Transmission risk assessment using spatial analysis

This paper asserts that spatial analysis can improve the performance of the transmission system. Spatial analysis is the practice of discovering new information or insights from geographically based features. Common examples include discovering where to locate first responders, finding the propensity for lung cancer based on residence history, and deciding where to build a bakery. A common application of spatial analysis is transmission routing. Optimal routing balances a number of geographic factors. Transmission planners use terrain, historic lightning densities, sensitive habitat, distance, costs, land elevation, vegetation, demographics, zoning, and more. Maps communicate the results. Routes often show simple color coded bands or areas-the darker the color of the area the better the route. Transmission operators can use this same kind of analysis for risk assessment of existing lines. Utilities, RTO´s and reliability councils can do this by mashing or merging operating factors not available from the EMS. Important factors to consider are those used in routing plus earthquake data, soil resistance and types, weather, proximity to hazards, high-risk fire zones locations, access conditions, grounding, maintenance history, age of equipment, and infrared survey results. Today, authoritative sources on the web provide some of this information. Operators can merge data with results from security systems and perform a spatial analysis to form a continuously updated risk profile of each of the transmission line segments. This profile gives transmission operators more detail as to where their transmission is most vulnerable and helps them focus on mitigation. This paper details the tools and implementation strategy for transmission operators to assess the risks, take advantage of information not widely available from hidden sources in their organization, and leverage the rich spatial information online in a repeatable and automated way.