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DHS has spent $2 billion on private sector for critical infrastructure
Some 85 percent of U.S. critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, and since 2003 DHS has provided nearly $2 billion for risk-based grants to protect private-sector critical infrastructure; $445 million have been given this year already
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Vortex's water purification technology potentially disruptive
DHS has identified chlorine gas as a top twenty domestic terrorist threat; most countries depend on chlorine as a primary water treatment disinfectant; Vortex offers an alternative
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ACC, DHS work to increase chemical plant safety
Chemical industry leader says that “new security regulations will raise the bar for protecting all of the nation’s chemical facilities”; his organization —and chemical plants — have increased their plant safety efforts
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FortiusOne Moves to New Offices
Innovative developer of intelligent Web mapping moves to larger offices; company’s solution offers large atlas of intelligent maps and geodata, including more than two-billion location attributes in nearly 2,000 data sets
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Nuclear security in Africa to receive €7 million boost
Worries about the spread of instability — and terrorism — in Africa leads EU to contribute to IAEA Nuclear Security Fund aimed at increasing nuclear security on the continent
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More people hospitalized in Ukraine following toxic substance dispersion
More than 70 people hospitalized following derailment of train carrying toxic phosphorous; two decades after Chernobyl, citizens suspicious of government reassurances
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German government furious with nuclear reactor operator
Two nuclear reactors in north Gemrnay shut down, and operator is accused of covering up severity of incidents at both
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Cuomo urges broader Indian Point review
Operator of the two Indian Point nuclear power plants has applied for renewal of the licences to operate the reactors;
Cuomo demands feds look at terrorism, evacuation plans before renewing nuclear plants’ license -
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Initiative to reduce power plants' fresh water demands
U.S. electric power plants are the second largest user of fresh water in the nation after agriculture, withdrawing some 140 billion gallons of fresh water per day; DOE, Sandia launch project to address this growing problem
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Damaged Japanese nuclear plant found to sit on fault line
World’s largest nuclear power plant shut down indefinitely after 6.5 magnitude causes radioactive spillage; future of Japan’s nuclear industry uncertain
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Train carrying highly toxic phosphorous derailed in Ukraine
Hundreds evacuated from several villages as a 35 square miles area is covered by toxic phosphorous leaking from a derailed train
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Water-striding robot to help in monitoring water quality
Carnegie Mellon researchers develop water-striding robot; equipped with wireless communication and sensors, these robots could monitor sprawling water systems for contamination
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Mexico oil and gas distribution system targeted by rebels
Hundreds of companies in Mexico shuttered operations temporarily yesterday after a shadowy rebel group bombs key petroleum pipelines
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Floods, oil contamination force Oklahoma evacuation
Heavy rains caused wide-scale flooding in northeastern Oklahoma — with spilled crude from breahced refinery adding to the misery of people, wildlife
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Saudis to give additional protection to oil fields
Saudis to create and train a force of 35,000 men to protect oil and industrial installations
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The long view
Warning System for Dangerous Heavy Rain and Flash Floods
In recent years, there have been repeated flash floods in Germany, some with devastating effects, which have been triggered by localized heavy rainfall. New project aims to provide prototypical warnings at different spatial scales, from the whole of Germany to individual federal states and down to the municipal level.
Protecting the Coastline
Barrier islands protect the coastline from storms, storm surge, waves and flooding. They can act as a buffer between the ocean and beachfront property. But as sea level rises, barrier islands retreat, or move closer toward the shore, which diminishes the buffer and protection. Oceanographers develop new model to better predict barrier island retreat.
Boosting Efforts to Predict Harmful Solar Weather Events
When big blasts of energy from the sun envelop the Earth, they can very strong: a 2015 event so weakened Earth’s protective magnetic field that it penetrated to the atmosphere, posing a threat to everything from circling space station astronauts to delicate electronics and communication systems.
Challenges to Tidal Flats Pose Risks to 41M Americans Living in Coastal Counties
About 29 percent of the United States’ population live in coastline counties – more than 41 million are in Atlantic counties. This high population density poses a critical challenge to sustainable developments in coastal areas.
Mitigating Flood Disasters
Engineers have proposed a flood control measure which recommends designing permeable pavements to specifically suit local rainfall and soil conditions and reduce flood impacts.
Developing Novel Hybrid Reef-Mimicking Structures
Despite previous efforts to implement storm mitigation solutions — including concrete breakwaters — damage due to storm surge and flooding continues to devastate coastal areas around the world. In response to these threats, DARPA has launched the Reefense program to develop self-healing, hybrid biological, and engineered reef-mimicking structures to protect civilian and DoD infrastructure, personnel by mitigating damage related to coastal flooding, erosion and storm surge.