Introducing AutoGrid Pro, a new SES package designed to

simplify grounding studies.

Introduction
The design of new grounding systems and the assessment of the performance of existing ones requires
careful, detailed analysis based on a large amount of data. The AutoGridPro software package provides a
simple, integrated environment for carrying out such detailed grounding studies. This package combines
the computational powers of the engineering programs RESAP, MALT and FCDIST with a simple, largely
automated interface. The result is an easy to use, yet powerful grounding analysis program.

The package is presently at an early beta level; the first official version should be available for the CDEGS
2000 release.

Note: This new package is under intensive development and undergoes constant revisions. The details of
the package’s functionality as well as the appearance of its interface may change substantially before the
first official release.

Program Highlights
With AutoGrid Pro, the data entry requirements are reduced to a minimum. The data includes:
• The soil data. The soil resistivity measurement data or data specifying the soil structure directly (if it
is already known)
• The grounding grid. Select an existing grid from a database, use a grid creation wizard or else draw
the grid directly using SESCAD.
• The fault current. Specify the fault current directly or, if the fault current is unknown, let the program
compute it based on the network specification. Use the transmission line databases to quickly describe
the network.
• Safety related data. Specify where the earth potentials should be computed, or let the program decide
automatically. Specify which safety related quantities (touch voltages, step voltages) should be studied.
• Desired reports and plots. Select which reports and plots that the program should generate among an
extensive, predefined list.

Once the data is defined, simply click Process and let the program do the rest. The program will compute
everything that is necessary, produce the requested reports and plots and optionally display them.

Other program features include:

• AutoGrid Pro computes only what is needed: Changing the network configuration, for instance, can
affect the fault current and the safety-related quantities. Only these quantities will be recomputed
before producing the output. On the other hand, adding conductors to the grid can affect the grid’s
impedance, the fault current and the earth potentials in addition to the safety-related quantities. All of
these quantities will therefore be recomputed before producing the output.
• All settings are remembered: Restart your work exactly from where you left off. Also, define default
settings that apply when starting a new AutoGrid Pro session.
• Internationally Aware: AutoGrid Pro is internationally aware in that it properly recognizes and
displays the different numbers, date formats, etc… in use in different countries. In addition, the user
interface will be available in several languages besides English, including French, Spanish and
Chinese.

Using AutoGridPro
This section describes briefly what can be done with AutoGridPro and how to get started with it. The next
section will give more details about the user interface of the program.
Starting AutoGridPro
To start the program, simply double-click the AutoGridPro icon in your CDEGS-99 Program Group. You
will be presented with the following screen. This screen is very similar to the SESCAD program. In fact,
AutoGridPro inherits all of the functionality of SESCAD and that program’s on-line help can be used to get
familiar with its features.

Figure 1. The main screen of AutoGrid Pro and some auxiliary screens.

The AutoGridPro screen also displays a Project menu, which is not available in SESCAD. The Project
menu gives access to the new functionality of AutoGridPro. (Note: this section will show how to use the
Project menu to control the application; the same functionality is often available from other screen, in
particular from the Project Toolbox. See the section entitled “Interface Details” for more information.)

The main screen is used to define the grid and acts as a controller for the application. Several other screens
are available, coordinated by the AutoGridPro Project Toolbox.

Working With Projects And Scenarios

The design of new grounding systems or the enhancement of existing ones is often an iterative process in
which the design is modified and refined until the goals of the designer are attained. In AutoGridPro, these
alternative designs are known as Scenarios. A scenario in AutoGridPro regroups all of the input data
necessary to specify a design as well as the corresponding computation results, plots and reports. A Project
in AutoGridPro is simply a collection of related scenarios.

Before anything can be done with AutoGridPro, a project must be created (or an existing one must be
open).

