Based on conventional particle swarm optimization (PSO),this paper presents an efficient and reliable heuristic approach using PSO with an adaptive random inertia weight (ARIW) strategy,referred to as the ARIW-PSO algorithm,to build a multi-objective optimization model for reservoir operation.Using the triangular probability density function,the inertia weight is randomly generated,and the probability density function is automatically adjusted to make the inertia weight generally greater in the initial stage of evolution,which is suitable for global searches.In the evolution process,the inertia weight gradually decreases,which is beneficial to local searches.The performance of the ARIWPSO algorithm was investigated with some classical test functions,and the results were compared with those of the genetic algorithm (GA),the conventional PSO,and other improved PSO methods.Then,the ARIW-PSO algorithm was applied to multi-objective optimal dispatch of the Panjiakou Reservoir and multi-objective flood control operation of a reservoir group on the Luanhe River in China,including the Panjiakou Reservoir,Daheiting Reservoir,and Taolinkou Reservoir.The validity of the multi-objective optimization model for multi-reservoir systems based on the ARIW-PSO algorithm was verified.