A decomposition approach for stochastic shortest-path network interdiction with goal threshold (Q2311034)

Summary: Shortest-path network interdiction, where a defender strategically allocates interdiction resource on the arcs or nodes in a network and an attacker traverses the capacitated network along a shortest \(s\)-\(t\) path from a source to a terminus, is an important research problem with potential real-world impact. In this paper, based on game-theoretic methodologies, we consider a novel stochastic extension of the shortest-path network interdiction problem with goal threshold, abbreviated as SSPIT. The attacker attempts to minimize the length of the shortest path, while the defender attempts to force it to exceed a specific threshold with the least resource consumption. In our model, threshold constraint is introduced as a trade-off between utility maximization and resource consumption, and stochastic cases with some known probability \(p\) of successful interdiction are considered. Existing algorithms do not perform well when dealing with threshold and stochastic constraints. To address the NP-hard problem, SSPIT-D, a decomposition approach based on Benders decomposition, was adopted. To optimize the master problem and subproblem iteration, an efficient dual subgraph interdiction algorithm SSPIT-S and a local research based better-response algorithm SSPIT-DL were designed, adding to the SSPIT-D. Numerical experiments on networks of different sizes and attributes were used to illustrate and validate the decomposition approach. The results showed that the dual subgraph and better-response procedure can significantly improve the efficiency and scalability of the decomposition algorithm. In addition, the improved enhancement algorithms are less sensitive and robust to parameters. Furthermore, the application in a real-world road network demonstrates the scalability of our decomposition approach.