Research: Research http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/MRI.aspx RSS feed for the Research list. Thu, 23 May 2013 11:49:36 GMT Windows SharePoint Services V3 RSS Generator 60 Research: Research /research/_layouts/images/homepage.gif http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/MRI.aspx Dr. Chad Steed http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=93 Project: Fusion Center Smart Search Analytics
Research Area: Info Sharing
Description:
The Fusion Center Smart Search Analytics project will utilize findings from the SERRI Regional Data Analysis project as well as input from the southeast fusion center experts to develop a prototype system that will provide more effective search analytics for multiple, disparate sources of textual information.  More specifically, this prototype system will assist the analyst in coping with data overload by seamlessly integrating multiple sources, implementing semi-supervised machine learning algorithms to improve search performance based on user interactions, and creating an intuitive, interactive graphical interface.  The new interface will feature details-on-demand capabilities and focus+context visualizations that provide high-level and specific information in a common display.  As with the prior work, which serves the basis for the requirements of the prototype system, this development will be executed in collaboration with fusion centers in the southeast to ensure the final product increases the efficiency and effectiveness of both expert and novice users.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Reports: Fusion Center Smart Search Analytics
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:30:12 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=93 Ms. Lisa Seyler http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=92 Project: Mobile Damage Assessment Testbed
Research Area: Info Sharing
Description:
In many communities, when a disaster strikes post-disaster data collection is often accomplished by assessment teams from a variety of community agencies.  It is not uncommon for the teams to have little or no training and to collect data in hardcopy format.  Because training is not the same for all groups, assessments of damage can often be incomplete and inconsistent.  Additional issues can arise with inefficiencies with team distribution and collection areas.  All of these issues lead to delays for requests of funding and aid.   Thus the objective of this research project is to establish a test-site in FEMA Region V for testing and evaluation of RunMobile’s Damage Assessment Reporting System (DARS360).  To meet this objective, DARS360 will be configured as a prototype for field exercises planned in FEMA Region V, provide necessary training to key personnel, provide support services as needed during field exercises, and establish an operational testbed for continued examination and evaluation during real emergencies (e.g., such as flood events).    The outcome of this research and development effort should be a more comprehensive framework for damage assessments that can be rolled out across the region and the nation.  This includes improved processes and an efficient damage assessment tool is robust and can be easily customized for local, state, and federal emergency management agencies to process Individual Assessments (IAs), Public Assessments (PAs) and joint PDAs.   Use of the tool should streamline and provide a consistent approach to data/information gathering and sharing to improve the process of preparing and reporting damage estimates to local, state, and federal authorities. The products of this effort impact the timing and assistance available to residents and businesses needing to rebuild following a natural or man-made disaster.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: RunMobile Inc.
Reports: Mobile Damage Assessment Testbed
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:25:49 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=92 Dr. Tom Attard http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=91 Project: Development and Application of a CarbonFlex Composite for Structural Damage Mitigation and for Sustainable High Strength and Energy Dissipation
Research Area: Infrastructure Protection
Description:
CarbonFlex is a new generation of advanced protection material developed to mitigate structural damage and provide structural protection by combining a high-strength/ highly stiff material with highly efficient energy dissipation and ductility.  CarbonFlex relies on a ‘sustainable negative stiffness’ component that enables the material to retain large strength and flexibility properties long after its peak stress is reached.  The goal in the development of CarbonFlex is to integrate viscoelastic behavior that transitions to a purely sustainable elastomeric state via interfacial interaction between the composite material and the underlying substrate that it protects.  The strategy for implementation involves ensuring interfacial bonding with the exterior substrate.  The outcome is a newly integrated ‘carbon-rubber’ product used to protect non-structural and structural components in various structures (e.g., steel systems, wood homes, and reinforced concrete structures) subjected to various extreme dynamic loading.
 
No material system addresses the issues of displacement and acceleration control, fire resistance, and energy efficiency.  As a result, many structures are expected to experience severe damage, or be destroyed, under extreme loading events, including blast explosions and earthquake disasters.  The lack of an energy dissipation mechanism, or ‘energy-release valve,’ makes structures susceptible to local displacement-induced damages (cracks, large deformations, or collapse) or global damages if large accelerations cause structural or non-structural components to detach from their connections and behave as projectiles (which may be the case in a blast event).
 
