The U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded approximately $588,000 to researchers at the University of Arkansas for a study aimed at enhancing the protection of critical networks during disruptive events. The funding supports a project led by assistant professors of industrial engineering, Haoming Shen and Robert Curry, focusing on the influence of information on network security in crises such as natural disasters and cyberattacks.
The project’s primary objective is to develop mathematical models that will guide how information is collected, shared, and safeguarded during times of crisis. Shen, who serves as the principal investigator, emphasized the importance of understanding how the flow and accuracy of information impact a community’s resilience to disruptions. The research will also look into efficient allocation of limited resources, such as sensors and drones, to detect threats and fortify infrastructure.
Key Focus Areas of the Research
Shen and Curry have outlined two pivotal questions their study will address. First, they aim to determine how defenders can leverage information to anticipate and identify potential attacks. Secondly, they will investigate the role of misinformation or strategic information sharing in deterring or deflecting threats.
Curry articulated the study’s goal in simpler terms, stating, “We’re trying to make a set of data-informed decisions, and we’re trying to make those decisions with uncertain information.” While the primary focus will be on theoretical modeling, the findings are expected to have practical applications, particularly in crisis planning and the protection of transportation and logistics networks.
Strategic Resource Allocation and National Security
The research team intends to proactively configure sensor networks to detect potential disruptions. Shen pointed out the challenges that come with deployment, saying, “Conducting sensing tasks requires investment, and the total amount of a budget is always limited. So we want to identify best strategies to allocate resources and to detect these attacks and strategically protect our infrastructure.”
The grant was awarded through the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), which aims to bolster research capacity at universities located in underrepresented states. According to U.S. Senator John Boozman, a supporter of DEPSCoR, “This project provides an opportunity to pursue high-quality research with real-world applications like protecting critical infrastructure. Investing in this project reinforces and enhances our largest institution’s significant role in supporting national security.”
In a related development, the University of Arkansas announced in October 2023 that it had joined a national research team to advance video object tracking technology under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This initiative could potentially bring up to $6 million in federal funding to the university, further emphasizing its commitment to impactful research.
