Recovery optimization of water distribution networks following seismic events

Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) are critical infrastructure systems essential for maintaining urban functionality. Ensuring their continued operation, particularly in the aftermath of disasters, remains a significant challenge. Despite the growing attention to resilience, existing assessment methodologies do not sufficiently incorporate the post-disaster recovery process. This paper introduces an optimization-based framework aimed at enhancing the seismic resilience of WDNs by determining optimal pipeline repair sequences. The proposed approach employs a Genetic Algorithm to prioritize pipeline repairs, maximizing the efficiency of the recovery process. Based on the optimized repair sequence, characteristic resilience curves are developed, providing a comprehensive assessment of network performance under various seismic intensities and resource constraints. The model’s scalability and applicability are validated through case studies on networks of differing scales. Results from this integrated methodology yield critical insights into network recovery dynamics, serving as valuable guidance for asset managers, engineers, and policymakers in planning, resource allocation, and decision-making for seismic risk mitigation and efficient infrastructure recovery.