Projects available for September 2014 entry at

the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in

Power Networks.

Funding is available for up to 10 students for entry to the programme in

September 2014.

Studentships through the Centre are fully funded and include university
fees and a stipend of 17,500 pa for UK and qualifying EU nationals.

Project Selection

Before making your application please review the projects available for
this years entry and discuss your interest with the appropriate academic
supervisor.

Projects are organised into 4 research areas:

1. Electrical power network design, operation and management

2. Power network operation, planning and governance
3. Changes to the pattern of energy demands and their effect on the
power network
4. Cross-cutting technologies

1
1. Projects in Electrical power network design,
operation and management:

Energy Storage Lifetime Management.

Supervisor: Dr Rebecca Todd.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical and electronic engineering, control

engineering or physics degree.

Keywords: Energy storage control, battery and super-capacitor life

cycling, impact on power network.

Project description

Future power networks, both land-based AC grid systems and vehicle

DC networks, are becoming increasingly complex with higher power
highly dynamic load systems. A significant cost in an energy storage
system is the actual energy storage element, often batteries and/or
super-capacitors. Devising energy storage life management
techniques is critical for performance and cost reasons.

This project aims to:

Develop a fundamental understanding of the impact of load

usage profiles on battery and super-capacitor life using a
new industrial test system.
Utilise this knowledge to devise and demonstrate energy
storage life management on a commercial 200kW 125kWhr
AC grid connected battery-based energy storage system a
1MJ super-capacitor-based energy storage system in the
Rolls-Royce funded 100kW Intelligent Electric Power Network
Evaluation Facility (IEPNEF).
2
 Interface the AC grid connected energy storage to a RTDS
power network simulator to understand the local and wider
power network impact of the control.

Optimal Predictive Control of Modern Power Network.

Supervisor: Dr Ognjen Marjanovic.

Pre-requisites: Either engineering or maths degree.

Keywords: Optimal control, predictive control, distribution network,

renewable energy sources, energy storage, multivariable control.

Project description

This project will focus on the modelling and control of electrical

power networks that comprise of electrical loads as well as
renewable energy sources and energy storage elements. The project
will aim to consider a more general framework of modelling power
networks that is not focused on specific renewable energy and
energy storage technologies in order to address the fundamental
controllability challenges imposed on the modern power networks.
The issues regarding the appropriate coordination of the renewable
energy sources and energy storage elements under various
operating conditions will be firstly identified and then addressed by
considering various control strategies. One of these control
techniques that is likely to be considered is model predictive control
(MPC) that allows hard as well as soft constraints, which are likely to
be imposed on various system variables, to be managed whilst
ensuring stability, robustness and appropriate level of operational
performance.

3
The Next Generation of Offshore HVDC Transmission
Stations Station Capability and Optimal Platform
Exploitation (HVDC-SCOPE)

Supervisor: Professor Mike Barnes.

Pre-requisites: Good BEng in electrical engineering or equivalent.

Some industrial experience preferred.

Keywords: VSC-HVDC, offshore networks, electrical power system

design, frequency response.

Project description

Plans for multi-terminal HVDC offshore networks are a key element

in integrating offshore wind into the UK transmission network cost-
effectively. Additionally they will reinforce the AC onshore network
and provide a strong set of interconnections to mainland Europe and
its generation capacity.

Networks based on VSC-HVDC technology are at present the only

solution suitable. However research on VSC-HVDC to date has been
limited to point-to-point connections or simple small multi-terminal
systems. Offshore stations have been of large power rating but this
still needs to grow if renewable targets for 2020 and beyond are to
be met.

A major cost factor of offshore power networks is the offshore

station. However the design of these stations has received relatively
little attention to date, and indeed station safety factors are used on
most designs, increasing system cost substantially.

This project will investigate platform layout for offshore VSC-HVDC

stations in order to develop answers to two interlinked themes:

4
 What can be the impact of next-generation VSC-HVDC designs on
platform layout and system optimisation? In particular are there
significant cost savings in terms of improved system design to
reduce platform weight?
What is the implication on offshore station design of their in-future
required functionality for integration with the existing AC network?

Network Automation for Non-deterministic System

Planning.

Supervisor: Professor Peter Crossley.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical engineering, physics or maths

degree.

Keywords: Protection, control, automation, probabilistic system

planning.

