Optimization of the Conceptual Model of Green-Ampt Using Artificial Neural Network Model (ANN) and WMS to Estimate Infiltration Rate of Soil (Case Study: Kakasharaf Watershed, Khorram Abad, Iran)

Abstract

Determination of the infiltration rate in a watershed is not easy and in empirical and theoretical point of view, it is important to access average value of infiltration. Infiltration models has main role in managing water sources. Therefore different types of models with various degrees of complexity were developed to reach this aim. Most of the estimating methods of soil infiltration are expensive and time consuming and these methods estimate infiltration with hypothesis of zero slope. One of the conceptual and physical models for estimating soil infiltration is Green-Ampt model which is similar to Richard model. This model uses slope factor in estimating infiltration and this is the power point of Green-Ampt model. In this research the empirical model of Green-Ampt was optimized with integrating artificial neural network model (ANN) and a model of geographical information system WMS to estimate the infiltration in Kakasharaf watershed. Results of the comparison between the output of this method and real value of infiltration in region (through multiple cylinders) showed that this method can estimate the infiltration rate of Kakasharaf watershed with low error and acceptable accuracy (Nash-Sutcliff performance coefficient 0.821, square error 0.216, correlation coefficient 0.905 and model error 0.024).