Infrastructure Protection Research Articles

Securing Critical Infrastructure with Blockchain Technology: An Approach to Cyber-Resilience

Currently, in the digital era, critical infrastructure is increasingly exposed to cyber threats to their operation and security. This study explores the use of blockchain technology to address these challenges, highlighting its immutability, decentralization, and transparency as keys to strengthening the resilience of these vital structures. Through a methodology encompassing literature review, use-case analysis, and the development and evaluation of prototypes, the effective implementation of the blockchain in the protection of critical infrastructure is investigated. The experimental results reveal the positive impact of the blockchain on security and resilience, presenting a solid defense against cyber-attacks due to its immutable and decentralized structure, with a 40% reduction in security incidents. Despite the observed benefits, blockchain integration faces significant challenges in scalability, interoperability, and regulations. This work demonstrates the potential of the blockchain to strengthen critical infrastructure. It marks progress towards the blockchain’s practical adoption, offering a clear direction for future research and development in this evolving field.

Impact of a submerged stream groyne on morphology and sedimentology on a tidal inlet, Harle (Southern North Sea, Germany)

Coastal erosion and the need for flood protection present globally significant challenges. To address these challenges, hard coastal protection structures, such as groynes, are employed worldwide to safeguard coastal areas and regulate currents. However, their specific effects on current dynamics and sediment properties, particularly within tidal inlets, remain inadequately investigated, especially in regions like the North Sea characterized by prevalent tidal currents. This study aims to address the knowledge gap by examining the long-term impacts of coastal protection measures on sedimentology, with a focus on the environment of a tidal inlet. The Southern North Sea coast is subject to mesotidal conditions. It presents a mixed-energy coast with an erosive eastward littoral drift, providing an ideal setting for this investigation. On the island of Wangerooge, a prominent groyne extends into the Harle inlet, significantly restricting the exchange area between the North Sea and the Wadden Sea. Consequently, the changes in flow dynamics and sediment transport resulting from the construction significantly affect sediment distribution and morphology within the inlet. Sedimentological analysis was employed to characterize surface sediment properties and statistical analysis identified seven distinct facies associated with three realms, which were shaped by the tidal currents affected by the groyne to a distinct pattern. Additionally, the integration of multibeam data from existing literature facilitated the creation of a comprehensive facies map. These findings suggest alterations in the morphology of the inlet. By comparing the results with an unaffected inlet, the Otzumer Balje, this study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between coastal protection infrastructure and coastal sedimentology within a high-dynamic tidal inlet system.

A novel framework to intercept GPS-denied, bomb-carrying, non-military, kamikaze drones: Towards protecting critical infrastructures

Protection of urban critical infrastructures (CIs) from GPS-denied, bomb-carrying kamikaze drones (G-B-KDs) is very challenging. Previous approaches based on drone jamming, spoofing, communication interruption and hijacking cannot be applied in the case under examination, since G-B-KDs are uncontrolled. On the other hand, drone capturing schemes and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons seem to be effective. However, again, existing approaches present various limitations, while most of them do not examine the case of G-B-KDs. This paper, focuses on the aforementioned under-researched field, where the G-B-KD is confronted by two defensive drones. The first neutralizes and captures the kamikaze drone, while the second captures the bomb. Both defensive drones are equipped with a net-gun and an innovative algorithm, which, among others, estimates the locations of interception, using a real-world trajectory model. Additionally, one of the defensive drones is also equipped with an EMP weapon to damage the electronics equipment of the kamikaze drone and reduce the capturing time and the overall risk. Extensive simulated experiments and comparisons to state-of-art methods, reveal the advantages and limitations of the proposed approach. More specifically, compared to state-of-art, the proposed approach improves: (a) time to neutralize the target by at least 6.89%, (b) maximum number of missions by at least 1.27% and (c) total cost by at least 5.15%.

