Transportation

Questions raised anew about ATS
DHS’s Automated Targeting System (ATS) assigns a “risk assessment” score to travelers entering the U.S. to determine whether they pose a security threat; is the program legal?
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Elbit, Electronica in joint development of systems to defend aircraft
Governments are casting about for affordable and effective systems to defend civilian aircraft from shoulder-mounted missiles; two companies with experience in the field have joined hands to offer a solution
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Baggage scanners at Bangkok airport paralyzed by computer virus
Suvarnabhumi airport in Thailand spent a lot of money to buy 26 GE CTX scanners to screen baggage; last night, 17 of them stopped working owing to a virus infection of the server
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Radar, connectivity problems delay full operation of SBInet
Radar problems with nine towers along the U.S.-Mexico border, and problems with connecting one tower to another, delays operation of Project 28 in southern Arizona
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Spain imposes new travel security regime
As of yesterday, Spain requires that Spain-bound travelers provide the same personal information and travael plans the U.S. has required since 2004; travel industry anxious
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Canada launches terrorist no-fly list today
The U.S. has about 45,000 names on its no-fly list; Canada has about 1,000 on a list launched today; Canadian transportation and security experts question list’s vale
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Growing interest in autonomous undersea vehicles
UAVs are already widely used by the military, homeland security, and, increasdigly, law enforcement; could AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) be far behind?
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DHS moves to tighten control over small planes, recreational boats
The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in beefing up security of commercial airlines and freight containers; DHS is moving to monitor and impose security requirements on smaller vehicles
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U.S.-bound travelers to notify DHS of travel plans ahead of departure
DHS is tightening travel restirctions on travelers from visa waiver countires: They will have to file travel plans 48 hours before departure
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Russia approves shooting down hijacked planes without warning
The Russian government allows its security forces more lattitude in the fight against terror; hijacked planes or sea vessles may now be destroyed without warning
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U.S. delays e-passport requirement to mid-2009
In second passport rules relaxtion in as many weeks, U.S. delays e-passport deadline to June 2009
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Autonomous see-shoot systems drawing interest
Remotely controlled weapon systems are deployed in the DMZ and around the Gaza strip; we may soon see humans taken out of the see-shoot chain, and such systems deployed around critical infrastructure facilities
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TWIC misses yet another deadline
TSA was supposed to implement TWIC in 10 ports by July, but delay-plagued program misses this deadline, too
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MiSense requires airport redesign to be effective
Identity access and management tools may not only add security, but also reduce queues at airports — but there is a need to redsign the airports first
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New full-body scanner reveals hidden objects without embarassing passengers
EMIT introduces low-energy microwave full-body scanner which identifies hidden objects without offering an anatomically correct image of passengers’ bodies; technology suitable for civilian applications
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