Decision Support Framework for Electricity Production Vulnerability Assessment

Interdependencies among critical infrastructures become more and more complex as technology advances. Through interdependencies the disruption of one infrastructure can cascade into other infrastructures. With the rapid growth in demand of electricity, vulnerability assessment of electricity production and its availability has become essential. One of the critical components of the electricity production value chain is extraction and delivery of fuels. This paper presents the preliminary results of a research project that aims to analyze the vulnerability associated with delivery of fuels and to ensure availability of fuel supplies, by providing insight into likely vulnerability. In this research project, a framework for electricity production vulnerability assessment was proposed. Different data sources were integrated into a data warehouse to allow interactive analysis of enormous historical datasets for coal transactions and coal transportation. The analyses help decision makers understand the impact of fuel delivery disruption and the vulnerabilities in the coal transportation system.