Performing risk assessment for critical infrastructure protection: A study of human decision-making and practitioners' transnationalism considerations

This paper investigates the views of practitioners on the decision-making influences and the transnational considerations affecting risk assessment (RA) for critical infrastructure (CI) and its protection (CIP).The investigation is based on a thematic analysis of the interviews of twelve RA practitioners. The analysis identified an overarching theme supporting the view that the team approach is the one true remedy to RA process shortcomings as well as five other themes: (1) the value of the human influence in RA; (2) transnationalism - an unfathomable notion; (3) consistency is no panacea to performance; (4) CI organizational RA-influencing forces; and (5) CI RA-enablers and impediments.The investigation suggests that the team approach to effective RA for CIP is considered as the absolute panacea in the eyes of practitioners although both insights from the current industry RA practice through the interviews themselves, and an investigation of relevant literature suggests that although this is warmheartedly recommended (a) there are no set rules and guidelines in its application, (b) it is not coordinated nor applied consistently, and (c) it is not an integral part of RA processes. Notwithstanding the reality that a team approach to RA for CIP is being contemplated by practitioners, albeit with lagging consistency and coordination, it is evident that additional research is necessary to broaden the understanding of its value.

A Focused Review on Wildfire Evacuation and Infrastructure Resilience in Canada: Trends and Insights (2013–2023)

A Focused Review on Wildfire Evacuation and Infrastructure Resilience in Canada: Trends and Insights (2013–2023)

Three-dimensional numerical modeling of the temporal evolution of backward erosion piping

Backward erosion piping (BEP) is a complex degradation mechanism in geotechnical flood protection infrastructure (GFPI) that is still relatively less understood, particularly when considering its time-dependent features. This manuscript presents a novel dual random lattice modeling approach for three-dimensional simulation of BEP, with a focus on its evolution over time. The key novelty of this presented framework is twofold: (1) we propose and incorporate a novel constitutive relationship for computation of time-dependent soil erosion based on the theory of rate processes, and (2) we devise an algorithm for calculation of coupled degradation of the dual lattices for accurate computation of 3-D hydraulic gradients. The constitutive relationship was developed from fundamental granular physics, and brings the potential to provide deeper fundamental physical understanding of the phenomenon. The capabilities of the modeling framework are investigated by comparison with available laboratory experiments which illustrates good agreement in the spatial advancement of piping erosion, pipe progression speeds, as well as the evolution of local gradients. To the best knowledge of the authors, the presented model is the first to be able to capture all of the aforementioned features when simulating BEP.

Isolating electrical and cryogen flow for safe operation and design validation experimentation of HTS power cables for electric transportation

The need for protecting the cryogenic infrastructure during a fault in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) power distribution systems of electric transport platforms is highlighted. A dual grounding scheme with an isolator between the electrical and cryogen flow paths of HTS power cables is needed. Finite element analysis of the electric field distribution of the vacuum jacketed isolator showed electric field intensity at the triple points. The electric field intensity at the triple points is reasonable if high vacuum quality is maintained. There is a need for further investigations for design validation with experimentation of practical designs for effective isolation and protection of cryogenic infrastructure from damage during an electrical fault in a section of the power distribution network of electrical transport platforms, such as an electric aircraft or ship.

Nonstationarity in Extreme Precipitation Return Values along the U.S. Gulf and Southeastern Coasts

Abstract This study estimates extreme rainfall trends across the Gulf Coast and southeastern coast of the United States while applying methods for extending the temporal record and aggregating across spatial trend variations. Nonstationary generalized extreme value (GEV) models are applied to historical annual daily maximum precipitation data (1890–2019) while using CMIP5 global mean surface temperature (GMST) as the covariate. County composites and multicounty regions are used for local data record extension and pooling. Unlike most previous studies, return periods as long as 100 years are analyzed. The local trend estimates themselves are found to be too noisy to be reliable as estimates of climate-driven trends. However, application of a Gaussian process model to the spatial distribution of observed trends yields overall trend detection at the 95% significance level. The overall historical increase due to nonstationarity across the study region, with associated 95% confidence intervals, is 9% (3%, 15%) for the 2-yr return period and 16% (4%, 26%) for the 100-yr return period. A trend is also detectable in the Gulf Coast subregion, but not in the smaller southeast subregion. Recent weather events and nonstationarity have caused the official return value estimates for parts of North and South Carolina to be much lower than the return values estimated here. Significance Statement Protection of people and infrastructure from flooding relies on accurate estimates of potential extreme rainfall intensity. Some official estimates of extreme rainfall near the Gulf Coast and southeastern coast of the United States are over 20 years old. We show that, across this region, there is a clear trend in daily rainfall so extreme that it only has a 1% chance of happening in any given year (the so-called 100-yr rainfall). This trend means that many existing estimates of extreme rainfall are too low, both now and in the future, so flooding risks based on those estimates would be underestimated as well.

