CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
NTSCOE Research Spotlight
Since its inception NTSCOE has made significant contributions to the Nation's understanding of multimodal transportation infrastructure and security. A few key research highlights are listed below.
The High Speed Rail Security project is collecting and analyzing empirical data, policies, practices, and lessons-learned from high-speed rail systems in Europe and Asia in order to prioritize vulnerabilities and identify safety and security benchmarks and best practices for design, construction, and operation of new corridors and systems. In addition, mathematical simulation models for rail corridor networks using a risk analysis framework are being developed.
Supporting Secure and Resilient Inland Waterways: The loss of inland waterway infrastructure assets could have severe adverse societal and economic effects on the surrounding regions and the nation. In the event of a shutdown on an inland waterway transportation system, this project is developing a decision support system to help users identify (i) how waterborne cargo should be prioritized for offloading, based on primary and secondary economic impacts and societal requirements and (ii) how prioritized freight should be offloaded and transported via rail and truck based on freight capacities.
Bus Operator Behavior Awareness Training (BOARD): Transit bus operators need to quickly and effectively evaluate and respond to suspicious behavior to stop potential criminal and terrorist attacks before they occur. BOARD course incorporates the knowledge and best practices of international transit systems skilled in counter-terrorism measures and extensive research with the nation’s largest transit organizations. This course equips bus operators with behavioral awareness and protective action skills.
The MTI Database on Terrorist and Serious Criminal Attacks against Public Surface Transportation can be used in various types of analyses to discern trends and risks of attacks against public surface transportation by terrorists or criminals.