A novel method for measuring interaction among multiple objectives in reservoir operation using niche theory

Accurate capture and presentation of the interactive feedback relationships among various objectives in multi-objective reservoir operation is essential for maximizing operational benefits. In this study, the niche theory of ecology was innovatively applied to the field of reservoir operation, and a novel state–relationship (S–R) measurement analysis method was developed for multi-objective reservoir operation. This method enables the study of interaction among multiple objectives. This method was used to investigate the relationship among the objectives of power generation, water supply, and ecological protection for cascade reservoir operation in the Wujiang River Basin in China. The results indicated that the ecological protection objective was the most competitive in acquiring and capturing resources like flow and water level, while the water supply objective was the weakest. Power generation competed most strongly with ecological protection and relatively weakly with water supply. These findings facilitate decision-making throughout the reservoir operation process in the region. The S–R method based on the niche theory is convenient, efficient, and intuitive, allowing for the quantification of feedback relationships among objectives without requiring the solution of the Pareto frontier of a multi-objective problem in advance. This method provides a novel and feasible idea for studying multi-objective interactions.