IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/reensy/v261y2025ics0951832025002674.html

Infrastructure resilience and cybernetics: A dead-time controller method to managing disruptions

Author

Listed:
  • Demmer, Tobias
  • Lichte, Daniel
  • Patriarca, Riccardo
  • Wolf, Kai-Dietrich

Abstract

This study explores how to maintain the continuous operation of infrastructure in the face of disruptions. We demonstrate that a connection exists between the established fields of cybernetics and resilience, and that the resilience of a system can be assessed and enhanced through the application of methods from cybernetics and control theory. By adding a closed-loop feedback controller that adapts the investment in maintenance according to the current conditions, those in charge of infrastructure can be ready for problems, adapt to them, and bounce back quickly. The novelty of this work is not only acknowledging the delay between measuring a problem and implementing a solution but also in addressing the implications of this delay when configuring the controller and bringing this knowledge into the field of resilience. We stress the idea that working together across different fields can help us deal with problems more effectively. We apply this concept to a system-theoretic infrastructure model to present how this could work in practice. By figuring out these solutions, we hope to make infrastructure more resilient and ready for whatever comes its way.

Suggested Citation

  • Demmer, Tobias & Lichte, Daniel & Patriarca, Riccardo & Wolf, Kai-Dietrich, 2025. "Infrastructure resilience and cybernetics: A dead-time controller method to managing disruptions," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:261:y:2025:i:c:s0951832025002674
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2025.111066
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0951832025002674
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ress.2025.111066?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Salazar, Jean C. & Weber, Philippe & Nejjari, Fatiha & Sarrate, Ramon & Theilliol, Didier, 2017. "System reliability aware Model Predictive Control framework," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 663-672.
    2. Igor Linkov & Daniel A. Eisenberg & Kenton Plourde & Thomas P. Seager & Julia Allen & Alex Kott, 2013. "Resilience metrics for cyber systems," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 471-476, December.
    3. Francis, Royce & Bekera, Behailu, 2014. "A metric and frameworks for resilience analysis of engineered and infrastructure systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 90-103.
    4. Yodo, Nita & Wang, Pingfeng, 2018. "A control-guided failure restoration framework for the design of resilient engineering systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 179-190.
    5. David D. Woods, 2018. "The theory of graceful extensibility: basic rules that govern adaptive systems," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(4), pages 433-457, December.
    6. Kalantari, Somayeh & Nazemi, Eslam & Masoumi, Behrooz, 2021. "Entropy-based goal-oriented emergence management in self-organizing systems through feedback control loop: A case study in NASA ANTS mission," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    7. Bakolas, Efstathios & Saleh, Joseph H., 2011. "Augmenting defense-in-depth with the concepts of observability and diagnosability from Control Theory and Discrete Event Systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 184-193.
    8. Hosseini, Seyedmohsen & Barker, Kash & Ramirez-Marquez, Jose E., 2016. "A review of definitions and measures of system resilience," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 47-61.
    9. Poulin, Craig & Kane, Michael B., 2021. "Infrastructure resilience curves: Performance measures and summary metrics," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    10. J. Park & T. P. Seager & P. S. C. Rao & M. Convertino & I. Linkov, 2013. "Integrating Risk and Resilience Approaches to Catastrophe Management in Engineering Systems," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(3), pages 356-367, March.
    11. Kenneth G. Crowther & Yacov Y. Haimes, 2010. "Development of the multiregional inoperability input‐output model (MRIIM) for spatial explicitness in preparedness of interdependent regions," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(1), pages 28-46, March.
    12. Nan, Cen & Sansavini, Giovanni, 2017. "A quantitative method for assessing resilience of interdependent infrastructures," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 35-53.
    13. Jianxi Gao & Xueming Liu & Daqing Li & Shlomo Havlin, 2015. "Recent Progress on the Resilience of Complex Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-24, October.
    14. Trucco, Paolo & Petrenj, Boris, 2023. "Characterisation of resilience metrics in full-scale applications to interdependent infrastructure systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    15. Ghostine, Rony & Thiriet, Jean-Marc & Aubry, Jean-François, 2011. "Variable delays and message losses: Influence on the reliability of a control loop," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 160-171.