To create a new project, select Project / New Project. You will be prompted for the location and name of
the project as well as for the name and location of the first scenario of this project. The new project is
created under the filename ‘Project Name’.agp and the scenario under the filename ‘Scenario Name’.ags
where ‘Project Name’ and ‘Scenario Name’ are the provided names of the project and scenario,
respectively. (Note: Experienced CDEGS users may wonder what are the JobID and Working Directory for
the scenario. The answer is that ‘Scenario Name’ will be used as the JobID and the selected location for the
scenario will be used as working directory. While the concept of JobID and Working Directory is no longer
used in AutoGridPro, it may help to know that the database and output files are still produced using the
traditional conventions. For example, the database file for Malt will be produced in the scenario directory
under the name mt_’Scenario Name’.f21.)

To open an existing project, select Project / Open Project. This will bring up a file browser that allows
you to select an existing project file (with extension “AGP”). Note that a demo project (called Project1) is
available in the folder ‘AGP Examples’ in your CDEGS-99 installation directory.

A single project can be open at a given time. Therefore, if you attempt to create a new project or open an
existing one while a project is currently open, you will be prompted to save changes to this last project and
the project will be closed before opening the new one.

To save a project, select Project / Save Project or Project / Save Project As. Note that a backup of the
original file is created under the name “Backup of ‘Project Name’”.agp.

Specifying Data for a Scenario

When a project is open, you always have access to at least one scenario. The data in this scenario can be
edited in the following way.

• To specify the soil structure or the soil resistivity measurement data, select Project / Define Soil
Characteristics. This brings up a dialog that allows you to define the structure of the soil (number of
layers, resistivities of the layers, etc…) if it is known or to specify resistivity measurement data and
have the program deduce the soil structure. See the section entitled “ “ for more details.
• To specify the grounding grid and (optionally) the location of the computation points, use the
functionality of the Edit and Tools menus of the main interface. The dialog obtained from Advanced /
Network Energizations and Buried Structures is also useful to specify the fault current (or other
forms of grid energization) and to create other structures besides the main grounding grid. See the
SESCAD on-line help for details.
• To specify the network and fault current distribution data, use Project / Define Network
Characteristics. The data entered in the resulting screens will allow the program to determine how
much current should be injected in the main grounding as a result of the fault. It can use the computed
value of the main grounding grid’s resistance or a user specified resistance. See the section entitled “”
for details.
• To specify the safety criteria to be used when analyzing the grounding grid, select Project / Define
Safety Criteria. The safety screens allow you to enter the threshold values for safety when analyzing
touch and step voltages as well as some parameters defining the region around the main grid that
should be assessed for safety. See the section entitled “” for more details.
• To define which reports and plots the program should produce, use Project / Report Preferences. The
resulting screen offers a wide variety of reports and plots that can be produced whenever the scenario
is processed, including safety reports, touch and step voltage plots, etc… See the section entitled “” for
details.
• To control the appearance of the plots, use Project / Graphics Preferences. This allows you to specify
colors, font types and size, etc… that are used when plotting. See section “” for details.

To save the scenario, select Project / Save Scenario. Note that a backup of the original file is created under
the name “Backup of ‘Project Name’”.ags. To save the scenario under a different filename, choose Project
/ Save Scenario As and select an appropriate filename (with the AGS extension). Note that this will
automatically change the scenario name.

Processing a Scenario
Once the data for a scenario is specified, the grounding safety analysis can begin. To do this, simply select
Project / Process. The program will compute all necessary quantities in the background, prepare the
requested plots and reports and display them. Depending on the input data entered in the scenario, the
processing may include the following steps:

• Saving of the scenario’s data.

• Computation of an appropriate soil structure from the measured soil resistivities.
• Determination of an appropriate safety zone where the analysis should be conducted.
• Computation of the main grid resistance.
• Determination of the distribution of the fault current throughout the network.
• Computation of the earth potentials and grid GPR at the fault site.
• Computation of touch and step voltages, and safety analysis
• Production of reports and plots

Other optional steps may include ampacity assessment, etc…

When the processing begins, a small window appears and displays messages regarding the progress of the
computations.

Adding New Scenarios

Once the processing is complete, the results can be reviewed to determine if the design is satisfactory. If
not, the design can be modified and the above steps repeated. There are two ways to modify the design: you
can modify the existing scenario directly, in which case the original data is lost, or you can create a new
scenario and modify that one.

