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DHS unveils rail security plan
Experts point to trains carrying hazardous materials thorugh or near densley populated areas as a lucrative target for terorist attacks; DHS offers a plan to have trains and railyeards monitored more closely, but Democrats say it is too little, too late
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UK scientists develop mine-spotting camera
By dividing an image into thirty-two separate snapshots the system can pick out features unobservable to humans; expanded color palette the key; Qinetiq and Selex try to move technology to the market; system has medical uses as well
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Bush orders new look at ground transportation security requirements
Chertoff ordered to provide a sector by sector analysis; close consultation with state and municipal authorities should provide some clarity; report will emphasize technology needs and set research priorities; announcment preempts an incoming congress steamed about ground transportation failings
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Transportation sector lags behind in forming DHS "sector council"
National Infrastructure Protection Plan asks industry groups to form councils to advise DHS on critical assets, risk assessments, and an agreed security approach; so far, diverse nature of transportation has been a major road block; TSA now encouraging the development of smaller subsector councils, but still hopes for an industry-wide group
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VCs and others jump into the cargo tracking market
LoJack’s recent purchase of a minority stake in SC-Integrity just one example of an industry on the rise; with $50 billion at stake each year, shipping companies get value by both preventing theft and managing their supply chains
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EU considers "deep background checks" for Registered Traveler program
Responding to concerns about racial profiling, EU may instead develop a large-scale network linking criminal and civil data bases; a final report is not due until June, but in the meantime EU planners will move ahead with plans; privacy concerns remain an unsurmounted obstacle
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State Department issues RFI for WHTI PASS card system
Agency provides detail on benefits of RFID cards; 17 November meeting with industry to be followed by request for proposals; fixed price contract desired
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ACE electronic manifest program exanded to Arizona, Washington, and North Dakota
Trucking companies will have to comply starting in 2007, but meanwhile CBP is opening up more ports of entry to the program; shippers provide advance manifests for CBP review; expedited inspection is the main benefit
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GD to implement Safefreight's hazardous tracking solution
There are more than 800,000 hazardous materials and dangerous waste shipments in the United States per day; if even one of these shipments were to be seized by terrorists and used as a weapon, results could be catastrophic; GD selects a fleet-tracking solution from a Canadian company for implementation and demonstration as part of a TSA project to improve the safety of hauling dangerous materials
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NJ Transit tests DriveCam bus surveillance system
Windshield-mounted cameras record data inside and outside the vehicle; at a cost of $25,000 per unit, the cost is steep, but agency hopes to make up the difference by reducing driver error and lowering liability exposure
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DHS plan to use RFID for PASS program sparks controversy
Decision allows border guards to screen travelers while they wait in line, but critics say privacy is at risk from digital pick-pocketers; DHS will issue protective sleeves, and no private information will be stored on the cards; Smart Card Alliance says the decision to store data on government computers magnifies, not mitigates, the risk
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Saflink downsizes and refocuses on Registered Traveler program
Following losses, the company will lay off half of its employees and attempt to grab Registered Traveler market share; competition will be stiff, but Saflink is playing to its strengths
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GAO hammers TWIC program management
TSA officials said to be unaware of own progress; when biometric readers are installed, sometimes no electricity is available to power them; maritime reliability remains a glaring problem; cost overruns and delays are expected
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Homeland Integrated Security Systems's Cyber Tracker to monitor NY school buses
GPS-plus devices include sensors that monitor everything from internal temperature to vehicle speed; school districts want to avoid another Chowchilla while keeping eyes on their drivers
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