ESTIMATION OF DISTRIBUTION NETWORK RECOVERY AFTER DISASTER

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:

generating, by one or more hardware processors, a synthetic distribution network based on locations of substations in a geographical area;

estimating, by the one or more hardware processors, damages to the synthetic distribution network based on disaster data;

performing a simulation to estimate how the synthetic distribution network is repaired, an output of the simulation including information on a lifeline recovery timeline for each building in the geographical area; and

causing presentation, in a user interface, the recovery timeline for one or more buildings.

2 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the synthetic distribution network is an artificially created distribution network based on known information about a real distribution network.

3 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein estimating the damages to the synthetic distribution network is based on fragility curves for the substations and distribution lines in the geographical area.

4 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein performing the simulation further includes:

estimating an order of repairs to the synthetic distribution network based on priorities for restoring supply to the buildings.

5 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the order of repairs includes:

1) repairing substations;

2) repairing distribution to emergency buildings; and

3) repairing distribution lines based on a number of customers affected by each distribution line.

6 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4 , wherein estimating the order of repairs includes:

determining an importance for each component of the synthetic distribution network, the importance indicating how many buildings receive supply via the corresponding element of the synthetic distribution network.

7 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein performing the simulation further includes:

estimating a time of repair for one substation by adding transmission downtime, inspection time, and repair time for the substation.

8 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein performing the simulation further includes:

estimating a time of repair for one distribution line by adding travel time to the distribution line, inspection time of the distribution line;

and repair time for the distribution line.

9 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein performing the simulation further includes:

assigning damage to substations and distribution lines based on corresponding fragility functions.

10 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the disaster data includes a water inundation level in the building caused by a flood.

11 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the disaster data includes an amount of shaking of the building caused by an earthquake.

12 . A system comprising:

a memory comprising instructions; and

one or more computer processors, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more computer processors, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

generating a synthetic distribution network based on locations of substations in a geographical area;

estimating damages to the synthetic distribution network based on disaster data;

performing a simulation to estimate how the synthetic distribution network is repaired, an output of the simulation including information on a recovery timeline for each building in the geographical area; and

causing presentation, in a user interface, the recovery timeline for one or more buildings.

13 . The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein the synthetic distribution network is an artificially created distribution network based on known information about a real distribution network.

14 . The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein estimating the damages to the synthetic distribution network is based on fragility curves for the substations and distribution lines in the geographical area.

15 . The system as recited in claim 12 , wherein performing the simulation further includes:

estimating an order of repairs to the synthetic distribution network based on priorities for restoring supply to the buildings.

16 . A tangible machine-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

generating a synthetic distribution network based on locations of substations in a geographical area;

estimating damages to the synthetic distribution network based on disaster data;

performing a simulation to estimate how the synthetic distribution network is repaired, an output of the simulation including information on a recovery timeline for each building in the geographical area; and

causing presentation, in a user interface, the recovery timeline for one or more buildings.

17 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein the synthetic distribution network is an artificially created distribution network based on known information about a real distribution network.

18 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein estimating the damages to the synthetic distribution network is based on fragility curves for the substations and distribution lines in the geographical area.

19 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16 , wherein performing the simulation further includes:

estimating an order of repairs to the synthetic distribution network based on priorities for restoring supply to the buildings.

20 . The tangible machine-readable storage medium as recited in claim 19 , wherein the order of repairs includes:

1) repairing substations;

2) repairing distribution to emergency buildings; and

3) repairing distribution lines based on a number of customers affected by each distribution line.