Journal

ELSEVIER

Journal

of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

AQUATOOL, a generalized decision-support system for

water-resources planning and operational management
J. Andreu*, J. Capilla, E. Sanchis
Universidad Politknica de Valencia, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos,
Canales y Puertos, Camino de Vera, S/N, 46071 Valencia, Spain
Received

8 August

1995; accepted

29 September

1995

Abstract

This paper describes a generic decision-support system (DSS) which was originally designed
for the planning stage of decision-making associated with complex river basins. Subsequently,
it was expanded to incorporate modules relating to the operational stage of decision-making.
Computer-assisted design modules allow any complex water-resource system to be represented
in graphical form, giving access to geographically referenced databases and knowledge bases.
The modelling capability includes basin simulation and optimization modules, an aquifer flow
modelling module and two modules for risk assessment. The Segura and Tagus river basins
have been used as case studies in the development and validation phases. The value of this DSS
is demonstrated by the fact that both River Basin Agencies currently use a version for the
efficient management of their water resources.

1. Introduction

As in the rest of the world, the complexity of water-related

problems in Spain is
escalating as the uses of water and the objectives to be fulfilled continue to expand.
Therefore, the complexity of the management
solutions required is also increasing.
Most of the easier structural
solutions
have already been implemented
and new
projects, including interbasin
transfers, are opposed by some sections of society. In
these circumstances,
it is of crucial importance
to be sure that rational use of the
existing systems is undertaken
before any new structural developments
are considered. Efficient, integrated and sustainable use of current resources has to prevail over
the traditional
approach of investing in new reservoirs. This does not mean that if,

*Corresponding

author.

0022- 1694/96/$15.00 0 1996 - Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

SSDZ 0022-1694(95)02963-X

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177 (1996) 269-291

having applied these measures, structural solutions are necessary, they should not be
implemented.
To ensure the successful planning and operational management of complex systems, it is essential that the most advanced tools available can be used. In Spain, as
elsewhere, there is an unavoidable gap between the state of the art in water-resource
systems analysis and the usage by practitioners at the real-world level. Nevertheless,
even though it is impossible to close this gap completely if scientific and technological
development is to continue, it is believed that in Spain and many other countries it can
be narrowed considerably in the near future (Loucks, 1992).
This belief is based, first, on the fact that there are continuing improvements in
computing technology that make it possible to develop software which is very much
more user-friendly than ever before. Second, the new generations of technicians and
decision-makers working in the institutions related to water problems have had some
degree of computer science in their education. As a result, they are not reluctant to
accept the help that can be provided by a computer, in addition to knowing the
limitations. In fact, the concept of decision-support systems (DSS) has emerged as
an environment designed to help decision-makers to answer specific questions by
facilitating the use of models and databases in an interactive way. In recent years,
many examples can be found in the literature relating to the use of DSS in water
resources, as can be seen in the studies by Labadie et al. (1989) or Loucks and da
Costa (1991), among others.
This paper presents the current state of AQUATOOL, a generalized DSS developed at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), Valencia, Spain. Initially, the
DSS was designed for the planning stage of decision-making in complex basins comprising multiple reservoirs, aquifers and demand centres. Later, the system was
expanded to incorporate modules for the operational management stage of decision-making. AQUATOOL is a continuing project at UPV, and therefore is continuously being upgraded and expanded. The value of this DSS is demonstrated by the
fact that it is currently being used by several River Basin Agencies in Spain as a
standard tool not only to develop their Basin Hydrological Plans, but also to manage
their water resource in an effective way, both in the short and medium terms. Two of
the water-resource systems that have served as pilot cases in developing the DSS will
be presented.

2. Structure of the DSS

The structure of AQUATOOL (Fig. l), separates clearly the components and their
functions. This leads to a high flexibility in the design, implementation and operation
of the system. Currently, the DSS consists of three first-level control units, a basinmanagement simulation module, a basin-management optimization module, an aquifer flow modelling module, two modules for risk assessment, six modules for the
analysis and reporting of results and a general utilities module. Each of the three
control units includes graphical-design and database-management
capabilities, in
addition to facilities for controlling the execution of the models and access to the

- L
H

DCOFIESOF

I
Fig. 1. Structure

+___

of the decision-support

. . ... . _..,......

system.

