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Simulating a Multi-Stage Screening Network: A Queueing Theory and Game Theory Application

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Game Theoretic Analysis of Congestion, Safety and Security

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Reliability Engineering ((RELIABILITY))

Abstract

Simulation is widely used to study model for balancing congestion and security of a screening system. Security network is realistic and used in practice, but it is complex to analyze, especially when facing strategic applicants. To our best knowledge, no previous work has been done on a multi-stage security screening network using game theory and queueing theory. This research fills this gap by using simulation. For multi-stage screening, the method to determine the optimal screening probabilities in each stage is critical. Potential applicants may have access to information such as screening policy and other applicants’ behaviors to adjust their application strategies. We use queueing theory and game theory to study the waiting time and the strategic interactions between the approver and the applicants. Arena simulation software is used to build the screening system with three major components: arrival process, screening process, and departure process. We use Matlab Graphic User Interface (GUI) to collect user inputs, then export data through Excel for Arena simulation, and finally export simulation from the results of the Arena to Matlab for analysis and visualization. This research provides some new insights to security screening problems.

This research was partially supported by the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) under award numbers 1200899 and 1334930. This research was also partially supported by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) under award number 2010-ST-061-RE0001. However, any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views of the NSF, DHS, or CREATE. Cen Song and Jun Zhuang are the corresponding authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Industrial and System Engineering, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, USA

    Xiaowen Wang, Cen Song & Jun Zhuang

Authors
  1. Xiaowen Wang
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  2. Cen Song
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  3. Jun Zhuang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cen Song .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway

    Kjell Hausken

  2. Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, University at Buffalo State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Jun Zhuang

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Wang, X., Song, C., Zhuang, J. (2015). Simulating a Multi-Stage Screening Network: A Queueing Theory and Game Theory Application. In: Hausken, K., Zhuang, J. (eds) Game Theoretic Analysis of Congestion, Safety and Security. Springer Series in Reliability Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13009-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13009-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13008-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13009-5

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