Game-theoretic algorithm for interdependent infrastructure network restoration in a decentralized environment.

Having reliable interdependent infrastructure networks is vital for well-being of a safe and productive society. Systems are vulnerable to failure or performance loss due to their interdependence among various networks, as each failure can propagate through the whole system. Although the conventional view has concentrated on optimizing the restoration of critical interdependent infrastructure networks using a centralized approach, having a lone actor as a decision-maker in the system is substantially different from the actual restoration decision environment, wherein infrastructure utilities make their own decisions about how to restore their network service. In a decentralized environment, the definition of whole system optimality does not apply as each decision-maker's interest may not converge with the others. Subsequently, this results in each decision-maker developing its own reward functions. Therefore, in this study, we address the concern of having multiple decision-makers with various payoff functions in interdependent networks by proposing a decentralized game theory algorithm for finding Nash equilibria solutions for network restoration in postdisaster situations.

Adaptive algorithm for dependent infrastructure network restoration in an imperfect information sharing environment.

Critical infrastructure networks are vital for a functioning society and their failure can have widespread consequences. Decision-making for critical infrastructure resilience can suffer based on several characteristics exhibited by these networks, including (i) that there exist interdependencies with other networks, (ii) that several decision-makers represent potentially competing interests among the interdependent networks, and (iii) that information about other decision-makers' actions are uncertain and potentially unknown. To address these concerns, we propose an adaptive algorithm using machine learning to integrate predictions about other decision-makers' behavior into an interdependent network restoration planning problem considering an imperfect information sharing environment. We examined our algorithm against the optimal solution for various types, sizes, and dependencies of networks, resulting in insignificant differences. To assess the proposed algorithm's efficiency, we compared its results with a proposed heuristic method that prioritizes, and schedules components restoration based on centrality-based importance measures. The proposed algorithm provides a solution sufficiently close to the optimal solution showing the algorithm performs well in situations where the information sharing environment is incomplete.