Building Security Research Articles

Behavior-Based Anomaly Detection in Log Data of Physical Access Control Systems

Behavior-based anomaly detection (AD) approaches for enterprise-IT security are not easily applicable to other domains, such as embedded devices and IoT nodes in cyber-physical systems. AD approaches are usually highly optimized for specific purposes, tightly bound to domain-specific technologies and rely on a specific syntax of investigated data. Data from cyber-physical systems is however highly diverse, often poorly documented and not easily ingested for automated analysis. AECID provides an anomaly detection approach, that monitors unstructured textual event data (i.e., log data), and implements self-learning for autonomous operation. A parser generator establishes a model of normal system behavior on top of observed events, which then can be leveraged to detect anomalies as deviations from that baseline. The unsupervised anomaly detection approaches of AECID apply machine learning techniques to perform sequence analysis, correlation analysis and statistical tests of events represented in log data. This paper discusses AECID's applicability in a building security system use case. A proof of concept demonstrates the effective detection of anomalies in log data of a building access control system stemming from card misuse, including stolen access cards and cloned cards.

Design and Build an Android Based Gateway Controller using the MQTT Protocol

The gate is the most important component of a building's security system. Although almost all homes have gates, they are still opened and closed in the traditional manner. As technology advances, a remote control may be used to automatically open and close the gate. In this study, the author attempts to develop a gate utilizing an internet-connected microcontroller and an android smartphone application to make it simpler for users to manage and monitor the motor's status and eliminate the need for a remote control. The automatic gate prototype includes a track length of 3 meters, a 12 V dc gearbox motor, and a control system. The gate load standard is 15.40 kg. The study's findings employ the Internet of Things (IoT) to regulate and observe gate opening and closing as well as gather data on gate status and maintenance. According to test results, an average torque value of 78.44 Nm at an average current value of 10.25 A was obtained utilizing a mass load variation between 1 and 15 kg. Qos performance between Node MCU and Android application shows the quality of data transfer during deceleration with an average value of 34.3 seconds. The average throughput value is 149.6719 bps.

Solar Based Perimeter Intrusion Detection System with Integration of SMS and Alarm System

It is extremely important to address and prevent unwanted entry or breaches of defined perimeters, such as physical location or property, by quickly and reliably identifying and informing security personnel of impending intrusions. However, the lack of an efficient perimeter intrusion detection and alarm system threatens the security of buildings and exposes confidential information and resources to theft or unauthorized entry. In this paper, a solar-based perimeter intrusion detection and alarm system that utilizes a combination of technologies such as sensors, alarm systems, microcontrollers, buzzers, a 5V solar panel, a 4.2V lithium battery, a GSM module, a micro-SIM card, and an Atmega 328P controller was developed using embedded C. The proposed system was able to provide effective and efficient detection of intrusion; it provided immediate alert notification and prompt response capabilities. Also, with the addition of the alarm system, it could deter intruders, thereby contributing to a more robust and comprehensive security framework.

The Health Silk Road: A Double-Edged Sword? Assessing the Implications of China’s Health Diplomacy

The Health Silk Road (HSR) of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China aims to enhance public health and foster international cooperation in the healthcare sector. HSR objectives include strengthening healthcare infrastructure, expanding China’s global health leadership, and enhancing international health cooperation. The aim of this study was to examine the HSR and its implications for global health and international relations by using expert opinion analysis on known major HSR initiatives. We analyzed the objectives of HSR, including improving healthcare infrastructure, enhancing global health cooperation, and expanding China’s global health leadership. Additionally, as a case study, an in-depth analysis of the China-Pakistan collaboration on healthcare under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was conducted. This research posits that the HSR has a mix of positive and negative implications. Positive impacts of HSR include improved healthcare services, infrastructure, and capacity-building in participating countries. The main challenges include the quality and sustainability of the infrastructure and services provided, debt sustainability, transparency of projects, and China’s geopolitical influence. This research identified five motives behind China’s HSR: economic interests, diplomatic influence, reputation building, regional stability, and health security. The summary centers on CPEC and the WHO/Global collaboration. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the HSR’s multifaceted impacts and underscores the importance of open dialogue, cooperation, and the sharing of best practices among stakeholders. By assessing the motives, implications, and concerns of the HSR, this study offers valuable insights for policymakers, global health practitioners, and scholars, highlighting the significance of international collaboration.

