Development of Cross-Domain Artificial Neural Network to Predict High-Temporal Resolution Pressure Data

Forecasting hydraulic data such as pressure and demand in water distribution system (WDS) is an important task that helps ensure efficient and accurate operations. Despite high-performance data prediction, missing data can still occur, making it difficult to effectively operate WDS. Though the pressure data are directly related to the rules of operation for pumps or valves, few studies have been conducted on pressure data forecasting. This study proposes a new missing and incomplete data control approach based on real pressure data for reliable and efficient WDS operation and maintenance. The proposed approach is: (1) application of source data from high-resolution, real-world pressure data; (2) development of a cross-domain artificial neural network (CDANN), combining the standard artificial neural networks (ANNs) and the cross-domain training approach for missing data control; and (3) analysis of standard data mining according to external factors to improve prediction accuracy. To verify the proposed approach, a real-world network located in South Korea was used, and the forecasting results were evaluated through performance indicators (i.e., overall, special points, and percentage errors). The performance of the CDANN is compared with that of standard ANNs, and CDANN was found to provide better predictions than traditional ANNs.