Infrastructure Resilience and Cybernetics: A Dead-Time Controller Method to Managing Disruptions

This study explores how to maintain the continuous operation of infrastructure in the face of disruptions. We demonstrate that a connection exists between the established fields of cybernetics and resilience, and that the resilience of a system can be assessed and enhanced through the application of methods from cybernetics and control theory. By adding a closed-loop feedback controller that adapts the investment in maintenance according to the current conditions, those in charge of infrastructure can be ready for problems, adapt to them, and bounce back quickly. The novelty of this work is not only acknowledging the delay between measuring a problem and implementing a solution but also in addressing the implications of this delay when configuring the controller and bringing this knowledge into the field of resilience. We stress the idea that working together across different fields can help us deal with problems more effectively. We apply this concept to a system-theoretic infrastructure model to present how this could work in practice. By figuring out these solutions, we hope to make infrastructure more resilient and ready for whatever comes its way.