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177 (1996) 269-291

modules for the analysis and reporting of results. The utilities module and some other
minor components
are not depicted in the figure.
AQUATOOL
is implemented
within the Microsoft Windows Environment,
which
in some way acts as the zero-level control unit by coordinating
the various components of the system and the interfaces with users, files and peripheral hardware. As a
result of the continuous
expansion and upgrading of the system, the various components have been coded in different programming
languages.
Therefore,
languages
such as C + + , Visual Basic and FORTRAN
coexist in the same system. However,
all this is not perceived by the user, who is provided with a familiar and friendly
graphical interaction
with the DSS.
The DSS allows the user to undertake the following, among other things:
1. input and modify, graphically if necessary, the configuration
of a water-resources
system scheme for either simulation
or optimization
purposes.
2. Input and manage graphically referenced databases containing
the physical characteristics of the schemes components.
3. Input and manage geographically
referenced knowledge bases containing
data
related to decision variables and management
parameters,
to replicate the judgement of experts in the basin-management
teams.
4. Input and manage the spatial definition of an aquifer and databases containing its
hydrodynamic
parameters,
as well as the definition of stresses (e.g. pumping,
recharge, etc.) and control variables (e.g. heads at given points, volumes for
given zones, etc.).
5. Perform a simulation
of the operational
management
for a given configuration,
time horizon and scenario, using different hydrological
data and operating policies.
6. Perform an optimization
of the operational
management
for a given configuration and time horizon using different hydrological
data.
7. Perform preprocessing
of a distributed aquifer model so that it might be included
as a component
of the basin-simulation
module. This also allows for separate
simulation
of the aquifer, as a normal groundwater
model.
8. Perform a risk assessment for short- or medium-term
management
of the system,
using either simulation or optimization,
the latter case giving the lower bounds of
the risk.
9. Obtain the results of the models in the form of written reports, either detailed
for the whole time period or summarized
as mean values and performance
indicators.
10. Obtain the results of the models in the form of time-series and mean-values
graphics by simply pointing to the desired element in the graphical representation
of the basin.
11. Obtain the optimization
and simulation results, which are stored in files that can
be used as input data for any kind of specific postprocessing
not included in
AQUATOOL.
These capabilities
can be used in a water-resource
alternatives
by means of the optimization
module,

system to: (1) screen design

obtaining
criteria about the

J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

273

usefulness
and performance
of future water-resource
developments;
(2) screen
operational
management
alternatives
by means of the optimization
module, obtaining operating criteria from the analysis of the results; (3) check and refine the screened
alternatives
by means of the simulation
module; (4) perform sensitivity analysis by
comparing the results after changes in the design or in the operating rules; (5) use the
models, once an alternative is implemented,
as an aid in the operation of the waterresource system, mainly for water allocation among conflicting demands and to study
impacts of changes in the system; (6) perform risk analysis for short- and mediumterm operational
management
to decide, for instance, the appropriate
time to apply
restrictions and their extent. Moreover, the use of the DSS has proved to be an aid for
a better understanding
of the physical and management
aspects of the water-resource
system in question, as well as being a good tool for data organization
and communication among the different teams.
The remainder of this paper describes the modules of the DSS. As the system is still
being developed, obviously it is difficult to give full details in a single paper. Therefore, references to previous publications
relating to some components
of the system
are given, where available. For the sake of clarity, the utilities module will not be
described, as it is not relevant in this context.
For obvious reasons, the DSS has been developed using Spanish as the language for
the user-interfaces.
Therefore, the figures that appear in the paper showing windows
of AQUATOOL
are in this language. For further references to options in the menus,
English will be used instead of Spanish, but in most cases the Spanish text is similar.
In future, it would be easy to provide interfaces in any language, as dialogue files are
separated from the source codes and only those files would need to be translated and
replaced.

3. Basin-management

simulation component of the DSS

3.1. Control unit and geographically referenced databases

Control Unit 1 coordinates
the various constituents
of the basin-simulation
component. The user-interface
offers several options in a top-line menu, as shown in
Fig. 2. A subset of the options (i.e. Edition, Elements,
View), together with
their sub-options,
handles the Computer Assisted Graphical Design (CAGD) module. The sub-options
under the Models option control the basin-simulation
and the
risk-assessment
models. In the same manner, the Results option allows the user to
access the graphical analysis of data and results. The option Results also controls the
module for visualization
of reports and files. Finally, the option Help (Ayuda in
Spanish) provides an on-line help facility when using the models.
Whenever the user wants to create a model of a water-resource
system by means of
the CAGD module to simulate the management
of the basin, a large-size work paper
is made available which provides a window on the screen. The window is capable of
being moved over the paper and the user can construct a schematic representation
of
the system by selecting elements from the following:

mpo II]
vipo 1111 Shift-F7
ripe
vipo VJ

&nducei&

conducei&

~onducci6n

~onducci6n
F9
FlO

Central ~idroelcctrfca

S hiRF8

Afsmlas rcstrfcdanes

\.,,

..

:UlSXlta

Emb-1

Vega Mcdii Baja

Fig. 2. Control Unit 1. Main menu and sample sub-menu.

