A Mixed Integer Linear Programming Method for Optimizing Layout of Irrigated Pumping Well in Oasis
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The article is well structured and the topic is interesting and appropriate to be published in the WATER journal.
The problem of optimizing the layout of irrigation wells in oasis, the methodology and the MILP proposed model, results, and discussion are written in a clear and understandable manner.
The research is valuable to be published and the presented approach could be used on similar problems in water management and on other locations.
English should be improved in some parts of the article.
Figure 1 could be smaller in scale, while other figures could be bigger (within the article format).
Author Response
Reply for Reviewer 1#:
1. English should be improved in some parts of the article.
RE: This paper has been re-examined and modified, excluding some mistakes and inappropriate expression.
2. Figure 1 could be smaller in scale, while other figures could be bigger (within the article format).
RE: The scale of the figures in the paper has been re-adjusted, in addition to this, the legend is modified and necessary explanation is added in the text.
Reviewer 2 Report
General comments
In the text there are some mistakes in writing. Some of them are reported below. Add the units of measure to all the parameters. Delete commas after each formula in the text.
Please check all the text again and improve the English.
For citing the references, follow the Instruction for authors: In the text, reference numbers should be placed in square brackets [ ], and placed before the punctuation; for example [1], [1–3] or [1,3].
You cite almost exclusively Chinese papers, “forgetting” other works. Please add references, especially in the first part of the Introduction.
Specific comments and corrections:
Line 53: Please check the reference
Line 55: lifts "increased" change with increase
Lines 58-60: Please add references. See for example “Tromboni F., Bortolini L., Morabito J.A. (2014). Integrated hydrologic-economic decision support system for groundwater use confronting climate change uncertainties in the Tunuyan River basin, Argentina. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 16(6), 1317-1336.”
Line 99: well layout is scare to link?
Line 156: Please check the sentence and also substitute 7 with “seven”
Line 168: units of measure! Check all the text.
Lines 185-186: The sentence is not clear
Line 194: Combine? Check the sentence.
Figure 1: Please improve the explanation in the caption adding the parameters reported in the figure above.
Line 230: change the comma after "language" with a colon or semicolon
Lines 242-243: km2
Line 283: hm2
Line 300: or in ICO?
Line 356: the costly area?
Line 452: Rosenwald, G. W., & Green, D. W. (1974). A method for determining the optimum location of wells in a reservoir using mixed-integer programming. Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal, 14(01), 44-54.
Author Response
Reply for Reviewer 2#:
1. Add the units of measure to all the parameters.
RE: The units of measure have added to all the parameters. (See lines 141,148,149 and so on)
2. Delete commas after each formula in the text.
RE: In the paper, the text following an equation is not a new paragraph. I think it’s better to keep commas after formula in the text.
3. For citing the references, follow the Instruction for authors: In the text, reference numbers should be placed in square brackets [ ], and placed before the punctuation; for example [1], [1–3] or [1,3].
RE: References format has been corrected as required by the Instruction for authors.
4. Line 53: Please check the reference
RE: The reference format has been corrected.
5. Line 55: lifts "increased" change with increase
RE: To maintain the unity of the tense, the "increased" has changed with "increase".
6. Lines 58-60: Please add references. See for example “Tromboni F., Bortolini L., Morabito J.A. (2014). Integrated hydrologic-economic decision support system for groundwater use confronting climate change uncertainties in the Tunuyan River basin, Argentina. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 16(6), 1317-1336.”
RE: The related references including your suggestion have been added to supplement the explanation of importance of groundwater use in irrigation districts.
7. Line 99: well layout is scare to link?
RE: To make the expression smoother, the related expression is changed to “well layout may well link”.
8. Line 156: Please check the sentence and also substitute 7 with “seven”.
RE: 7 is changed with “seven”.
9. Lines 185-186: The sentence is not clear
RE: The original meaning of this sentence is supposed to be a highly generalization of the model components, to make sentence more clear, the subject of sentence is changed to “the model of well layout optimization”.
10. Line 194: Combine? Check the sentence.
RE: The sentence “Combine Equation (2) – (6) and Equation (1)” is changed to “Add Equation (2) – (6) to Equation (1)”.
11. Figure 1: Please improve the explanation in the caption adding the parameters reported in the figure above.
RE: The figure 1 has been modified, the irrigable boundary and influence boundary are added to the legend. The related explanation is mentioned in the following text.
12. Line 230: change the comma after "language" with a colon or semicolon.
RE: The colon is used to replace the comma.
13. Lines 242-243: km2
RE: The number 2 is settled as the letter superscript.
14. Line 283: hm2
RE: The number 2 is settled as the letter superscript.
15. Line 300: or in ICO?
RE: The “in” is deleted.
16. Line 356: the costly area?
RE: To make the explanation clear, the sentence is changed to “the costly area of well electricity cost is smaller than the deepest area of the water table.”.
Reviewer 3 Report
The paper is focused on the method of mixed integer linear programming to optimize the arrangement of the irrigated pumping well in Oasis. The authors of the article have defined the problem formulation, the reforming model and the model solution. In the problem formulation, they defined mathematical functions, cost and flow calculations. In the second part of the methodology, the most difficult task was to find an effective way to solve the problem. In the next part of the methodology, the authors defined the area studied in detail. The last part of the methodology describes individual crops and their areas. This study has obtained two results by determining two different objective functions: implicit costs with depreciation and explicit costs without depreciation. Thus, optimization can be achieved with reasonably well distribution and optimal pumping distribution.
Strengths side:
Ø The article is written at the desired level.
Ø Methodology - listed at the required level.
Ø Results - correspond to methodology.
Ø Conclusion - processed at the required level.
Weaknesses side:
Ø Introduction - proposes to shorten some parts or move them to methodology. Links to resources by one rule (Names or Numbers).
Ø Results - expand on the discussion, complement the need for water for crops (more detailed description of crops).
Other comments:
Ø Introduction - a too detailed objective - I propose to move some parts of the last paragraph into methodology.
Ø Table 2 - I suggest defining the shortcuts used below the table.
Ø Results - I propose to supplement the water demand for cultivated crops in selected areas.
Author Response
Reply for Reviewer 3#:
1. Introduction - proposes to shorten some parts or move them to methodology. (a too detailed objective - I propose to move some parts of the last paragraph into methodology.)
RE: To make the paragraph that introduces the research content more focused, the discussion on the setting of optimization goals has moved to the section of results and discussion.
2. Links to resources by one rule (Names or Numbers).
RE: The reference format has been corrected.
3. Table 2 - I suggest defining the shortcuts used below the table.
RE: Each shortcut in the table has been defined in the previous chapter. In this section, some parameters that are important for understanding the results of case study are emphasized above the table.
4. Results - expand on the discussion, complement the need for water for crops (more detailed description of crops).
RE: The water requirement of crops in the irrigation area has been added to the discussion section. It’s worth to explain that the data of crops layout in Cele oasis is not complete at present and in order to focus on the influence of groundwater depth and different optimization goal on the well layout, the different water requirements in different regions are ignored.