The overarching objective of this research project is to investigate a material system that wraps around structures to integrate a “sustainable negative stiffness” that continues dissipating energy well after peak load while sustaining purely elastomeric behavior.  This retrofit would enable a structure to consistently dissipate energy while remaining highly strong. A secondary objective is to leverage opportunities which may exist in testing CarbonFlex materials to strategically address a capability gap defined by FEMA Region IV as 2010-M-008 (Seismic Performance of Light Frame Construction) and described in Overview: FEMA Region IV Capability Gaps (12 August 2010).  Part of the research effort will include evaluating how well CarbonFlex materials reduce the risk to various types of light frame construction from a seismic event and understanding these risks as associated with current design standards for light frame constructions.  The specific Gaps that this part of the research will address are: (1) Developing the distribution of forces in the design of light-frame constructions using the CarbonFlex system, (2) Design guidance for open-front light frame constructions, and (3) Improving design guidance for soft story construction by supplanting current wood-designed shear wall systems with CarbonFlex tight-wrap materials.  The overall results of this research should yield a reduction in structural and non-structural damage and provide an affordable and easy-to-implement tight-wrap system for blast and seismic protection of new or already-damaged wood, concrete, or masonry systems.  A final objective of this research is to conduct experimental tests to evaluate wood-framed structures with stand-alone structurally isolated interior CarbonFlex-designed storm shelter rooms. The results of tests conducted under this research should help improve the design and construction of storm shelter rooms. 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Arizona State University
Reports: Development and Application of a CarbonFlex Composite for Structural Damage Mitigation and for Sustainable High Strength and Energy Dissipation
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:48:59 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=91 Dr. Mustafa Altinakar http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=90 Project: Development of a Prototype Special Event Risk Management (SERM) System
Research Area: Incident Management
Description:
Understanding of threats and hazards, vulnerabilities, potential consequences to infrastructure, people, and response capacity is built on a foundation of risk situational awareness information.  Sports stadiums, entertainment centers and hotels are possible targets of terrorist attacks.  These venues provide opportunities for mass casualties, economic disruption and global news media coverage.  Currently, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) is evaluating evacuation plans for several NFL stadiums using a tool called the Evacuation Planning Tool (EPT).  Similar analyses are also being considered for MLB, NCAA, NASCAR, NBA and NHL venues.   Unfortunately the EPT requires very long computation times and often scenarios are required to run overnight.  The long computation time makes table top exercises using the EPT unattractive. By accelerating or parallelizing the computational algorithms used by EPT, one can imagine performing tabletop exercises that could possibly be performed in real-time and thereby significantly enhance the efficacy of tabletop exercises. 
 
The objective of this research is to show that a numerical simulation-based risk management system can be created by leveraging existing software products, and demonstrate this concept for crowd control during special events, such as sporting events (with the understanding that it can later be extended to management of natural and manmade hazards, such as floods). The research is intended to use a large-scale evacuation simulation tool that will be accelerated to achieve the highest possible speeds towards operational level modeling.  A major goal of this research is to speed up the execution time of the EPT possibly using Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) parallelization. Another key objective of this research project is to establish a testbed and provide a proof of concept that shows how existing technologies can be leveraged to create a low-cost, rapidly-deployable, multi-stakeholder risk management system for major special events (with emphasis on sporting events).    The results of this research initiative will produce a functioning prototype of a Special Event Risk Management (SERM) system that can be further developed to improve public safety and security for a host of special events involving mass gatherings.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: University of Mississippi
Reports: Development of a Prototype Special Event Risk Management (SERM) System
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:40:29 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=90 Dr. Justin Beaver http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=89 Project: Network Behavioral Analysis for Zero-Day Detection
Research Area: Cyber
Description:
Modern Computer Network Defense (CND) systems rely primarily on signature-based intrusion detection tools, which generate alert messages when patterns that are pre-determined to be malicious are encountered in network data streams.  There are two essential problems with signature-based detection systems that limit their effectiveness when used in isolation to protect enterprise networks: they are reactive and static.  Because a signature is created as a reaction to having experienced and then manually analyzed a network intrusion, it has no ability to detect intrusion attempts that are new or even simple variants of an existing attack.  Furthermore, network traffic characteristics are vastly different from organization to organization, and static rules prevent an intrusion detection system from adapting to the patterns unique to an enterprise environment.   To further exacerbate the issues, the variance and quantity of network attacks is outstripping analysts’ ability to create timely detection signatures.
 