Cltf-FB
Crtf-FG

Ioma

de demanda

Ftecar9a artfffcial

Qombco adicional

Jjctorno

F6

cltf-F9

Shift-F9

kyifero

W)

F7

mpo I]

conduccibn
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F6

F5

Qemanda

J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

215

1. Nodes without storage capacity. This allows the user to include river confluences
as well as hydrological
inflows, diversions and intake points.
2. Nodes with storage capacity. This element comprises lakes or reservoirs for which
evaporation
and losses by infiltration
to groundwater
are considered.
3. Channels. This allows the user to include natural channels (i.e. river reaches), as
well as canals, ditches and interbasin
transfers.
Five types of channel
are
included: (a) channels with no losses or connection
to groundwater;
(b) channels
with infiltration
losses that recharge an aquifer; (c) channels hydraulically
connected to an aquifer, where, depending on the heads, losses to or gains from the
aquifer are possible; (d) channels with flow governed by hydraulic conditions
which always flow in the same direction; (e) channels which can have the water
flowing one way or the other depending on hydraulic conditions
at the extremities.
4. Hydrological
inflows. This reflects the inflow to the system corresponding
to a
sub-basin
between the node where applied and the node corresponding
to the
next upstream hydrological
inflow. Long-term
historical or synthesized hydrological databases can be used in the planning mode. Medium- and short- term
predictions
conditioned
by the hydrological
state of the system are used in the
operational
management
mode.
5. Consumptive
demands. For instance, irrigated zones or municipal and industrial
supplies which may have associated pumping capacity.
6. Connections
of consumptive
demands. Each demand can be supplied from up to
five different sources.
7. Hydroelectric
plants (non-consumptive
demands). These make use of the water,
but do not reduce quantity by any significant amount.
8. Aquifers. A spectrum of models for groundwater
which will be described below.
9. Return elements. These can be included to return used or unused water to the
system, from one or more demand centres.
10. Artificial recharge facilities. This allows the direct injection of surface water into
the aquifer.
11. Additional pumping facilities. This allows the direct addition of pumped water to
the surface channels.
When one of the above elements is selected, either from the menu or from an
optional toolbox, the user can position it within the schematic representation.
In
the creation mode and after the element is positioned,
the control unit opens the
databases corresponding
to the type of element and presents one or several screens
to be completed by the user, with the physical data and/or the data corresponding
to
the management
of the system. An example can be seen in Fig. 3. In some instances
(e.g. for hydrological
inflows and some aquifer models) these details can be provided
by specifying names of data files. These files usually have to be produced either by
other modules within AQUATOOL
or external programs. After the data are entered,
the control unit switches back to the CAGD module, allowing the user to continue
with the creation of the schematic representation.
A set of coordinates
allows each of
the elements to be placed in its geographical
location. This gives the appearance
of a

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J. Andreu et al. 1 Journal of Hydrology 177 (1996) 269-291

217

map-based
scheme, which is usually better for the decision-makers,
because they can
relate the schematic representation
to the real basin more easily.
The CAGD module has, among other things, the usual features such as deleting,
moving, or copying elements. Aesthetics of a design can be improved by changing the
default colours for the type of elements and those for each element, changing the
default font-size for the labels with names of the elements and adapting the shape of a
channel or a connection.
Printing,
plotting,
saving and retrieving the scheme, in
addition to exporting the graphical representation
to a file with a DXF format, are
also included. Visualization
of large schemes is facilitated
by zooming,
which is
included under the View (Vista in Spanish) option of the menu.
Moreover, the scheme-creation
process, including any modification,
is under the
surveillance
of a knowledge base built into the CAGD, which warns the user when
abnormal
data values are entered, in addition to checking the hydrological
consistency of the scheme. This is of great help in avoiding errors in the design of the
models.
Following the creation of the scheme, access to the databases is performed graphically. If the user wants to retrieve or modify information
for an element, this is
achieved by pointing to its position within the scheme. Thereafter,
the control unit
accesses the databases and provides a window containing
the records for that particular element. When the water-resource
system is large, as in the case of those
described below, Search procedures
included in AQUATOOL
have proven to be
very effective. Here, the element is selected from a list which can be sorted alphabetically or by type of element. Once the element is selected from the list, the window
moves to the location of the element in the graphical representation.
In addition to the physical characteristics
of the elements, the user must give the
operating policies for individual elements as well as for the system as a whole. This is
done by means of the following devices:
1. Target volumes and zoning for reservoirs. Each reservoir will have a target rulecurve defined by the user. Moreover, minimum and maximum monthly volumes
must be given. The latter are usually provided for flood-control
purposes. Based
on these values, the simulation model will automatically
define four storage zones
for the management
of the reservoir.
2. Inter-reservoir
relationships.
Priorities for different reservoirs are defined. As usual
in such operating rules (Sigvaldason,
1976), all reservoirs are normally maintained
in the same zone whenever possible. Reservoirs with lower priorities are allowed to
deviate to a lower zone before those with higher priorities.
3. Target minimum
flow. Minimum
acceptable flows, prescribed flows or whatever
have to be defined.
4. Target supply. The amount required by each demand centre, municipal, industrial
and agricultural,
has to be defined.
5. Target flow. The flow requirements
for each hydroelectric
plant have to be specified.
6. Inter-demand
relationships.
The user can assign a priority number to the demand.
Different demands having the same priority number would normally belong to the

