Agent-based modeling of interdependencies in critical infrastructures through UML

In this paper, we investigate the adoption of agent-based modeling and simulation to study the interdependencies in critical infrastructures. We propose an approach to model critical infrastructures through agents as well as some guidelines to simulate such complex systems. We adopt UML as modeling language, thus proposing a new way to represent the interdependencies that occur in a complex system composed by different critical infrastructures. Through an example that regards an information system for civic emergency management, we describe our modeling methodology, discuss about the measurements and results that can be gained from the simulation of the complex system, and present the most relevant issues regarding the simulator design and implementation.