The principal objective of this project is to establish a pilot deployment of an Oak Ridge Cyber Analytics (ORCA) network sensor on a DHS or military network and to collaborate with Mississippi State University to train and test ORCA accuracy in detecting cyber attacks against SCADA control systems.  Once evaluated operationally on an acceptable network, we envision ORCA being deployed operationally on federal networks at their discretion.  It is also possible to use a standalone instance of ORCA such that network operations personnel can forensically analyze network traffic data. 
 
ORCA was developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), as a complementary system to signature-based tools.  ORCA (http://orca.ornl.gov) is a cyber data analytics program that applies the latest methods to address various technology gaps in the cyber security domain.  The ORCA Attack Variant Detector is a network sensor that uses a machine learning technology to analyze behaviors in channels of communication between individual computers.  Using examples of attack and non-attack traffic in the target environment, the ORCA sensor is trained to recognize and discriminate between malicious and normal traffic types.  The machine learning provides an insight that would be difficult for a human to explicitly code as a signature because it evaluates thousands of interdependent metrics simultaneously.  Zero day detection is possible because ORCA classifies traffic based on its similarity to traffic types rather than using specific patterns specified in signatures.  It can also detect variants of attacks, which are small changes in a known attack vector created to bypass signature-based sensors.  This reduces the burden of organizations to account for all attack variant combinations through signatures.  False alerts are minimized with ORCA because the machine learning has adapted to traffic patterns specific to an environment.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Reports: Network Behavioral Analysis for Zero-Day Detection
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:25:36 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=89 Dr. Jerzy Leszczynski http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=88 Project: Nerve Agents: Enhanced Understanding of Chemical Mechanisms and Interactions with Environment and Relevant Surfaces Addressed by Computational Approaches
Research Area: Chem Bio
Description:
Due to the highly toxic nature of nerve agents their experimental studies are extremely difficult and dangerous.   Computational chemistry offers a variety of non-experimental approaches that can be combined and used to evaluate the impact of the release of nerve agents on the environment and man-made surfaces. Therefore, the objective of this research is to apply computational chemistry methods to investigate mechanisms of interactions of selected nerve agents and their stimulants with model man-made surfaces (e.g., concrete and selected paints) and with clay minerals. Results of this research should yield a better understanding of the impact of nerve agents released on the environment as well as provide guidance for designing efficient decontamination processes to improve response and recovery operations in the event of a nerve agent attack.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Jackson State University
Reports: Nerve Agents: Enhanced Understanding of Chemical Mechanisms and Interactions with Environment and Relevant Surfaces Addressed by Computational Approaches
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:20:12 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=88 Dr. Raphael Isokpehi http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=87 Project: Visual Analytics Enabled Surveillance and Detection of Biological Threats from Large Microbial Bioinformatics Datasets
Research Area: Chem Bio
Description:
Surveillance and detection of microorganisms of biothreat concerns is crucial to preventing catastrophic public and animal events.   The availability of complete genome (DNA) sequence of over 3000 microorganisms (including biothreat bacteria) and associated functional annotation of genes are generating large bioinformatics data structures as well as genotypic and phenotypic data.  These diverse datasets contain knowledge that can be suitable for developing accurate surveillance and detection approaches for microorganisms of biological threat significance.  However, rapid access and use of limited pre-defined queries in bioinformatics databases are among factors hampering the development of new genotypic or phenotypic assays.  
 
The objective of this research is to design and implement appropriate informatics approaches to identify novel pathogen fingerprints.  A visual analytic approach is the anticipated product to be developed through this research effort.  Results of this research should yield specialized tools that can be used for surveillance and detection of organisms that may threaten public safety, food safety, as well as the safety of animals.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Jackson State University
Reports: Visual Analytics Enabled Surveillance and Detection of Biological Threats from Large Microbial Bioinformatics Datasets
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 28 Nov 2012 13:13:20 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=87 Jerry Brashear http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=86 Project: A Regional Resilience/Security Analysis Process for the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure Systems
Research Area: Regional Resilience
Description:

