Infrastructure Link Path Optimization for Seismic Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the optimal path for critical infrastructure links, such as submarine cables and pipelines, fail to adequately consider seismic resilience, leading to increased risk of damage and disruption during earthquakes.
Innovation Solution
A method that models terrain and factors affecting the laying arrangement as cost functions, using a weighted sum method to transform the optimization problem into an Eikonal equation, solved by the fast marching method to determine an optimized laying arrangement with minimal life-cycle cost, incorporating environmental and human factors to enhance seismic resilience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional path determination methods are used, then construction cost is minimized, but seismic resilience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple objective functions (construction cost, seismic risk, environmental factors) into a unified life-cycle cost function by applying weighting coefficients. This combines disparate optimization criteria into a single objective that balances both construction经济性 and seismic resilience, resolving the contradiction between minimizing construction cost and maximizing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the optimization problem by changing parameters through mathematical operations. Specifically, it converts the multi-objective optimization into a single-objective problem by applying weighted sums to cost functions, and uses the Eikonal equation transformation to simplify the optimization algorithm, making it computationally feasible while maintaining comprehensive consideration of all factors.
2Reliability
If path optimization considers only construction cost, then construction cost is minimized, but potential repairs and seismic risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of seismic risk and environmental factors during the path planning stage, before construction begins. By modeling terrain, identifying earthquake hazard zones, and calculating potential repairs in advance, the system proactively incorporates these factors into the optimization, preventing costly repairs and damage later while balancing construction costs.
3Reliability
If multiple factors are considered in path optimization, then seismic resilience is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and isolates each influencing factor (construction cost, seismic risk, environmental constraints) into separate cost functions. This allows individual modeling and optimization of each factor, then combines them through weighted sums. The extraction simplifies the overall problem structure and makes the optimization algorithm more manageable despite considering multiple factors.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining an optimal laying arrangement of a new infrastructure link for connection from a new site to an existing infrastructure network includes modeling a terrain of a region around and at the new site and the existing infrastructure network near the new site; modeling each factor affecting the laying arrangement as a respective cost function; applying a respective weighting to each of the cost function to determine a life-cycle cost function; and determining, based on the determined life-cycle cost function, an optimized laying arrangement with minimal life-cycle cost from the new site to a connection point in the existing infrastructure network.