Identifying and Analyzing Dependencies in and among Complex Cyber Physical Systems

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Systems Analysis

Background:

• Contemporary Critical Infrastructures (CIs) are complex cyber-physical systems with interconnected components and dependencies.
• Understanding these interdependencies is crucial for system resilience and management.
• Existing modeling methodologies offer insights but can be enhanced for clarity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel graphical model, the Modified Dependency Structure Matrix (MDSM), for analyzing interdependencies in complex systems.
• To provide a clear view of cyber and physical component interdependencies within and among critical infrastructures.
• To develop quantitative parameters for assessing dependency characteristics in large-scale CIs.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Modified Dependency Structure Matrix (MDSM) graphical model.
• Proposal of four quantitative parameters for dependency assessment.
• Application of the MDSM to a micro-distribution network (G2ELAB 14-Bus model) for validation.

Main Results:

• The MDSM provides a compact representation of inter- and intra-dependencies between system subsystems.
• The proposed parameters enable quantitative assessment of dependency characteristics, including multi-order dependencies.
• Analysis of the G2ELAB 14-Bus model demonstrated valuable insights into network component dependencies.

Conclusions:

• The MDSM is an effective tool for visualizing and analyzing complex interdependencies in cyber-physical systems.
• The method is applicable to large-scale critical infrastructures, enhancing system understanding and management.
• This approach facilitates the study of intricate relationships within and between critical infrastructure systems.