Risk Assessment Of High Voltage Power Lines Crossing Forests: A Wildfire Case Study Using Advanced Modeling Techniques.pdf

## Risk Assessment of High Voltage Power Lines Crossing Forest Areas: A Case Study of Wildfires

This study presents a novel approach for evaluating wildfire risk around high voltage power line corridors (PTCs) using multi-sourced active monitoring data. The proposed method leverages two key techniques: Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM) and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP).

Problem Statement:

Wildfires pose significant threats to power transmission systems, particularly in forest areas where PTCs traverse. Existing fire risk assessment methods are often limited by low accuracy or reliance on broad meteorological factors. This study aims to develop a more precise and localized approach.

Methodology:

1. ISM-Based Fire Analysis: Historical data of fire-caused transmission line faults is analyzed using ISM to understand fire regimes and relationships between fire factors.

2. AHP-Driven Factor Ranking: AHP is used to prioritize the identified fire factors based on their relative importance, enabling a focused assessment.

3. Fire Risk Index (FRP) Development: FRP is constructed by integrating weighted meteorological, surface condition, and human activity factors derived from ISM and AHP analysis.

4. Risk Assessment and Validation: Monitoring data collected from PTCs is used to calculate risk levels based on the established FRP. The model's effectiveness is validated through practical case studies.

Key Findings:

ISM successfully reveals sequences and relationships among fire factors, providing a deeper understanding of wildfire dynamics near PTCs.
AHP allows for a structured and transparent ranking of these factors, ensuring the assessment considers both quantitative and qualitative aspects.
FRP offers a high-resolution fire risk index for PTCs, incorporating diverse influencing elements and enabling targeted safety measures.

Benefits:

The proposed method offers several advantages:

Improved Accuracy: Incorporates detailed local meteorological data and surface conditions, leading to more precise risk assessments.
Targeted Maintenance: Allows power companies to prioritize maintenance efforts in high-risk areas, minimizing the impact of wildfires on the grid.
Proactive Safety: Enables early warning systems that account for both historical patterns and real-time monitoring, enhancing overall system resilience.