Numerical tests and sensitivity analysis of pollution source localisation tool applied on open channel system

Abstract

This paper is focused on solving the inverse problem of pollution spreading in open channel system in order to find the location of pollutant sources. The goal was to propose localisation procedure, which should be operative and fast enough to enable quick interventions to prevent the spread of pollution. The proposed method, as well as the overall localisation procedure was numerically tested on a real sewer system data, which represents in this case an extensive open channel network structure with free surface flow. As part of the numerical tests of the model, a sensitivity analysis was also carried out. The sensitivity analysis was focused on the resulting localization error depending on concentration measurement errors. The numerical test results were successful and confirmed applicability of proposed localization tool in real conditions, the sensitivity analysis points to the influence of individual parameters on localization accuracy.