SWUTC Research Project Description
Title of Project: A Guide to Intelligent Strategies for Transportation Infrastructure Protection and Transportation Security-Related Research
Project Number: 167726
Principal Investigator:
Russell Henk
(210)731-9938
P.I. Affiliation: Texas A&M University System
Shaw-Pin Miaou
(979)862-8753
P.I. Affiliation: Texas A&M University System
Project Monitor:
Patrick L. Irwin
Director of Operations
Texas Department of Transportation
(210)731-5249
Project Status: Active
Date Started: 9/1/02
Estimation Completion Date: 8/31/03
Estimated Cost - Current Fiscal: $75,000
Estimated Cost - Total Planned: $75,000
Project Summary:
Project Abstract:
As we move forward in the post-September 11th era, a number of new challenges lie ahead. Among these is how we effectively and affordably protect our transportation infrastructure from future attacks of this nature. The technical issues and jurisdictional dynamics alike are numerous and complex.
This research project attempts to improve decision-making in this area as we move forward. In particular, this project will serve to synthesize and otherwise report on best practices and approaches being employed around the nation to address the issue of transportation infrastructure protection. It is anticipated that, over the course of this effort, successful "system" approaches and/or strategies will begin to materialize.
Beyond the synthesis of national activities in these regards, this project will also seek to develop a vision and conceptual framework for building a Highway Security and Safety Management System. This activity will specifically entail exploring the data, functional, and software requirements to build such a system using the Geographic Information System (GIS) as the platform.
Project Objectives:
This proposed research will attempt to improve this situation by developing a guide of best practices and approaches being employed around the nation. It is anticipated that successful "system" approaches and/or strategies that truly have synergistic impacts will begin to materialize as we move forward. If not, this effort will formulate and suggest example approaches. This research will serve to identify and summarize such activities. Included among the scope of sources for potentially beneficial strategies will be proceedings from workshops/conferences, papers and presentation materials, and published reports/documents. The sources examined will be local, regional and national in scope.
In addition, this study will also seek to develop a vision and conceptual framework for building a Highway Security and Safety Management System. This activity will specifically entail exploring the data, functional, and software requirements to build such a system using the Geographic Information System (GIS) as the platform. These objectives will be accomplished by following the two basic activities outlined previously and hereafter described in more detail as "Synthesis of Ongoing Transportation Infrastructure Protection (TIP) Efforts" and "Conceptual Framework for a Highway Security and Safety Management System."
Task Descriptions:
Activity 1 – Synthesis of Ongoing TIP Efforts (50% of budget)
Task 1. Perform a review of and otherwise identify key organizations, entities and significant activities related to TIP in the U.S.
Task 2. Monitor changes and progress related to TIP in the U.S.
Task 3. Establish and maintain a web-site to summarize and present the information gathered in Tasks 1 & 2 and to highlight "best practices"
Task 4. Document procedures and findings for Activity 1 in a report.
Activity 2 -- Conceptual Framework for a Highway Security and Safety Management System (HS2MS) (50% of budget)
Task 1. Develop a vision and conceptual framework for a HS2MS
Task 2. Study system requirements (e.g., functional data, computational and software requirements, etc.)
Task 3. Review GIS and spatial data applications and needs
Task 4. Review risk identification and assessment methodologies and their potential applications in the HS2MS
Task 5. Prepare a report summarizing the results of the study
Index Terms : Transportation Safety, Highway Safety, Safety Management, Geographic Information Systems, Infrastructure, Best Practices, Transportation System Management, Safety and Security, Protection