Hybrid modeling and simulation approach selection to the reliability and vulnerability analysis of critical infrastructures

Abstract

Challenges to the modeling and simulation of engineered Critical Infrastructures (CI) lie in the multiple levels of interdependencies and lack of fixed boundaries, in the diversity of the underlying physics of the provided service, in the coexistence of multiple time scales, and in the level of resolution required to fulfill the objectives of the analysis. Such challenges impact the selection of the most suitable modeling approach or integration of different approaches for the reliability and vulnerability analysis of CI. This paper suggests a framework for selecting the hybrid modeling and simulation approach which is more suitable to analyze specific types of CI. The focus steps consider the system characteristics, e.g. interdependencies between CI, identification of the host system, and the objectives of system analysis. The framework is exemplified with reference to CI of different types.