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Volpe Center Highlights - July/August 2002

Director's Notes

Director's Notes | Focus | Safety | Mobility and Economic Growth
Human and Natural Environment | Organizational Excellence | Homeland Security
Papers and Presentations

A Systems Perspective on Transportation Security

The Volpe Center has developed an integrated systems perspective for transportation security that applies multimodal systems planning as well as engineering expertise and capabilities. The Center's security work encompasses three areas: identifying vulnerabilities in the transportation system, introducing preventive measures and protecting targets, and managing the consequences of a terrorist attack.

The national transportation system is a network of many modal systems that provides unparalleled accessibility and mobility. However, the highly integrated nature of the system, which makes it so integral to our economy and quality of life, makes it particularly vulnerable. An attack on any of its parts can threaten the security of the entire system. Thus understanding the potential vulnerabilities of people and infrastructure involves identifying and analyzing specific threats.

The Volpe Center has developed a core capability to assess the vulnerabilities of components of the transportation enterprise by combining systems engineering with operations and planning expertise.

The Center designed and implemented integrated security systems for the Department of Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Department of State, and the U.S. Capitol, and is now supporting upgrades of these systems. Recently, the Center developed a vessel identification system that will help protect maritime targets.

The goal of consequence management is to minimize the destructive effects of an attack. Studying the management of past terrorist events provides helpful lessons. Being prepared for such events can lessen their impact, even when horrendous events, such as those that took place on September 11, 2001, have not been predicted. As described in this issue of Highlights, the Volpe Center has examined the responses to four recent catastrophic events, including the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and their effects on local transportation systems. Volpe's work analyzes how transportation agencies have responded to security-related problems and identifies improvements that could be made. Best practices in the transportation community are being examined and shared for implementation where appropriate as part of planning for future emergencies.

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