Proceedings of the Public Security S&T Summer Symposium 2009

PSTP 08-0100CIP

Integrated Evaluation of Critical Infrastructure Interdependencies for Major Event Planning

Project Lead: École Polytechnique de Montréal – Centre risque et performance

Federal Partner: Public Safety Canada

Objectives

This study will explore how the Centre risque et performance can adapt and apply its critical infrastructure interdependency evaluation methodology for major event planning.

Relevance

During major events, critical infrastructure is put to the test. Over a short period, the sites designated for those events must receive political and security personnel and thousands of journalists and protesters. Furthermore, since 2001, major event planning has taken on a highly safety-conscious focus, and the selected locations are often isolated with very tight security. That was the case in 2007 at the North American Leaders’ Summit in Montebello, Quebec. During the event, the controlling forces tried to impede the flow of protesters by enclosing them in a restricted location where critical telecommunications equipment was situated. That type of situation is at the heart of the problem of critical infrastructure interdependencies during major event planning.

Over the last 10 years, the Centre risque et performance has developed expertise in the field of network interdependencies through its research projects in Montréal and Québec city. It has brought together a dozen public and private partners from among the most important critical infrastructure managers in Quebec. This work has facilitated the evaluation, modelling, and prevention of the domino effects associated with functional and geographic critical infrastructure interdependencies. Concrete operational tools have been designed in order to respond to partner needs while respecting the confidentiality of their data. The results of the work are undeniable: modification of internal network management rules, better understanding of vulnerabilities related to the use of alternative resources and the extension of warning times allowing more significant critical infrastructure resiliency.

Recent Progress and Results

Work on this study will begin in June 2009. The Centre will integrate its current research to develop an interdependency evaluation methodology for major events that are occasional and of short duration. Therefore, it is an issue of integrating temporary measures with existing systems while modifying organizers’ management and decision-making processes to prevent unforeseen and debilitating domino effects.

A concrete case will be used to validate the developed methodology: the planning of the G-8 summit in Ontario in 2010. Based on the resources used and provided by the critical infrastructure involved in the planning of that event, the Centre risque et performance will evaluate vulnerable interdependency relations and prevent domino effects.

Impact

The Centre risque et performance will work in concert with Public Safety Canada to ensure the greater resiliency of the critical infrastructure involved in the organization of important national and international events. The developed methodology will then be used for the planning of other major events in the country. At the same time, feedback on the planning of recent major events that have taken place in Canada will be produced. That feedback will facilitate the advantageous use of event organizers’ experiences and lessons learned about critical infrastructure interdependency management.

Authors

Benoît Robert, Centre risque et performance, École Polytechnique de Montréal, benoit.robert@polymtl.ca

Irène Cloutier, Centre risque et performance, École Polytechnique de Montréal, irene.cloutier@polymtl.ca

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