Transportation Security: The Threat, The Challenges and Our Next Steps Eva Lerner-Lam Chair, ASCE Transportation Security Committee American Society of.

Transportation Security: The Threat, The Challenges and Our Next Steps

Eva Lerner-LamEva Lerner-LamChair, ASCE Transportation Security CommitteeChair, ASCE Transportation Security Committee

American Society of Civil EngineersAmerican Society of Civil Engineers

Infrastructure Security of the Built EnvironmentInfrastructure Security of the Built Environment

Washington, DCWashington, DC

November 6, 2002November 6, 2002

PALISADES

PALISADES

Critical Importance of Transportation Evacuation Evacuation andand Recovery Recovery Includes: trucking, shipping, ports, Includes: trucking, shipping, ports,

distribution centers, highways, bus and rail distribution centers, highways, bus and rail transit, waterways, airport landside, etc.transit, waterways, airport landside, etc.

Disruptions in the transportation network Disruptions in the transportation network can have significant regional, and possibly can have significant regional, and possibly national, impactsnational, impacts

PALISADES

The Threat is Real

Landside airport, railroads Landside airport, railroads and public transportation and public transportation are particularly vulnerable are particularly vulnerable

76 percent of Americans 76 percent of Americans are concerned about are concerned about traveling by highway, traveling by highway, train, or public transit train, or public transit inside the United States inside the United States (USDOT BTS Feb 2002)(USDOT BTS Feb 2002)

PALISADES

Types of Threats

Armed AssaultArmed Assault Hostage TakingHostage Taking Chemical Release On Board or In Chemical Release On Board or In

FacilityFacility Explosive On Board or In FacilityExplosive On Board or In Facility Chemical OutsideChemical Outside Explosive OutsideExplosive Outside Cyber Attack on Control SystemsCyber Attack on Control Systems

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The Challenge of Protecting Complex, Open Transportation Systems Transportation services are networks that Transportation services are networks that

comprise a SYSTEM.comprise a SYSTEM. Our national transportation SYSTEM is Our national transportation SYSTEM is

complex:complex: Multi-jurisdictional modesMulti-jurisdictional modes Multi-modal jurisdictionsMulti-modal jurisdictions

OPENNESS is critical to efficiency and OPENNESS is critical to efficiency and effectiveness of the SYSTEMeffectiveness of the SYSTEM

PALISADES

The Challenge of Protecting our Complex, Open Transportation System The System is “only as strong as the weakest link”The System is “only as strong as the weakest link” Weak links can be:Weak links can be:

Intermodal (e.g., bomb planted in truck at Intermodal (e.g., bomb planted in truck at distribution center destined for highway bridge)distribution center destined for highway bridge)

Locational (e.g., passengers with explosives or Locational (e.g., passengers with explosives or chemical devices boarding Amtrak in remote chemical devices boarding Amtrak in remote station stop)station stop)

PALISADES

The Challenge of Protecting our Complex, Open Transportation System

Weak Links, con’dWeak Links, con’d Procedural (e.g., IT password systems)Procedural (e.g., IT password systems) Human error (e.g., the “sleeping guard” Human error (e.g., the “sleeping guard”

at a rail maintenance yard)at a rail maintenance yard) Cyber Space (e.g., cyber disruptions in Cyber Space (e.g., cyber disruptions in

command and control would affect train, command and control would affect train, bus and other vehicle operations)bus and other vehicle operations)

PALISADES

Additional Challenges

Policy MakingPolicy Making ““Policy Paralysis”Policy Paralysis”

On-the-GroundOn-the-Ground Interdependencies with other critical Interdependencies with other critical

infrastructures (gas, power, infrastructures (gas, power, telecommunications, etc.)telecommunications, etc.)

Lack of Standards and Adequate Training Lack of Standards and Adequate Training

PALISADES

Meeting the Challenges

DeliberateDeliberate Keep focused on the (moving) targetKeep focused on the (moving) target Leverage skill sets of others (policy, research, Leverage skill sets of others (policy, research,

planning, design, engineering, construction, planning, design, engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, etc.)…support TISP!operations, maintenance, etc.)…support TISP!

Communicate, communicate, communicateCommunicate, communicate, communicate ThoroughThorough

One step at a time, on many fronts…(devil is in One step at a time, on many fronts…(devil is in the details)the details)

PALISADES

Meeting the Challenges, con’d.

