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Protecting buildings from blast effects
There are two ways to protect buildings from blast effects: Keep the source of the blast away from the building, or contain the explosion once the explosives made it into the building; here is a review of a blast-resistance trash can
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L-3 selects AirWalk for CDMA-based IP-RAN
Communication during disasters is key to effective response, and L-3 chooses a developer of IP radio access networks for CDMA wireless voice and data networks
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Study calls for creation of infrastructure commission to select projects for funding
Joining forces with calls for reforming lobbying practices in Congress, a group calls for creating a nonpartisan infrastructure commission to choose which earmarked projects should be funded and which ones rejected
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Some chemical plants get it, many others do not; plant safety legislation will change that
Ronald Reagan used to say: “If you cannot make them see the light, make them feel the heat”; some chemical plants have taken plant security seriously, and Geismar, Louisiana-based Honeywell is one of them; trouble is, most of the 15,000 U.S. plants have not followed Honeywell’s example; the threat of federal legislation may concentrate their minds
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Hurricanes cost the Bahamas 8 Percent of GDP
As we get ready for the 2006 hurricane season, it would help to consider what previous such seasons cost; in the Bahamas they concluded that the 2004 season cost 8 percent of GDP; the figures for the 2005 seas are not yet in
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What makes Harvard’s network tick?
Harvard has a busy network with many demanding users; how does the school make it work — and work safely?
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Preparing for the hurricane season
To make sure your communication system does not collapse during the next hurricane, you may want to a consider satellite-based system
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IT sector to fashion disaster response and recover plan
The U.S. IT sector governing council wants to define and tighten the sector’s disaster recovery and business continuity procedures
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Check Point-Sourcefire deal called off
Representatives of defense and intelligence agencies on CFIUS, the U.S. government committee examining the acquisition of U.S. companies by foreign companies, objected to Check Point’s acquisition of security software developer Sourcefire; with the firestorm over the scuttled DP World deal and legislation pending in Congress to limit foreign companies ownership of security-sensitive U.S. companies, the deal became doomed, and late last week the two companies announced its cancellation
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TCS, SAP offer combined incident response communication solution
Two companies join their respective strengths — secure, reliable communication with multi-source information for situational awareness — to ensure that incident commanders in disaster incidents are in a position to make more informed decisions
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Analysis: Even if chemical plants are more secure, transportation of chemicals will not be
Congress and the administration are inching — the more accurate word would be “millimetering” — toward formulating safety standards for U.S. chemical facilities; trouble is, even if security is enhanced at these facilities, the transportation of deadly chemicals will remain frighteningly vulnerable to attack
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Worries continue about Indian Point disaster plans
The government disbursed more than $4 billion for bioterror defense, but states and localities chose to use much of it for other purposes; Senator Burr says this will now make it harder to get money to spend on vaccines
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More headlines
The long view
Urban Street Networks and Building Density Shape Severity of Floods
Cities around the globe are experiencing increased flooding due to the compounding effects of stronger storms in a warming climate and urban growth. Researchers’ new analytical model can assess neighborhood-level hazards globally.
Could We Use Volcanoes to Make Electricity?
It is challenging, but tapping into the Earth’s natural heat can create a renewable, reliable and clean source of energy. As technology improves, more places around the world will turn to geothermal energy to light up people’s lives. Volcanoes are reminders of a great powerhouse deep underground that’s waiting to be harnessed.
To Get Off Fossil fuels, America Is Going to Need a Lot More Electricians
To cut greenhouse gas emissions on pace with the best available science, the United States must prepare for a monumental increase in electricity use. Burning fossil fuels to heat homes and get around isn’t compatible with keeping the planet at a livable temperature. Appliances that can be powered by clean electricity already exist to meet all of these needs. The problem is, most houses aren’t wired to handle the load from electric heating, cooking, and clothes dryers, along with solar panels and vehicle chargers. And a shortage of skilled labor could derail efforts to “electrify everything.”
New Gels Could Protect Buildings During Wildfires
Researchers have developed a sprayable gel that creates a shield to protect buildings from wildfire damage. It lasts longer and is more effective than existing commercial options.
As Tornado Alley Shifts East, Bracing for Impact in Unexpected Places
Experts say the causes are still unclear, but the change is consistent with a warming world. The effects on the ground could be devastating.
U.S. Water Reservoirs Are Shrinking and Becoming Less Reliable, New Study Finds
Major water reservoirs across the continental United States are experiencing longer, more severe, and more variable periods of low storage than several decades ago, a new study reports. The problems are most severe in the western and central United States, but reservoirs in the eastern and southeastern United States are not immune.