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GE, Google to collaborate on smart grid
The two companies, saying that existing U.S. infrastructure has not kept pace with the digital economy and the hundreds of technology opportunities that are ready for market, will focus on improving power generation, transmission, and distribution of energy;
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GAO: U.S. computer emergency readiness team is not ready
Government Accounting Office criticizes US-CERT for lacking “a comprehensive baseline understanding of the nation’s critical information infrastructure operations” and for not exhibiting “aspects of the attributes essential to having a truly national capability,” among other things
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CTO defends researcher's decision to reveal SCADA exploit
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software controls critical U.S. infrastructure; in June, a researcher released attack code which takes advantage of a stack-based buffer overflow bug in SCADA software; security patches have been provided, but the community debates whether the researcher acted responsibly
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DHS: Progress and priorities, II
Since its creation more than five years ago, DHS has made significant progress — uneven progress — in protecting the United States from dangerous people and goods, protecting the U.S. critical infrastructure, strengthen emergency response, and unifying department operations
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Botnets, not the Russian government, behind Georgian attacks
Scrutiny of botnet activity indicates Russia’s attacks on Georgia were not state-sponsored
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New Orleans coped well with Gustav
The planning and execution of hurricane emergency measure was far superior to what happened during Katrina, even if the challenge was not as demanding; analysts worry that with Gustav failing to live up to expectations of devastation, we may witness “evacuation fatigue” next time
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Yucca Mountain project clears another hurdle
The Yucca Mountain nuclear storage project moves forward, as NRC says it would conduct an in-depth review of the government plans
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BAE to participate in Encore II
U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency’s Encore II is a $12 billion program to protect U.S. military communication; BAE was awarded part of the contract
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Chertoff: Neglect threatens infrastructure
DHS secretary Michael Chertoff says that lack of investment in U.S. infrastructure “[is] kind of like playing Russian roulette with our citizens’ safety”
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Major flooding risk could span decades after Chinese earthquake
Earthquake-induced landslides cause rocks and sediment to be dumped in the river valleys, and this material then moves downstream to settle on river beds; this means that river and lakes become shallower, pausing much greater risks of flooding for decades to come
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Designing earthquake-resistant buildings
New NIST publication series addresses design of earthquake-resistant structures
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"The Most Problematic Nuclear Facility in Europe"
Radioactive leaks at a German nuclear waste storage facility raises questions in Germany — already the leading European anti-nuclear power country — about the wisdom of nuclear power generation
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This week in 1941: Galloping Gertie bridge collapses
The Tacoma Narrows bridge, known as Galloping Gertie, was a 5,000 ft-long, two-lane suspension bridge — the third longest of its kind in the world; it was the first suspension bridge to use plate girders, rather than open lattice beam trusses, to support the roadbed meaning that wind could not pass through the truss but was diverted above and below the structure; 67 years ago this week the wind was just too strong
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Gustav brings down cell, Internet service
Power outages caused by Hurricane Gustav brought down cellular and Internet service in parts of Louisiana, but the storm’s impact was much milder than Katrina’s
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Thai anti-government protests spread to utilities and transportation
Thai anti-government protesters strike country’s infrastructure; transportation, communication, utilities, water are affected
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The long view
Helping Strengthen America’s Critical Infrastructure
Everyday life depends on a robust infrastructure network that provides access to running water, communications technology and electricity, among other basic necessities. The experts who keep our national infrastructure secure and resilient also need a strong network to share their knowledge and train the next generation of professionals capable of solving complex infrastructure challenges.
AI and the Future of the U.S. Electric Grid
Despite its age, the U.S. electric grid remains one of the great workhorses of modern life. Whether it can maintain that performance over the next few years may determine how well the U.S. competes in an AI-driven world.