To create a new scenario, select Project / New Scenario. You will be prompted to provide a name for the
new scenario as well as (optionally) the name of an existing scenario to be used as a reference. When a
valid reference scenario is provided, the program creates a copy of that scenario under the new name. This
is convenient when you want to examine small design variations from one scenario to the next.

You can also open one of the project’s existing scenarios by choosing Project / Open Scenario. You will
be presented with the list of scenarios presently in the project, from which you can select the desired one.

Note that only one scenario can be open at a given time. Whenever you create a new scenario or open an
existing one, the currently open scenario will be closed (after prompting for changes).

Closing a Project
To close a project, select Project / Close Project. This will close the current project, but not the application
as a whole. Closing the window containing the drawing of the main grid is also interpreted by AutoGridPro
as a signal to close the project.

When the project is closed, you can still use AutoGridPro much as you would SESCAD, i.e. the project
functionality is disabled but everything else is available. Use Project / Open Project to open another
project.

The most recently used projects are listed at the end of the Project menu, for quick access.

Quitting AutoGridPro
To quit the application and terminate the AutoGridPro session, use File / Exit. The program will prompt for
those files that need saving before terminating.

Interface Details
This section describes in greater detail some of the user interface of AutoGrid Pro. Figure 1 shows the
overall appearance of the application. The main screen is identical to that of SESCAD with the exception of
several additional menu options that are available, especially under Projects. This main screen is used to
define the grid and acts as a controller for the application. Several other screens are available, coordinated
by the AutoGrid Pro project toolbox. These are used to define the remaining data.

The Main Screen

As shown in Figure 1 above, the main screen of AutoGrid Pro is very similar to that of SESCAD. All of the
functionality of that utility is available in AutoGrid Pro. In addition, several new menus and functions have
been introduced to control the other data entry screens of the application. Several enhancements are also
being introduced, in particular:
• Better tools for the creation of grids and other objects.
• Enhanced ‘standard’ database, containing a large number of pre-defined objects.
• Editable object databases, to enable storage and retrieval of user-defined objects.
• Customizable grid lines to facilitate the drawing.
• Enhanced ‘Network Diagnostic’ tool
In addition, the SES Input Command Language will be enhanced so as to enable the definition of objects.
This will allow the program to recall the group structure of the various objects composing the network.

The AutoGrid Pro Project Toolbox

The AutoGrid Pro project toolbox is shown in Figure 2. It acts as a quick launching pad for the other data
entry screens of the application.
• Project: Loads the Open Project dialog. (Figure 3)
• Reports: Loads the report and plot selection screen. (Figure 4)
• Setup: Loads the Setup screen, used to customize the appearance of plots. (Figure 5)
• Wizard: Loads the AutoGrid Pro Wizard, that guides you through a typical session. (Future
development.)
• Settings: Loads a screen allowing the definition of user preferences. (Future development.)
• Soil: Loads the soil model definition screen. (Figures 6 and 7)
• Grid: Loads a screen used to specify the grid data that can not readily be defined graphically. (Figure
8)
• Network: Starts the network definition sub-module. (Figures 9 to 11)
• Safety: Loads the Safety screen, allowing the specification of the criteria used in the safety analysis
(Figure 12)
• Process: Starts the computations. The computations will end with the production of all requested plots
and reports.
Figure 2. The AutoGrid Pro Project Toolbox.

The ‘Open Project’ Dialog

The Open Project dialog is shown in Figure 3. It allows you to open an existing project by providing its
filename or by selecting one from a list of recently used projects. It also allows you to create a new project
altogether. In this case, the name and path of the project should be provided, as well as the name and path
of its first scenario. The program suggests default values for all these fields.
Figure 3. The AutoGrid Open Project Dialog.

Report And Plot Selection

The report and plot selection screen is shown in Figure 4. It consists of three tabs devoted to the selection
of reports and plots and to the specification of the types of plot desired.

