Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity

Man looking at control panel in a server room

SMART is conducting research and development aimed at anomaly detection regarding cyber attacks on Smart Grid Infrastructure.

This project aims to develop a prototype real-time anomaly detection data analysis tool, specifically for distribution substation applications in smart grids, utilizing the following steps:

The development of a cybersecurity test platform for power distribution networks
Research, development, integration and testing of cyber attack injections into power grid simulations
Research, development, integration and testing of a power grid real-time data analysis tool for anomaly detection and classification.

Dr. Hassan Farhangi, Director, Smart Microgrid Applied Research Team (SMART), and Dr. Moein Manbachi, SMART Research Associate, were awarded $1,569,460 by the Future Skills Centre for their project Virtual Learning in Canada’s Infrastructure Sector. This project aims to shift experiential learning to a virtual platform for those training to work on Canada’s critical utilities infrastructure. The onset of COVID-19 and the need for physical distancing has rendered such training programs difficult to offer, putting the security and safety of the nation’s utilities infrastructure at risk by depriving operators of a steady stream of trained people for this work.