Alpern, Steven, Morton, Alec and Papadaki, Katerina (2009) Optimizing randomized patrols. Operational Research working papers, LSEOR 09.116. Operational Research Group, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
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Abstract
A key operational problem for those charged with the security of vulnerable facilities (such as airports or art galleries) is the scheduling and deployment of patrols. Motivated by the problem of optimizing randomized, and thus unpredictable, patrols, we present a class of patrolling games on graphs. The facility can be thought of as a graph Q of interconnected nodes (e.g. rooms, terminals) and the Attacker can choose to attack any node of Q within a given time T: He requires m consecutive periods there, uninterrupted by the Patroller, to commit his nefarious act (and win). The Patroller can follow any path on the graph. Thus the patrolling game is a win-lose game, where the Value is the probability that the Patroller successfully intercepts an attack, given best play on both sides. We determine analytically optimal (minimax) patrolling strategies for various classes of graphs, and discuss how our results could support decisions about hardening facilities or changing the topology of the terrain to be patrolled.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Working Paper) |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/operationalResear... |
| Additional Information: | © 2009 The London School of Economics and Political Science |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Games, noncooperative, Military, search/surveillance, Deci- sion Analysis, risk |
| Library of Congress subject classification: | U Military Science > U Military Science (General) Q Science > QA Mathematics |
| Sets: | Research centres and groups > Management Science Group Departments > Management |
| Rights: | http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/rights/LSERO.htm |
| Identification Number: | LSEOR 09.116 |
| URL: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/26218/ |
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