# Operational Resilience Metrics for Complex Inter-Dependent Electrical Networks
## 6 Discussion
In particular, the proposed approach was applied to the case study of Rome city, whose large distribution network contains more than 14.000 electrical substations, to show how the model can appropriately handle a real EDN of large dimensions. RecSIM has proven to be able to realize a simulated stress test to the electrical infrastructure by simultaneously considering the different network properties that have an impact on resilience (topology, tele-control, appropriate interaction with the telecommunication operation providing tele-control, cabin automation, level of network managementin terms of number of technical crews and times of interventions). In this respect it allows us, by appropriately varying those factors in the model, to establish the impact of each of them on the final resilience score. This would have a large impact on the industrial point of view for determining, through educated analysis, the best approach in terms costs/benefits for progressively improving the overall network resilience. RecSIM will be made available to operators: in this perspective, the Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Centre (EISAC) is working to establish a collaborative, European-wide network of national centers, empowered by advanced technologies, to inform, support and empower the different players involved in the resilience enhancement of EDNs, among other critical infrastructures. One of the tools developed by EISAC is the CICCast Decision Support System (CIPCast-DSS), whose development has been part of the EU-funded FP7 project CIPRNet (\"Critical Infrastructures Preparedness and Resilience Research Network\") and of the Italian project RAFAEL (\"System for Risk Analysis and Forecast for Critical Infrastructures in the AppenninEs dorsaL Regions\") [22]. CICCast provides a database, an interoperable platform and a user-friendly WebGIS interface, conceived as a combination of free/open source software environments, for the real-time and operational (24/7) monitoring and risk analysis of built and natural environments, with special focus on interdependent critical infrastructures including the EDNs. CICCast-DSS can be coupled with RecSIM, providing a complex simulation model to enable the effective assessment of resilience enhancement strategies for EDNs, considering the specific situational awareness data and functional impact scenarios predicted/assessed by CICCast-DSS. In this sense, CICCast-DSS can be used to assess the possible damage and impact scenarios for real events, supporting an effective and rapid emergency management and response, as well as for simulated events (e.g., earthquakes) [28], to inform risk mitigation and resilience enhancement strategies. Indeed, as pointed out in [25], considering risk and situation awareness results can improve resilience assessment and management. At the current stage, RecSIM is able to assess the resilience of an electrical distribution network according to the given enforced organizational and automated security systems. Concerning the implementation of other resilience protocols, further work could focus on optimizing the positioning of rescue teams, their availability during the event and the different levels of automation of the substations and their remote controllability. Section 4 shows the application of the proposed approach to assess the possible performance improvement that can be obtained using an improved distribution automation system protocol. The infrastructure operators may rely on these results to plan network investments and developments. Integrating RecSIM with security monitoring platforms used by operators would significantly improve the situational awareness capability of the CICCast-DSS platform.