National Academies Press: OpenBook
« Previous: 4 Advice to TSA on Strategic Research and Planning
Page 46
Suggested Citation:"5 Concluding Observations." Transportation Research Board. 2002. Deterrence, Protection, and Preparation: The New Transportation Security Imperative -- Special Report 270. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11369.
×

5
CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

The nascent Transportation Security Administration provides a new, and rare, opportunity to approach transportation security in a strategic manner based on the application of sound science and technology. It is essential that this opportunity not be lost. DOT, and TSA in particular, should take steps now to build this strategic capability and ensure its permanence. In a similar manner, others have urged the Office of Homeland Security to adopt such a strategic and architect-like role on a broader scale for the federal government as a whole (Carter 2002).

TSA’s security mission does not extend beyond the transportation sector. As the events of September 11 revealed, however, vulnerabilities to terrorist acts may not be limited to components within particular transportation modes and systems. In fact, such vulnerabilities may exist in the interactions among modes or between transportation and other domains, such as energy and computer systems. Hence, it is essential that the vulnerabilities existing at these intersections, the threats that may be associated with them, and appropriate strategies for response be addressed. A broad-based understanding of terrorist threats is needed to inform the transportation community and others on the front lines of defense as they formulate security plans and take precautions.

An entity outside the normal organizational setting—unencumbered by operational, oversight, and regulatory responsibilities—is needed to provide this capability. The mission of this entity would be to explore and systematically assess the broad spectrum of vulnerabilities to terrorist attacks, probable responses to such attacks, and ensuing consequences. By involving and informing TSA and the transportation community, as well as parties in other

Page 47
Suggested Citation:"5 Concluding Observations." Transportation Research Board. 2002. Deterrence, Protection, and Preparation: The New Transportation Security Imperative -- Special Report 270. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11369.
×

domains, the work of this analytic entity could provide valuable guidance to transportation owners, operators, and overseers as they prioritize and make security preparations. The National Academies report Making the Nation Safer urges the creation of a Homeland Security Institute to provide this essential analytic and response capacity (see the appendix to the present report).

REFERENCE

Carter, A. B. 2002. The Architecture of Government in the Face of Terrorism. International Security, Vol. 26, No. 3, pp. 5–23.

Page 46
Suggested Citation:"5 Concluding Observations." Transportation Research Board. 2002. Deterrence, Protection, and Preparation: The New Transportation Security Imperative -- Special Report 270. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11369.
×
Page 46
Page 47
Suggested Citation:"5 Concluding Observations." Transportation Research Board. 2002. Deterrence, Protection, and Preparation: The New Transportation Security Imperative -- Special Report 270. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/11369.
×
Page 47
Next: Appendix - Making the Nation Safer »
Deterrence, Protection, and Preparation: The New Transportation Security Imperative -- Special Report 270 Get This Book
×
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!

TRB Special Report 270: Deterrence, Protection, and Preparation: The New Transportation Security Imperative examines the role of science and technology in countering terrorism. It presents advice on a strategic approach to transportation security that recognizes the need to move people and goods efficiently and the need to improve security against terrorism. The report emphasizes a systematic approach to security, building security into operations, and layering security measures to deter--and to protect against--terrorist attack.Special Report 270 Summary

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!