Artificial Neural Network and a Nonlinear Regression Model for Predicting Electrical Pole Crash

This paper presents the investigation about a problem situation that Electric Distributor Companies are facing in Chile resulting from transit accidents. The number of vehicle crashes to power distribution poles and street lighting has grown. This situation causes discomfort to citizen and mainly to the neighbors due to power cuts and even on occasion , losses of human lives because of the accident that have occurred. Based on previous research, the accidents are not random nor chance dependent, but the majority of transit accident follow parameters or variables from the scenery where it occurs. In order to analyze the variables and the degree this variables affect the accidents, a model of Perceptron and Multipercetron Artificial Neural Networks and a Multiple Nonlinear Regression model are proposed. An empirical study was made; collecting data from a distributor company and from Chilean National Traffic Safety Commission, where the more frequent variables involved in accidents were determined to develop the mentioned models. These variables were investigated and also their influence on the occurrence of vehicle crashes to power distribution poles could be confirmed. With this data, the prediction of post crashes was developed, where through the application of the neural network and multiple nonlinear regression, revealed 95.7% of acceptable predictions. This study will bring benefits to power distribution companies considering a risk index in the streets, based on the number of crashes of poles per street; this will allow optimal decisions in future electrical distribution projects avoiding critical areas.