Title: Simulation of heterogeneous and interdependent critical infrastructures

Authors: S. De Porcellinis, R. Setola, S. Panzieri, G. Ulivi

Addresses: Complex Systems & Security Lab., University CAMPUS Bio-Medico, via E. Longoni 83, 00155, Rome, Italy. ' Complex Systems & Security Lab., University CAMPUS Bio-Medico, via E. Longoni 83, 00155, Rome, Italy. ' Dip. Informatica e Automazione, University 'Roma Tre', Italy. ' Dip. Informatica e Automazione, University 'Roma Tre', Italy

Abstract: In this paper, a simulation tool specifically designed for the analysis of heterogeneous and (inter)dependent infrastructures is proposed. The simulator, named Critical Infrastructure Simulation by Interdependent Agents (CISIA), adopts a modular and sufficiently abstract representation of the different infrastructures| components to allow consistent descriptions, starting from the incomplete and generic data acquirable from stakeholders. An important part of the modelling effort was reserved for the representation of the dependencies and interdependencies, these being the cause of the complex behaviours we are interested in. Each component interacts with the others via a multitude of mechanisms that codify different concepts of proximity. The simulator has been used to analyse, in a simplified scenario, crisis evolution in the urban area of Rome, in the presence of a failure in the electric power system.

Keywords: interdependent infrastructures; complex systems simulation; network analysis; heterogeneous systems; critical infrastructures; electric power failure; Italy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2008.016095

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2008 Vol.4 No.1/2, pp.110 - 128

Published online: 05 Dec 2007 *

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