Be aware of the threats to transportation Be aware of the threats to transportation (“situational awareness” is as important as “policy (“situational awareness” is as important as “policy awareness”)awareness”)

Understand the effects of individual actionsUnderstand the effects of individual actions on the overall transportation on the overall transportation system system (WTC and (WTC and

Pentagon attacks started in Boston and Newark)Pentagon attacks started in Boston and Newark) on ourselveson ourselves (Spiderman’s “lesson learned”)(Spiderman’s “lesson learned”)

Share information, educate and train (ASCE’s Share information, educate and train (ASCE’s security objectives)security objectives)

PALISADES

Some Key Components to Transportation Security Counter-TerrorismCounter-Terrorism TechnologyTechnology Planning, Training and DrillsPlanning, Training and Drills StandardsStandards Professional SocietiesProfessional Societies The Civil EngineerThe Civil Engineer

PALISADES

Role and Importance of Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Collection and Analysis, Intelligence Collection and Analysis,

including:including: Due Diligence on Vendors, Contractors Due Diligence on Vendors, Contractors

and Employeesand Employees Surveillance of Reconnaissance Surveillance of Reconnaissance

ActivitiesActivities Visible PatrolsVisible Patrols Pre-Emptive Arrests or AssaultsPre-Emptive Arrests or Assaults

PALISADES

Role and Importance of Technology ““One more tool” in the security toolbox.One more tool” in the security toolbox. Uses: Uses:

Intelligence gatheringIntelligence gathering Positive identification and locationPositive identification and location

Must always be used with human judgment.Must always be used with human judgment.

PALISADES

Role and Importance of Planning, Training and Drills Emergency Response Procedures  Emergency Response Procedures   Consequence Management Systems Consequence Management Systems  Coordination and team building across Coordination and team building across

disciplinesdisciplines

PALISADES

Role and Importance of Standards Policies and ProceduresPolicies and Procedures TrainingTraining EquipmentEquipment SoftwareSoftware Communications Communications Record-keepingRecord-keeping DataData

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Role and Importance of Professional Societies Information SharingInformation Sharing EducationEducation TrainingTraining Development of Guidance for Practitioners Development of Guidance for Practitioners

and Regulatorsand Regulators

PALISADES

Role and Importance of the Civil Engineer Consider “security” as a critical element in Consider “security” as a critical element in

the planning, design and engineering of the planning, design and engineering of transportation infrastructure and operationstransportation infrastructure and operations

Use Crime Prevention Through Use Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles: Environmental Design (CPTED) principles: Natural access controlNatural access control Natural surveillanceNatural surveillance Territorial reinforcementTerritorial reinforcement

PALISADES

Role and Importance of the Civil Engineer““Good security and infrastructure hardening Good security and infrastructure hardening

measures may not completely eliminate measures may not completely eliminate crime or terrorism or danger to travelers but crime or terrorism or danger to travelers but good design will reduce the risk and good design will reduce the risk and consequences.”consequences.”

——Ronald S. Libengood, CPPRonald S. Libengood, CPP

SecuraComm LLCSecuraComm LLC

PALISADES

ASCE Transportation Security Committee Cross-cutting committee of the new Cross-cutting committee of the new

Transportation and Development Institute of Transportation and Development Institute of ASCEASCE

Two Task Committees:Two Task Committees: Transportation Operations SecurityTransportation Operations Security Transportation Infrastructure SecurityTransportation Infrastructure Security

PALISADES

ASCE Transportation Security Committee Major Conference in 2004Major Conference in 2004 WebsiteWebsite Speakers’ BureauSpeakers’ Bureau White Paper SeriesWhite Paper Series User’s Guide Series on Transportation SecurityUser’s Guide Series on Transportation Security National Teleconferences on transportation National Teleconferences on transportation

security topicssecurity topics

PALISADES

Contacts

Eva Lerner-Lam, ChairEva Lerner-Lam, Chair Charles Barker, P.E., ARM, Vice ChairCharles Barker, P.E., ARM, Vice Chair Alain Kornhauser, Ph.D., P.E., Task Committee Alain Kornhauser, Ph.D., P.E., Task Committee

Chair for Transportation Operations SecurityChair for Transportation Operations Security Charles Neubauer, Ph.D., P.E., Task Committee Charles Neubauer, Ph.D., P.E., Task Committee

Chair for Transportation Infrastructure SecurityChair for Transportation Infrastructure Security Amar Chaker, Ph.D., P.E., ASCE Staff ContactAmar Chaker, Ph.D., P.E., ASCE Staff Contact

PALISADES

Acknowledgements

Charles Barker, P.E., George C. Sharp, Inc.Charles Barker, P.E., George C. Sharp, Inc. Ross Gill, USDOT Volpe Transportation CenterRoss Gill, USDOT Volpe Transportation Center Lee Goldstein, Business Contingency Group, Lee Goldstein, Business Contingency Group,

LLCLLC Ronald S. Libengood, CPP, Securacomm LLCRonald S. Libengood, CPP, Securacomm LLC George Kovatch, Ph.D., P.E., ConsultantGeorge Kovatch, Ph.D., P.E., Consultant