Optimal alignment of a canal route

The paper describes a method of optimising the alignment of an irrigation canal. Several alignments may be possible between the source and destination of a canal, but cost minimisation is important. Canal alignment costs include the cost of earthworks in embankments and excavations. Formulation of the cost function for earthworks is difficult in undulating terrain. In the present study, the topography of a given area is expressed as a double Fourier series to overcome this problem. The cost function is then formulated for the canal route, taking account of the longitudinal profile of the canal as it crosses the terrain. To arrive at a minimum cost route of a canal, several alignments can be evaluated by subdividing each alignment into segments.