Simulating Network Robustness for Critical Infrastructure Networks

Dekker, A.H.

We examine the robustness of critical infrastructure networks in the face of terrorist attack, using a simulation experiment that incorporates link capacity; and an extension of data farming which we call network farming. Our results show that symmetrical designed networks generally outperform randomly generated networks, although ring-like structures are very vulnerable. Under targeted attacks, most networks begin to fail when the number of attacks is equal to the node connectivity. Examining the distribution of real-world terrorist attacks, we show that these can be modelled by a Poisson statistical distribution, leading to recommendations for the node connectivity required at different threat levels.

Cite as: Dekker, A.H. (2005). Simulating Network Robustness for Critical Infrastructure Networks. In Proc. Twenty-Eighth Australasian Computer Science Conference (ACSC2005), Newcastle, Australia. CRPIT, 38. Estivill-Castro, V., Ed. ACS. 59-68.

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