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Article
A network efficiency measure with application to critical infrastructure networks
Journal of Global Optimization (2008)
  • Anna Nagurney, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • Qiang Qiang
Abstract

In this paper, we demonstrate how a new network performance/efficiency measure, which captures demands, flows, costs, and behavior on networks, can be used to assess the importance of network components and their rankings. We provide new results regarding the measure, which we refer to as the Nagurney---Qiang measure, or, simply, the N---Q measure, and a previously proposed one, which did not explicitly consider demands and flows. We apply both measures to such critical infrastructure networks as transportation networks and the Internet and further explore the new measure through an application to an electric power generation and distribution network in the form of a supply chain. The Nagurney and Qiang network performance/efficiency measure that captures flows and behavior can identify which network components, that is, nodes and links, have the greatest impact in terms of their removal and, hence, are important from both vulnerability as well as security standpoints.

Publication Date
March, 2008
Publisher Statement
Doi: 10.1007/s10898-007-9198-1
Citation Information
Anna Nagurney and Qiang Qiang. "A network efficiency measure with application to critical infrastructure networks" Journal of Global Optimization Vol. 40 (2008)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/anna_nagurney/171/