Advancing simulation-optimization modeling (SOM) techniques for the development of robust air and water pollution load reduction-allocation (PLRA) programs

区域环境空气质量和自然地表水体的恶化是决策者和利益攸关方面临的主要环境问题。有效的空气和水污染负荷减少分配（PLRA）计划是空气/水质量恢复和管理所需的。仿真优化建模（SOM）技术在开发此类PLRA程序中起着核心作用，其中仿真模型作为原型非线性空气/水系统的数值表示，以预测外力（即污染物负荷）对内部响应（即空气/水质量）的影响;并且优化模型被耦合以迭代地驱动仿真模型以找到最佳PLRA策略。这项研究的主要目标是开发先进的SOM技术，用于PLRA模拟优化分析;它需要：（a）表征复杂空气和水系统的非线性和不确定性，（B）提出非线性到不确定性映射（N2 UM）方法以将原始非线性SOM模型转换为其不确定LP等价，并研究其相对于现有函数逼近器的性能，（c）发展先进的不精确优化算法，以解决多个不确定性下的LP等效模型，以及（d）发展互动式后优化方法，以反映决策风险与系统安全之间的权衡，从而产生操作决策方案。开发的SOM技术将被应用到加拿大的空气和水的背景下，在现实世界的情况下。所提出的方法是一个独特的贡献，在PLRA领域的方法。为解决计算瓶颈、不确定性处理、决策-风险-系统-安全权衡分析等问题提供技术支持。将其应用于加拿大的案例将有助于加拿大利益攸关方提高其管理空气/水污染问题的效力和效率。此外，一些研究生和PDF将通过参与拟议的研究进行培训。经过培训的HQP将满足各部门对环境管理专业人员的迫切需求。

Deteriorations of regional ambient air quality and natural surface water bodies are among the major environmental concerns facing decision makers and stakeholders. Effective air and water pollution load reduction-allocation (PLRA) programs are desired for air/water quality restoration and management. Simulation-optimization modeling (SOM) techniques play a central role in developing such PLRA programs, where the simulation model serves as a numerical representation of the prototype nonlinear air/water system to predict the effects of external forces (i.e. pollutant loads) on the internal responses (i.e. air/water quality); and optimization models are coupled to iteratively drive the simulation model to find the optimal PLRA strategies. The primary objective of this proposed research aims to develop advanced SOM techniques for a PLRA simulation-optimization analysis; it entails: (a) characterize the nonlinearities and uncertainties of complex air and water systems, (b) propose nonlinearity-to-uncertainty mapping (N2UM) approaches to convert the original nonlinear SOM model to its uncertain LP equivalence and investigate its performance over existing functional approaximators, (c) develop advanced inexact optimization algorithms for solving LP-equivalent models under multiple uncertainties, and (d) develop interactive post-optimality approaches to reflect the tradeoffs between decision risk and system safety for generating operational decision schemes. The developed SOM techniques will be applied to real-world cases within a Canadian air and water context. The proposed approaches represent a unique contribution to methodologies in the PLRA field. It could provide technical supports for tackling challenges in terms of computation bottleneck, uncertainty handling, and decision-risk & system-safety tradeoff analysis. Its applications to Canadian cases will help Canadian stakeholder improve their effectiveness and efficiency in managing air/water pollution problems. Besides, a number of graduate students and PDFs will be trained through participating in the proposed research. The trained HQPs will fill a pressing need for environmental management professionals in various sectors.