IT Failures in Hospitals - Structures and Processes in Hospitals for Coping Cyber Attacks

Clinics are, by definition, part of a country's critical infrastructure. In recent years, hospitals have increasingly become the target of cyber attacks, resulting in disruptions to their functionality lasting weeks to even months. According to the "National Strategy for the Protection of Critical Infrastructures (CRITIS Strategy)", clinics are legally obligated to take preventive measures against such incidents. This involves evaluating, defining, and developing failure concepts for IT-dependent processes within a clinic to be prepared for a cyber attack. Specifically tailored emergency plans for computer system failures should be created and maintained in all IT-dependent areas of a clinic.Additionally, paper-based alternative solutions, such as request forms for diagnostic or consultation services, department-specific emergency documents, and patient documentation charts, should be kept in a readily accessible location known to staff in the respective areas. The complete restoration of a clinic's network after a cyber attack often requires extensive recovery of numerous IT systems, which may take weeks to months in some cases.If the hospital has robust plans for cyber emergency preparedness, including regular scans and real-time backups, stabilization and a quicker resumption of operations may be possible.

Orphans of the Orissa Famine: Capital, Charity, and Coercion in the Missionary System

Some of the most profound effects Britain imposed on society in Orissa, India came as a result of the missions that formed the majority of the protective infrastructure during the Orissa famine. Shortly after the British began their occupation of Orissa, a network of Protestant Christian missions based in England began to move into the region. Leadership came from the Christian Missionary Society, an Evangelical Anglican group, as well as Baptist figures such as Rev. J. Buckley. Their move was difficult, and for many years unsuccessful. However, the British East India Company and the Raj that followed it would pave the way for an increase in mission power through their laissez-faire policies of ignoring preexisting infrastructure and discontinuing preexisting social support systems. The missions, through their network of periodical publications, were then able to position themselves as a charitable counterpoint to the mainstream ideology of free markets at the time. In 1865, when a harvest failed as a result of British lack of infrastructure maintenance, the Protestant mission network’s opportunity arrived. The famine left many children without caretakers, and the missions, having begun a precedent of taking in orphans, became one of the only options for these children. The missions completed their takeover after the British first refused to acknowledge the famine, and then offered an ineffective response. The mission takeover quickly became so complete that secular authorities turned those seeking to give charity to the missions, since missions were some of the only organizations with a history of working directly with people in the region. The lives and identities of these famine orphans formed a microcosm of the changes to Orissa over the course of the Orissa famine.

Implementation of a COVID-19 Closed/Open POD Partnership: A Creative Professional Practice Exemplar for Occupational and Environmental Health Nurses.

For more than 15 years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all community agencies and workplace environments create structured communication and collaborative plans for emergency or disaster events (2008). This recommendation is aligned with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (2022) National Infrastructure Protection Plan. The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic ultimately demonstrated the importance of having organized plans and processes in place for the effective and rapid dispensing of medical countermeasures (MCMs) to the general populace. Occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) can utilize examples of successful MCM dispensing programs and adjust details to fit individual organizational needs. This report examines a closed point of dispensing (Closed POD) mass vaccination program as a guide for designing successful workplace partnerships. Closed PODs are public or private sites that have set up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with local health authorities to dispense MCMs to their populations during a public health emergency. The desired outcome of a closed POD agreement is the facilitation of employee health and safety, as well as enabling workplace continuity of operations. OHNs will play a pivotal role in any future disaster or emergency event. Because OHNs understand the critical need for anticipatory planning, they are in a prime position to drive the creation and implementation of a closed POD partnership between their workplace and their local health department.

