Title: What are the tradeoffs?  A many objective approach to water resources planning
Author: Joseph Kasprzyk, Asst. Prof, CEAE
Abstract:  Classic approaches to water resources planning have used cost-benefit analysis, where a single estimate of a 
project's costs and benefits are compared to determine if a project is funded.  Recent studies have shown that aggregating 
multiple, conflicting objectives into a single objective cost function is problematic, because they penalize certain 
objectives in ways that are difficult to predict.  Moreover, concerns about environmental change and the nonstationarity of 
hydrologic data motivate approaches that can move beyond the historical record for evaluating project alternatives.  In 
this presentation we introduce the concept of many-objective analysis -- combining heuristic evolutionary algorithm 
optimization, simulation models, and interactive visualizations to help aid robust, sustainable decision making.  The 
seminar will motivate the approach using two examples: infrastructure planning for the Thames Basin in the UK and 
developing water marketing portfolios in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  Approaches for including the concept of 
robustness in many objective planning will also be discussed.