Before delving deeper into the application of optimization to the SEQ water grid it is important to understand
the basis of optimization and the types of problems that this technology is being applied to currently. Optimization
techniques have been used by scientists extensively in the past sixty years. Originally designed for military logistics,
these techniques have spread widely into other areas of business including project planning, engineering design,
transportation logistics, and financial analysis. Due to the advances in computational power and development in
optimization algorithm, many industries have adopted this technology and implemented them in their decision making
processes.
Network optimization problems are undoubtedly the most common type of optimization problems. This type of
optimization is applicable to a wide range of industries which seek to determine aspects such as:
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