Physical Protection System Research Articles

Nuclear security system effectiveness assessment using bounded analysis approach: a case study of different adversary scenarios

ABSTRACT A security issue on nuclear facilities will give a significant effect on national security, economy, public health, or the combination among them. The evaluation of physical security effectiveness is done by considering it as a probability that the system will defeat an adversary at a particular time. This research examined the effectiveness of Physical Protection Systems (PPS) of a nuclear research reactor in Indonesia, as a role model facility. Three possible adversary scenarios were assessed. Estimation of Adversary Sequence Interruption model was implemented to assess the physical security system. The estimation of the effectiveness of physical-cybersecurity combination was done by Bounding Analysis Approach. The effectiveness of security system with cyber system working properly was assessed and compared with the system receiving cyber attacked. The results showed that the system effectiveness is high (0.839, 0.949, and 0.837, respectively). The results showed that the assessment method is effective to examine whether a security element is working effectively or not in such facility. This work will be useful as base guidelines for nuclear regulatory body and licensee for the application and evaluation of PPS and provision of countermeasure strategies in RSG GAS, and for further benefit, it can be used by nuclear facilities.

Development of a structure analytic hierarchy approach for the evaluation of the physical protection system effectiveness

A physical protection system (PPS) is used for the protection of critical facilities. This paper proposes a structure analytic hierarchy approach (SAHA) for the hierarchical evaluation of the PPS effectiveness in critical infrastructure. SAHA is based on the traditional analysis methods “estimate of adversary sequence interruption, EASI”. A community algorithm is used in the building of the SAHA model. SAHA is applied to cluster the associated protection elements for the topological design of complicated PPS with graphical vertexes equivalent to protection elements.

Design Principles of a Physical Protection System for Data Centres : Essential Requirements for the Security Staff in the Physical Protection System

The best practices and knowledge of different guidelines would be absolutely useful for professionals in the field of security technology. It is essential for the design and implementation of the data centres which are not really common facilities due to security reasons. Their location, proper activities, even the circumstances of their operation, all this should not be public knowledge. The design and implementation of the data centres depend on their security risk level. This may be fairly known for professionals, but a summary of the essential requirements would be useful for all people involved. In my practice, our company has got a chance to make a complex security plan for a Data Centre, so I would like to present the architectural and security aspects which may be important in the given case. Since a certain level of security is required in a given case, and different levels belong to different physical protection systems (PPS), I have created a facility security matrix to serve as a guideline and to help to decide what kind of PPS should be installed in different cases.

Optimization of Communication Probability in Effectiveness Evaluation of Physical Protection System

Physical protection system (PPS) is used to protect nuclear materials and nuclear facilities. The analyst evaluates the ability of the physical protection system to interrupt and neutralize the adversary intrusion by calculating the effectiveness of the physical protection system. The current physical protection effectiveness calculation tools use a constant value to assign the communication probability of the guard on duty to the response force. However, the assignment of communication probability is affected by many factors, such as human factors (information checking, call, etc.) and protection devices factors. Thus, this paper proposed a novel optimization method to optimizes the communication probability and obtained more accurate calculation results of system effectiveness based on the Sandia National Laboratory report. The case study indicates that the optimized method is more accurate and reasonable than the original method.

An Overview of Approaches to Nuclear Security in Ghana

Ghana has significantly improved its nuclear security infrastructure over the years. However, as threats increase by the day and new applications of nuclear and radiological technology are designed and implemented, Ghana must develop a rigid and comprehensive approach to mitigating the negative impacts on its nuclear security while improving prevention, detection, and deterrence of nuclear and radiological terrorism within its geographical space. This paper overviews the approaches adopted by Ghana to build a strong nuclear security regime within the past decade. These include improving legal frameworks for nuclear security by establishing an independent Nuclear Regulatory Authority; assessing nuclear security culture in facilities; strengthening nuclear security capabilities at facilities that hold radioactive materials by improving physical protection systems for deterrence and detection; and building strong and effective collaboration and cooperation with various stakeholders, both locally and internationally, to distribute responsibility and provide technical and logistic support to build a stronger nuclear security regime. Ghana also identified developments in human capacity in areas of nuclear security as a relevant approach to improving its nuclear security and has thus collaborated with the IAEA and the University of Ghana to establish a graduate school for training Ghanaians and Africans in nuclear-related disciplines.