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J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology 177 (1996) 269-291

same class of users. The simulation model will try to allocate the water within the
same class proportionally
to the demand of each user.
7. Inter-channel
relationships.
Similarly, priorities can be given to different channels.
8. Inter-element
relationships.
Again, relative priorities
between demands,
target
flows and reservoir storage can be defined.
With these devices, it is possible to represent complex operating policies for a given
system.
The above data should be defined by the management
team for the particular basin,
following a calibration
process. The process for calibrating
the operating policies is
usually a combination
involving the use of the optimization
model as a screening
model and then refining the rules by use of the simulation model. Once the parameters
of the operating rules are properly defined, they form a kind of knowledge base. The
algorithms in the simulation model, which will be described below, are well suited for
performing
the task of the inference engines common to expert systems. Here, the
knowledge base is used to replicate the judgement of specialists in water management.
3.2. Model for simulating

the operational

management

of a basin

SIMGES is a mathematical
model which performs the simulation
of the operational management
for the system on a monthly basis. Previous versions of the
model have been described
elsewhere (Andreu
and Capilla,
1993). To use the
model, a scheme constructed
with the elements described above has to be provided.
The control unit of the DSS translates the graphical definition of the scheme into a
numerical
description
suitable for acceptance by the model. The control unit also
provides the model with data from the databases and knowledge bases which are
necessary to run the model.
The model is similar in philosophy
to other models previously used for networkflow algorithms (see, e.g. Sigvaldason,
1976; Martin, 1982; Labadie, 1987), which can
be traced back to the SIMYLD-II
model (Texas Water Development
Board, 1972).
However, SIMGES does not share a common ancestry with any of these models
because it was developed at UPV to incorporate
the particular
characteristics
of
water-resource
systems including
groundwater,
which is seldom incorporated
in
other models. Conjunctive
use of surface water and groundwater
is of great importance in most Spanish basins, given the scarcity of water and the competition
between
conflicting uses. Therefore, it was necessary to develop a model which was capable of
considering in detail the relationships
between the surface elements and the aquifers in
a basin.
SIMGES includes a broad spectrum of approaches
for modelling groundwater.
Depending on the amount of data available from hydrogeological
studies, and/or the
desired degree of detail required to represent aquifers realistically, the user can choose
from the following types of models:
1. Reservoir type. Here, there is no discharge from the aquifer other than the pumped
water. In this case, the conceptual
model is represented
by a single cell in which
only mass balance is performed.

J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

279

2. Aquifer with discharge through a spring. The conceptual model comprises a single
cell in which flow declines exponentially with storage. When the storage in the cell
is below the volume corresponding to the spring level, the flow ceases and it is
resumed only when the recharge induces a stored amount above the spring level.
3. Aquifer hydraulically connected to a surface stream. Analytical solutions for a
conceptual, rectangular, homogeneous aquifer connected to a fully penetrating
river on one of its sides have previously been derived at UPV (Sahuquillo and
Andreu, 198.6)and are now included in SIMGES. The model considers the stresses
and heads in a distributed manner within the conceptual domain.
4. Aquifer hydraulically connected to two surface streams. This conceptual model is
also a rectangular, homogeneous aquifer, but in this case is connected to two fully
penetrating rivers, one perpendicular to the other. Analytical solutions are also
included in the simulation model.
5. Distributed model of a heterogeneous aquifer of irregular shape. The conceptual
model consists of an aquifer with two-dimensional linear flow. The shape of the
aquifer can be irregular, as in any distributed model. The eigenvalues approach
adopted (Andreu and Sahuquillo, 1987) is both efficient and effective, and maintains the degree of accuracy provided by finite-difference or finite-element models.
As explained below, the efficiency is due to the possibility of preprocessing. Therefore, only preprocessed data are used as inputs to SIMGES, the main task of
preprocessing being performed by the aquifer component of the DSS.
Apart from the last aquifer-modelling approach, no further details are given in this
paper regarding the solutions. It suffices to say that all aquifer models are well
documented in the user-manual for SIMGES (Andreu et al., 1992). This set of models
allows the realistic representation of the interactions between surface water and
groundwater and keeps the computational task in check when several aquifers are
included in a water-resource system.
The model uses an optimization algorithm to deal with decisions required each
month by the various elements. Using the data supplied by the control unit relating to
the scheme and its operating rules, the model constructs an internal flow network
using the conservation of mass principle. Each element of the scheme produces a set
of arcs and nodes designed to simulate the physical characteristics of the element, as
well as the management rules. This internal network, which is transparent to the user,
is optimized using the out-of-kilter algorithm (Ford and Fulkerson, 1962). The results
take the form of water allocations between the various uses which minimize the
weighted deviations from the targets, the weights being dependent on the priorities.
After initial values for the decisions are obtained by the optimization algorithm,
simulation of the aquifers is performed. This gives values for the surface-watergroundwater relationships which are updated within the network. The iterative
process continues until convergence is reached. A similar approach is used for
other nonlinear processes such as evaporation, losses from reservoirs and river
reaches, nonlinear flows in reaches, etc.
SIMGES produces the normal range of results, comprising simulated flows and/or
storage levels for each element of the system, covering every month within the time

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J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

horizon. Moreover, a summary of the simulation,

including mean values and performance criteria, is provided. These are output through report files (i.e. plain text and
numerical values) or files to be used as input to other components
of AQUATOOL,
as
will be seen below.

