AEPD: an artificial intelligence based tool for underground residential distribution design

The design of an underground residential distribution (URD) system for new residential development is an everyday task to electric utility engineers. Puget Sound Power & Light Co. (PSPL) and the University of Washington (UW) have jointly developed a tool for the computerized (automated) design of residential underground electric supply systems, called Automated Electrical Plat Design (AEPD). The computerized tool speeds up the design process and allows an URD system to be designed more economically and to operate closer to its limits. The concept and development of this tool is discussed by the authors. The AEPD concept shows synergy that can be gained by integrating a geographic information system and artificial intelligence in the area of electric distribution planning and design. The concepts presented are generic and can be applied to a host of problems in the distribution planning and design area with spatial components