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For operators of SCIs, the integration of digital technologies enables more efficient management and resource utilisation. More and more homes, businesses and government facilities are being connected digitally to SCIs, in the roll-out of the first wave of connected smart homes, buildings and cities.
As these smart networks become more complex and extended, they also become more vulnerable to cyber-attacks or other failures. Protecting and securing them requires primarily understanding the actual extent and nature of their vulnerabilities.
The EU-funded SMARTRESILIENCE project aims to develop new tools and methods for assessing SCIs vulnerabilities, in particular their resilience to attacks or failures. The project is considering a broad variety of issues relevant to SCI resilience. These include human factors, security, geopolitics and socio-economic factors.
SMARTRESILIENCE begins with the identification of suitable SCI resilience indicators, including those identified by analysing the so-called 'big data'. The project team is developing a new resilience-assessment methodology, as well as an IT-based, user-friendly 'SCI dashboard' tool.
These tools are being trialled in eight different European countries in a series of studies involving real energy, transportation, health and water infrastructure. Their combined results are being used to model a complete, virtual, smart city which is helping researchers understand how a wider network of linked SCIs would cope with an attack or general failure.
The specific benefits and cost savings to be achieved through increased resilience are also being assessed in detail. In the end, enhanced SCI resilience will have a significant positive impact on the growing population of citizens who depend on SCIs.