The reports can include the following information (as shown in Figure 4):
• A summary of the input data (System Data Summary)
• A list of all the reports and plots produced when processing this scenario (Requested Computations,
Reports and Plots)
• A customizable list of the material used in the grid (List of Materials)
• The soil resistivity and configuration (Soil Resistivity Measurement Interpretation)
• The eletrical characteristics of the grounding grid (Ground Grid Performance)
• A description of the fault current distribution in the network (Fault Current Distribution)
• A safety assessment of the grounding grid (Safety Assessment)
• An assessment of the ampacity of the grid’s conductors (Ampacity Assessment)

In addition, clicking on the Advanced button brings the screen of Figure 5, which allows you to request
two other reports. These are: a comparison of the goodness of fit of the various soil models examined by
the program (Show Comparison Table) and a table listing the line-parameters computed by the program
from the Network data (Line-Parameter Calculations).

The following plots can be produced by the program (See Figure 6)

• Touch Voltages, Step Voltages and Scalar Potential around the grounding grid (for which you have the
option to plot only the safe or unsafe values by clicking on View Options; see Figure 7)
• Soil Resistivity, measured and computed.
• The fault current distribution in the network. In this case, you can select which terminals and sections
you want to plot as well as which quantities should be plotted (See Figure 8)
• Network and Grid configuration
Various types of plots are available, including spot plots and 3D graphs (See Figure 9) .These reports and
plots are identical to those obtained using Output Toolbox for MALT, RESAP and FCDIST.

Figure 4. Report and Plot Selection Screen

Figure 5. Soil Model Comparison and Line-Parameter Calculations

Figure 6. Graphics Specifications
Figure 7. Options Regarding Safety Related Plots
Figure 8. Options Regarding Fault Current Distribution Plots
Figure 9. Type of Plots Selection
Note that all of the requested plots and reports are produced every time the scenario is processed. This can
therefore generate a considerable amount of data.

Graphics Setup
The graphics setup screen (Figure 10) is used to customize the appearance of plots. A small but important
subset of the functionality offered in Output Toolbox is available. This includes:
• Setting for the axes limits for 3D graphs
• Display threshold for spot plots
• Printer and screen attributes
Figure 10. The Graphics Setup Screen

Soil Model Specification

The soil model specification screen (Figure 11 and Figure 12) is used to define the soil model. The soil
model can be defined by specifying measured resistivity data, in which case the program will compute an
appropriate soil structure, or by specifying the soil structure explicitly.

When specifying measured resistivity data (or the apparent resistance data) the data entry should feel
familiar to users of Input Toolbox for RESAP (Figure 11). An improvement is available under Advanced,
whereby a range of soil layers can be examined in order to get the best possible fit of the data.

Consult the Input Toolbox on-line help for RESAP for more details.

When the soil structure is specified explicitly, the data entry screen is similar to the corresponding screen in
Input Toolbox for MALT (Figure 12). Use this screen to select the type of soil model that is desired.

The earth structures that can be analyzed include

• Uniform soil model (default)
• Horizontally layered soil. (one, two or multi layer option)
• Vertically layered soil (two or three layers)
• Hemispherical soil model: three regions delimited by two concentric hemispherical interfaces
• Cylindrical soil model: two regions delimited by a vertical or horizontal cylindrical interface
• Arbitrary heterogeneity soil model: a number of regions of any shape formed by 6 surfaces and 8
vertices

Consult the Input Toolbox on-line help for MALT for more details.
Figure 11. The Soil Model Specification Screen – Measurement Data
Figure 12. The Soil Model Specification Screen – Direct Specification

Grid Definition
While most of the data entry regarding the grid will be carried out using the graphical tools available from
the main screen (already familiar to SESCAD users), some extra data can be specified in the screen of
Figure 13. This data consists mainly in the kind and strength of the energizations that should be applied to
the various structures defining the grid. It can also be used to create buried structures

Consult the Input Toolbox on-line help for MALT for more details.
Figure 13. The Grid Definition Screen

Fault Current Specification

When it is known, the fault current can be specified directly in the Grid Definition screen as the
energization current for the Main grounding grid. If the fault current is not known, it can be computed by
the program. The Fault Current Specification screen (Figure 14, Figure 15 and Figure 16) can be used to
specify the data regarding the electrical circuit (generators, transmission lines, etc…) that is faulted. Users
of FCDIST should feel at home with those screens, which adopt roughly the same data entry approach as
that used in Input Toolbox. There are several noticeable enhancements with respect to Input Toolbox,
however.

