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Volpe Center Highlights - January/February 2003

Director's Notes

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

Deploying Technology to Counter Terrorist Threats

A recent report by the National Research Council, "Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology in Countering Terrorism," notes that vulnerability to terrorism results not only from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but also from the highly efficient and integrated systems that we rely on for key services, such as transportation. The report identifies the Volpe Center as an important federal resource for strategic transportation planning, systemslevel research, and technology development and deployment. Since the 1970s, the Center has played significant roles in major programs to evaluate transportation systems vulnerabilities and risks, and to facilitate the deployment of innovative security processes and technologies for critical government facilities and for all modes of transportation.

Security experts at the Volpe Center understand the importance of preserving efficiency while increasing security. Although technology-based solutions are crucial to addressing these issues, successful deployment requires a skilled, comprehensive approach. We are keenly aware that, as the rapid rate of technological evolution continually expands the range of security tools, it also enables new or more dangerous attack strategies. Solutions must keep pace with emerging threats.

This issue of Highlights features some of the Center's technology-based security solutions that help screen out dangerous people and cargo from the majority, who pose no risk. The Focus article discusses our work for the DoD's Combating Terrorism Technology Support Office. On page 5, lessons learned from biometrics deployments are presented.

In an address to the nation last year, President Bush stated, "In the war against terrorism, America's vast science and technology base provides us with a key advantage." At the Volpe Center, we are committed to strengthening that advantage and supporting the President's Homeland Security mission.

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