Title: Optimal defence resource allocation in urban correlated lifeline networks based on game attack and defence

Authors: Hongliang Ni; Xudong Zhao; Benwei Hou

Addresses: Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China ' State Key Laboratory of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation of Explosion & Impact, Army Engineering University of PLA, Nanjing 210007, China ' Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China

Abstract: The urban lifeline network, which includes critical infrastructure elements such as power, water, and transportation systems, is essential for the functioning of a city. Despite the significant impact of deliberate attacks on urban lifeline networks, most research on network resilience has focused on natural disasters. In this paper, we propose a strategy game model for both attackers and defenders of urban lifeline networks under deliberate attacks. The model, which combines game theory and risk theory, aims to identify optimal pre-disaster protection strategies. Considering the possibility of different types of attackers, combining the characteristics of both attackers and defenders, constructing the strategy solutions of both attackers and defenders, solving the attack and defence strategies of the complete information game, determining the Bayesian Nash equilibrium point, and finding the optimal strategy combinations of both attackers and defenders. Our experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model is effective in guiding the selection of optimal protection strategies. Specifically, our model helps to identify the best response strategies for attackers and defenders under different scenarios, which can improve the resilience of urban lifeline networks against deliberate attacks.

Keywords: urban lifeline network; game theory; Bayesian game; Nash equilibrium.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWMC.2026.155711

International Journal of Wireless and Mobile Computing, 2026 Vol.31 No.2, pp.131 - 140

Received: 23 Feb 2023
Accepted: 17 Jul 2023
Published online: 11 Aug 2026 *

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