Network attributes of critical infrastructure, vulnerability, and consequence assessment

The use of networks to characterize and model infrastructure and other technological systems is common. Applications of network principles are needed to understand vulnerability of infrastructure to disruptions, especially given the often increasing threats to these systems related to their greater complexity and interconnectedness. A set of network principles is presented illustrated with infrastructure network examples for threats of terrorist attacks and analogous threats posed by natural hazards and accidents based on actual data and events that can be inputs for modeling, alternative scenarios, and risk assessments of terrorism attacks. Transportation, electric power, and water areas are used as application areas.