Title: A simple metric for dependencies

Authors: Silvia Ruzzante; Elisa Castorini; Elena Marchei; Vincenzo Fioriti

Addresses: ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Roma, Italy. ' ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Roma, Italy. ' ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Roma, Italy. ' ENEA, Centro Ricerche Casaccia, Via Anguillarese 301, S. Maria di Galeria, 00123 Roma, Italy

Abstract: We propose a metric for the analysis of the dependencies in a network of dynamic systems. We formally define the dependency and show that the derived metric approximates the 'strength' of the dependency. This metric is particularly suited for the analysis of the critical infrastructures (CI). It is vital for the CI networks to characterise and measure dependencies in order to be aware of destructive phenomena such as inter and infra CI cascading failures. The proposed metric is algorithmically simple, online data-driven and does not need the knowledge of the node dynamics.

Keywords: dependencies; generalised synchronisation; critical infrastructures; CI networks; dynamic systems; cascading failures.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2012.046553

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2012 Vol.8 No.1, pp.63 - 73

Accepted: 22 Jan 2012
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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