Critical network infrastructure analysis: Interdiction and system flow

Effective management of critical network infrastructure requires the assessment of potential interdiction scenarios. Optimization approaches have been essential for identifying and evaluating such scenarios in networked systems. Although a primary function of any network is the distribution of flow between origins and destinations, the complexity and difficulty of mathematically abstracting interdiction impacts on connectivity or flow has been a challenge for researchers. This paper presents an optimization approach for identifying interdiction bounds with respect to connectivity and/or flow associated with a system of origins and destinations. Application results for telecommunications flow are presented, illustrating the capabilities of this approach.