Improving Urban Networks Resilience by Transferring Security and Resilience Fundamentals Developed for IT
Lead Research Organisation:
Newcastle University
Department Name: Sch of Computing
Abstract
Aims
Determine a way to improve urban resilience by transferring and applying some principles, knowledge and/or techniques developed from the development of Information Technology (IT) networks into urban networks.
Objectives
* Create a comprehensible theoretical framework that, among other things:
- Express clear abstract underlying principles of computer security and resilience.
- Determine a resilience definition applicable to the IT network context and explain how the underlying principles translate into other disciplines.
- Judge what computer security principles could be applied, why and how their fundamentals would be universal.
- Find main differences between IT Networks and urban networks; why those differences exist and how one could help to solve problems present on the other.
- Assess a way to measure resilience. Explain reasons for the metrics to be chosen.
- Study cases of resilience in different areas besides computer science and evaluate how the principal underlying concepts are similar
* Determine some particular translation (possibly a technique) among computer science that could be fitted to improve urban network resilience.
* Raise awareness among Engineering areas about the powerful conceptualisation available in Computer Science and the applicability of the underlying concepts that drive information technology.
* Judge a particular technique among computer science that could be fitted to improve urban network resilience.
What questions does the project intend to answer?
Would it be possible to improve urban resilience by transferring and applying some principles, knowledge and/or techniques learnt from the development of Information Technology (IT) networks into urban networks?
Proposed Methodology
In this study, I propose to use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods and, due to the conceptual nature of the subject, a thorough emphasis on the theoretical framework is a top priority.
1. Theoretical Framework
Initial stages on the methodology will dedicate a significant amount of time into exploring related literature. As a consequence, the process of writing the main general tome cannot be left to the end and would be a continuous effort since the beginning (Appendix A, General Aspects). Some advances in how to write the dissertation have already taken place (Appendix C).
2. Quantitative Methods
It is assumed that once the stage three is achieved, a quantitative experiment would be created. Some advances about what kind of experiments could be done and how to analyse them have already taken place (Appendix C).
3. Qualitative Methods
On the qualitative front, it is envisioned to write a series of articles/publications that allows the participation in conferences and be able to interact with other academics and register their appreciation, if possible. I have envisioned at least 6 papers, some of them to be targeted at Computer Science and Engineering conferences and journals. This articles could be included into the final dissertation tome.
Determine a way to improve urban resilience by transferring and applying some principles, knowledge and/or techniques developed from the development of Information Technology (IT) networks into urban networks.
Objectives
* Create a comprehensible theoretical framework that, among other things:
- Express clear abstract underlying principles of computer security and resilience.
- Determine a resilience definition applicable to the IT network context and explain how the underlying principles translate into other disciplines.
- Judge what computer security principles could be applied, why and how their fundamentals would be universal.
- Find main differences between IT Networks and urban networks; why those differences exist and how one could help to solve problems present on the other.
- Assess a way to measure resilience. Explain reasons for the metrics to be chosen.
- Study cases of resilience in different areas besides computer science and evaluate how the principal underlying concepts are similar
* Determine some particular translation (possibly a technique) among computer science that could be fitted to improve urban network resilience.
* Raise awareness among Engineering areas about the powerful conceptualisation available in Computer Science and the applicability of the underlying concepts that drive information technology.
* Judge a particular technique among computer science that could be fitted to improve urban network resilience.
What questions does the project intend to answer?
Would it be possible to improve urban resilience by transferring and applying some principles, knowledge and/or techniques learnt from the development of Information Technology (IT) networks into urban networks?
Proposed Methodology
In this study, I propose to use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods and, due to the conceptual nature of the subject, a thorough emphasis on the theoretical framework is a top priority.
1. Theoretical Framework
Initial stages on the methodology will dedicate a significant amount of time into exploring related literature. As a consequence, the process of writing the main general tome cannot be left to the end and would be a continuous effort since the beginning (Appendix A, General Aspects). Some advances in how to write the dissertation have already taken place (Appendix C).
2. Quantitative Methods
It is assumed that once the stage three is achieved, a quantitative experiment would be created. Some advances about what kind of experiments could be done and how to analyse them have already taken place (Appendix C).
