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National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC)
Understanding the interdependency of infrastructure systems is a crucial aspect in maintaining the integrity of U.S. infrastructure systems. Protecting these systems is one of the highest national security concerns, but to protect them we must first understand how they interact. The National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (NISAC) models, simulates, and analyzes the Nation’s critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) to assess the technical, economic, and national security implications of infrastructure protection, mitigation, response, and recovery options.
What we need to know about infrastructure systems...
- How do the risks to infrastructures impact national security?
- What are the threats to infrastructure systems, communities, and the economy?
- Are certain systems, networks, parts of the country more at risk than others?
Why?
- Have interdependencies increased or changed the risks?
- Are there trends in the evolution of the infrastructures toward more vulnerable
conditions or configurations?
- How can we reduce the risks to infrastructures?
Mission
NISAC’s mission is to protect the Nation by assessing the technical,
economic, population, and national security implications of infrastructure
protection, mitigation, response, and recovery options.
Infrastructure Protection, Mitigation, Response
Application of the Quick Urban & Industrial Complex (QUIC) dispersion model to an industrial accident involving a simultaneous release of chlorine and hydrogen fluoride. These snapshots at t = 5, 15, 30, and 45 seconds evaluated the timeline for emergency response. Note that the infiltration model indicated that persons indoors had significantly more time to put on personal protection equipment. (Click to enlarge)
NISAC experts model and analyze the complexities of critical infrastructures to help decision makers understand infrastructure protection, mitigation, response, and recovery options. The NISAC work helps decision makers prepare for and respond to physical, economic, and security implications of the loss or disruption of infrastructures.
Expertise in Modeling and Simulation
NISAC leverages LANL's well-established expertise in the modeling and simulation of complex systems. Our expertise provides advanced modeling, simulation, and analysis capabilities focused on studying critical national infrastructures, their interdependencies, vulnerabilities, and complexities.
NISAC Capability Highlights
 Pandemic Influenza Modeling: In late April 2009, the federal government declared a public health emergency due to an outbreak of influenza A (H1N1). NISAC provided analysis support to decision makers by responding to immediate requests for information on diverse issues such as border closure impacts, economic impacts of travel restrictions, and potential overloads to the Nation’s healthcare system.
 Fast Response: The LANL component of NISAC, which is comprised of teams from D-3, D-4, D-6, and CCS-3, provides fast response analyses of the infrastructure impacts from natural disasters, such as wildfires.
 Hurricane Modeling: NISAC analyzes potential damage and impacts to infrastructure from hurricanes. NISAC performs end-to-end analysis and direct effects from the hurricane to infrastructure interdependencies and all associated impacts .
Comprehensive Experience, Unique Insight
EpiSimS-computed impact of school closures for a 1918-like pandemic influenza. As the schools re-open, new infection waves appear for B and C.
(Click to enlarge) Through its comprehensive experience analyzing disruptions to the nation's infrastructure, NISAC has gained unique insight into the vulnerabilities and failure modes of a broad selection of individual infrastructure sectors and areas. These infrastructure areas include energy, transportation, water, port and international trade, telecommunications and information, public health, and financial systems.
Who We Are
NISAC is comprised of Department of Homeland Security program management and outreach personnel in Washington, D.C., and technical analytical staff at Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories. Congress mandated that NISAC serve as a “source of national expertise to address critical infrastructure protection” research and analysis.
>>Read more About NISAC. |
National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis Center
