Journal Article

Optimizing Topological Cascade Resilience Based on the Structure of Terrorist Networks

Gutfraind, Alexander

2010

Overview

Complex socioeconomic networks such as information, finance and even terrorist networks need resilience to cascades--to prevent the failure of a single node from causing a far-reaching domino effect. We show that terrorist and guerrilla networks are uniquely cascade-resilient while maintaining high efficiency, but they become more vulnerable beyond a certain threshold. We also introduce an optimization method for constructing networks with high passive cascade resilience. The optimal networks are found to be based on cells, where each cell has a star topology. Counterintuitively, we find that there are conditions where networks should not be modified to stop cascades because doing so would come at a disproportionate loss of efficiency. Implementation of these findings can lead to more cascade-resilient networks in many diverse areas.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Algorithms / Cascades / Communication / Computer Simulation / Connectivity / Dictators / Efficiency / Graphs / Guerrilla forces / Humans / Infectious Diseases/Epidemiology and Control of Infectious Diseases / Information Dissemination - methods / Knowledge discovery / Mathematics / MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING / Networks / Optimization / Physics/Interdisciplinary Physics / Reproducibility of Results / Resilience / Science & Technology - Other Topics / Social networks / Systems design / Terrorism / Topology / Wireless networks / World War II