Underground-fault conditions, the flow of current will result in voltage gradients within and around the substation, not only between structures and nearby earth, but also along the ground surface. In a properly designed system, this gradient should not exceed the limits that can be tolerated by the human body. The purpose of a ground mat study is to provide for the safety and well-being of anyone that can be exposed to the potential differences that can exist in a station during a severe fault. The general requirements for industrial power system grounding are similar to those of utility systems under similar service conditions. The differences arise from the specific requirements of the manufacturing or process operations. This course provides an introduction to grounding system design. This course is suitable for electrical engineers with a desire to understand the fundamentals of grounding practices and safety issues related to grounding design. Upon successful completion engineers will be able to address various grounding problems, understand how grounding systems are modelled and how step and touch voltages are calculated. Learning Objectives This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

• Justification for ground mat studies
• Modelling the human body
• Traditional analysis of the ground mat
• Advanced grid modelling
• Benchmark problems
• Input/output techniques
• Practical examples