РИСК-ИНФОРМИРОВАННАЯ СИСТЕМА БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ

Under the conditions of a difficult criminal situation in the world, taking into account the globalization of world development processes, international political and economic relations, which pose new risks for the development of the individual, society and the state.In the Russian Federation, as elsewhere in the world, threats to the safety of industrial facilities are steadily increasing.
 At the same time, in connection with improving the organization and expanding the technical equipment of potential violators (terrorists, extremists, etc.), improving the methods and methods of illegal actions, issues related to the rationalization of technologies aimed at protecting the vital interests and resources of enterprises are particularly relevant.
 One of such technologies includes the creation of an effective automated system for the protection and counteraction against unauthorized entry of individuals - a physical protection system technically based on a set of engineering and technical means.
 The design process for the complex of engineering and technical means of the physical protection system of industrial facilities includes two main stages: conceptual and detailed design, and the optimality of design and engineering solutions as a whole depends on the successful implementation of work at the conceptual design stage.

Optimizing physical protection system using domain experienced exploration method

ABSTRACTAssessing physical protection system efficiency is mostly done manually by security experts due to the complexity of the assessment process and lack of tools. Computer aided numerical vulnerability analysis has been developed to quantitatively assess physical protection systems. A variety of methods have been proposed to optimize physical protection systems, where one of the most advanced approaches entails precisely defining which security components should be selected and where they should be placed at protected facilities, taking into consideration adversary type, to maximize the probability that an adversary will be stopped at minimum system cost. The most computationally intensive part of the optimization process is the evaluation. The evaluation involves recreating search space and finding optimal adversary’s attack paths from each entry point. We present the domain experienced exploration method that optimizes evaluation process during the search for optimum solutions, considering results from previous evaluations. Performed experiments show that using the presented method, in real-world domains, results in a reduction of evaluation iterations.

Physical Protection and Consequences Assessments at Research Reactor Facility Via Radiological Threat

The main objective of a Physical Protection System (PPS) in a nuclear facility is to protect against possible malevolent human attack. Failures of that PPS could lead to radiological consequences, so that, radiation dose calculations have been performed for a radiological sabotage event in a Hypothetical Research Reactor Facility using an atmospheric dispersion modeling (HotSpot code) and compared with the annual regulatory limits for the public as set in Schedule III in IAEA Safety Report Series (GSR part 3). To mitigate those effects, a PPS for a hypothetical research reactor facility has been designed and evaluated, before upgrading the PPS, the Probability of Effectiveness (PE) is for a regular PPS, thus a high values of risk are associated, however after modification of the PPS, the security system becomes high since the probability of effectiveness is greater than 90% which is by far excellent in order to interrupt and deter any adversary.

MAPPS: A stochastic computational tool for multi-path analysis of physical protection systems

We present a new stochastic computational tool, Multi-path Analysis of Physical Protection Systems (MAPPS) useful for Physical Protection System (PPS) effectiveness analysis. MAPPS tool can perform multi-path (adversary paths) analysis using an Adversary Sequence Diagram (ASD) and can determine the Most Vulnerable Path (MVP). The MVP determination by MAPPS uses the concept of Critical Detection Point (CDP). Suitability of MAPSS for PPS design effectiveness analysis is confirmed through an example. A comparison of MAPPS results with the traditional single path analysis (employing the Estimate of Adversary Sequence Interruption-EASI model) shows the advantages of using MAPPS. MAPPS correctly predicts the MVP and the distribution of probability of interruption (PI) values for various adversary strategies including collusion with facility insiders. MAPPS results show that a focusing only on mean of PI value distribution may not be appropriate instead, a analyzing the low probability tail of the PI distribution is important.