    16. Bo Yang & Joane V. Serrano & Markus A. Launer & Lulu Wang & Kamran Rabiei, 2023. "A comprehensive and systematic study on the cybernetics management systems," Systemic Practice and Action Research, Springer, vol. 36(3), pages 479-504, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tong, Wenjing & Li, Hong Xian & Nasirzadeh, Farnad & Yao, Fuyi & Ji, Yingbo, 2025. "Resilience of interdependent infrastructure networks: Review and future directions," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    2. Trucco, Paolo & Petrenj, Boris, 2023. "Characterisation of resilience metrics in full-scale applications to interdependent infrastructure systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    3. Alexander Stolz & Jet Hoe Tang & Stefan G. Fischer & Kai Fischer, 2024. "A rheological model analog for assessing the resilience of socio-technical systems across sectors," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 922-945, December.
    4. Wang, Feng & Tian, Jin & Shi, Chenli & Ling, Jiamu & Chen, Zian & Xu, Zhengguo, 2024. "A multi-stage quantitative resilience analysis and optimization framework considering dynamic decisions for urban infrastructure systems," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    5. Tiong, Achara & Vergara, Hector A., 2023. "Evaluation of network expansion decisions for resilient interdependent critical infrastructures with different topologies," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    6. Adel Mottahedi & Farhang Sereshki & Mohammad Ataei & Ali Nouri Qarahasanlou & Abbas Barabadi, 2021. "The Resilience of Critical Infrastructure Systems: A Systematic Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Tiong, Achara & Vergara, Hector A., 2023. "A two-stage stochastic multi-objective resilience optimization model for network expansion of interdependent power–water networks under disruption," International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    8. Fischer, Stefan G. & Stolz, Alexander, 2026. "Quantitative assessment of crises via central moments," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 265(PA).
    9. Fauzan Hanif Jufri & Jun-Sung Kim & Jaesung Jung, 2017. "Analysis of Determinants of the Impact and the Grid Capability to Evaluate and Improve Grid Resilience from Extreme Weather Event," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-17, November.
    10. Maddah, Negin & Heydari, Babak, 2024. "Building back better: Modeling decentralized recovery in sociotechnical systems using strategic network dynamics," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    11. Poulin, Craig & Kane, Michael B., 2021. "Infrastructure resilience curves: Performance measures and summary metrics," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    12. Ivo Häring & Mirjam Fehling-Kaschek & Natalie Miller & Katja Faist & Sebastian Ganter & Kushal Srivastava & Aishvarya Kumar Jain & Georg Fischer & Kai Fischer & Jörg Finger & Alexander Stolz & Tobias , 2021. "A performance-based tabular approach for joint systematic improvement of risk control and resilience applied to telecommunication grid, gas network, and ultrasound localization system," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 286-329, June.
    13. Qian, Lanping & Bai, Yang & Wang, Wenya & Meng, Fanyi & Chen, Zhisong, 2023. "Natural gas crisis, system resilience and emergency responses: A China case," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    14. Zhong, Yuanfu & Li, Hongxu & Sun, Qin & Huang, Zhiwen & Zhang, Yingchao, 2024. "A kill chain optimization method for improving the resilience of unmanned combat system-of-systems," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    15. Wang, Feng & Tian, Jin & Ling, Jiamu & Chen, Zian & Xu, Zhengguo, 2025. "A multi-stage resilience analysis framework of critical infrastructure systems based on component importance measures," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    16. Mottahedi, Adel & Sereshki, Farhang & Ataei, Mohammad & Qarahasanlou, Ali Nouri & Barabadi, Abbas, 2021. "Resilience estimation of critical infrastructure systems: Application of expert judgment," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    17. Wu, Jingyi & Yu, Yang & Yu, Jianxing & Chang, Xueying & Xu, Lixin & Zhang, Wenhao, 2023. "A Markov resilience assessment framework for tension leg platform under mooring failure," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    18. Liu, Xing & Fang, Yi-Ping & Zio, Enrico, 2021. "A Hierarchical Resilience Enhancement Framework for Interdependent Critical Infrastructures," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    19. Nader Naderpajouh & David J. Yu & Daniel P. Aldrich & Igor Linkov & Juri Matinheikki, 2018. "Engineering meets institutions: an interdisciplinary approach to the management of resilience," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 306-317, September.
    20. Jingjing Kong & Slobodan P. Simonovic & Chao Zhang, 2019. "Resilience Assessment of Interdependent Infrastructure Systems: A Case Study Based on Different Response Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-31, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:reensy:v:261:y:2025:i:c:s0951832025002674. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/reliability-engineering-and-system-safety .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.