An LQG optimal controller for salinity regulation in the Mekong Delta

We study the problem of salinity regulation in a section of the Mekong Delta in the Tra Vinh district of Vietnam where sluice gates are used to control the sea water flow. An optimal control theoretic method is used to derive a gate closure rate that will minimize the salinity effects and associated costs. We use a linearized version of the shallow water equations and salinity transport equations to represent the system. We derive a linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) optimal controller for the gate operation. Results are verified via simulations.