Evaluation of Regression Models with various Criteria and Optimization Methods for Pollutant Load Estimations

다양한 평가 지표와 최적화 기법을 통한 오염부하 산정 회귀 모형 평가

In this study, the regression models (Load ESTimator and eight-parameter model) were evaluated to estimate instantaneous pollutant loads under various criteria and optimization methods. As shown in the results, LOADEST commonly used in interpolating pollutant loads could not necessarily provide the best results with the automatic selected regression model. It is inferred that the various regression models in LOADEST need to be considered to find the best solution based on the characteristics of watersheds applied. The recently developed eight-parameter model integrated with Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Gradient Descent Method (GDM) were also compared with LOADEST indicating that the eight-parameter model performed better than LOADEST, but it showed different behaviors in calibration and validation. The eight-parameter model with GDM could reproduce the nitrogen loads properly outside of calibration period (validation). Furthermore, the accuracy and precision of model estimations were evaluated using various criteria (e.g., $R^2$ and gradient and constant of linear regression line). The results showed higher precisions with the $R^2$ values closed to 1.0 in LOADEST and better accuracy with the constants (in linear regression line) closed to 0.0 in the eight-parameter model with GDM. In hence, based on these finding we recommend that users need to evaluate the regression models under various criteria and calibration methods to provide the more accurate and precise results for pollutant load estimations.