Does nanotechnology contribute to energy poverty reduction?

PurposeNanotechnology's rapid development worldwide is a significant measure for countries to strengthen the building of energy security. Thus, to empirically investigate the underlying effect of nanotechnology on energy poverty alleviation, the authors of this study assess the impact of nanotechnology on alleviating energy poverty in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper used panel data for 56 developing countries over the period 2012–2019, by employing dynamic generalised method of moments (GMM) analysis.FindingsThe findings showed that the emergence of nanotechnology has a significant trend in increasing energy poverty in developing countries. This suggests that whilst nanotechnology may be a promising solution for addressing energy poverty in certain contexts, nanotechnology may not be the most viable option for reducing poverty in developing countries. The findings have added credence as the findings are robust to the inclusion of alternative energy poverty measures and additional controlled variables.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough this study results show unpromising outcomes in addressing energy poverty in developing countries, the authors believe that this may be a short-term phenomenon. In the long run, policies and programs must be put in place to support the development and deployment of nanotechnology to reduce energy poverty.Originality/valueThe authors believe this is the first attempt to examine the dynamic influence of nanotechnology development on energy poverty in developing countries. From the standpoint of nanotechnology development, this can help policymakers develop rules and regulations to tackle energy poverty.

Community Based Peace Education for Youths and Adults: A Panacea for Conflict Prevention and Peace Building in Nigeria

Conflict and insecurity has become major social problems constraining the socio-economic and political progress of multi-ethnic society like Nigeria. Conflict prevention and peace building become a global challenge. Education has been described as an instrument for conflict prevention and peace building in the contemporary peace building efforts of the world. This paper draws attention to the possible ways of preventing conflict and peace building using Community Based Peace Education (CBPE) programme for Youths and Adults in Nigeria. The paper finally suggests that the promotion of good inter and intra groups’ relationship as well as a well-designed CBPE programme for youths and adults should be integrated into the educational system of the country for conflict prevention, peace building and national security in Nigeria. So also, more efforts should be intensified in promoting education for youths and adults and redesigning their curriculum, primers and other materials to promote non-violence culture of peace, tolerance and integrity, gender equity and active citizenship for peace and national unity in the country.

The Digital Twin Modeling Method of the National Sliding Center for Intelligent Security

There are some problems in the security management of large stadiums, such as complex situations and a lack of coordination among systems. An intelligent security system can effectively improve the efficiency of security management. The digital twin concept is applied to intelligent security systems in large stadiums, and an intelligent security modeling method for large stadiums based on digital twin is proposed. The modeling method of the physical model is presented for the security equipment and building entities. The virtual model is based on geometric, physical, behavioral, and rule models. Considering the particularity of building security, the environmental model is added to describe the environmental information. The application mode of the digital twin model is proposed. In the security management process, multi-source data and virtual models are integrated to analyze and control the security management process of buildings, forming a closed loop of “perception-analysis-control” in security management. Taking the National Sliding Center as an example, this paper verifies the digital twin model and its operation mode of intelligent building security through several possible situations in the operation process of the stadium. The analysis of security data and evacuation path guidance in emergencies are simulated. The digital twin model for intelligent security integrated the building security data and simulation models to assist in identifying the types of dangers and the treatment of emergencies. Furthermore, the control of building equipment was integrated into the security system. The digital twin model for intelligent security improved the integration and intelligence of the security system.

