APR - A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION-SYSTEM BASED PRIMARY ROUTER FOR UNDERGROUND RESIDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION DESIGN

This paper presents an automated tool for optimizing the routing of pr imary cables in underground residential distribution systems (URD), Al though initially developed as one of the modules in Puget Sound Power and Light Co,'s automated electrical plat design program, Automated Pr imary Router (APR) can also be used in standalone mode, APR, implement ed in a Geographic Information System (GIS) -based environment, is cap able of efficiently accessing and manipulating geographically referenc ed data from a facilities management system database. It also provides a full-fledged Graphic User Interface, along with on-line visualizati on and accurate cost estimation to facilitate the design process, APR employs a heuristic search algorithm to find the best primary cable fo r new residential developments, or for systems as part of the ongoing cable replacement program, Based on the test results, APR shows signif icant stability and efficiency in finding the optimal solution for pri mary cable routing, With this performance, APR can help distribution e ngineers improve the quality of URD design, producing standardized and economically justifiable primary cable routes, Because geographically referenced design data are digitally stored in the GIS database, APR further increases the reusability and accessibility of the URD design information.