The network is defined by first specifying a Central Site (Figure 14), then any number of terminals attached
to it (Figure 15). Note that clicking on the Display button in both those screens shows a picture (in the
space above the button) of the network as currently defined. If more than four terminals are defined, you
will be prompted to define which terminals to plot as a maximum of four terminals can be plotted
concurrently.

The ground impedance of the central site can either be specified explicitly or be computed by the program.
In the latter case, the program will use the computed ground impedance of the main grid.

The terminals are defined by specifying the current injected into them, the desired number of sections and
the impedances of the various parts of the circuit. These impedances can be specified explicitly or by
specifying the geometrical configuration of the neutral conductors belonging to that terminal and the
material of which they are composed (Figure 16). These last quantities can be easily obtained from ready-
made databases and new entries can be created in existing databases to store user-defined configurations.
Data can be imported from the databases that accompany this program, rather than being typed in. It is
recommended to start by setting the values for the conductor type. Clicking the Import from Conductor
Database button will make the conductor database screen visible. After selecting the appropriate database
and conductor, data will be retrieved by clicking on Export.

It is also possible to modify the existing predefined database and define and save some custom conductors.
First, it is necessary to create a new conductor class, either by copying an existing database or by defining it
from scratch (use the New Class, Delete Class, Copy Class and Rename Class buttons). Following this,
clicking on Edit will allow to modify existing values for the conductor characteristics or enter new ones.
Keep in mind that altering any of the existing (official) classes is not possible.

The same path should be followed for importing data for the structure. The Import from Structure
Database button will be used instead. There are no predefined Electric Line Structure databases, so the
user must define his/her own. By default, an empty database named “Bundle” will be used.

Clicking the Display button will bring up an image showing a. cross section through the circuit. This will
also perform a data check. The “zoom” feature (the small magnifier button located under the picture)
allows to take a closer look, especially for complex configurations. Right clicking will restore the original
aspect.

Once all the data has been filled in, it can be useful to store it for future use. Note that Save to Structure
Database will save both the structure and a reference to the conductor type. Moreover, the program will
detect whether the conductor-related data was saved and if not, the user will be queried to provide names
for the corresponding conductor type and class.
Figure 14. Central Site Specification
Figure 15. Terminals Specification
Figure 16. Specification Of Circuit Configuration

Specification Of Safety Criteria

The data specifying the safety criteria to be used in the safety analysis (if requested) can be entered in the
Safety Criteria screen (Figure 12). This includes:
• Whether the Touch Voltages and/or Step Voltages should be analyzed.
• Values that should be considered safe for these quantities.
• The region for which the analysis should be carried out.
For this last quantity, it is possible to let the program determine the safety region automatically: the
program will use a region that covers precisely the grid area and extends outside of it by a user-defined
distance.
Figure 17. The Safety Criteria Screen
Other safety related settings can be accessed by clicking on the Standard button under Define Safety
Criteria and Scenarios. These include up to three fault clearing times as well as the property of an
insulating layer covering the ground.

The Computation Process

Once all the necessary data is entered, click Process to start the computations. The program will verify
which data has changed since the last time the program was successfully run and re-compute only the
necessary quantities. This may include the following:
• The soil model parameters (if the resistivity measurement data has changed)
• The central site (Main grid) resistance (if the grid data or the soil model parameters have changed)
• The fault current distribution (if the electrical network has changed, including the central site
resistance)
• The earth potentials (if any of the above have changed)
• The safety analysis (if the safety criteria or any of the above have changed)

It will then produce and display all requested reports and plots.