Resource allocation and risk modeling for geographically distributed assets

Abstract

A risk exposure model is developed for network or moveable assets not specific to a single, fixed address or location. An asset map using a plurality of geographic representation points is used to identify the physical locations of the asset portions (or possible physical locations in the case of a moveable asset). Baseline geographic, geologic, political, and demographic data is similarly represented using geographic representation points. Meta-data associated with each geographic representation point is used to identify details related to the asset or baseline feature corresponding to the geographic point. Risk exposure values are then calculated using the geographic representation points specific to the asset portions that are subject to risks associated with the location of the asset portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method of managing maps of asset data and geographic feature data for network or distributed assets, comprising:
 generating, by a processor, an asset map of asset geographic representations corresponding to a plurality of assets,   the asset geographic representations including points, lines, multi-line segments, or polygons,   a first asset of the plurality of assets having an asset value based on a first set of geographic locations in an area associated with the first asset,   generating, by the processor, a baseline data map of baseline geographic representations corresponding to a plurality of geographic features of the area,   each geographic feature of the plurality of geographic features having risk data;   generating a combined map by overlaying the asset map and the baseline data map,   the combined map comprising a first plurality of intersection points where a geographic representation in the asset map and a geographic representation in the baseline data map intersect,   determining, for each intersection point of the first plurality of intersection points, a first risk exposure value based on an asset value of an asset corresponding to the intersection point and risk data of a geographic feature corresponding to the intersection point;   causing rendering the combined map in a graphical user interface, in association with the first plurality of first risk exposure values of the first plurality of intersection points, the combined map displaying a higher density for a first sub-area than for a second sub-area, the higher density for the first sub-area being based on one or more larger risk exposure values associated with one or more of the first plurality of intersection points within the first sub-area;   after some time, updating the asset map to obtain an updated asset data map, comprising updating information related to the first set of geographic locations for the first asset.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the combined map to obtain an updated combined map based at least on the updated asset data map,   the updated combined map comprising a second plurality of intersection points;   determining, for each intersection point of the second plurality of intersection points, a second risk exposure value;   causing a display of the updated combined map, in association with the second plurality of second risk exposure values of the second plurality of intersection points.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the first asset having an asset value that changes over time and depends on how much of a capacity of the first asset is filled. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 ,
 the first asset being a rail switching yard,   the asset value of the first asset at a time being dependent on how many trains are stored by the rail switching yard at the time.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the first asset moving through geographic locations of the first set of geographic locations at different times. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , the first asset being a transportation asset, including trailer, a train, a ship, loading equipment, or repair equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 5 , the first exposure value being determined for the first asset based on a length of time taken to move from a first geographic location of the first set of geographic locations to a second geographic location of the first set of geographic locations. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the first asset occupying all geographic locations of the first set of geographic locations at once. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , the first asset being a railroad system. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , a first geographic feature of the plurality of geographic features being represented by multiple baseline geographic representations. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the plurality of geographic features including public or private infrastructure or features of natural landscape. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 ,
 a second asset of the plurality of assets being associated with a second set of geographic locations in the area,   the second set of geographic locations intersecting with the first set of geographic locations.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , the determining comprising assigning a larger weight to the asset value of the first asset when a current geographic location of the first asset is associated with a later date than another geographic location of the first set of geographic locations. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause a processor to perform a method of managing maps of asset data and geographic feature data for network or distributed assets, the method comprising:
 generating an asset map of asset geographic representations corresponding to a plurality of assets,   the asset geographic representations including points, lines, multi-line segments, or polygons,   a first asset of the plurality of assets having an asset value based on a first set of geographic locations in an area associated with the first asset,   generating a baseline data map of baseline geographic representations corresponding to a plurality of geographic features of the area,   each geographic feature of the plurality of geographic features having risk data;   generating a combined map by overlaying the asset map and the baseline data map,   the combined map comprising a first plurality of intersection points where a geographic representation in the asset map and a geographic representation in the baseline data map intersect,   determining, for each intersection point of the first plurality of intersection points, a first risk exposure value based on an asset value of an asset corresponding to the intersection point and risk data of a geographic feature corresponding to the intersection point;   causing rendering the combined map in a graphical user interface, in association with the first plurality of first risk exposure values of the first plurality of intersection points, the combined map displaying a higher density for a first sub-area than for a second sub-area,   the higher density for the first sub-area being based on one or more larger risk exposure values associated with one or more of the first plurality of intersection points within the first sub-area;   after some time, updating the asset map to obtain an updated asset data map, comprising updating information related to the first set of geographic locations for the first asset.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , the method further comprising:
 updating the combined map to obtain an updated combined map based at least on the updated asset data map,   the updated combined map comprising a second plurality of intersection points;   determining, for each intersection point of the second plurality of intersection points, a second risk exposure value;   causing a display of the updated combined map, in association with the second plurality of second risk exposure values of the second plurality of intersection points.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , the first asset having an asset value that changes over time and depends on how much of a capacity of the first asset is filled. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , the first asset moving through geographic locations of the first set of geographic locations at different times. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , the first exposure value being determined for the first asset based on a length of time taken to move from a first geographic location of the first set of geographic locations to a second geographic location of the first set of geographic locations. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , the first asset occupying all geographic locations of the first set of geographic locations at once. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium of  claim 14 , the determining comprising assigning a larger weight to the asset value of the first asset when a current geographic location of the first asset is associated with a later date than another geographic location of the first set of geographic locations.