Цифровой переход и его правовые аспекты в реализации внешних компетенций Европейского союза

Digital transition is a key priority of the European Union strategic autonomy. The EU external competences serve as instrumental long-term trendsetters prompting third countries to follow suit in terms of a large-scale artificial intelligence systems application, ensuring cyber security, network infrastructure protection, using big data systems and other disruptive technologies. Treaty-based and legislative norms and principles, related to such phenomena, when enshrined in bilateral, interregional and international agreements, make an integral part of the incipient “Human-to-Smart Machine” interface ‘code of ethics’ that might largely fore-shadow the future. In a change-bound world order with a swelling importance of the power of states, their resource and military potential, the stability of interstate relations hinges on the will of major powers and the commitment of the parties to the international obligations they assumed. Fraught with legal conflicts, derogations, in fact, lead to direct confrontation. With fast-track refinement of its pivotal external competence tools well under way, the EU keeps abreast with the geopolitical dynamics in Europe. A dramatic shifting in “soft” and “hard” power equa-tion is manifest.

Research on the state of areas in Ukraine affected by military actions based on remote sensing data and deep learning architectures

The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and the escalation of military actions in the regions have led to significant damage to residential buildings, civilian infrastructure, various critical infrastructure objects, dams, and extensive pollution of the territories. In this context, the tasks of remote sensing using satellite imagery and aerial observation arise to analyze the impact and conduct an economic assessment of damage in these areas. This work investigates and employs deep neural network (DNNs) models in computer vision (CV) tasks (classification, segmentation) and combines their derivatives, such as convolutional networks (CNNs) and vision transformer models (ViTs), to enhance the accuracy of damage assessment. ViTs have demonstrated significant success, often surpassing traditional CNNs, and have potential applications in remote sensing for damage assessment and the protection of critical infrastructure. The research conducted in this work confirms the importance of applying such technologies in environments where labeled data are rare or non-existent, particularly evaluating the use of DNNs, including CNNs and ViTs, in analyzing regions affected by military actions using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and multispectral images. The aim and subject of this research also include reviewing the possibilities of combining CNNs and ViTs to improve the speed of image feature extraction, landscape detection, and the detection of complex structural contours of objects, where data are usually insufficient. The results of this study provide a critical review of the application of CNNs and ViTs in remote sensing, identifying significant gaps and challenges, especially in the context of the economic consequences of destruction due to military actions. The technical aspects of using CNNs and transformer-based models for complex CV tasks and transfer learning under data-scarce conditions, as well as the challenges in analyzing large volumes of geophysical data, are considered. The conclusions emphasize the transformational potential of DNNs, especially transformers, in remote sensing under conflict and disaster conditions. Their adaptability and accuracy in various environments underscore their utility in both strategic military and humanitarian contexts, establishing a practical standard for their application in key real, real-world scenario-based territory condition assessment.

Network security framework for Internet of medical things applications: A survey

Abstract Limited device resources and an ever-changing cybersecurity landscape compound the challenges faced by the network protection infrastructure for Internet of medical things (IoMT) applications, which include different device ecosystems, privacy concerns, and problems with interoperability. Protecting private medical information in IoMT apps is challenging; a comprehensive strategy that provides user education, standard protocols, and robust security mechanisms is necessary to overcome these obstacles. With the advancement of IoMT, the network of clinical systems, gadgets, and sensors is integrated with the Internet of things (IoT) to enable intelligent healthcare solutions. However, the sensitive data sharing and the substantial connections in the IoMT systems raise security and privacy concerns in the network. Therefore, network security is critical in IoMT applications due to data breaches, vulnerabilities, and distributed denial of service attacks on medical data. This study reviews the network security techniques implemented in the existing studies for IoMT applications using machine learning and blockchain technology. This study presents an overview of IoMT healthcare applications by highlighting the security challenges encountered and the necessity of adopting advanced techniques to deal with complex threats. The research is mainly about how deep reinforcement learning (DRL), commonly used for intrusion detection, access control, and anomaly detection, works over time and how it can be used in IoMT applications. With the notion of providing robust security in IoMT applications, this study appraises the benefits of blockchain technology, such as data integrity, accountability, and confidentiality. Besides, this study addresses the limitations and challenges of various security techniques that IoMT systems employ. This work assesses the findings, research gaps, and future advancements for enhancing network security in IoMT applications. With an extensive analysis of existing research, this survey guides researchers, medical practitioners, and decision-makers to scale up the DRL and blockchain in IoMT systems more efficiently in the future.

