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A new inter-disciplinary relationship: introducing self-organized criticality to failures in aviation security

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  • Paul McFarlane

    (University College London)

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of self-organized criticality (SOC) to research on, and debates about, preventing the occurrence of human-mediated failures in aviation security. It aims to persuade readers (policymakers, security professionals, and academics) from different fields that this is a good topic for further research and one that is worth pursuing. This paper views aviation security as a complex system that produces risky behaviors because of chance interactions between many forms of human error. By rethinking the Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld (BTW) sandpile model, the paper uses the explanatory nature of SOC to explore whether criticality may be viewed as a crucial component of aviation security. It elaborates on the effects of arbitrary interactions between various types of error using the BTW sandpile model’s illustrative characteristics. The paper concludes by speculating that SOC can be used to generate new ways of thinking about interventions to mitigate failure and that academics and security professionals from various fields could collaborate to develop fresh ideas and integrated concepts to further our understanding of a crucial subject for the aviation industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul McFarlane, 2023. "A new inter-disciplinary relationship: introducing self-organized criticality to failures in aviation security," Journal of Transportation Security, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jtrsec:v:16:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1007_s12198-023-00257-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s12198-023-00257-1
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