The ELECTRE I method to optimise GPR data processing analyses for maintenance of water networks

Abstract

Management of water supply systems (WSSs) can be effectively pursued by means of data processing techniques based on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) image mining. This approach enables to collect different graphical representations of WSS buried elements on the basis of which planning maintenance interventions, with the objective of improving the overall condition of the system. This paper proposes to support this kind of techniques by means of a multi criteria decision making (MCDM) point of view. In particular, the ELECTRE I method is suggested to treat results coming from the application of different techniques. A real case study is applied with relation to a set of four alternatives, which correspond to four GPR images obtained from the application of four data processing analyses. The most reliable GPR image will be selected under the evaluation of differently weighted criteria, and this can offer significant information to optimize maintenance management.