Basic arithmetic coding based approach for compressing generation scheduling data array

Generation scheduling is very important for maintaining the stability of power system. Generation of any unit or plant is varied according to the scheduling chart prepared by the load dispatch centre (LDC). For proper handling of this large data array, it is important to reduce the bulk volume of information by proper compression algorithm. In that context, an simple approach based on Basic Arithmetic Coding is developed in MATLAB environment to compress the large scheduling data array. The compression ratio being obtained for various set of scheduling data is high which implies reduced memory requirement for storing the encrypted information and reduced characters for transmitting the information. Compression ratio being obtained varies with number of digits of elements in data array and highest value is obtained with 3-digit elements. The work is scalable for compressing parameter monitoring data as well and similar results can be obtained with this enormous volume of data as well.