Project description

This activity will examine the role that protection, control and
automation will play in a network based on probabilistic planning
and operation where static ratings are no longer used. The analysis
should also consider how faults can be differentiated from heavy
loading conditions during low short circuit level scenarios. Review the
inter dependence between protection and control and identify
appropriate reliability and dependability factors. Consider impact of
new technology on fault clearing times and recommend protection
and control coordination strategies.

5
Lifetime Prediction Modelling for Transmission Assets.

Supervisor: Professor Zhongdong Wang.

Pre-requisites: Either materials science, chemistry, physics or

engineering degree.

Keywords: Asset performance, management tool, condition

assessment.

Project description

T&D networks are composed of many different types and vintages of

assets. The reliable lifetime of an asset is determined by many
factors including materials, function, environment and maintenance.
The project will investigate the factors which can and should be
considered for different families and generations of assets. The tool
developed will be capable of addressing most key transmission
assets and providing reporting functions which can assist in the
identification of asset lifetime and performance taking into account
risk and criticality.

Power Cable, Condition, End-of-Life, Asset Management.

Supervisor: Professor Simon Rowland or Professor Ian Cotton.

Pre-requisites: Either a chemistry, engineering or materials science

degree.

Keywords: Power cable, condition, end-of-life, asset management.

Project description

6
 Electricity network operators invest considerable sums of money in
replacement of ageing power cables. However, there is considerable
uncertainty in assessing whether or not a cable network has in fact
reached the end of its useful service life, leading to possible under-
or over- investment. Building on previous research carried out by
Norweb, this project would bring together a number of possible
indicators of end-of-life (such as time-of-flight loss angle, rumbling
faults, earth leakage, soil acidity, etc) to develop a more robust and
reliable means of estimating when a cable has reached the end of its
useful service life.

Modelling Flexible Network Operation, Integrating

Weather Prognosis and Asset Ageing.

Supervisor: Dr Konstantinos Kopsidas.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical engineering, maths or science

degree.

Keywords: Dynamic thermal rating, network planning, weather

forecasting.

Project description

The aim of the proposed project is to develop an integrated circuit

rating model for overhead lines (OHL) and underground cables (UC)
that considers the effects of the increasing uncertainty of weather
data as the forecast moves into the future, the spatial weather
uncertainty, and the circuit components' life estimation as a function
of loading.

The study will build on and expand on preliminary studies by the

supervisor's research team. Existing appropriate temporal and
spatial weather forecasting methods will be implemented into a
7
 power network model that considers system-wide DTR for the OHL
and UC. Therefore, the power network modelling will be advanced
through improvement of the existing OHL and UC model by adding
plant properties (e.g. conductor type, ducting method, etc) that affect
their rating and are influenced by weather conditions. The final
power network modelling will consider the spatial distribution of the
lines and will allow evaluating the effects of temporal and spatial
weather prediction and its uncertainty on the OHL and UC thermal
rating.

Development of asset degradation models for managing

asset condition forecasting.

Supervisor: To be confirmed.

Pre-requisites: Pending.

Keywords: Asset degradation, Markov, condition, forecasting, asset

management.

Project description

High-voltage electrical equipment is understood to degrade

according to a semi-Markov progression, whereby progression to the
next stage of degradation is driven by the products of previous
degradation. This leads to an ever-increasing ageing rate until the
asset ultimately fails. Representative models that replicate this effect
have been very successful in forecasting asset condition and are
widely used in the electrical industry. However, these models share a
fundamental limitation in that they do not model the underlying
degradation activity and are therefore unsuitable for exploring the
best way to manage (or prevent) degradation.

8
 This project would attempt to produce a simple Markov model for a
specific asset class and, through experimentation or use of historic
condition data, identify the parameters necessary to adequately
model (and ultimately understand) the factors that contribute to
asset degradation.

Identification and classification of electrical partial

discharge activity from ultrasonic signals for failure
avoidance, defect location and asset management.

Supervisor: Professor Patrick Gaydecki.

Pre-requisites: Appropriate degree in numerical sciences (electronic

engineering, computing, physics).

Keywords: Ultrasonic signals, electrical, partial discharge, asset

management, signal processing, feature analysis, pattern
recognition.

