Greetings to our community of CIP Report readers from the Center for Infrastructure Protection (CIP). The focus of this issue is the 2017 Frontiers in Resilience Symposium hosted by CIP and Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) 10–12 May 2017 at the George Mason University Arlington Campus. Thought leaders from government, academia, private industry, and the national laboratories assembled to focus on applied research solutions across science, policy, and economics that improve the resilience of systems. The gathering of experts and level of discussion was spectacular.
We are pleased to present seven papers from the conference in this issue. The authors’ approaches span natural, built, and human systems. They investigate the private-public aspects of resilience and validate the “whole of society” approach. The papers highlight the strength of the conference—the quality of thought, solution, and creativity that can come from gathering a group from diverse backgrounds in an atmosphere of robust dialogue.
CIP and Sandia are developing a white paper based on the discussions and presentations at this year’s Symposium, with a targeted release date in late summer or early fall. The paper will highlight major conference themes, to include:
- Alignment of economic incentives to achieve desired resilience outcomes;
- Cross-domain approaches to resilience;
- Development of educational resources for addressing resilience challenges;
- The need for updated approaches to risk assessment that account for the complexity and multi-domain nature of threats; and
- Cyber threats at the nexus of cyber and physical operating systems.
Sandia and CIP would like to acknowledge the many supporters who made the 2017 Frontiers in Resilience Symposium possible, including Creek Technologies and the George Mason Foundation, among others, who supported both the event and this issue of The CIP Report. Their commitment to solutions and workforce development is vital to the preparation of leaders who can face the complex problems we encounter in the Critical Infrastructure space. We appreciate their partnership that allow us to distribute this publication for free to a community of over 5,000 subscribers.
The CIP Report’s reach grows each month because of its commitment to professional discourse and outreach to a dedicated community. CIP invites you to support this effort by making a financial contribution, either on a one-time or a recurring basis. Your tax-deductible contribution will receive an acknowledgement in this publication that includes your company logo and link to your corporate website. If you wish to support publication of The CIP Report, please contact Dennis Pitman at dpitman@gmu.edu. Thank you for your support!
Mark Troutman. PhD
Director, CIP/HS
Resilience and Risk Management in Smart Cities
Posted: July 6, 2017
Lori W. Gordon and George W. McAleese of HWC, Inc. explore “Smart Cities” and the need for state and local policies to keep pace with the changes new technology and strategies bring. Along with new opportunities to improve operations and efficiency, these projects also present a number of important security challenges that leaders must be prepared to face.
Integrated Risk Communication and Its Vital Role in Building Resilience in Transportation Systems
Posted: July 11, 2017
Andrea Stone from InfraGard National Capital Region (InfraGardNCR) discusses the importance of risk communication in transportation systems. A user-centric approach that improves awareness and enables meaningful action enhances safety, security, and emergency management for operators and the community.
A Human-Centered Approach to the Prioritization of Critical Infrastructure Resilience
Posted: July 13, 2017
Susan Spierre Clark and Thomas P. Seager present an alternative approach to the current sector prioritization that is based largely on physical characteristics, offering a system of thought that considers the importance of infrastructure based on how its disruption impacts human needs.
Economics of Resilience: What Keeps Me Up at Night
Posted: July 18, 2017
Vanessa N. Vargas of Sandia National Laboratories offers perspectives on the development on an economic resilience methodology. Such an approach must provide useful insights for both organizations and governments, with consideration of “equity” effects of projects included, among other factors.
Safeguarding the Resilience of Power and Transportation Infrastructures during Transitions to Sustainability
Posted: July 20, 2017
This article from an academic team from across the United States offers an examination of outstanding issues facing next generation power and transportation infrastructure. With renewable energy technology on the rise and electric vehicles gaining traction, many resilience issues facing the increasingly interdependent systems that support these technologies are yet to be fully analyzed or resolved.
Optimizing Mass Transit Transportation Resilience: Model, Implementation and Policy Directions
Posted: July 25, 2017
Fadi A. Karaa from the Critical Infrastructure Systems Program at New Jersey Institute of Technology provides insights on resilience modelling and policy in the context of mass transit systems, with overviews of essential concepts, metrics, and models of disruption to enable more effective planning in the face of disruption events like Superstorm Sandy.
Empowering Resilience in Energy and Water Systems: Addressing Barriers to Implementation of Urban Hydroelectric Micro-turbines
Posted: July 27, 2017
Jennifer F. Sklarew and Dann M. Sklarew from George Mason University examine the energy-water nexus as a critical area for future growth, with unique challenges that must be addressed. Reports indicate that energy use in the water sector may double by 2040, and the increased interdependence this presents threatens the resilience of both sectors moving forward.