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With the rapid development of machine learning (ML) models, the artificial neural network (ANN) is being increasingly applied for forecasting hydrological processes. However, researchers have not treated hybrid ML models in much detail. To address these issues, this study herein suggests a novel methodology to forecast the monthly water level (WL) based on multiple lags of the Tigris River in Al-Kut, Iraq, over ten years. The methodology includes preprocessing data methods, and the ANN model optimises with a marine predator algorithm (MPA). In the optimisation procedure, to decrease uncertainty and expand the predicting range, the slime mould algorithm (SMA-ANN), constriction coefficient-based particle swarm optimisation and chaotic gravitational search algorithms (CPSOCGSA-ANN), and particle swarm optimisation (PSO-ANN) are applied to compare and validate the MPA-ANN model performance. Analysis of results revealed that the data pretreatment methods improved the original data quality and selected the ideal predictors' scenario by singular spectrum analysis and mutual information methods, respectively. For example, the correlation coefficient of the first lag improved from 0.648 to 0.938. Depending on various evaluation metrics, MPA-ANN tends to forecast WL better than SMA-ANN, PSO-ANN, and CPSOCGSA-ANN algorithms with coefficients of determination of 0.94, 0.81, 0.85, and 0.90, respectively. Evidence shows that the proposed methodology yields excellent results, with a scatter index equal to 0.002. The research outcomes represent an additional step towards evolving various hybrid ML techniques, which are valuable to practitioners wishing to forecast WL data and the management of water resources in light of environmental shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water level (WL) forecasting has become a difficult undertaking due to spatiotemporal fluctuations in climatic factors and complex physical processes. This paper proposes a novel hybrid machine learning model based on an artificial neural network (ANN) and the Marine Predators algorithm (MPA) for modeling monthly water levels of the Tigris River in Al-Kut, Iraq. Data preprocessing techniques are employed to enhance data quality and determine the optimal input model. Historical data for water level and climatic factors data are utilized from 2011 to 2020 to build and assess the model. MPA-ANN algorithm's performance is compared with recent constriction coefficient-based particle swarm optimization and chaotic gravitational search algorithm (CPSOCGSA-ANN) and slime mold algorithm (SMA-ANN) to reduce uncertainty and raise the prediction range. The finding demonstrated that singular spectrum analysis is a highly effective method to denoise time series. MPA-ANN outperformed CPSOCGSA-ANN and SMA-ANN algorithms based on different statistical criteria. The suggested novel methodology offers good results with scatter index (SI) = 0.0009 and coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.98). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The permeability coefficient (k-value) of the soil is an important parameter used in the civil engineering design of roads, tunnels, dams, and other structures. However, the determination of k-value by experimental methods in the laboratory or the field is still costly and time-consuming. Moreover, it requires special equipment and special care in the collection of soil samples for laboratory study. Therefore, in this study, we have proposed machine learning (ML) hybrid model: teaching learning-based optimization of artificial neural network (TLBO-ANN) to predict the k-value of soil based on limited parameters (natural water content, void ratio, specific gravity, liquid limit, plastic limit, and clay content) which can be determined easily in the laboratory. Test results of 84 soil samples obtained from the Da Nang-Quang Ngai expressway project in Vietnam are used in the model development. Statistical indicators such as correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) are used to validate and evaluate the accuracy of the model. The results show that the TLBO-ANN model is an effective tool in predicting correctly the k-value (R = 0.905) of soil for the consideration in the design of structures founded on the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of the permeability coefficient (K) of soil is considered as one of the essential steps to assess infiltration, runoff, groundwater, and drainage in the design process of the construction projects. In this study, three cost-effective algorithms, namely, artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), and random forest (RF), which are well-known as advanced machine learning techniques, were used to predict the permeability coefficient (K) of soil (10−9 cm/s), based on a set of simple six input parameters such as natural water content w (%), void ratio (e), specific density (g/cm3), liquid limit (LL) (%), plastic limit (PL) (%), and clay content (%). For this, a total of 84 soil samples data collected from the detailed design stage investigations of Da Nang-Quang Ngai national road project in Vietnam was used to generate training (70%) and testing (30%) datasets for building and validating the models. Statistical error indicators such as RMSE and MAE and correlation coefficient (R) were used to evaluate and compare performance of the models. The results show that all the three models performed well (R > 0.8) for the prediction of permeability coefficient of soil, but the RF model (RMSE = 0.0084, MAE = 0.0049, and R = 0.851) is more efficient compared with the other two models, namely, ANN (RMSE = 0.001, MAE = 0.005, and R = 0.845) and SVM (RMSE = 0.0098, MAE = 0.0064, and R = 0.844). Thus, it can be concluded that the RF model can be used for accurate estimation of the permeability coefficient (K) of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]