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

The U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research has awarded approximately $588,000 to two researchers from the University of Arkansas to investigate how information impacts the protection of critical networks during disruptive events. The project aims to develop mathematical models that will enhance the collection, sharing, and safeguarding of information in scenarios such as natural disasters or cyberattacks.

Led by Haoming Shen and Robert Curry, both assistant professors of industrial engineering, the research will focus on understanding how the flow and accuracy of information can bolster a community’s response to disruptions. Shen serves as the principal investigator on this project. The team will also explore effective strategies for allocating limited resources, including sensors and drones, to detect threats and protect vital infrastructure.

Research Goals and Methodology

The study will center on two pivotal questions: How can defenders leverage information to anticipate and identify potential attacks? Additionally, how could misinformation or strategic information sharing be utilized to deter or divert threats?

Curry articulated the project’s essence, stating, “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.” While the study primarily involves theoretical modeling, its findings are expected to have significant implications for future crisis planning and the protection of infrastructure, particularly within transportation and logistics networks.

Shen emphasized the importance of proactively configuring sensor networks to identify potential disruptions. “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,” he stated.

Funding and Broader Impact

This grant was awarded through the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), a Department of Defense initiative designed to bolster research capacity at universities in underrepresented states. Support for this project comes from U.S. Senator John Boozman, who 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 addition to this project, the University of Arkansas announced in October its participation in a national research team tasked with developing advanced video object tracking technology. This initiative, under a contract with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), could bring up to $6 million in federal funding to the university, further emphasizing its commitment to cutting-edge research and development in critical areas.