CHARACTERISATION OF METHODS OF PROTECTING THE STATE’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FROM TERRORIST ACTIVITIES

The study describes methods for protecting the critical infrastructure of a state. The article aims to determine the combination of protecting methods of the state’s critical infrastructure from terrorist activities, namely security, physical protection, protection of critical infrastructure, protection of critical information infrastructure, and prevention of emergencies of a terrorist nature at objects of critical infrastructure. It is necessary to fulfil the following objectives to achieve the aim: to consider the difference and interrelation of the concepts of critical infrastructure and information critical infrastructure; to characterise the general properties of various terms, in particular: security, physical protection, protection of critical infrastructure, protection of information critical infrastructure, prevention of terrorist emergencies at objects of critical infrastructure; to analyse from the scientific point of view the classical definitions of forms and methods of critical infrastructure protection; to propose a generalised structure of information and technical methods of critical infrastructure protection; to determine the possibility of using information and technical methods in various fields of knowledge to protect the state’s critical infrastructure from terrorist influence. In summary, the structure of information and technical methods for critical infrastructure protection consists of three components: a mathematical model that describes the process occurring at critical infrastructure, a control algorithm that implements the mathematical model, and procedures that indicate the order of actions for applying the method. The problem of protecting critical infrastructure from terrorist activities requires technical, legal, military, psychological, medical, chemical, biological, and other sciences to address it. Each type of science will use its specific methods to solve practical problems of preventing terrorist emergencies at critical infrastructure. For technical sciences, there will be information-technical, engineering-technical, operational-technical, organisational-technical, biotechnical, and other methods to prevent emergencies of a terroristic nature that need development shortly. Keywords: critical information infrastructure, protection, terror, security, terrorist emergency.

Life cycle assessment of green–grey coastal flood protection infrastructure: a case study from New Orleans

The study compared the life cycle environmental impacts of three coastal flood management strategies: grey infrastructure (levee), green–grey infrastructure (levee and oyster reef), and a do-nothing scenario, considering the flood damage of a single flooding event in the absence of protection infrastructure. A case study was adopted from a New Orleans, Louisiana residential area to facilitate the comparison. Hazus software, design guidelines, reports, existing projects, and literature were utilized as foreground data for modelling materials. A process-based life cycle assessment was used to assess environmental impacts. The life cycle environmental impacts included global warming, ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication, smog formation, resource depletion, ecotoxicity, and various human health effects. The ecoinvent database was used for the selected life cycle unit processes. The mean results show green–grey infrastructure as the most promising strategy across most impact categories, reducing 47% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to the do-nothing strategy. Compared to grey infrastructure, green–grey infrastructure mitigates 13%–15% of the environmental impacts while providing equivalent flood protection. A flooding event with a 100-year recurrence interval in the study area is estimated at 34 million kg of CO2 equivalent per kilometre of shoreline, while grey and green–grey infrastructure mitigating such flooding is estimated to be 21 and 18 million kg, respectively. This study reinforced that coastal flooding environmental impacts are primarily caused by rebuilding damaged houses, especially concrete and structural timber replacement, accounting for 90% of GHG emissions, with only 10% associated with flood debris waste treatment. The asphalt cover of the levee was identified as the primary contributor to environmental impacts in grey infrastructure, accounting for over 75% of GHG emissions during construction. We found that there is an important interplay between grey and green infrastructure and optimizing their designs can offer solutions to sustainable coastal flood protection.

The role of critical IT -infrastructures in ensuring national security

The complexity and diversity of risks and threats, increasingly interconnected and characterized by multiple determinations, call for an integrative, systemic and comprehensive approach to security objectives, with an emphasis on protecting those vital components for safety and the smooth running of socio-economic life.The activity of protecting critical infrastructures no longer takes into account national borders and involves joint efforts, in the sense of identifying and evaluating any of their vulnerable points. As such, the protection of critical infrastructures - a determining element for maintaining the state of stability and security - requires the amplification of the concerns of the main international actors (states and international organizations) to elaborate and harmonize some strategies in the field. They must allow the identification and early warning of risks, simultaneously with the adoption and timely initiation of decisions/approaches for preventive intervention and countermeasures. Critical infrastructures have always been the most sensitive and vulnerable area of any system and process. Their sensitivity stems from their particular role within the structure. No matter how well protected, critical infrastructures will always have a high ratio of vulnerability, as they are usually the first to be targeted when seeking to destabilize and even destroy a system or process or even when an emergency situation occurs.

Distributed multi-UAV shield formation based on virtual surface constraints

This paper proposes a method for the deployment of a multi-agent system of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a shield with potential applications in the protection of infrastructures. The shield shape is modeled as a quadric surface in the 3D space. To design the desired formation (target distances between agents and interconnections), an algorithm is proposed where the input parameters are just the parametrization of the quadric and the number of agents of the system. This algorithm guarantees that the agents are almost uniformly distributed over the virtual surface and that the topology is a Delaunay triangulation. Moreover, a new method is proposed to check if the resulting triangulation meets that condition and is executed locally. Because this topology ensures that the formation is rigid, a distributed control law based on the gradient of a potential function is proposed to acquire the desired shield shape and proofs of stability are provided. Finally, simulation and experimental results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE DIRECTION OF INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE STATE POLICY OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

The article analyzes modern features of state policy in the field of critical infrastructure protection. Attention is focused on the need for institutional transformations in the direction of improving efficiency, transparency, responsibility and responding to new security challenges in the conditions of a hybrid war with the Russian Federation.
 The practice of protecting critical infrastructure facilities in developed countries has been studied. It was determined that its priority is the actualization of the predicate of stability of critical infrastructure objects. The content of normative and legal acts of Ukraine in this area was analyzed. A number of provisions have been identified that allow the adjustment of the domestic security doctrine to the European vector of stability.
 Within the perspective of the development of the concept of sustainability, the intention of «critical infrastructure stakeholders» is substantiated. This opens up the prospects of creating transparent conditions for ensuring the annihilation of state institutions of power, state protection systems, the private sector, educational and scientific institutions and other stakeholders of critical infrastructure to the National System of Critical Infrastructure Protection at the next levels of management. The possible levels of such cooperation are determined.
 Modern scientific works were analyzed, which studied the prospects of changing the paradigm of protection and stability to the paradigm of resilience. The complex of institutional transformations is proposed to be expanded due to the application within the framework of the functioning of the National Critical Infrastructure Protection System of the process of determining and analyzing the range of risks that the country faces in the spheres of critical infrastructure functioning. The transformation of institutional protection systems is considered through the prism of systemic determinants, among which physical protection and defense, cyber protection and defense, preventive measures of protection and defense, and an educational and scientific approach are highlighted.
 The system of organization at the state level of conducting regular interdisciplinary trainings on the operational response to emergency situations at facilities has been studied. It is proposed to increase clarity in the delineation of responsibility for project threats and to strengthen control over compliance with the systematicity of interdisciplinary training. On the basis of the extrapolations of scientists' hypotheses and the results of the author's research, a proposal was made to systematize the main proposals for institutional transformations in the direction of increasing the effectiveness of the state policy for the protection of critical infrastructure in the form of a Preventive concept of resilience of critical infrastructure objects.

Leveraging IoT for Enhanced National Security : A Comprehensive Review

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and evolving security threats, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has emerged as a pivotal strategy for bolstering national security efforts. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into national security frameworks offers unprecedented opportunities for enhancing situational awareness, proactive threat detection, and effective response mechanisms. By deploying IoT devices such as sensors, cameras, and drones across various sectors including border control, critical infrastructure protection, and emergency management, governments can achieve real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making capabilities. This paper gives a comprehensive review of the use of IoT technologies in national security, including real-time surveillance, border control and critical infrastructure protection. It examines the challenges and propose strategies, including the development of robust regulatory frameworks.