How Game Theory Helped Make LAX More Secure

[JeffC]

I'm sure that Game Theory and it's derivatives are regularly being applied to devising new security solutions, however this is a really good example of how effective it can be in defeating terrorist planning at an early stage.

Milind Tambe, a specialist in artificial intelligence, led a team of USC researchers in applying game theory insights to systematically make it extremely difficult for observers to find any patterns or regularities in LAX vehicle security routines.

The result is a software package with a computer interface showing a blank schedule, with a button labeled "randomize." Pressing the button produces a set of times and places for security forces to be, a schedule that produces the same level overall coverage as conventional scheduling but does so unpredictably.

[Rex Brynen]

I'm sure that Game Theory and it's derivatives are regularly being applied to devising new security solutions, however this is a really good example of how effective it can be in defeating terrorist planning at an early stage.

Milind Tambe, a specialist in artificial intelligence, led a team of USC researchers in applying game theory insights to systematically make it extremely difficult for observers to find any patterns or regularities in LAX vehicle security routines.

The result is a software package with a computer interface showing a blank schedule, with a button labeled "randomize." Pressing the button produces a set of times and places for security forces to be, a schedule that produces the same level overall coverage as conventional scheduling but does so unpredictably.

Interesting stuff, but I'm not sure how randomization in-and-of-itself (whether of security patrols, or of travel routes, or anything else) is particularly an insight of game theory--it has been a part of security and intelligence tradecraft since (I suspect) the dawn of time.

Of course, I can see how computer-based randomization that takes into account geographic coverage, shift durations, travel times, might be a more efficient way of doing it.

[Ron Humphrey]

I'm sure that Game Theory and it's derivatives are regularly being applied to devising new security solutions, however this is a really good example of how effective it can be in defeating terrorist planning at an early stage.

Milind Tambe, a specialist in artificial intelligence, led a team of USC researchers in applying game theory insights to systematically make it extremely difficult for observers to find any patterns or regularities in LAX vehicle security routines.

The result is a software package with a computer interface showing a blank schedule, with a button labeled "randomize." Pressing the button produces a set of times and places for security forces to be, a schedule that produces the same level overall coverage as conventional scheduling but does so unpredictably.

As a common issue with technology has been over reliance on it this represents a good way in which to utilize it as a tool without necessarily depending on it for the actual security

[JeffC]

Interesting stuff, but I'm not sure how randomization in-and-of-itself (whether of security patrols, or of travel routes, or anything else) is particularly an insight of game theory--it has been a part of security and intelligence tradecraft since (I suspect) the dawn of time.

Of course, I can see how computer-based randomization that takes into account geographic coverage, shift durations, travel times, might be a more efficient way of doing it.

I've linked to the dissertation at my blog if you really want to read about the math involved, but speaking as a non-mathematician myself, I believe that it's quite difficult to apply true randomization to something. Typically there is a discernable or discoverable pattern in most attempts at being "random". The application of Game Theory in this case looked at the players involved; what each player knows or doesn't know about the other; and a more precise set of algorithms were created as a result.