Communications of the ACM
Cyberwarfare, Conservation and Disease Prevention Could Benefit From MU Researcher's Network Model
University of Missouri researchers have developed a computer model they say could have wide-reaching applications in cyberwarfare, conservation, and disease prevention.
The researchers say their model could help military strategists create the most damaging cyberattacks while protecting the U.S.'s critical infrastructure. The model also could be used for other projects involving interconnected groups, such as restoring ecosystems, stopping disease epidemics, and halting smuggling.
"Our model allows users to identify the best or worst possible scenarios of network change," says Missouri professor Tim Matisziw. "The difficulty in evaluating a network's resilience is that there are an infinite number of possibilities, which makes it easy to miss important scenarios."
He says the new model could help design plans that efficiently use the smallest possible amount of resources to cause the most damage to trafficking networks, thereby reducing the flow of drugs, weapons, and other illegal materials. In addition, disease outbreaks could be controlled by identifying and blocking important links in their transmission. The model also can determine if a plan is likely to create the strongest network possible.
From MU News Bureau (MO)
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