Multi-Layer CPS Simulation for Cross-Sector Disruption Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Critical infrastructure sectors are inadequately equipped to detect, analyze, and respond to disruptions affecting multiple sectors simultaneously, such as cyber-attacks, weather events, or natural disasters, leading to significant operational challenges and prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
A holistic, integrated simulation platform simulating interconnected cyber-physical systems, including electrical, communication, and transportation layers, to model interactions and dependencies, allowing users to identify causal relationships and vulnerabilities, and simulate defense strategies against disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple critical infrastructure sectors are simulated in isolation, then the simulation complexity is reduced and easier to manage, but the ability to detect and analyze disruptions affecting multiple sectors simultaneously is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple isolated simulation systems into a single integrated multi-layer simulation platform that simultaneously models electrical grid, communication network, and transportation system layers. This merging allows the system to detect and analyze cross-sector disruptions while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture and standardized interfaces between layers.
2Reliability
If a comprehensive multi-layer simulation platform is implemented to model all interconnected infrastructure sectors, then the detection and analysis capability of cross-sector disruptions is improved, but the system complexity and computational requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation platform is segmented into distinct functional layers (electrical grid layer, communication network layer, transportation system layer) that can be independently configured and simulated. Each layer maintains its own data structures and simulation logic, reducing overall system complexity while enabling comprehensive multi-sector analysis through standardized inter-layer communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by organizing infrastructure sectors into multiple hierarchical layers with defined interaction relationships. This layered architecture transforms the complexity management from handling all sector interactions simultaneously to managing vertical inter-layer dependencies, making the comprehensive simulation more tractable.
3Measurement precision
If detailed geographic metadata and inter-layer associations are tracked for all infrastructure elements, then the precision of causal relationship identification is improved, but the data processing and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and stores only the essential geographic metadata and inter-layer association information required for causal relationship identification, rather than maintaining complete detailed models of all infrastructure elements. This selective extraction reduces data volume while preserving the precision needed to trace disruption causes across layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces geographic metadata as an intermediary data structure that mediates between physical infrastructure elements and their simulated representations. This intermediary layer efficiently stores spatial relationships and associations without requiring exhaustive detail of each infrastructure element, reducing overall data requirements while maintaining analytical precision.
4Reliability
If the simulation platform models outlier conditions and stress scenarios rather than average day conditions, then the preparedness for real-world disruptions is improved, but the computational complexity and simulation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The simulation platform pre-configures multiple disaster scenario templates (e.g., hurricanes, cyber-attacks, grid failures) with predefined stress conditions and disruption patterns. These pre-configured scenarios can be rapidly instantiated and executed without requiring full setup time, reducing simulation time while maintaining comprehensive preparedness for various outlier conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for simulating cyber-physical systems are disclosed. A plurality of geographic simulation layers representing respective infrastructure sectors of a real-world environment may be generated, and the layers may be linked together with one another to create a multi-layer simulation. The associations between the layers of the simulation may be adjusted, and characteristics of the simulation layers themselves may be adjusted, to ensure that the simulation conforms to characteristics of the real-world environment being simulated. In some embodiments, a multi-user simulation system allows users at separate terminals to execute attack inputs and defense inputs against the simulation to try to destabilize and stabilize the simulation, respectively. Results of the attack inputs and defense inputs may be simultaneously displayed on a plurality of terminals.