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Two-stage nodal network interdiction under decision-dependent uncertainty

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Abstract

Infrastructures such as power stations, water systems, railways, highways, subway stations, and roads play an important role in ensuring that the network operates safely and effectively. In this study, we aim to develop a fortification plan to protect the nodes and links from destructive attacks. However, there is often a degree of uncertainty concerning the exact location or degree of the attack. To address this problem, we suggest a trilevel robust shortesth path problem based on the defender–attacker–defender model. In this model, the primary defender provides protection plan against attacks, while the attacker identifies weaknesses and attacks non-fortified components. Lastly, the inner defender determines the shortest path between the source and sink of the interdicted network. To solve the problem efficiently, we resort to a column-and-constraint generation algorithm. Several benchmark examples from the literature are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of our model. Despite the inherent complexity of the problem, we demonstrate that using careful analysis of worst-case attack scenarios, we can develop a successful fortification plan within a reasonable computational time.

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Funding

This study was funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) with Grant Number GR020535. The research of Michel FATHI has been supported by a University of North Texas College of Business Summer Research Grant and the Cross-Border Threat Screening and Supply Chain Defense (CBTS) Center for U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Summer Research Program for Minority Serving Institutions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Management, University of British Columbia, 1137 Alumni Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    Amin Ahmadi Digehsara & Amir Ardestani-Jaafari

  2. SKEMA Business School, Universite Côte d’Azur, Avenue Willy Brandt, 59777, Euralille, France

    Shumail Mazahir

  3. G. Brint Ryan College of Business, University of North Texas, 1155 Union Circle, 311160, Denton, TX, USA

    Michel Fathi

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  1. Amin Ahmadi Digehsara
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Correspondence to Amir Ardestani-Jaafari.

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Michel Fathi is guest editor of Annals of Operations Research—Special Issue: Applications of Operations Research and Data Science in Disrupting Illicit Markets. Amin Ahmadi Digehsara declares that he has no conflict of interest. Amir Ardestani-Jaafari declares that he has no conflict of interest. Shumail Mazahir declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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Ahmadi Digehsara, A., Ardestani-Jaafari, A., Mazahir, S. et al. Two-stage nodal network interdiction under decision-dependent uncertainty. Ann Oper Res 335, 665–687 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-023-05630-w

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