-cost issues. Route analysis by a quantitative scoring system or by more subjective evaluations are accommodated. Methodologies for stakeholder's to influence the character and results of evaluations are presented. The route selection process has been used successfully on a variety of both sanitary sewer and water system pipelines through the western United States.