3.3. Modules for analyses and reporting

Graphics are of considerable
help in analysing the solutions when an enormous
amount
of numerical
results is involved. Therefore,
a graphical-analysis
module
(GAM) has been included in the DSS. GAM allows the user to obtain graphical
representation
of the results for each element of the scheme, in the form of either
time series or mean monthly values, as seen in Fig. 4. Access to the results databases is
also geographically
referenced. To obtain the results, the user needs only to point to
the element in the scheme, whereupon
the results corresponding
to the element are
retrieved from the corresponding
database and plotted. Tables with the numerical
values of the variable corresponding
to the element can also be obtained in the same
way. Both tables and graphs can be printed immediately
at the touch of a button on
the graphical interface, or sent to a file in WMG format for subsequent incorporation
into any text by a word processor. A module for visualizing reports and files without
having to leave AQUATOOL
has also been included. The user can browse through
any of the reports, hydrological
data and intermediate
files before sending to a printer
if required.
3.4. Module for risk assessment
The SIMRISK
model has been included in the DSS to assess the risks involved
during the real operational
management
of the system. The model simulates the
management
of the system using the same scheme and databases as SIMGES, but
with the following differences:
1. The time horizon is much shorter than in the planning
mode (usually months
rather than decades).
2. The risk assessment model simulates the performance
of the system repeatedly
using synthesized
hydrological
records which are adapted to the hydrological
conditions
pertaining
at the beginning
of the time period. The generation
is not
undertaken
within the DSS, and therefore must be obtained using external procedures. The intention is to include synthetic-data
generation within the DSS at some
future date.
3. The output of SIMRISK comprises the probabilities
of failure for each element of
the water resource system in each time period.
The analysis of SIMRISKs
results gives the decision-maker
some idea of the risks
involved if the target supplies are maintained
at their nominal values during the
months ahead. If the results indicate an unacceptable
risk, SIMRISK
can undertake
a new assessment for a given degree of restriction on supplies (ranging from zero to

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177 (1996) 269-291

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J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

unity). The degree of restrictions can be the same for all users in the system, different
for various groups of users, or specified for individual
users. In this way, different
restrictions could be applied to municipal and agricultural
demands, for instance. The
level of restriction can be varied until the decision-maker
feels content: the aim is to
substitute operating rules with high probabilities
of large failures within the foreseeable future for those which have small restrictions
and low probabilities.

4. The basin-management

optimization

component of the DSS

The optimization
component
of AQUATOOL
is analogous
to the simulation
component
in the sense that the appearance
of the user-interface
and its handling
are very much alike. Control Unit 2, together with its associated CAGD module and
databases, is similar to those described above and functions in a similar fashion. The
main difference is that the number of elements available to the user for defining
schemes is smaller and limited to: nodes without storage capacity; nodes with storage
capacity; channels; hydrological
inflows; demands; return elements. Another difference is that zoning of the reservoirs is not incorporated
in the optimization
procedure
because the models optimize the storage for each time period.
All the above elements are incorporated
into the optimization
models in a simplified way. It is not intended that the optimization
models should give definitive results,
but rather first approximations
to be refined by means of the simulation
models. In
the experience of UPV, almost any water-resource
system can be approximated
by
means of these simplified elements.
The control unit translates the graphical definition of the scheme into a numerical
description and passes the necessary data, including the time horizon, to the optimization model, OPTIGES (Andreu, 1992). Thereafter, the model constructs an internal
flow network based on conservation
of mass, which includes the time dimension and
optimizes it by means of the out-of-kilter
algorithm. The objective function is minimization of the weighted sum of the deficits in demands and minimum
flows. The
weights reflect the priorities assigned by the decision-maker.
The optimization
is
performed in several iterative cycles, to account for reservoir evaporation
and return
flows, among other things.
The results of OPTIGES,
which comprise the optimal values of the decision variables, are included in different files for various purposes. The plots of the results
obtained with GAM are of considerable
help when analysing possible solutions to
devise operating rules which can be extracted from the optimal behaviour.
The second model in the optimization
component
of AQUATOOL
is the optimized
risk model, OPTIRISK.
The model provides the probabilities
of failure for each
element at every month to the time horizon. As previously mentioned in connection
with SIMRISK, the time horizons used are short compared with the planning models,
usually covering one or two periods ahead of the month in question. The values
obtained
for the risk correspond
to a situation
in which optimal decisions are
taken. Therefore, they can be considered as the lower bounds of the risks, because,
in reality, actions will always be suboptimal.