국가기반시설 물리적 방호체계 운영개념 및 설계방법 개선방안 연구 : 원자력발전소를 중심으로

한국의 국가기반시설은 시설규모가 증가하고 밀집되어 강화된 북한의 국지도발, 테러공 격을 위한 풍부하고 매력적인 잠재적 표적으로 식별될 것이다. 또한 드론위협, 주 52시간 근무제도에 따른 경비병력 부족 등의 보안환경 변화에 따라 현 물리적 방호체계에 대한 유효성과 적절성을 재평가하고 전환을 고려할 시점으로 사료된다. 본 연구에서는 국가기반시설 중 원자력발전소의 외곽 물리적 방호체계에 집중하여 국가 기반시설 외곽 물리적 방호체계의 전환 방향과 개선방안을 운영개념 및 설계 방법론 측면 에서 연구하였다. 원자력발전소에 집중하는 이유는 원자력발전소는 피해 시 전기발전 중단 의 단기적인 피해와 함께, 방사능 물질 유출과 오염에 따르는 광범위하고 장기적인 피해가 발생하므로 가장 높은 보안수준을 필요로 하기 떄문이다. 개선방향 도출 목표로 국내 연구동향과 국내·해외 관련법을 종합 검토하고 한국의 특수 성을 고려하여, 과학화, 기동화, 유연성으로 운영개념을 재설정하고 체계전환의 기준을 수 립하였다. 새로운 외곽 물리적 방호체계의 기술적 성능개선을 위하여 개별설계에서 탈피, 고신뢰성·다방법론 기반의 통합설계 방법론 적용방안을 연구하고 구매제도 개선 및 해외 수출, 他국가기반시설로의 확대적용을 제언한다.

Components of physical security risk

The article considers the existing methods of risk analysis in the design of physical protection systems. It is noted that in the expert method vulnerability assessed integrally, that does not guarantee the principle of equal strength, vulnerability elements of physical protection are considered without regard to the vulnerability of the object itself, and parameters of the model of the intruder, not taking into account such factors as catalysts and inhibitors of the threat. Noted that to improve the adequacy of physical protection required the formation of a databank of security threats and vulnerabilities.

Proposal of an insider sabotage detection method for nuclear security using deep learning

ABSTRACT Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident, fears have arisen that terrorists can cause a similar accident by acts of sabotage against nuclear facilities; as a result, the importance of nuclear security has increased. In particular, sabotage by insiders is a distinct threat to nuclear power plants. In response to limitations of physical protection system (PPS) in nuclear facilities, in this paper, we propose a behavior recognition method that is based on hand motion time-series data analysis and use deep learning to explore insider sabotage detection.

An adaptive probabilistic mapping matrix search algorithm for vulnerability analysis of PPS

The paper presents an adaptive probabilistic mapping matrix search algorithm for adversary path planning and vulnerability analysis of physical protection system. The algorithm represents the adversary transition process as stochastic risk-taking path choice behaviors under uncertainties. The interactions among the protective elements are characterized by a full probabilistic mapping scheme of discretized Cell-to-Cell transitions across the area of physical protection for path planning analysis. Practice of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated with a hypothetical case of nuclear facility for risk-significant adversary path identification. The analysis results show that the method is capable of path search analysis for determining the system effectiveness measures.

Modeling of processes of security assurance from threats caused by unmanned air vehicles

At the present time new methods of threats implementation with respect to nuclear facilities are being developed. This creates a need to improve methodological approaches to the security systems effectiveness evaluation. Modern security violation methods include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) as elements of external influence on the facilities protection. The paper considers a method to evaluate a physical protection system (PPS) effectiveness of threats countering performed with the help of UAV. The method is based on the interaction simulation techniques in the “adversary – PPS” system. The paper describes the algorithms for this simulation. They include specialized software instruments for building and analysis of the interaction model for a specific facility. The results of the analysis of different impact options on the security system elements are presented with the proposed approach application. The article also covers the possibility to identify the critical scenarios, which are possible in real conditions of UAV usage, with respect to the reviewed system. To forecast the condition of the facility's protection and the processes of external influence on the PPS the most significant factors and causes of their occurrence were identified. The characteristics of the interaction processes in the “adversary – PPS” system were formed based on the received data. Then the PPS effectiveness of the discussed threats countering was evaluated.

