An interoperable simulation framework for protecting port as critical infrastructures

The research proposes an interoperable simulation framework intended to analyse and investigate security issues in complex maritime scenarios affected by asymmetric threats (i.e., terrorist attacks). To this end, particular attention is paid on security issues related to people and goods flows within seaports. Moreover, the proposed simulation framework is addressed to decision makers and trainers and allows them to assess security procedures and policies as well as to detect the most critical factors that affect the overall system security levels. As a matter of fact, it aims at supporting training, risk analysis, review, test and certification of ports security plans. In terms of methodology, the proposed simulation framework combines different interoperable simulators, intelligent agents and data fusion techniques by using the IEEE 1516 high level architecture (HLA) standard for distributed simulation. Thus, several simulation models can be integrated in order to recreate the multiplicity of actors involved in port safety and security operational processes (able to cooperate with each other in the same scenario) and to support decision making and training processes.