Resilience of Critical Systems: Human in the Loop

Abstract

Many classifications of critical infrastructure describe elements and their interdependencies without adequately considering human processes. While humans play a crucial role in the resilience of critical systems, decision-making and organizational behavior are not thoroughly analyzed or integrated into technical resilience frameworks. This article aims to incorporate human factors into a resilience strategy for critical systems such as energy, transport, digital, industry, food, buildings, healthcare, finance, and education. The author examines critical infrastructure and human factor classifications, a dependency matrix, and the current state of play regarding dynamic threats, disasters, and variable data to address these gaps. The scientific novelty lies in integrating human factors into critical systems and human-machine interaction. The role of humans in the loop for artificial intelligence (AI) solutions is a highly specialized subject of study, as is the use of knowledge from advanced industries. The study utilizes cutting-edge approaches, methods, and results to develop more resilient and anti-fragile dynamic systems. The article addresses the human-machine interface (HMI) and proposes the Resilience and Human-Machine Matrix as the next step for innovative studies. The case study examines factors and lessons learned relevant to critical systems, particularly emphasizing the importance of human factors in resilience and recovery under stress and attack, and new market opportunities.