A Comparative Study of the Algorithms for Path finding to Determine the Adversary Path in Physical Protection System of Nuclear Facilities

The shortest path algorithm is the process of finding a path on a weighted graph that minimizes the number of the weights of the path-forming side. Thus, the resulting path is the distance that has the least weight or distance. In physical protection systems (PPS), the implementation of the shortest path algorithm is determining the most vulnerable adversary path to penetrate the physical protection system of a nuclear facility. The paths between points at a facility passed by the adversary will form a directed and weighted graph. The weights on the graph represent the ability of a protective device (e.g. CCTV, sensor, alarm etc.). The formed graph will be processed using algorithms to determine the most vulnerable path. In this paper, we study and examine the performance of two types of algorithms namely Dijkstra and A*. The purpose of this study is to compare the two algorithms which we will use it to determine the most vulnerable path related to the physical protection system of nuclear facilities. Our results show that the A* algorithm provides more efficient path results than the Dijkstra algorithm.

Застосування статистичних методів для перевірки працездатності технічних засобів системи фізичного захисту

Застосування статистичних методів для перевірки працездатності технічних засобів системи фізичного захисту

Structure of the physical protection system of main pipelines from deliberate threats

Statistics of emergency situations at pipeline transport facilities indicate that there are problematic issues in the products transportation. The accidents of the past decade were dominated by the theft of these products (“mortem terrorism”), sabotage acts also were recorded. The main direction of research to counteract these threats is aimed at detecting disturbances in the seismic field in the pipeline security zone using a fiber-optic cable (sensor). In the article we propose the structure of the physical protection system of main pipelines to detect and neutralize unauthorized tie-ins into the pipe in order to minimize the level of pipeline protection losses.

Physical protection systems of nuclear facilities: a proposed nuclear power plant general layout and regulatory requirement

At present, great efforts in Egypt are directed towards elaborate physical protection regulations to protect nuclear and radiological facilities from any adversary actions, especially after signing the agreement between Egypt and Russia for the establishment of the first Egyptian nuclear power plant in Dabaa. The upcoming regulations will include a physical protection regulation of nuclear facilities and nuclear materials. Thus, the present work is concerned with a proposal of physical protection regulation of nuclear facilities. This proposal discusses the role of the licensee in defining threat assessment and design basis threat followed by classifying different areas in general layout of nuclear facility or nuclear power plant. Also, the requirements of an efficient physical protection system are discussed based on the four basic elements, i.e. entry control, intrusion detection, delay of intruder, and response force. This suggested regulation takes into consideration the International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations and many other countries' regulations.

Nuclear Security Related Attributes and Characteristics of Different Types of Nuclear Facilities

Existing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Nuclear Security Series (NSS) publications do not provide specific guidance for different type of nuclear facilities; these are typically meant as general guidance for nuclear facilities rather than having specific application to any specific facility type. Accordingly, the question may rise whether operators of different nuclear facilities would need to take account of the specific characteristics of their facilities during the implementation of the recommendations and guidance provided in IAEA NSS publications. The comprehensive answer to the question (regarding each type of nuclear facilities) requires the identification of the above mentioned specific characteristics of all nuclear facility types and the systematic assessment of the exiting IAEA NSS publications, including IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 13 and other implementing and technical guides. The identification of specific characteristics of different nuclear facilities that may influence the design and implementation their physical protection systems and measures is the starting point of this comprehensive review process.

Development of an Interaction Simulator for the Scenario Analysis of Physical Protection Systems

Scenario analysis is used for the simulation of the physical protection system (PPS) by considering several credible intrusion and defense scenarios. A practical interaction simulator is developed for the scenario analysis of the PPS. The interaction simulator integrates all discrete subsystems of the PPS to form an intermodulation chain of intrusion-detection-response-interruption. Adversary intrusion strategies and defense strategies are regarded as knowledge bases in the interaction simulator. Moreover, agents in the simulator can graphically travel dynamically. Thus, this simulator is used to verify and validate the daily operation flows of each subsystem, applied for long-term management of intrusion consequences, and helped the relevant staffs for training and vulnerability analysis of the PPS.