Project description

Most defects in switchgear that could lead to catastrophic failure

exhibit partial discharge (PD) activity before failure occurs.
Measurement of ultrasonic signals as a method for detection of
partial discharge is a well-established technique. Unfortunately, the
method is prone to interference from other ultrasonic sources, such
as fluorescent lighting and switch-mode power supplies. This project
would determine the distinguishing characteristics of ultrasonic
signals that emanate from electrical partial discharge activity. This
will enable genuine sources of partial discharge to be identified more
accurately. If possible, the project would be extended to enable
classification of different types of partial discharge (e.g. surface
discharge vs. air gap, for example). UK Power Networks have a very

9
 large database of PD activity recorded using these methods from a
wide range of MV switchgear. It is proposed that the project also
establishes a correlation between these different discharge signals
and actual defects, their whereabouts in the switchgear and their
severity.

Investigation on Low Molecular Weight Acids as an

Alternative Paper Ageing Indicator for Power
Transformers.

Supervisor: Dr Qiang Liu.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical engineering, chemistry, chemical

engineering or material science degree.

Keywords: Power transformers, paper ageing, furan, low molecular

weight acid, ageing, asset management.

Project description

Power transformers play an important role in a power system

network, and they are also one of the most expensive equipment in
substations in terms of capital cost. Nowadays, a large proportion of
transformers in operation are in the age beyond their designed
lifetime, and this requires better ageing assessment of the
transformer in order to maintain the equipment and system
reliability.

The lifetime of a transformer depends on the mechanical strength of

paper insulation, which is normally measured through Tensile
Strength (TS) or Degree of Polymerization (DP). These measurements
require the paper sample itself, which is impossible to be sampled
for an in-service transformer. Therefore it was proposed to seek for

10
 paper indicators in oil. Measurement of Furanic compounds is one of
the established method, however Furanic compounds tend to only
indicate the late severe paper ageing state, and its measurement
requires sophisticate equipment as well.

In recent years, it was found that Low Molecular Weight Acid (LMA)
has a significant impact on paper ageing. The amount of LMA in the
paper has been found to be related to the mechanical strength of
the paper. As acids would migrate between oil and paper, this
project is aimed to investigate an alternative paper ageing indicator
through measuring LMA in oil. The research output will contribute to
transformer ageing assessment and asset management field.

Alternative tower Design for OHL Transmission Towers

Screw Piles.

Supervisor: Dr Carlos Lam.

Pre-requisites: Either civil engineering or built environment degree.

Keywords: Design, structures, cost benefit, ground conditions.

Project description

This project aims to examine the possible alternatives to the current

overhead line (OHL) tower foundations such as screw piles to reduce
time and cost of the installation. This may give a significant cost
benefit and environmental/sustainability advantage over traditional
reinforced concrete pad and column type footings. The limitations of
the alternative technique will also be considered.

The following is a list the topics that can be considered: 1) tower

types (structures) where screw piles could be installed; 2) suitable
ground conditions for screw piles geological mapping of UK; 3)
11
 grouping of piles; 4) derivation of standards/specifications/design
parameters applicable for use on OHL; 5) development of
cost/benefit analysis; 6) environmental impact assessment.

This research may consist of desk study, small-scale model testing in

laboratory, numerical finite-element modelling and/or large-scale
field testing.

Alternative Structures for OHL Transmission Towers.

Supervisor: Professor Yong Wang.

Pre-requisites: Either civil engineering or built environment degree.

Keywords: Design, structures, concrete filled tubes, cost benefit,

construction, maintenance, screw piles, environmental impact
assessment.

Project description

This project will develop alternative methods of construction of OHL

transmission towers, principally exploring the use of concrete filled
tubes as the tower structure. This type of support structure has
many benefits including much reduced footprint, enhanced visual
appearance, improved structural resistance, reduced construction
and maintenance costs, flexibility to be used with different types of
foundation including screw and driven piles. This type of
construction has already been used in China. The aim of this project
is to develop design, construction and installation methods to suit
the UK construction and power networks industries. This project will
mainly be carried out using numerical simulations, but some
experimental testing may be required to provide data for validation
of the simulations. The key outputs of this project will be proposals
of a number of specifications for OHL transmission tower system

12
 under different structural loading and UK ground conditions, based
on technical feasibility, cost-effective analysis taking into
consideration maintenance, and environmental impact assessment.

Static converters and energy storage.

Supervisor: Professor Peter Crossley.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical or electronic engineering, or physics

degree.

Keywords: Rail, electrification.

Project description

Intelligent and integrated network and load management for

transport systems - based on multiple data sources and smart,
distributed network and load control.

