Cybersecurity Analysis to Prepare VDOT Operations for Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Applications

In this research, a prototype ATM system along with a real-time cyberattack monitoring system were developed for a 1.5-mile section of I-66 in Northern Virginia. The monitoring system detects deviation from expected operation of an ATM system by comparing lane control states generated by the ATM system with lane control states deemed most likely by the monitoring system. This comparison provides the functionality to continuously monitor the system for abnormalities that would result from a cyberattack. In case of any deviation between two sets of states, the monitoring system displays the lane control states generated by the back-up data source. In a simulation experiment, the prototype ATM system and cyberattack monitoring system were subject to emulated cyberattacks. The evaluation results showed that the ATM system, when operating properly in the absence of attacks, improved average vehicle speed in the system to 60mph (a 13% increase compared to the baseline case without ATM). However, when subject to cyberattack, the mean speed reduced by 15% compared to the case with the ATM system and was similar to the baseline case. This illustrates that the effectiveness of the ATM system was negated by cyberattacks. The monitoring system however, allowed the ATM system to revert to an expected state with a mean speed of 59mph and reduced the negative impact of cyberattacks. These results illustrate the need to revisit ATM system design concepts as a means to protect against cyberattacks in addition to traditional system intrusion prevention approaches.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Virginia Center for Transportation Innovation and Research

  530 Edgemont Road
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability Center

  University of Virginia
  Charlottesville, VA  United States 
• Project Managers:

  Burden, Lindsay

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Virginia, Charlottesville

  Center for Transportation Studies
  P.O. Box 400742, Thornton Hall, D228
  Charlottesville, VA  United States  22903
• Principal Investigators:

  Smith, Brian

• Start Date: 20170530
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 20180530
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traffic management systems; Computer security; Connected vehicles; Intelligent vehicles; Monitoring; Simulation; Traffic speed
• Identifier Terms: Virginia Department of Transportation
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01676838
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability Center
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 26 2018 7:30PM