U.S. Air Force Grants $588K for Critical Network Protection Study

The U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded approximately $588,000 to researchers at the University of Arkansas for a project that aims to enhance the protection of critical networks during disruptive events. Led by assistant professors Haoming Shen and Robert Curry, the study will focus on how information influences responses to crises such as natural disasters and cyberattacks.

The project seeks to develop mathematical models that will guide the collection, sharing, and protection of information during emergencies. According to a news release from the university, the research will specifically examine how the flow and accuracy of information impact a community’s resilience to disruptions. The team will also explore effective strategies for allocating limited resources, such as sensors and drones, that are crucial for detecting threats and safeguarding infrastructure.

Shen, who serves as the principal investigator, emphasized the importance of using data-informed decisions in uncertain conditions. “If we put it in non-mathematical terms, we’re trying to make a set of data-informed decisions, and we’re trying to make those decisions with uncertain information,”

said Curry.

The research will address two key questions: how defenders can leverage information to anticipate and identify potential attacks, and how misinformation or strategic information sharing can be utilized to deter threats. While the study will primarily involve theoretical modeling, its findings are expected to inform future crisis planning and infrastructure protection, particularly in the areas of transportation and logistics.

In practical terms, Shen noted the challenges associated with deploying sensor networks. “We want to proactively configure sensor networks to detect any potential disruptions in our network,” he stated. “However, in practice, deploying sensors or 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 funding for this research comes through the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), which aims to bolster research capacity at universities located in underrepresented states. U.S. Senator John Boozman, a supporter of DEPSCoR, remarked, “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 recently announced its collaboration with 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 expanding its capabilities in high-impact research.