Study on adjudication challenges in Singapore's construction industry: An in-depth analysis of payment disputes and judicial review

Adjudication under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (SOP Act) is crucial for resolving payment disputes in Singapore's construction sector. Despite its effectiveness, parties often resort to litigation to challenge adjudication decisions. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of adjudication challenges in Singapore's construction industry, based on recent court cases from 2014 to 2024. The research identifies seven main causes of challenges, including payment disputes, contractual matters, and procedural issues. Analysis shows that only 26% of applications to set aside adjudication decisions were granted by the court, highlighting the need for procedural clarity and consistency. Results emphasize the importance of procedural adherence by all parties, with instances of prematurely lodged Adjudication Applications indicating potential shortcomings. The study recommends ongoing evaluation and refinements to the adjudication framework to improve its effectiveness in addressing payment disputes. Additionally, the introduction of a mathematical model offers a structured framework for stakeholders to quantitatively assess adjudication challenges in Singapore's construction industry. These insights are valuable for industry practitioners, policymakers, and researchers involved in dispute management within the construction sector.

정부청사 보안조직의 문제점 및 개선방안

In addition to the ongoing threat of provocations, such as North Korea's resumption of ballistic missile tests, and the chaotic international situation caused by the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine, anxiety in the field of domestic security is also rising. Even in these chaotic times, government offices are always exposed to various security incidents, so it is necessary to pay more attention to security. The government buildings of the Republic of Korea consist of 'A'-class facilities (Seoul, Gwacheon, Daejeon, Sejong), where most of the administrative and central administrative agencies are located, and other government and local government buildings. The importance of government building security is increasing due to additional construction plans for government and local government offices, but the security organization is insufficient in comparison. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the current situation of the government building security organization, draw implications, and suggest improvement plans so that an organization capable of improving security level and efficient security work can be formed. As for the method of the study, in order to identify the problems of the government building security organization, previous research and literature data on the security organization of other organizations similar to the government building were analyzed, and the problems and improvement of the security organization were targeted at the security officials among the government building protection personnel. An in-depth interview was conducted on the room. As a result of the study, the problems of the government building security organization were found to be non-unification of command authority, composition of protection personnel, lack of specialized security departments, and legal authority of public officials in defense positions. Clear division of duties and organizational organization, expansion of departments specializing in security for each building, review of application of legal authority such as the Act on performance of Duties by Police Officials in Security Official, and establishment of a Special Judicial Police Unit at government buildings were suggested. In particular, this study proposed the creation of a new security organization tentatively named 'Government Buildings Special Judicial Police Unit' as an improvement plan that can complement all 7 problems, and organized into organizations such as members and organization chart, duties and scope of the organization A portion of the content was also suggested. Therefore, it is expected that the utilization of the results of this study will greatly contribute to the improvement of the security level by improving the security organization of government buildings.

Real-Time Detection System for Data Exfiltration over DNS Tunneling Using Machine Learning

The domain name system (DNS) plays a vital role in network services for name resolution. By default, this service is seldom blocked by security solutions. Thus, it has been exploited for security breaches using the DNS covert channel (tunnel). One of the greatest current data leakage techniques is DNS tunneling, which uses DNS packets to exfiltrate sensitive and confidential data. Data protection against stealthy exfiltration attacks is critical for human beings and organizations. As a result, many security techniques have been proposed to address exfiltration attacks starting with building security policies and ending with designing security solutions, such as firewalls, intrusion detection or prevention, and others. In this paper, a hybrid DNS tunneling detection system has been proposed based on the packet length and selected features for the network traffic. The proposed system takes advantage of the outcome results conducted using the testbed and Tabu-PIO feature selection algorithm. The evolution of the proposed system has already been completed using three distinct datasets. The experimental outcome results show that the proposed hybrid approach achieved 98.3% accuracy and a 97.6% F-score in the DNS tunneling datasets, which outperforms the other related works’ techniques using the same datasets. Moreover, when the packet length was added into the hybrid approach, the run-time shows better results than when Tabu-PIO was used when the size of the data increases.