Integration of intelligent network and load management into future

traffic management systems - balanced load support and energy
recuperation.

Development of 'double sided' feeding of 50Hz ac electrification

systems using static (3 to single phase) converter technologies.

Development of 'Adaptive AC' traction power system concept.

Renewable Substation Power Supplies: Devise a cost effective "multi-

layered" solution (wind and solar generation, clever storage etc) to
dispense with external supplies to bring great savings to the
industry.

KERS-type energy storage system, has been thought on trainborne,

but how about at substations?
13
AC/DC energy losses - real-time quantification of energy
losses.

Supervisor: To be confirmed.

Pre-requisites: either electrical engineering, science or computer

science degree.

Keywords: Rail, electrification.

Project description

Dynamic, real time measurement of AC and DC traction energy

distribution system losses - i2r and resistive/reactive leakage losses.

Intelligent and integrated network and load management for

transport systems - based on multiple data sources and smart,
distributed network and load control

Integration of intelligent network and load management into future

traffic management systems.

Power Generation from Large Scale Tidal Stream Turbine

Arrays.

Supervisor: Dr Tim Stallard.

Pre-requisites: Either engineering, maths or physics degree.

Keywords: Tidal stream turbines, arrays, large scale.

Project description

14
 Tidal stream turbines are now being successfully deployed at an
individual level, typically with a 1MW capacity. Scaling up has many
challenges, in terms of resource reduction, increased loading due to
wake turbulence, support structure costs. This project would
investigate large scale array interactions accounting for flows at
basin scale, local effects of array turbulence on power and loading,
and optimisation of support structure (fixed, floating and materials).
Sites around the UK would be assessed.

Prediction of failure in discharging MV cables.

Supervisor: Professor Zhongdong Wang.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical engineering, chemistry, computer

science, maths or material science degree.

Keywords: Partial discharge, avoiding failure, phase pattern

recognition, asset management.

Project description

UK Power Networks have accumulated a large amount of data from

extensive partial discharge (PD) monitoring of MV cable circuits. The
activity is power phase resolved and the discharges form
characteristic patterns in the phase that reflect the type of defect
causing the PD and, potentially, the imminence of breakdown and
cable failure. It is proposed that research is carried out using this PD
database and associated failure information: investigating the
relationship between these phase resolved patterns, the defect
types, and the likelihood of failure. The outcome of this work could
be very useful in the assessment of cable condition, corrective
maintenance and failure prevention.

15
2. Projects in Power network operation, planning
and governance:

Optimised Circuit Undergrounding.

Supervisor: Professor Cecilia Wong (Socioeconomics), Professor

Peter Crossley (Engineering or Materials).

Pre-requisites: Either engineering, geography or planning degree.

Keywords: Insulated conductors, underground cables, visual impact,

transmission feeders, network planning.

Project description

This project may be delivered from a number of perspectives either a

Socioeconomic approach, an Engineering Approach or a Materials
Science Approach.

It aims to:

Evaluate the suitability of insulated conductors to reduce

physical dimensions and clearances for low underground or
surface mounted installation.
Adopt probabilistic and dynamic ratings to utilise post fault
ratings.
Establish the limitations and requirements for transfer of
energy at domestic, commercial and industrial scale.
Establish the potential for underground solutions to be cost
comparable with overhead solutions.

16
Alternative tower Design for OHL Transmission Towers
Screw Piles.

Supervisor: Dr Carlos Lam.

Pre-requisites: Either civil engineering or built environment degree.

Keywords: Design, structures, cost benefit, ground conditions.

Project description

This project aims to examine the possible alternatives to the current

overhead line (OHL) tower foundations such as screw piles to reduce
time and cost of the installation. This may give a significant cost
benefit and environmental/sustainability advantage over traditional
reinforced concrete pad and column type footings. The limitations of
the alternative technique will also be considered.

The following is a list the topics that can be considered:

1. Tower types (structures) where screw piles could be installed;

2. Suitable ground conditions for screw piles - geological mapping
of UK;
3. Grouping of piles;
4. Derivation of standards/specifications/design parameters
applicable for use on OHL;
5. Development of cost/benefit analysis;
6. Environmental impact assessment.

This research may consist of desk study, small-scale model testing in

laboratory, numerical finite-element modelling and/or large-scale
field testing.

17
Alternative Structures for OHL Transmission Towers.

Supervisor: Professor Yong Wang.

