Applying social network analysis to systems of systems: The case of the 2016 Puerto Rico power outage

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    4 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    In September 2016, a fire in one of Puerto Rico's ten major power stations left over 1.5 million people without power and blacked out a significant portion of the island. This massive failure of the power system of systems is an example of how systems engineers require better methods for understanding complex, networked systems of systems. This paper proposes adapting social network analysis tools and methods to system of systems analysis in order to provide insights into interconnected networks of systems. First, it explores the literature for systems engineering, system of systems engineering, and social network analysis to identify opportunities to improve system of systems methods. Then it presents a methodology that applies specific metrics from social network analysis to the Puerto Rico power grid. Specifically, it shows how various centrality metrics may indicate when a system of systems is vulnerable to network wide failures. By better understanding the interoperability of a system of systems, engineers may be able to improve the overall robustness of the system of system and prevent catastrophic failures such as the 2016 Puerto Rico power failure.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publication2017 12th System of Systems Engineering Conference, SoSE 2017
    ISBN (Electronic)9781509059454
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 27 Jul 2017
    Event12th System of Systems Engineering Conference, SoSE 2017 - Waikoloa, United States
    Duration: 18 Jun 201721 Jun 2017

    Publication series

    Name2017 12th System of Systems Engineering Conference, SoSE 2017

    Conference

    Conference12th System of Systems Engineering Conference, SoSE 2017
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityWaikoloa
    Period18/06/1721/06/17

    Keywords

    • Infrastructure Analysis
    • Social Network Analysis
    • System of Systems Engineering

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