Abstract
Many hydrological applications related to water resource planning and management primarily rely on a succession of streamflow forecasts with extensive lead times. In this study, two innovative models, termed as DirCNN and DRCNN, are proposed for multi-step-ahead (MSA) monthly streamflow forecasting based on the direct (Dir) and direct-recursive (DR) strategies and using the convolutional neural network (CNN) to automatically extract input variables. Compared to traditional MSA forecasting models, DirCNN and DRCNN can automatically extract input variables and predict streamflow for multiple lead times simultaneously. Xiangjiaba Hydropower Station, Huanren Reservoir, and Fengman Reservoir in China were included as case studies, and three artificial neural networks based models are used as comparative models. The most important results are highlighted below. First, the proposed DirCNN and DRCNN exhibit comparable prediction performances but outperform the comparison models. Second, with the increase in lead time, DirCNN and DRCNN demonstrate good consistency in forecasting accuracy. Third, the stacking order of candidate sequences has little effect on the DirCNN and DRCNN forecasting accuracy. These results suggest that DirCNN and DRCNN could be ahead of MSA monthly streamflow forecasting and thus would be helpful in the judicious use of water resources.






Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.References
Afan HA et al (2020) Input attributes optimization using the feasibility of genetic nature inspired algorithm: Application of river flow forecasting. Sci Rep 10(1):4684
Aichouri I et al (2015) River Flow Model Using Artificial Neural Networks. Energy Procedia 74:1007–1014
An NH, Anh DT (2015) Comparison of strategies for multi-step-ahead prediction of time series using neural network. IEEE, p 142–149
Ballini R, Soares S, Andrade MG (2001) Multi-step-ahead monthly streamflow forecasting by a neurofuzzy network model. IEEE, vol. 2, p 992–997
Ch S, Anand N, Panigrahi BK, Mathur S (2013) Streamflow forecasting by SVM with quantum behaved particle swarm optimization. Neurocomputing 101:18–23
Cheng C, Xie J, Chau K, Layeghifard M (2008) A new indirect multi-step-ahead prediction model for a long-term hydrologic prediction. J Hydrol 361(1–2):118–130
Cheng M, Fang F, Kinouchi T, Navon IM, Pain CC (2020) Long lead-time daily and monthly streamflow forecasting using machine learning methods. J Hydrol 590:125376
Choong S, El-Shafie A (2015) State-of-the-art for modelling reservoir inflows and management optimization. Water Resour Manage 29(4):1267–1282
Fang R (2019) Wavelet based relevance vector machine model for monthly runoff prediction. Water Qual Res J Can 54(2):134–141
Guo Y et al (2021) AI-based techniques for multi-step streamflow forecasts: application for multi-objective reservoir operation optimization and performance assessment. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 25(11):5951–5979
Haidar A, Verma B (2018) Monthly rainfall forecasting using one-dimensional deep convolutional neural network. IEEE Access 6:69053–69063
Huang C et al (2020) Robust forecasting of river-flow based on convolutional neural network. IEEE Trans Sustain Comput 1–1
Hussain D, Hussain T, Khan AA, Naqvi SAA, Jamil A (2020) A deep learning approach for hydrological time-series prediction: a case study of Gilgit river basin. Earth Sci Inform
Kişi Ö (2008) River flow forecasting and estimation using different artificial neural network techniques. Hydrol Res 39(1):27–40
Li Y, Shi H, Han F, Duan Z, Liu H (2019) Smart wind speed forecasting approach using various boosting algorithms, big multi-step forecasting strategy. Renew Energy 135:540–553
Maslova I, Ticlavilca AM, McKee M (2016) Adjusting wavelet-based multiresolution analysis boundary conditions for long-term streamflow forecasting. Hydrol Process 30(1):57–74
Montanari A, Rosso R, Taqqu MS (2000) A seasonal fractional ARIMA Model applied to the Nile River monthly flows at Aswan. Water Resour Res 36(5):1249–1259
Niu W, Feng Z, Cheng C, Zhou J (2018) Forecasting daily runoff by extreme learning machine based on quantum-behaved particle swarm optimization. J Hydrol Eng 23(040180023)
Okkan U, Serbes ZA, Samui P (2014) Relevance vector machines approach for long-term flow prediction. Neural Comput Appl 25(6):1393–1405
Papacharalampous GA, Tyralis H (2018) Evaluation of random forests and Prophet for daily streamflow forecasting. Adv Geosci 45:201–208
Rezaie-Balf M, Naganna SR, Kisi O, El-Shafie A (2019) Enhancing streamflow forecasting using the augmenting ensemble procedure coupled machine learning models: Case study of Aswan High Dam. Hydrol Sci J 64(13):1629–1646
Samanataray S, Sahoo A (2021) A comparative study on prediction of monthly streamflow using hybrid ANFIS-PSO approaches. KSCE J Civ Eng 25(10):4032–4043
Senthil Kumar AR, Goyal MK, Ojha CSP, Singh RD, Swamee PK (2013) Application of artificial neural network, fuzzy logic and decision tree algorithms for modelling of streamflow at Kasol in India. Water Sci Technol 68(12):2521–2526
Shu X et al (2021) Monthly streamflow forecasting using convolutional neural network. Water Resour Manage 35(15):5089–5104
Smith JA (1991) Long-range streamflow forcasting using nonparametric regression. J Am Water Resour Assoc 27(1):39–46
Sudheer C, Maheswaran R, Panigrahi BK, Mathur S (2014) A hybrid SVM-PSO model for forecasting monthly streamflow. Neural Comput Appl 24(6):1381–1389
Tongal H, Booij MJ (2016) A comparison of nonlinear stochastic self-exciting threshold autoregressive and chaotic k-nearest neighbour models in daily streamflow forecasting. Water Resour Manage 30(4):1515–1531
Uamusse MM (2015) Monthly stream flow predition in Pungwe River for small hydropower plant using wavelet method. Int J Energy Power Eng 4(5):280
Yaseen ZM et al (2016) Stream-flow forecasting using extreme learning machines: a case study in a semi-arid region in Iraq. J Hydrol 542:603–614
Yılmaz I, Yuksek AG (2008) An example of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) application for indirect estimation of rock parameters. Rock Mech Rock Eng 41(5):781–795
Yu P, Tseng T (1996) A model to forecast flow with uncertainty analysis. Hydrol Sci J 41(3):327–344
Zhang X, Peng Y, Zhang C, Wang B (2015) Are hybrid models integrated with data preprocessing techniques suitable for monthly streamflow forecasting? Some experiment evidences. J Hydrol 530:137–152
Funding
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [U2240204] and the fund of Innovation research team from the department of science and technology in Liaoning Province [XLYC1908023].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Yong Peng designed the study. Xingsheng Shu performed the research and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. Wei Ding analyzed the data and made revisions to the draft. Ziru Wang contributed to the revisions. Jian Wu contributed to the revisions.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics Approval
Not applicable.
Consent to Participate
Not applicable.
Consent to Publish
Not applicable.
Competing Interest
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Highlights
• Two CNN-based models for MSA monthly streamflow forecasting are proposed.
• DirCNN and DRCNN provide satisfactory monthly streamflow forecasting up to 12 months ahead.
• The stacking order of candidate sequences has little effect on the forecasting accuracies of DirCNN and DRCNN.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shu, X., Peng, Y., Ding, W. et al. Multi-Step-Ahead Monthly Streamflow Forecasting Using Convolutional Neural Networks. Water Resour Manage 36, 3949–3964 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-022-03165-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-022-03165-6