Overcoming Flaws in the Mission Dependency Index (MDI) with Network Flow Analysis
Abstract
The Mission Dependency Index (MDI) is a metric used by all U.S. military services for guiding operations, management, and funding decisions for facilities at military installations. Despite its broad adoption, several studies on MDI suggest it may have flaws that limit its efficacy. We present the first rigorous technical analysis of MDI ae to how its flaws impact decisions and determine ways to overcome them. We develop a formal mathematical definition of MDI based on multilayer networks that supports reproducible models and formal analysis of the MDI calculation process used in the U.S. Navy. Based on our multilayer formalism, we define three technical problems with MDI methods not previously discussed in the literature. We develop a new model for calculating MDI based on network flow analysis that overcomes these problems. We demonstrate our new approach by assessing the vulnerability of a realistic diesel fuel marine mission to facility disruptions. Overall, our work provides clarity on how to interpret and avoid pitfalls in MDI calculation and use.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1150545
Entities
People
- Aaron B. Fish
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School