Abstract
The U.S. electric-power infrastructure urgently needs renovation. Recent major power outages in California, New York, Texas, and Florida have highlighted U.S. electric-power unreliability. The media have discussed the U.S. aging power infrastructure and the Public Utilities Commission has demanded a comprehensive review of the causes of recent power outages. This paper explores geographic information systems (GIS) and a spatially enhanced predictive power-outage model to address: How may spatial analytics enhance our understanding of power outages? To answer this research question, we developed a spatial analysis framework that utilities can use to investigate power-failure events and their causes. Analysis revealed areas of statistically significant power outages due to multiple causes. This study’s GIS model can help to advance smart-grid reliability by, for example, elucidating power-failure root causes, defining a data-responsive blackout solution, or implementing a continuous monitoring and management solution. We unveil a novel use of spatial analytics to enhance power-outage understanding. Future work may involve connecting to virtually any type of streaming-data feed and transforming GIS applications into frontline decision applications, showing power-outage incidents as they occur. GIS can be a major resource for electronic-inspection systems to lower the duration of customer outages, improve crew response time, as well as reduce labor and overtime costs.
Highlights
IntroductionIn a short time, has become a necessity of modern life
Introduction & Problem DefinitionElectric power, in a short time, has become a necessity of modern life
Healthcare, leisure, economy, and livelihood depend on the constant supply of electrical power
Summary
In a short time, has become a necessity of modern life. Healthcare, leisure, economy, and livelihood depend on the constant supply of electrical power. Even a temporary power outage can lead to relative chaos, financial setbacks, and the loss of life. Our cities depend on electricity and without the constant supply from the power grid, pandemonium would ensue. Power outages can be especially tragic for life-support systems in hospitals and nursing homes or systems in synchronization facilities such as in airports, train stations, and traffic control. The economic cost of power interruptions to U.S electricity consumers is $79 billion annually in damages and lost economic activity [1]. In 2017, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provided an update and estimated a power-interruption cost increase of more than 68% per year since their 2004 study [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