Pre-requisites: Either civil engineering or built environment degree.

Keywords: Design, structures, concrete filled tubes, cost benefit,

construction, maintenance, screw piles, environmental impact
assessment.

Project description

This project will develop alternative methods of construction of OHL

transmission towers, principally exploring the use of concrete filled
tubes as the tower structure. This type of support structure has
many benefits including much reduced footprint, enhanced visual
appearance, improved structural resistance, reduced construction
and maintenance costs, flexibility to be used with different types of
foundation including screw and driven piles. This type of
construction has already been used in China.

The aim of this project is to develop design, construction and

installation methods to suit the UK construction and power networks
industries. This project will mainly be carried out using numerical
simulations, but some experimental testing may be required to
provide data for validation of the simulations. The key outputs of this
project will be proposals of a number of specifications for OHL
transmission tower system under different structural loading and UK
ground conditions, based on technical feasibility, cost-effective
analysis taking into consideration maintenance, and environmental
impact assessment.

18
Innovative design solutions and planning policy models
for optimised, publically acceptable, OHL transmission
lines in areas of designated environmental and landscape
quality.

Supervisor: Dr Mark Baker or Dr Carys Jones.

Pre-requisites: Engineering, geography, planning or environmental

sciences background.

Keywords: design, technology, planning, environmental assessment,

risk modelling, OHL transmission lines

Project description

There is a pressing need in the UK to modernise the countrys major

energy and power infrastructure, including renewable sources and
associated transmission lines. However potential private and
institutional investors can be put off by uncertainties and
complexities around regulatory planning processes and procedures,
including environmental impact assessment.

Such challenges are particularly acute in areas designated for their

high landscape and environmental quality, such as areas of
outstanding natural beauty (AONBs) and National Parks.

This project therefore aims to investigate the potential for innovative

OHL transmission line design solutions, that would be publically
acceptable, sustainable, and have environmental and planning
benefits (e.g. visual impact, footprint, corridor, height and separation
considerations), within the wider context of an evaluation of current
planning policy approaches and regulatory regimes that can better
balance the national need to develop energy supply resilience and
adaptation through capital investment alongside environmental
protection, community engagement and social equity.
19
Risk Based System Planning and Operation.

Supervisor: Dr Victor Levi.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical engineering, maths or physics

degree.

Keywords: Network security, resilience, network planning, system

operation, probability.

Project description

The electricity networks of Great Britain are designed according to

deterministic standards, including P2/6 Security of Supply and the
Security & Quality of Supply standards (SQSS). The proposed
research will revisit the analysis that underpins these standards and
investigate the role that factors such as probability, risk and criticality
around technology, socioeconomics and geography can play in
future methodologies for transmission and distribution system
design and planning.

The researcher will develop a robust and repeatable methodology

which can be employed by GB utility design engineers to incorporate
risk and uncertainty around network security, generation and load
variability, flexible operation and dynamic ratings. The analysis
should consider how the following factors will affect this technique:
higher appetite for risk on assets and overload management
(securing for N-1 and N-2) and managing high impact low probability
(HILP) events.

20
3. Projects in Changes to the pattern of energy
demands and their effect on the power network:

Energy Storage Lifetime Management.

Supervisor: Dr Rebecca Todd.

Pre-requisites: Either electrical and electronic engineering, control

engineering or physics degree.

Keywords: Energy storage control, battery and super-capacitor life

cycling, impact on power network.

Project description

Future power networks, both land-based AC grid systems and vehicle

DC networks, are becoming increasingly complex with higher power
highly dynamic load systems. A significant cost in an energy storage
system is the actual energy storage element, often batteries and/or
super-capacitors. Devising energy storage life management
techniques is critical for performance and cost reasons.

This project aims to:

Develop a fundamental understanding of the impact of load

usage profiles on battery and super-capacitor life using a new
industrial test system.
Utilise this knowledge to devise and demonstrate energy
storage life management on a commercial 200kW 125kWhr AC
grid connected battery-based energy storage system a 1MJ
super-capacitor-based energy storage system in the Rolls-
Royce funded 100kW Intelligent Electric Power Network
Evaluation Facility (IEPNEF).

21
 Interface the AC grid connected energy storage to a RTDS
power network simulator to understand the local and wider
power network impact of the control.

Mapping vulnerability to fuel poverty in the UK:

Implications for future energy demand and sector
governance.

