Taming a Flood with a T-CUP - Designing Flood-Control Structures with a Genetic Algorithm

This paper describes the use of a genetic algorithm to solve a hydrology design problem determining an optimal prescription of Best Management Practices in a flood-prone watershed. The result is an interactive tool for hydrology engineers that can be used to explore the effects of water retention and infiltration devices as an alternative to traditional storm sewers. The model has proved capable of discovering design prescriptions that are more cost-effective than existing designs, promising significant financial benefits in a shorter time period. Although this tool was developed for a specific watershed, the approach is flexible enough to be applied to any watershed with basic precipitation and soil data.