Rules-based ordering

Introduction

There are three key components of rules-based ordering:

• Calculation of order time within a network - order time is calculated in the initialisation phase of a Source project and is required by the ordering and off-allocation systems to determine how many time-steps into the future water orders need to be processed for at each network component; and
• The way orders in the network are processed at each node/model component - Orders are processed in the constraint and order phases. During the ordering phase, water orders and off-allocation requests are accumulated from downstream to upstream and consider the average travel time of water in the regulated river system downstream of a reservoir.
• Prioritisation of orders from nodes to determine which orders will be met first in the system in the event of any shortfall

Rules-based ordering at nodes and links

In the ordering phase, rules based ordering system calculates the total volume of order required at each node and link to meet downstream demand. Orders are received at a node from the downstream node, is adjusted as required, then passed upstream. The adjustment usually involves changing volumes ordered, but at some node types (splitter, confluence, storage) it also involves merging, splitting or resetting the order.

For example, assume an order reaching a loss node is 100ML; due to its characteristics, it loses 20ML. To make up for this reduction, the loss node must now order 120ML, which is the new order that travels upstream. This section deals with processing of orders when ownership has not been enabled (ie. a system containing a single, default owner).

Ordering is configured at the confluence, splitter node and storage nodes, as well as at a storage routing link.

Confluence node

Refer to the Confluence node for configuring ordering at this node. Orders are passed onto the branch depending on the following:

• If orders are directed to a particular storage along a branch, the confluence node will pass them up that branch; or
• If orders can be supplied along multiple paths or by multiple storages, orders can be distributed using either the Harmony-based or Constraint-based method.

Splitter node

Splitter nodes have now the ability to respond to orders and allow ordering water from unregulated networks. Refer to Splitter node for configuring ordering at a splitter node. 

Storage node

Source forecasts the volume of water in storage at the end of the order period so that it can place orders to keep the storage volume within its optimal operating range. Refer to Ordering at storages when configuring ordering at a storage node. 

Link

Routed links may gain or lose water due to rainfall, evaporation and groundwater (seepage) as flow does not travel from one end to another instantaneously. You can choose which of these lateral fluxes the ordering system takes into account by enabling the relevant checkbox shown in the node’s feature editor (Figure 1). The data for each of the fluxes is taken from its corresponding item in the hierarchical list. For example, if you enable Use Loss/Gain, Source uses the table specified in Loss/Gain. If you choose Groundwater as one of the fluxes, you must specify a time series for it, which can be imported.

The order coming into the routed link is adjusted to cater for the lateral fluxes over each time-step that the ordered flow spends in the link.

Figure 1. Link (Ordering)

Order Crawler Recorder

The order crawler recorder is a new recorder to show all the nodes and links in a network.  Available under: Miscellaneous \ Ordering \ Order Crawler. The Order Crawler is a fully interactive, zoomable schematic that shows the entire network with node locations in the same location as the network. There is a slider-bar to choose the day you are interested in. The data available in Order Crawler includes:

• Min Constraints (All, Min Travel time, Max Travel Time, Min & Max) 
• Max Constraints (All, Min Travel time, Max Travel Time, Min & Max) 
• Orders \ Requirements (All, Min Travel time, Max Travel Time, Min & Max) 
• Downstream Flow
• Travel Time (Min and Max)

An Export to Disk option is available which will export the graph state to a text file (.txt) on disk. The file will contain node names, no links, and the data that is chosen for viewing in the graph - for example, if you show travel time and orders it will export both. This text export is useful, for example, to check for possible changes in travel time between Source versions.

Figure 2. The Order Crawler

Note: for large networks, the Order Crawler does record a lot of data and is primarily for problem-solving and not intended to always be turned on.

Recorders of orders in Minimum and Maximum Travel Time, Current Timestep

Since Source version 5.2, three new recorders are available through the recorder set, functions and scenario input set for Rule Based Orders. For example, the user can access them from Parameter recorder: Rule Based Orders >> Orders>>. Three recorders are:

Orders>Minimum Travel Time:  The water volume is ordered to supply the demand user and the water will arrive at the user site after a certain travel time from the current step. The travel time is the shortest time taken for the water to travel from the different water sources (e.g. reservoirs), through different water networks/paths in a water system, to the designed demand site.

Orders>Maximum Travel Time: The water volume is ordered to supply the demand user and the water will arrive at the user site after a certain travel time from the current step. The travel time is the longest time taken for the water to travel from the different water sources (e.g. reservoirs), through different water networks/paths in a water system, to the designed demand site.

Orders>Arriving Current Timestep (expected). The water volume is ordered to supply the demand user and arrives at the user site in the current step (e.g. today). Note that it is equivalent to the previous "Orders" recorder.