OPT-RecSIM: An optimization-simulation integrated system for the repair sequence optimization problem

Urban resilience — the ability of a city to endure and recover from disruptions while maintaining essential services — has become increasingly critical in the face of challenges such as climate change and resource limitations. Among urban infrastructures, Electrical Distribution Networks (EDNs) are particularly vulnerable, and their rapid restoration following failures is crucial for minimizing disruptions. We explore a new approach which can help in designing a resilient network and can be used as a decision support system to electrical distribution operators during emergencies. We develop an integrated simulation–optimization tool OPT-RecSIM which integrates an EDN resilience simulator with a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem to optimize the assignment to emergency teams of repair tasks needed to restore an EDN after a disruption. Computational experiments on real-world network data demonstrate that the OPT-RecSIM significantly outperforms conventional heuristic methods, particularly in high-damage scenarios with multiple failures. The results underscore the value of integrating simulation and optimization techniques to analyze emergency response strategies, ultimately enhancing urban resilience and expediting power restoration efforts. Indeed, OPT-RecSIM has been integrated in a broader suite of Decision Support tools within the Critical Infrastructure Resilience system currently deployed by ENEA.