Supervisor: Professor Stefan Bouzarovski.

Pre-requisites: A degree involving quantitative methods. GIS training

would be preferable.

Keywords: Fuel poverty, vulnerability mapping, energy demand,

scenarios.

Project description

This research will aim to map vulnerability to fuel poverty

(understood as a household's propensity to experience an inability to
meet its basic energy needs) and forecast future energy demand on
this basis.

The mapping will include qualitative and quantitative dimensions,

and will address the complex spatial, social and political dimensions
associated with a possible future decrease or expansion of fuel
poverty in the UK.

Consequently it will aim to inform the development of network

infrastructure within the UK, so as to allow future policy to both
evolve with, and adapt to, the multiple uncertainties surrounding
energy demand.

22
The research will fit into the groupings on 'Power Network
Operation, Planning and Governance' and 'Changes to the Pattern of
Energy Demands and Their Effect on the Power Network'.

23
4. Projects in Cross-cutting technologies:

The performance parameters needed for systems to

optimally store, smooth and trade wind power:
assessment of performance achievements so far and the
value of future performance improvements.

Supervisors:

Economic aspects: Professor Syd Howell, Manchester Business

School.
Mathematics aspects: Professor Peter Duck, Head of the School of
Mathematics.

Pre-requisites: Numerical solution of partial differential equations.

Keywords: Wind power, energy storage, intermittent supply, optimal

smoothing, storage and trading of wind power, technology targets.

Project description

This project builds on the results of a recent EPSRC-funded proof of

principle project on the stochastic dynamic optimisation of a wind
energy storage system. The project assumed the following dynamics:
that wind strength is a mean-reverting Brownian motion, with a daily
cyclical disturbance; that demand (proxied by price) has a similar, but
differently phased, daily distribution; and that the energy storage
unit has simple dynamics, in which there is no dead zone, and any
energy surpluses and deficits flow to and from the energy storage
unit instantaneously, up to some maximum rate of inflow or outflow,
and subject to a maximum storage capacity for the ESD.

24
 Given any fixed design of wind farm, energy storage unit and
connector, with given dynamics, their operating and trading rules can
be optimised. If in addition, data are available on the capital and
operating costs of wind farm, energy storage unit and connectors,
having various alternative dynamic and static capacities, it is possible
to select the capacities and the operating rules of all the system
elements jointly, to give an overall optimal design.

The aim of this project is firstly to extend the dynamics assumed in

the previous optimisation work, so as to model more empirically
realistic data for demand, and also more empirically realistic
parameters various implementations energy storage systems (e.g.
hydro, various chemical batteries, flywheels etc.). Adding the costs
and dynamics of various existing system components, and or targets
for future will allow:

a) The optimisation of designs whose dynamics are physically

realisable today, at known costs
b) A quantification of the future value of being able to achieve any
given improvement in the operating dynamics, or in the capital
or operating costs, of each element of the system.

Optimised Circuit Undergrounding.

Supervisor: Professor Cecilia Wong (Socioeconomics), Professor

Peter Crossley (Engineering or Materials).

Pre-requisites: Either Engineering, Geography or Planning degree.

Keywords: Insulated conductors, underground cables, visual impact,

transmission feeders, network planning.

Project description

25
 This project may be delivered from a number of perspectives either a
Socioeconomic approach, an Engineering Approach or a Materials
Science Approach.

It aims to:

Evaluate the suitability of insulated conductors to reduce

physical dimensions and clearances for low underground or
surface mounted installation.
Adopt probabilistic and dynamic ratings to utilise post fault
ratings.
Establish the limitations and requirements for transfer of
energy at domestic, commercial and industrial scale.
Establish the potential for underground solutions to be cost
comparable with overhead solutions.

Visualising Transmission Asset Management.

Supervisor: Dr John Brooke.

Pre-requisites: Computer science or maths degree.

Keywords: Performance metrics, graphical information systems,

system inertia, system stability, reliability, availability.

Project description

The developments in computer generated imagery, augmented

reality and gaming over the last decade has changed the way we look
at the world.

This research activity will investigate the role that these techniques
can play in providing information to the world of utility asset
management. This will develop a methodology to demonstrate

26
aspects of network performance including network reliability,
performance and resilience. It will enable historical review, predictive
analysis and real time status which can be benchmarked against
planning criteria. The application will be demonstrated and
interfaced with a utility SCADA system.

27