Anti-terrorist protection of public facilities and critical infrastructure against attacks with motor vehicles

The use of vehicles as tools for terrorist attacks, which has been occurring over the past few years, has led to the increasing use of anti-terrorist blockades around critical infrastructure buildings and in public spaces. This process has progressed as awareness and knowledge of the existence of this type of threat has increased among decision-makers. The variety of devices used to protect against attacks and their selection is not obvious and easy to implement. In this article, the author attempts to describe the occurrence of risks to critical infrastructure facilities from road vehicles used as weapons to carry out attacks. He describes the possibilities of preventing this type of event and recommends solutions to help in the design and implementation of external building security systems. The guidelines contained in the article can be a source of knowledge for those responsible for the security of facilities, but in addition to the theoretical basis in the design of external security of facilities, it is necessary in each case to carry out a specialised risk assessment, carried out by a qualified consultant.

Armenia at the crossroads: between great power ambitions and transformation into a modern stat

Armenia at the crossroads: between great power ambitions and transformation into a modern stat

Enhancing Security in Residential Building through Architectural Approach: Improving Building Occupants’ Safety through Additional Security Measures

Insecurity is a crucial challenge confronting the Nigerian nation in recent time with dire consequences of deaths, vandalisms and reversals of developmental strides. This had left many homeless, traumatized and several communities deserted in search of safer habitations. Residential buildings being homes that hold valuables of people and cocoons offering shelter had been targets of perpetrators of insecurity which often takes the forms of stealing, banditry, kidnapping, farmer-herder clashes, terrorism and militancy. The various reports on insecurity suggested that there is a correlation between the architecture of buildings and safety of its occupants when they are confronted with security challenge. This spurs the study to explore how best architectural strategies can be deployed to enhance safety of building occupants. The study area was Lokoja, a city in North central Nigeria where many had suffered insecurity in their homes. A total of 122 questionnaires were circulated among different categories of home-users to obtain data for analyses which provided answers to the various research questions of the study. Finally, SPSS statistical tool was used for the descriptive statistical survey conducted to reveal the study’s findings such as the need for additional security measures by respondents and a proof of significant association between the nature of security challenge and knowledge of building design.In conclusion, the study showed that insecurity will continued to be a trendychallenge among the home owners in the light proliferation of firearms and high rate of unemployment in the country.

CASCADE: An Asset-driven Approach to Build Security Assurance Cases for Automotive Systems

Security Assurance Cases (SAC) are structured arguments and evidence bodies used to reason about the security of a certain system. SACs are gaining focus in the automotive industry, as the needs for security assurance are growing in this domain. However, the state-of-the-arts lack a mature approach able to suit the needs of the automotive industry. In this article, we present CASCADE, an asset-driven approach for creating SAC, which is inspired by the upcoming security standard ISO/SAE-21434 as well as the internal needs of automotive Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). CASCADE also differentiates itself from the state-of-the-art by incorporating a way to reason about the quality of the constructed security assurance case. We created the approach by conducting an iterative design science research study. We illustrate the results using the example case of the road vehicle’s headlamp provided in the ISO standard. We also illustrate how our approach aligns well with the structure and content of the ISO/SAE-21434 standard, hence demonstrating the practical applicability of CASCADE in an industrial context.

