Scenario-Based Spatial Analysis of Water Distribution System Performance in an Irrigation Network Using an Entropy–PCA Integrated Performance Index, Case study: Irrigation Network of Jarghuyeh, Mahyar

Shahhosseini, Ali; Azadegan, Behzad; Hashemy Shahdany, Seied Mehdy; Mashal, Mahmoud

doi:10.22059/ijswr.2026.419852.670193

Scenario-Based Spatial Analysis of Water Distribution System Performance in an Irrigation Network Using an Entropy–PCA Integrated Performance Index, Case study: Irrigation Network of Jarghuyeh, Mahyar

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Ali Shahhosseini

Behzad Azadegan

Seied Mehdy Hashemy Shahdany

Mahmoud Mashal

Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Aborihan), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/ijswr.2026.419852.670193

Abstract

Performance assessment of surface-water distribution systems in irrigation networks, particularly under water shortage and reduced water-supply reliability, requires a framework capable of jointly analyzing performance variations across spatial, scenario-based, and multi-indicator dimensions. However, in many operational assessments, the integration of performance indicators and the identification of critical irrigation units are often carried out with limited attention to spatial heterogeneity and changes in water-shortage severity. This study aims to develop and apply a spatial and scenario-based multi-criteria assessment framework for integrating operational performance indicators in the Jarghuyeh–Mahyar irrigation network. For this purpose, the performance of 675 independent irrigation units was evaluated based on adequacy, dependability, and efficiency indicators under eight operational scenarios, including normal conditions and seven water-shortage levels. After directional harmonization and normalization of the indicators, their weights were calculated using the objective Entropy and Principal Component Analysis methods, and an Integrated Performance Index was determined for each unit and scenario. The results showed that the Entropy method was more sensitive to increasing water shortage; the weight of the adequacy indicator increased from 0.44 under the normal scenario to 0.95 under the unprecedented water-shortage scenario, whereas the PCA weights showed more limited variations. The mean IPI decreased from 62.83 to 8.64 under the Entropy method, while it changed from 61.13 to 54.52 under PCA. Spatial zoning also indicated that, under severe scenarios, the Entropy method represented the expansion of the critical class more explicitly, whereas PCA reflected this expansion in a more moderated manner.

Keywords

Irrigation network

Surface-water distribution

Integrated Performance Index

Subjects