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Presenter describes Idaho National Laboratory’s All Hazards Analysis tool and how it maps cascading infrastructure risk
Summary
A presenter outlined the Idaho National Laboratory's All Hazards Analysis (AHA) tool, which maps asset dependencies, runs what‑if simulations of pump failures, cyberattacks and transport disruptions, and has been used by planners for major events and in several U.S. cities.
A presenter described the Idaho National Laboratory's All Hazards Analysis (AHA) tool and said it is designed to reveal the hidden relationships that link critical infrastructure systems.
"Every community relies on a complex ecosystem of infrastructure, power, water, transportation, communications, and health care," the presenter said, framing AHA as a way to see how "even one part fails and disruptions cascade through the system." The presenter identified AHA as a dependency‑analysis and decision‑support tool that "builds a living map of critical infrastructure and the dependencies that connect everything."
The presenter said AHA combines "advanced network modeling, adaptive learning, and geospatial visualization" to let users move between a broad regional view and a detailed look at how a single facility supports or depends on others. The tool profiles each asset's functions and integrates them into an evolving regional model that updates as new information becomes available.
Using hypothetical and historic scenarios, the presenter described what AHA can show: "What happens if a pump station fails? If a cyber attack shuts down a transmission substation? If a natural disaster blocks a major transportation route?" According to the presenter, AHA models those scenarios to reveal consequences across sectors and regions, helping planners identify where risks congregate and how disruptions can cascade.
The presenter said INL analysts have applied AHA to prepare for high‑visibility national events, naming the Super Bowl, the Boston Marathon and the FIFA World Cup, and that cities such as Santa Clara, Seattle, Los Angeles and Boston have used the tool to inform planning. The presenter argued the tool helps federal, state and local partners "mitigate risk, strengthen emergency preparedness, and protect millions of people."
The presentation closed by restating that by mapping interdependencies, AHA can help decision‑makers anticipate disruptions, build resilience and strengthen national security. No formal decisions or actions were recorded during the presentation.
