Finite State Machine Modelling to Facilitate the Resilience of Infrastructures: Reflections

Evelin Engler,Michael Baldauf,Frank Sill Torres,Stephan Brusch

doi:10.3390/infrastructures5030024

Evelin Engler, Michael Baldauf + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures5030024

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Abstract

The ability of an infrastructure to be resistant against hazards or to accommodate and recover from hazard-induced destructions and disturbances is characterized as resilience. Usually, infrastructures are engineered socio-technical systems or systems-of-systems. Jackson and Ferris consider the use of finite state machine (FSM) modelling as a suitable means to depict and investigate the resilience of such engineered systems. This paper discusses the capabilities and limitations of the FSM model proposed by Jackson and Ferris and if it should be used for the representation and evaluation of the resilience of an infrastructure. The discussion is conducted on a more general level. However, special attention is paid to monitoring because, on the one hand, monitoring is one of the cornerstones of resilience and, on the other hand, Scott and Ferris define a state that is emphasized by an increased level of situational awareness as a result of happened and perceived events. Consequently, the question has to be answered of how the models are able to reflect the need for routine monitoring of the resilience of infrastructures in order to initiate, if necessary, adjustment procedures as an appropriate response to changes in internal and external conditions. The results of this theoretical study are a fundamental step towards the practical application of the FSM approach for the design of resilient infrastructures.

Highlights

The paper provides reflections about the usability of finite state machine (FSM) models for the investigation and enhancement of the resilience of infrastructures as proposed in [1,2] by Scott and Ferris
If FSM modelling is used for the design of resilient infrastructures, the complete process of service provision has to be taken into account and needs to be converted into functions regardless of whether individual functions and tasks are performed by humans or machines
This study identified the potentials and limitations of FSM modelling as proposed in [1,2] in relation to the intended applications: Design of resilient infrastructures [1,2,37] as well as evaluation and indication of the resilience level currently supported by the infrastructure

Summary

Introduction

The paper provides reflections about the usability of finite state machine (FSM) models for the investigation and enhancement of the resilience of infrastructures as proposed in [1,2] by Scott and Ferris. There is a great variety of resilience definitions They differ in perspective, scope, and objective, and result in different approaches to describe, evaluate, and enhance the resilience of infrastructure systems [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. The following question is justified: To what extent can the FSM models proposed in [1,2] meet these challenges?

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Discussion

Conclusion