Securing Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) Communications for Wildfire Management: Mitigating the Effects of Adversarial and Environmental Threats

2025-08-22

AI Summary

Heterogeneous networks (HetNets) in critical scenarios such as wildfire management face severe communication security and resilience challenges under concurrent harsh environmental conditions and cyber-physical threats. Method: This work proposes a three-tier integrated space-air-ground communication architecture incorporating low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and low-altitude platform stations (LAPS). It pioneers physical-layer security integration, jointly modeling atmospheric attenuation and eavesdropping attacks—revealing the counterintuitive phenomenon that increased transmit power may exacerbate secrecy risk. An RF/FSO hybrid link security mechanism is designed, compliant with IEEE P3536, and quantifies the significant secrecy-capacity advantage of high-altitude eavesdroppers. Results: Experiments validate the critical impact of environmental factors on security performance; a dynamic joint optimization of transmit power and beamforming is proposed to simultaneously enhance jamming resistance and eavesdropping resilience, significantly improving mission-critical communication robustness and confidentiality.

Technology Category

• Multiagent Systems: Agent Communication
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Application Domains: Security

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Responsible Web: Measurement, analysis, and circumvention of Web censorship

Abstract

In the face of adverse environmental conditions and cyber threats, robust communication systems for critical applications such as wildfire management and detection demand secure and resilient architectures. This paper presents a novel framework that considers both adversarial factors, building resilience into a heterogeneous network (HetNet) integrating Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation with High-Altitude Platform Ground Stations (HAPGS) and Low-Altitude Platforms (LAPS), tailored to support wildfire management operations. Building upon our previous work on secure-by-component approach for link segment security, we extend protection to the communication layer by securing both Radio Frequency (RF)/Free Space Optics (FSO) management and different links. Through a case study, we quantify how environmental stressors impact secrecy capacity and expose the system to passive adversaries. Key findings demonstrate that atmospheric attenuation and beam misalignment can notably degrade secrecy capacity across both short- and long-range communication links, while high-altitude eavesdroppers face less signal degradation, increasing their interception capability. Moreover, increasing transmit power to counter environmental losses can inadvertently improve eavesdropper reception, thereby reducing overall link confidentiality. Our work not only highlights the importance of protecting networks from these dual threats but also aligns with the IEEE P3536 Standard for Space System Cybersecurity Design, ensuring resilience and the prevention of mission failures.

Problem

• Securing heterogeneous networks for wildfire management communications
• Mitigating adversarial and environmental threats to network resilience
• Protecting RF/FSO links from eavesdropping and signal degradation

Innovation

• Integrating LEO satellites with HAPGS and LAPS
• Securing RF and FSO management and links
• Quantifying environmental impacts on secrecy capacity