Dr. Gabriel Weaver and Dr. Lavanya Marla have developed a cyber/physical disruption model for shipping port operations that allows port authorities to anticipate, prepare and avoid damages from various different disruptive events, both malicious and natural. This model has been improved with fundamental changes to the optimization algorithm, which is an inherent part of the data processing pipeline, and to the cyber layer of the pipeline. These changes allow for a more diverse cyber layer by allowing an additional data source, which, in turn, affects the transportation layer of the pipeline. This extends the grid-based approach to integrate into a network-based approach to critical infrastructure risk assessment. These changes allow for a more complete analysis of possible economic disruptions based on the input data given.
The invention is software to measure economic impacts of cyber/physical disruptions to port operations. It can be used to bolster port security by identifying points of weakness as well as improve training on how to respond to crises that may occur. It includes cyber disruptions which are currently neglected in port security efforts as evidenced by recent malware attacks. It also estimates economic impact for the port and the end stakeholders. This will be of special interest to port insurers, commanders, the US Coast Guard and other security agencies as well as the shipping companies that depend on smooth port logistics to move their freight efficiently.