KLK132: A Framework to Assess the Survivability of Intelligent Transportation Systems

 Principal Investigators

Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, Paul Oman and Brian Johnson

Background

With the rapid implementation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) throughout the nation, surface transportation systems have evolved into complex systems dependent upon an extensive network of communication and computing devices. The main design philosophy of surface transportation systems has traditionally been based on a civil engineering point of view, with emphasis on safety, structural reliability and network efficiency. Until just recently, these engineering practices generally did not consider the issue of system survivability with respect to loss of electric power, communication failure or bottleneck, failure of computational hardware or embedded software, or malicious electronic intrusions. With the increasing complexity of ITS’s, however, it is no longer adequate to consider the analysis of the transportation network, its control system, and the communication infrastructure as separate systems. Given the increased complexity of surface transportation systems – and increasing physical and electronic threats against those systems– it is imperative that an ITS be designed not only for safety and efficiency, but also for survivability.

Survivability is defined as the capability of a system to fulfill its mission, in a timely manner, in the presence of attacks, network component failures, or accidents. This means that the transportation system, its control, and communication infrastructures should be designed and operated to ensure that essential services will survive even under extreme operational conditions including malicious intrusions. In two previous projects, we have successfully modeled the criticality of components within the surface transportation network for a small urban ITS system (Moscow, ID) and a large metropolitan area (Boise, ID). In both analyses, multiple aspects or dimensions of the surface transportation system were considered, including: (a) the physical transportation infrastructure comprising roads and signalized intersections, (b) the communication network connecting control centers, controllers, reader boards, and CCTV sensors, and (c) the power grid energizing all electrical components of the system. The analytic techniques employed in both projects provide the basis of a framework to assess the criticality of components in complex real-time control systems, from both qualitative and quantitative viewpoints. This allows decision makers to prioritize threat mitigation alternatives.

Project Objectives

This research proposal seeks funds to define and develop a computational framework to identify and prioritize critical components in surface transportation networks in such a manner as to allow engineers, management, and emergency planners to allocate funds to improve the survivability of the system under analysis. By computational framework we mean the procedures and set of tools needed to automate the representation, analysis, ranking and depiction of the interdependent components comprising an ITS. Henceforth we refer to the computational framework as simply the “framework.” The framework will be based on graph-based algorithms and network dependability and security models.

Twelve months of activity are planned under this project. The project tasks involve developing a framework that enables ITS designers and policy makers to asses the impact of different designs and traffic flow policies on network survivability. The proposed project is an interdisciplinary effort involving three researchers from three departments. The principal investigators have prior UTC research experience, accomplished publication records, and successful track records in federal funding. Results of the project will lead to increasingly dependable and secure ITS’ operating under normal, event-driven, and unusual or abnormal (e.g., accident) conditions.

Task Descriptions

Research tasks are based on our prior work with the Moscow and Boise traffic network analyses. They are envisioned as follows:

Task A Refine our graph-based tool(s) to model and analyze roads and signalized intersections using VISSIM, VISSUM, and GIS databases.

Task B Develop a graph-based tool to model and analyze the power grid based on GIS data.

Task C Develop a graph-based tool to model and analyze the communication network and its components.

Task D Develop a graph-based, multi-dimensional model to represent the combined surface transportation network comprised from the results of Tasks A, B, and C. Task E Develop a procedural methodology enabling the qualitative assessment of the surface transportation network and its components

Task F Develop a methodology and set of tools that provide a quantitative assessment of the surface transportation network and its components based on the combined graph developed in Task D.

Task G Validate the framework defined in Tasks E and F, using the two previously defined and validated ITS analyses (Moscow and Boise, ID).

Task H Revise and finalize the framework (aka, procedures and tools) developed and tested in Tasks F and G.

Task I Conduct a workshop to train transportation professional using the developed framework and analysis tools.

Milestones

• Roads and intersections graph and analysis tool VISSIM/SUM compatible executable program: Dec. 2006
• Power network graph and analysis tool Executable program: Dec. 2006
• Communication network graph and analysis tool Executable program: March 2007
• Combined network Executable program: June 07
• Qualitative assessment methodology Evaluation Framework: March 2007
• Quantitative assessment tool Evaluation Framework: June 07
• Validation of developed tools Validation output from two networks: Sept. 07
• Training workshop Training workshop/training materials: Dec. 07
• Final report preparation UTC/NIATT technical report: Dec. 07

Budget Information

UTC funding committed to this project $107,116.38

Student Involvement

One graduate CE student

One graduate CS or ECE student

Two undergraduates Ce/CS/EE

Relationship to the NIATT Strategic Plan and to Other Research Projects:

This proposal specifically addresses the dependability and security of real-time control systems used in advanced Center for Traffic Operations and Control, as described in NIATT’s strategic plan. It incorporates all aspects of traffic control, including traffic signals, flow, and communications. It addresses the dependability and security issues resulting from equipment and communications failures and malicious attacks. It is at the heart of the mission of NIATT to consider and counter these threats. The project supports the NIATT strategic plan and current research in several other ways:

• Strong educational program--This project will help further the development of a strong educational program for undergraduate and graduate students. Because of the proposed research, the educational program in Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science at the University of Idaho will have materials that will be used to teach students how model the dependability and survivability of a complex real-time control system. • Capacity building--This project will address a major federal priority and the needs of ITD and other government organizations throughout the nation. The output of the project will provide decision makers with tools that allows them to assess the dependability and survivability of ITS and to better model the characteristics of ITS under different designs and operational scenarios. Further, the project supports NIATT/UTC program goals in the following ways

• Human resources--One Civil Engineering faculty member, one Electrical and Computer Engineering faculty member, one Computer Science faculty member; 2 graduate students (CE and CS/ECE); and 2 undergraduate students (CE and CS/ECE) will be involved in this project. • Research performance goa--By funding this proposal, the body of knowledge in transportation will be advanced in two ways. One way is by specifying the means by which an agency can assess the survivability of an existing ITS. Another way is by developing a methodology that will help traffic engineers compare different design alternatives and assess the incremental benefits (added dependability and survivability) that can be achieved by adding links/components to the transportation network. • Technology transfer--The investigators and students will publish their results in scholarly journals and professional conferences. The last task in the proposed effort includes training workshop(s) oriented toward working transportation/traffic engineers. • The proposed effort will also help support the existing Moscow ITS project presently underway.

Technology Transfer Activities:

Technologies generated by this project that have the potential for commercialization and/or institutionalization include:

1. Formats and graph-based tools for exportable traffic simulation data. 2. Formats and conversion programs for importable graph analysis data. 3. Transportation network analysis procedures for dependability and security. 4. Transportation control network topologies and architectures.

Institutionalization of these procedures and conversion programs could be implemented through a recognized state or local organization such as NIATT, ITD, and DOT. Also, the dependability and security analyses and procedures are of wide interest to a variety of organizations and entities, including DHS, NIST, INEEL, PNNL, and NSA. Further, commercial potential of new technologies identified through the analyses would be of interest to all those organizations, plus all businesses involved in manufacturing control systems (e.g., Honeywell, GE, Siemens, SEL, etc.). All results and deliverables from the proposed project will be documented in technical reports and publications sufficient to recreate the procedures and artifacts. Commercialization and institutionalization of results will be coordinated through NIATT.

Project status:

Active

Final Report: