Real-time root cause analysis for complex technical systems

A fault in a complex technical system usually leads to a large number of consequential faults. In a modern control room, most variables are measured and monitored by an alarm. Therefore, a non-trivial fault usually leads to a large amount of triggered alarms, a so-called alarm cascade. Alarm cascades cause information overload and renders the alarm system useless during incidents. GoalArt has developed an algorithm that performs root-cause analysis on-line in real-time, as a fault situation develops. In this way, large alarm cascades can be reduced to a single initiating event. This is a revival for the alarm list, which becomes useful throughout complex fault situations. The algorithm has been proven in several industrial branches, such as conventional and nuclear power, electric power grids, and large control centers.