Reliability Comparison of Programmable Components Usable for Indoor Localization System

Nowadays, location-based systems are used in various spheres of people's lives. Tracking the movement and location of people can be used in the outdoor environment, but it is also used in enclosed spaces. Location systems can also be used in transport for the purpose of tracking the location of vehicles. Location information is useful for navigating vehicles or people to a destination. However, the implementation of systems for determining the location and movement of people and entities is also important within confined spaces. Indoor location systems are gaining importance in terms of people navigation in different types of facilities where there is a high concentration of people during operational hours. Indoor location systems also serve to enhance security in buildings by tracking the movement of the people who are present. Among other things, persons can receive useful information related to the location in which they are. It is also possible to control, coordinate and manage personnel or resources on the basis of location and movement information in order to increase the efficiency of processes. We are living in a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected our daily lives. In the framework of the project APVV-20-0457, research is being carried out to design a system for monitoring and tracking the movement and contact of people in healthcare facilities in order to prevent and limit the spread of coronavirus and other respiratory diseases. The aim of this paper is to investigate the reliability of the programmable components forming the proposed confined space localization system. Based on the testing, the receiving devices were compared with each other, pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of their application in a given space.

Digital Twin for Safety and Security: Perspectives on Building Lifecycle

As digital twins are gaining importance in various industries, research on their impact, use cases, and implementation in the field of construction is accelerating. In this study, we examine the impact of digital twins on building safety and security throughout their lifecycle, utilizing two state-of-the-art use cases for fire and anomaly detection. The solution employs advanced sensors, 3D visualizations for detecting safety and security threats, and data analysis to predict potential future threats. Using the data that was collected over a seventeen-month period, we present an implementation architecture for safety and security digital twins in buildings, explore the benefits and shortcomings of such a system, and discuss the learnings applicable to different lifecycle stages of a building. This paper contributes to the creation and study of a digital twin for fire safety, analyzing its performance using two real-world use cases and reporting the implementation results. Additionally, we extrapolate the learnings from the use phase of a facility to other lifecycle phases of buildings and facilities.

Agro-Pastoralists Viable Options towards Sustainable Climate Change Adaptation in West Pokot County, Kenya

Climate change and variability is one of the most important developmental and environmental challenges on sustainable agricultural productions threatening small scale agro pastoral community livelihoods. This study examines how the agro pastoral community respond to the current and future weather and climate risks and recommend viable options towards sustainable climate change adaptation by small scale agro pastoralist community in West Pokot County, Kenya. The study adopted mixed research design combining both quantitative and qualitative data sources using stratified, purposive and random sampling techniques. Primary data was collected from a sample of 384 household heads and validated through focused group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs) and general observations. Data collected on perception to climate change were coded and analysed using descriptive and qualitative content analysis. The study found that the community have a thorough knowledge and understanding of their environment with perceptions revealing degradation of the available natural resources largely due to deforestation arising from agricultural land expansion. Drought, deforestation, landslides, floods and soil erosion are some of the major events adversely affect crop and livestock and contribute to vulnerability presently and in the future. The viable options recommended to reduce the present and improve future weather and climatic risks are awareness creation, tree planting, good agricultural practices, government support and agricultural insurance. The findings are key in guiding state and non-state actors together with the community in local level decision making for the conservation and restoration of degradation hotspots towards sustainable management of natural resources, resilience building, poverty reduction, food nutrition and livelihood security.

