# Smart Grid Fault Mitigation and Cybersecurity with Wide-Area Measurement Systems: A Review
## 2 Background
### WAMS and Smart Grid Architecture Model  
The SGAM provides a comprehensive framework for analyzing and designing smart grid systems by addressing technical, informational, and operational challenges across five interoperability layers: component, communication, information, function, and business [17]. WAMS offers a transformative capability for modern power systems, playing a critical role in enhancing fault detection, reducing fault-clearing times, and facilitating the integration of renewable energy and DERs [50; 51]. By integrating a WAMS into the SGAM framework, grid operators can achieve improved system observability, faster response times, and greater adaptability to the challenges posed by renewable energy intermittency. [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2021) [17] assessed the SGAM framework across different areas, including peer-to-peer trading, distributed control, laboratory infrastructure, and power quality. They identified these areas as fundamentals of futuristic energy technologies. Other studies, including those by [PERSON] et al., [PERSON] et al., and [PERSON] et al., showed that while innovations are being carried out, like in the SGAM, smart grid systems are consistently being designed to expand the frontiers of current power systems and connect underserved communities in remote areas, especially in developing countries [11; 31]. As result of this, according to [PERSON] et al. and [PERSON] et al., current problems could still handicap these new innovations and compromise national security and may even result in blackouts across high-voltage lines [16; 31]. This concern stems from the increasing cybersecurity threats posed because of AI development and increasing geopolitical tensions. [PERSON] et al. and [PERSON] and [PERSON], while commending the progress of the SGAM, also suggested that WAMS or WAPCAM technologies will be required to combat the growing threat of interoperability that may be faced with the ever-increasing wide-area power systems (WAPS) [17; 31]. This review assesses key areas where WAMS technology may contribute to the SGAM across its five domains and zones:  
1. **Component Layer: Enhanced Observability Through PMUs** PMUs provide synchronized, high-resolution measurements of key grid parameters such as voltage, current, and frequency. These devices enable the real-time monitoring of grid conditions, including renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels. With the deployment of PMUs at critical locations, such as substations, transmission lines, and renewable generation sites, WAMS ensures comprehensive observability [51]. This capability is essential for monitoring the dynamic behavior of DERs and identifying anomalies that could indicate potential faults. Communication Layer: Enabling Real-Time Data Exchange  
The communication layer of the SGAM supports the transmission of the vast amounts of data generated by WAMS. To achieve low latency and high reliability, WAMS leverages advanced communication technologies such as optical fiber networks, 5G, or power line communication (PLC) [50]. These technologies enable real-time data exchange between PMUs and centralized or distributed control centers, ensuring the timely identification of faults and rapid coordination of corrective measures [17]. This layer also facilitates the communication of control signals to distributed resources, ensuring that renewable energy sources can dynamically adjust to changing grid conditions. 3. **Information Layer: Transforming Data into Actionable Intelligence** The integration of a WAMS into the SGAM information layer highlights its role in data processing, storage, and analysis. WAMS data are analyzed using advanced algorithms, including AI and machine learning, to detect early warning signs of system instability, optimize the performance of DERs, and predict faults before they escalate. This layer ensures that actionable intelligence is generated to enhance grid reliability, while also incorporating data encryption and secure storage protocols to address cybersecurity challenges.