3. Qualitative Methods
On the qualitative front, it is envisioned to write a series of articles/publications that allows the participation in conferences and be able to interact with other academics and register their appreciation, if possible. I have envisioned at least 6 papers, some of them to be targeted at Computer Science and Engineering conferences and journals. This articles could be included into the final dissertation tome.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Charles Morisset (Primary Supervisor) | |
| David Sanchez Oliva (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509528/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2022 | |||
| 2281206 | Studentship | EP/N509528/1 | 01/10/2019 | 31/05/2023 | David Sanchez Oliva |
| EP/R51309X/1 | 01/10/2018 | 30/09/2023 | |||
| 2281206 | Studentship | EP/R51309X/1 | 01/10/2019 | 31/05/2023 | David Sanchez Oliva |
| Description | I have discovered: - Urban transport networks (UTNs) in general are not formally defined. This is a challenge as I need a formal definition to present them as computer concepts. I managed to define UTNs as a "cellular automaton". A cellular automaton is a fundamental principle in computer modelling. - Resilience itself is a very broad and evolving concept. I have investigated what it means in some contexts and have determined some ideas about how resilience should be measured and clearly defined. As a result, I have formulated a way to define resilience as a performance-related notion. This definition seems beneficial for dynamical systems because it is easier to express, is quantifiable, and is unambiguous. I have come up with some interesting concepts, such as the "resilience region," that have shown tremendous potential not only for defining and understanding resilience, but also for expressing it visually. - There are a significant number of similarities between computer networks and UTNs that could be used to improve the resilience of NTUs. I have found that a systematic analysis, similar to that performed with the "OSI model" for computer networks, can be applied to UTNs to improve resilience. The OSI model is a layering technique that presents a network as a series of processes grouped by function. - There is a misconception that interdependency in UTNs is a side effect that should be avoided because it can cause resilience problems (cascading failures). I have found that, in some cases, this interdependency can increase the resilience of interdependent UTNs. I believe that computer security techniques could be modelled by leveraging interdependence as an advantage. - I have combined my findings into a simulator, that I call CompRes, that can provide some analysis of the resilience of UTNs. The simulator allows comparing different scenarios and showing how resilience could be affected or improved if parameters are changed. So far, I have modelled "attacks" in this UTNs simulator that represent a "link layer" (equivalent to an OSI level 2), demonstrating that a systematic analysis that is used for computer networks can help improve the resilience of UTNs (accepting that the mechanisms are different). - I have devised a way to express in the simulator some typical adversities of UTNs as performance attacks. |
| Exploitation Route | - My UTN model as a cellular automaton as well as my improved definition of resilience could be used by other researchers. - The analysis technique using OSI Reference Model could be the starting point to a formal analysis of resilience issues on UTNs. - My proposed mechanism of simulation could be enhanced by future projects. - The mechanism of security defence based on interdependency that I am developing could be implemented to increase Urban Transport Network resilience. - My simulator, CompRes, could be used to analyse resilience for simple scenarios and it is a starting point to develop a full fledge resilience analyser for UTNs. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Transport,Other |
| URL | https://github.com/david-San/CompRes |
| Title | Urban Transport Network Model |
| Description | I created a formal model to describe Urban Transport Networks (UTNs) based primarily on the concepts of position and decision. The model gives the decision process a prime time, which is something that is usually overlooked. Decision processes are getting more important each day on these systems because UTNs are becoming cyber-physical. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | - The model itself allow me to see intrinsic characteristics of systems that are at first sight completely different. Water distribution systems, power electrical grids, vehicular transport roads, train systems and telecommunications infrastructures have the same macro model structures. |
| Title | CompRes: Computing Resilience Tool for Simulated UTN |
| Description | CompRes is a configurable tool that simulate the performance behaviour of an Urban Transport Network. It was designed to simulate a link layer (equivalent to the layer 2 in the OSI model for computer networks) of vehicles that travel from destination A to B (a continuous road/railway). It models the performance of the flow of movable objects (vehicles/trains) under adversity and attack conditions. Adversity and attack conditions are modelled using a probabilistic parameter of braking. The software generates "resilience regions" using stochastic method (Montecarlo method) that visually present how the system behaves according to resilience metrics. During the process of analysis, it calculates "resilience indexes" that we created as well as many other standard metrics (Average speed, ). |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | The software was used as a basis for an article presented in PASM'22 (11th International Workshop on Practical Applications of Stochastic Modelling). This workshop is collocated with EPEW 2022 (18th European Performance Engineering Workshop). |
| URL | https://github.com/david-San/CompRes |