J. Andreu et al. / Journal of Hydrology

177 (1996) 269-291

283

5. Module for aquifer preprocessing and simulation

As mentioned
above, the eigenvalue approach has been adopted for distributed
modelling
of aquifers. The approach is explained in detail elsewhere (Andreu and
Sahuquillo,
1987) and it suffices here to say that the explicit equation included in
SIMGES is
c = R-1

(1)

where c is a vector that contains the control parameters (these are selected responses
of the aquifer, such as the hydraulic heads at specific locations, mean values of the
head over a specific area, volume stored below a specific area, flow through a specific
boundary length, total volume stored in the aquifer, etc.), R is a matrix which results
from the definition of the control parameters and from the eigenvectors matrix of the
aquifer, and I is the state vector of the aquifer expressed on the basis provided by the
eigenvectors
of the aquifer and given by
l=l,-E+F-b

(2)

where f,, is vector 1 at the beginning of the month, E is a diagonal matrix containing the
negative exponential
of the eigenvalues times t (i.e. 1 month), Fis a rectangular matrix
containing
preprocessed
information
relative to the basic stresses (these are a set of
possible unit actions over the aquifer, such as a flow unit of pumping at a given point,
a unit of uniformly or non-uniformly
distributed pumping or recharge in a given area
or in several cells), and b is the intensity at which the basic stresses are applied during
the month.
Equations
(1) and (2) are very efficiently computed,
as matrices R, E and F are
provided as input data for SIMGES. Control Unit 3 has been designed to help the
user with the process of constructing
an eigenvalues model and to undertake
all the
preprocessing
of the aquifer model needed to obtain such matrices, in addition to the
vector 4, which corresponds
to the initial heads of the aquifer for the first month.
The CAGD module allows the user to enter the geometric shape of the aquifer and
its spatial discretization,
in addition to the geometric definition of control parameters
and basic stresses. The coordinates
system helps to place the particular points in their
exact location.
If required,
intermediate
points can be generated
automatically.
Access to the databases
is also performed
graphically,
by pointing to an element
(e.g. a cell or a point within the discretization).
Then, as can be seen in Fig. 5, a
window provides the means of entering data corresponding
to the record of the
element in the databases.
The databases contain aquifer parameters,
as well as the
definitions of basic stresses, control parameters
and initial heads.
Calibration
of the aquifer model is not performed in AQUATOOL,
as the eigenvalues model is not efficient for calibration
purposes. To estimate the parameters,
a
finite-difference
or finite-element
model should be used. Control Unit 3 can input data
files from a finite-difference
model by Prickett and Lonquist (197 1) or a finite-element
model by Carrera and Neuman (1988) when the calibration
is completed.
Once the aquifer parameters have been estimated, either by using one of the models
mentioned above and inputting their values, or by some other means and entering the

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285

values in the database, Control Unit 3 is able to perform all the preprocessing needed
to obtain the matrices R, E and F,as well as the vector 1,. Thereafter, the user can
produce a file with the corresponding values, or proceed directly to the independent
simulation of the aquifer for a given time period. With regard to the former, the file
can be incorporated by Control Unit 1 into the database for simulation of the
basin.

6. Case studies
6.1. The Segura river basin water-resource

system

The basin and management aspects have already been described (Andreu and
Capilla, 1993). Here, only the aspects related to the use of the DSS are summarized.
The Segura river basin is located in southeastern Spain, covering an area of
approximately 18 630 km2. The climate is semi-arid. Water is used mainly for supply
to agriculture, municipalities and industries. In addition, hydroelectric power is produced and flood control is a concern in the lower basin. The system comprises a
surface subsystem, a subsurface subsystem and three main conveyance and distribution subsystems. A water transfer from the Tagus river (about 250 km away) also
exists.
Irrigation of about 260 000 ha of land requires 1850 x lo6 m3 year- of water (i.e. a
mean of 7115 m3 ha- year-). Municipal and industrial demands amount to about
211 x lo6 m3 year-. The estimate of the mean annual renewable resources for the
groundwater. The average
Segura river basin is about 1200 x lo6 m3 year-, including
.
amount of water transferred from the Tagus river basin, since 1980, is around
300 x lo6 m3 year-, even though the scheme has the capacity to convey
1000 x lo6 m3 year-. This low transfer rate reflects a continuous drought situation
which affects both basins, as well as social opposition in the Tagus basin to higher
rates of water transfer. The system comprises 15 existing surface reservoirs: 12 in the
Segura river basin, two in a water-distribution subsystem and one in the Tagus river
at the head of the interbasin transfer. There are also 19 aquifer units, ten of them
hydraulically connected to the surface-water system.
As can be seen, the very irregular renewable resources within the basin plus the
imported resources are far exceeded by current water demands. Therefore, the theoretical deficit, which is wholly allocated to agriculture, translates into a shortfall in
irrigation, a high degree of water reuse, low reliability and overexploitation of aquifers. The mean annual aquifer overdraft is estimated to be about 350 x lo6 m3 year-.
Four aquifer units have been declared officially as overexploited and emergency
plans are in place. Moreover, there is a complex arrangement for water rights relating
to the basin in which the priorities of traditional users prevail over more recent
developments. In such a water-resources environment, characterized by scarce
resources, complex physical structure and difficult socio-economic aspects, the only
feasible way for decision-makers to develop plans and operational strategies is to use
a DSS.