Multiagent Game of Intelligent Building Detection and Its Harm Rumor Analysis

The “14th Five‐Year” development plan of the construction industry of the Chinese government makes it clear that intelligent buildings are the general direction of future construction development. However, the occurrence of construction accidents in recent years has brought huge casualties. With the rapid development of third‐party inspection institutions, their judgment has become an important threshold for the access to smart buildings. The failure of inspection institutions to detect the renewal of leases may lead to the failure of intelligent systems, leading to the failure of construction equipment and causing major safety accidents such as the uncontrolled fall of construction elevators and the fall of tower crane items. As the supervisor of third‐party inspection institutions, government functional departments are responsible for the failure of intelligent systems. All of them undertake the important role of intelligent building security. This paper builds an evolutionary game model with government regulatory authorities, third‐party testing institutions, and intelligent construction enterprises as the three game parties, based on variables that affect the factors of the players, and discusses the possible scenarios of the stabilization strategy, which draws the following points: (1) the increase of incentives and penalties by the government is conducive to promoting the construction of high‐quality intelligent buildings and the normative behavior of the third party without intention to seek rent, but the increase of incentives will not be conducive to the government fulfilling its regulatory responsibilities. (2) The reasonable reward and punishment mechanism set by the government must meet the condition that the sum of rewards and punishments for all parties is greater than their speculative returns so as to ensure the safety of intelligent buildings in the evolving and stable market environment. (3) The accountability of the superior government for the dereliction of duty of the regulatory authorities is of great significance to enhancing the stability of enterprises in building high‐quality intelligent buildings. (4) It is also an effective way to avoid the construction of low‐quality smart buildings by improving the listed sales income of enterprises and increasing the rent‐seeking cost of enterprises. Combined with the improved SIR model, it is calculated that after the occurrence of a construction accident, when the rumor first appears, the rumor will quickly spread out of control without timely management and supervision. The conclusion of the game model provides a great reference value for the government’s regulatory behavior. The quality of the government’s regulatory behavior is directly related to the future of high‐quality development of intelligent construction and also expands the application field of evolutionary game theory and SIR theory. The government should actively manage third‐party testing institutions and intelligent building enterprises before construction accidents happen. After the accident, strict management and supervision should be carried out on well‐known bloggers before the emergence of rumors so as to reduce the possibility of standardizing individuals’ reprinting of rumors and avoid the uncontrollable negative impact in the later period, thus seriously affecting the credibility of government supervision.

Emerging and disruptive technologies in the Western Balkans: Do we need a new arms control regime?

The subject of this paper is to examine the relationship between the emerging and disruptive technologies and the sub-regional arms control regime in the Western Balkans, established by the Agreement on Sub-Regional Arms Control, signed on June 14, 1996, in Florence. The main research question is: Do the emerging and disruptive technologies that the Western Balkans countries possess or are planning to acquire influence the existing arms control equation in the Western Balkans and, if yes, do we need a new arms control regime? Authors explore this question through the analysis of emerging and disruptive technologies that have taken roots in the Western Balkans and are likely to grow significant in the future, and the sub-regional arms control regime, taking emerging and disruptive technologies as one of the variables that challenges the existing arms control regime in this region. They compare the current emerging and disruptive technologie capacities that Western Balkan states possess, as well as the potential of those emerging and disruptive technologies to disrupt the balance of forces set by the Agreement. The authors conclude that, although we do not need a completely new arms control agreement in the Western Balkans, having in mind the flexibility of the existing one, a responsible approach would include an update of the current arms control regime, especially regarding the new confidence and security building measures, including increased transparency on the acquirement and the nature of potential use of emerging and disruptive technologies.

Strategic Role of the Defense Industry in Answering the Needs of KRI Capability C4ISR to Achieve Maritime Security in Indonesian National Jurisdictions

The currently growing and complex maritime security threat is marked by the Coronavirus outbreak, which is thought to spread quickly. This virus threat can mean Hybrid Warfare but can also mean proxy where this type of threat can be exploited or used by parties who intend to invest their interests in Indonesia. This threat must be a concern of all countries, and cooperation at sea between countries is needed to overcome it. The Indonesian Navy sees the importance of increasing capabilities in the field of utilizing C4ISR technology (Command, Control, Computer, Communication, Intelligence, Surveillance, And Recognition) and how to integrate it into a single unit that can operate optimally within the framework of maritime defense and security of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia. Furthermore, cooperation with the Navy and all naval stakeholders is also needed to build collaboration in realizing maritime domain awareness (MDA) in the national region. The importance of Indonesia as a barometer of regional maritime security, namely; as a measure of the independence of Indonesia's ability to face naval security threats, measuring patterns, methods, and technology of Indonesia's marine security apparatus in dealing with threats, as well as predicting trends in maritime security threats that occur. As the main component of national defense, the Navy is required to carry out capacity building in marine protection and security, So that the defense i