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177 (1996) 269-291

The tools presented in this paper are currently

being used by the hydrological
planning team of the River Basin Agency (Confederacibn
Hidrogragica
de1 Segura,
CHS) to assist with decisions related to: planning the expansion of the infrastructure
(reservoirs and transfers); obtaining
operational
management
rules for the system;
assessing the reliability of the system; managing the system in real time by allocating
resources between conflicting uses; studying the impact of changes on the system,
either related to demands or to resources. The optimization
component
of the DSS is
employed as a screening model using various simplified schemes which reflect the
inclusion or the exclusion of several planned facilities, different demand scenarios
and interbasin
transfers.
It was during the analysis of the Segura river basin that most of the mathematical
models and some other modules of AQUATOOL
were developed.
From 1986 to
1990, the SIMGES and OPTIGES
models were developed, tested and used intensively. At that time, OPTIGES
used over-simplified
schemes of the system to draw
preliminary
conclusions
about the usefulness and sizing of new facilities, the optimal
scheduling of the water transfer from the Tagus basin and the operating rules for the
major reservoirs and channels. Subsequently,
the simulation
model was used with
more detailed schemes to refine the screened alternatives and to undertake sensitivity
analyses. Thereafter, the sizes of new facilities were given definitive values and reservoir rule-curves and target flows were confirmed, prior to the reliability of the system
under different scenarios being assessed. The complexity of the system is evident from
the fact that the model includes some 15 reservoirs,
18 inflows, 93 channels,
50
demand centres, four hydropower
plants, 19 aquifers and five additional
pumping
stations.
In 1989, after having proved the usefulness of the existing models, additional
modelling needs were identified. At the same time, the decision was taken to encapsulate this enhanced modelling capacity within a DSS for the convenience
of CHS;
this was the start of the AQUATOOL
project. As the various prototypes
became
available, they were implemented
and tested by CHS, and the feedback was used to
improve the subsequent versions.
6.2. The Tagus river basin water-resources

system

The Tagus river is the longest river of the Iberian peninsula, flowing approximately
from east to west for a distance of about 910 km. The natural mean annual flow
discharging
to the Atlantic Ocean is estimated
to be 12 800 x lo6 m3 year-. The
area of the Spanish portion of the basin is 55 645 km*. The climate is generally of
Mediterranean
type with a mean annual precipitation
of 642 mm. Water is used in the
basin for irrigation,
and urban and industrial
supply, including cooling water for
nuclear-power
stations, in addition to being important
for hydroelectric-power
production. The irrigated area amounts to some 231310 ha, with an overall demand of
1947 x lo6 m3 year-. Municipal
and industrial
supply, which requires a further
751 x lo6 m3 year-, is a very important consideration,
as about 6 130 000 inhabitants
depend on it, including the city of Madrid. As described in the previous case study,
there is also a water transfer from the upper Tagus basin to the Segura river basin.

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287

After lifting the water through 262 m, an aqueduct of 250 km length, with a capacity
of 33 m3 SK, conveys water from the Tagus to the Segura.
Given the importance
of the demands in the Tagus basin and the dependence of the
Segura basin on interbasin
transfer, it is crucial to have a rational planning
and
operational
management
capability for the basin. Rational is taken to mean efficient,
integral and sustainable.
In 1994, the decision was taken to implement
AQUATOOL
for the River Basin
Agency of the Tagus basin (Confederation
Hidrogrifica
de1 Tajo, CHT). A few
months after starting the project, the planning
and management
teams at CHT
were able to use a prototype
system as an aid to decision-making
in the planning
mode. From the feedback received, improvements
are being made to the use of
AQUATOOL,
in addition to the inclusion of new modules. Again, it is impossible
to convey the complexity of the system, for obvious reasons. It suffices to say that the
optimization
for the planning
phase includes some 92 nodes, 46 reservoirs and 50
demand centres (Fig. 6), whereas the simulation
comprises nearly 300 nodes, 49
reservoirs, one aquifer and over 100 demand centres. When completed, the conclusions will constitute the water-resources
plan for the Tagus basin for the next decade.

7. Future developments
It will be apparent
from the previous text that AQUATOOL
is an open-ended
project, which is evolving continually
from the valuable feedback of its application
to real-world problems. Besides the maintenance
of the existing modules, there are, at
present, new lines of development
being pursued:
1. Two projects have started to link the risk assessment modules to the automatic
data-gathering
systems (ADGS) in the Segura and Tagus river basins. Both comprise basin-wide
telemetering
systems of high complexity,
which send data to
control centres in each of the agencies. Routines are being designed to allow the
databases of the DSS to extract information
from the ADGS databases regarding
the hydrological
state of the basin, including reservoir storages. The main objective
is to use the risk-assessment
capabilities of AQUATOOL
routinely with real-time
information.
2. Water quality, even if it has not been mentioned
so far, is of great concern in the
two basins. In fact, one of the main constraints
in managing the Tagus river is the
requirement
for dilution flows in some reaches of the river. Moreover, the water
quality in the lower reaches of the Segura river is a major problem, owing to the
intense reuse of water which is currently taking place. Therefore, water-quality
modules are necessary to improve this aspect of the decision-making
process.
3. As mentioned above, synthesized hydrological
records are used by the modules of
the DSS in both planning
and operational
management
modes. Currently,
stochastic modelling and the generation
of hydrological
inflows are performed outside of AQUATOOL.
This is not a problem while the DSS is used in planning
mode. However, in operational
mode, where hundreds of inflow time-series have

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289

to be generated which are conditioned by the actual hydrological state of the basin,
it is inefficient to resort to an external procedure. Therefore, a time-series generator
will be included in the DSS.

8. Conclusions

Spain, like other countries, is currently undergoing a transition from an era of

development to one of more effective use of existing resources. This rationality implies
an efficient, integral and sustainable management of water resources. In this type of
environment, technologically advanced tools are required to analyse complex waterresource systems in an integrated fashion and address the classical uncertainties
related to uses, demands and resources, as well as new issues such as the impacts of
climatic change. Moreover, the existing gap between water-resource systems analysts
and the real-world practitioners has to be narrowed if progress is to be made. Fortunately, the basis of this process is already available because recent improvements in
hardware and software allow the creation and easy use of computer-based decisionsupport systems, which are the best if not the only means of dealing successfully with
complex water-resource systems.
The feasibility and reality of this transitional process is demonstrated in this paper,
which describes AQUATOOL, a generalized DSS developed at the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (UPV), Valencia, Spain. The DSS was originally designed for the
planning stage of decision-making for complex basins, including multiple reservoirs,
aquifers and demand centres. Subsequently, it has been expanded to incorporate
modules for the operational-management
stage of decision-making. The modular
structure provides a high level of flexibility in the design, implementation and
operation of the system. Computer-assisted design modules of the DSS facilitate
the graphical definition of a complex water-resource system, which is the key to
geographically referenced databases and knowledge bases. The modelling capacity
includes basin simulation and optimization modules, an aquifer flow modelling
module and two modules for risk assessment. The models use the information from
the databases and knowledge bases. Their results can be analysed by means of other
modules for evaluation and reporting. All this can be accomplished by the decisionmakers themselves, because the interfaces with the user are designed for easy use and
understanding.
The usefulness of this DSS is demonstrated by the fact that it is currently used by
two River Basin Agencies in Spain as a standard tool not only to develop their Basin
Hydrological Plans but also to manage the resource efficiently in the short to medium
term. Both the Segura and Tagus river basins have been used as case studies in the
development and validation of the DSS. However, because AQUATOOL is a generalized DSS, it can also be used for other water-resource systems. In fact, the whole
or parts of the system are currently being implemented in other regions of Spain, such
as the Galician basins, the Guadalquivir river basin and the Ebro river basin.
In the complex cases presented, the DSS has been recognized as a valuable tool for
screening alternatives, obtaining operating guidelines, gaining a better appreciation

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of the basin as a whole, estimating changes in reliability following structural modifications and assessing risks involved with management decisions. Furthermore,
AQUATOOL has proved useful in providing a framework for discussion when conflicts have arisen in the system, including water allocation, modifications to water
rights or agreements, surface-water-groundwater
interactions, etc.
The experience gained during the development and implementation of AQUATOOL indicates that there are a number of prerequisites to ensure users expectations
are realized:
1. close communication between the DSS developers and the technicians who will use
it in the Agency. This guarantees that the final product will address the real
problems.
2. Adopting an approach which does not try to solve all the problems at once, but
progresses from simple questions to more complex ones. In this way, the development of tools in the DSS responds to the priorities of the final users, rather than
becoming an academic exercise.
3. Complete documentation of the tools developed must be available. This documentation includes users manuals for the DSS as a whole and for each mathematical
model separately, as well as technical manuals and worked examples.
It is also apparent that the successful application of a DSS in a complex basin such
as the Segura and Tagus encourages other Agencies to adopt its use, confirming that if
the preceding conditions are met, state-of-the-art tools will not only be well accepted
but also enthusiastically implemented.

Acknowledgements

The development of AQUATOOL is the result of a continuing research programme at UPV, over the past decade. Acknowledgements are given to the institutions that have, in part, supported the project, especially the Confederation
Hidrografica de1 Segura and Confederation Hidrogrifica de1 Tajo. The comments
and opinions of the hydrological planning teams in those institutions were a valuable
contribution to the development of the DSS. Moreover, there are other institutions
and consulting firms that have acquired user-licenses from UPV and implemented the
whole or parts of the system. Their experiences and comments were also extremely
helpful. In this respect, particular thanks are due to Centro de Estudios Hidrogrificos
de1 CEDEX. Additionally, the authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions
from the research assistants, namely, Abel Solera, Emilio Serrano and Sonia Sanchez,
who have participated in both the development of routines and the subsequent testing
and validation phase.
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