At the core of any region’s resilience and security are its “hard” lifeline critical infrastructures – water and wastewater, energy, transportation, telecommunications – and its core public services and economic base – public health and safety, state and local government, education, banking and major employers, healthcare, food and shelter.   Dependencies within and between infrastructure systems, services, businesses and economic sectors affect societal well-being and the ability of the community and region to rebound from potentially catastrophic events. Identifying and addressing these dependencies can prevent “cascading” failures that compound the negative effects of natural or man-made events. Metropolitan regions are the scale of the greatest concern – that is where multi-state and national infrastructures converge to provide direct services, where local infrastructures, in their immediate interactions with each other and with larger-scale infrastructures, can most readily cascade from isolated events to regional disaster, and where the majority of the population resides – because consequences are greatest.  The vital role of interdependent infrastructures has been recognized by the federal government since the 1990s, but practical tools have yet to be developed to properly assess the levels of security and resilience of regions and their infrastructures and to evaluate options for enhancing their security and resilience. Thus the purpose of this project is to develop an objective business process for identifying and evaluating ways that metropolitan regions can enhance their security and resilience within available financial and human resources.  The end-goal of this project is to develop a prototype Regional Resilience/Security Analysis Process (RR/SAP) and to test its feasibility.

Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: ASME Innovative Technologies Institute, LLC
Reports: A Regional Resilience/Security Analysis Process for the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure Systems
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:34:57 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=86 Dr. Mahalingam Ramkumar http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=74 Project: Minimal Trustworthy Computing Base (TCB) for SCADA Security
Research Area: Cyber
Description:
Cyberterrorism is a growing threat to critical infrastructure protection and the nation’s economy.   There are reports of systems that can infiltrate and compromise water, transportation, and power infrastructures. Intelligence reports show there are terrorist computer systems with details about SCADA systems in America.  These systems control critical infrastructure, including electrical grids, nuclear plants, fiber-optic cables, oil and gas pipelines, dams, railroads and water storage and distribution facilities.   Strategies that effectively address attacks on SCADA systems, especially systems controlling critical infrastructure like power grids, chemical plants, refineries, water supply systems and mass transportation systems, are vital to homeland security and to the protection of critical infrastructure.  Therefore, the objectives of this research and development project are to examine substantially different approaches to securing SCADA systems, and to use those results to architect a practical low-cost solution for protecting the integrity of SCADA systems that control critical infrastructures.  
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Mississippi State University
Reports: Minimal Trustworthy Computing Base (TCB) for SCADA Security
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:51:11 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=74 Bryan Gorman http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=53 Project: Sensorpedia
Research Area: Info Sharing
Description:
Sensorpedia is a concept for adapting Web 2.0 technologies (e.g., wikis, blogs, social networks, mashups, RSS alerts, streaming media) to achieve sensor information sharing across incompatible or autonomous systems. Based on the same underlying technologies that power popular web sites such as Wikipedia, Twitter, Google Maps, and FaceBook, Sensorpedia provides a “write-able” web site for communities of users who have sensor information to share. However, instead of networking users based on mutual personal interests, SensorPedia networks users and sensors based on mutual information interests The SensorPedia user interface is designed using Web 2.0 best practices and allows extension by third-party developers using a flexible modular framework. The Sensorpedia web services API is designed to accept and publish data using popular standards such as streaming media, Google Earth KML, and GeoRSS. The API permits third party “gadgets” to connect sensors and applications to Sensorpedia.
 
 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Reports: Sensorpedia
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:14:35 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=53 Dr. Alexander H.D. Cheng http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=56 Project: Nano-Particle Reinforced Composites for Critical Infrastructure Protection
Research Area: Infrastructure Protection
Description: This project investigates the use of the recent advancement in material, structure, and building technologies for the protection of critical infrastructures, which include governmental buildings, emergency response system (police station, fire house, hospital), oil and gas pipelines, power and communication transmission towers, etc., against terrorist threats, as well as natural disasters. The new structural/building technologies developed from this research can be used to improve the survivability of these structures. The findings, recommendations, and tools derived can become a part of the decision support system for local, state, tribal and regional leaders and emergency responders for better preparedness. Find project-related fact sheet information for Molecular Dynamics, Atomic Force Microscopy, Particle Dynamics, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Impact and Energy Absorption, AUTODYN Simulation, Component Simulation and Evacuation Simulation at the OleMiss SERRI project.
 
Dr. Cheng's Web Page:  http://home.olemiss.edu/~acheng/
 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: University of Mississippi
Reports: Nano-Particle Reinforced Composites for Critical Infrastructure Protection
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:43:26 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=56 Laura Meyers http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=39 Project: Regional Emergency Planning Model for Continuous Disaster Mitigation Response
Research Area: Incident Management
Description:
Deficiencies in interagency communication remain a key obstacle to successfully developing and implementing emergency plans during times of disaster. The Institute for the Economy and the Future at Western Carolina University, under contract to SERRI, will develop a Regional Emergency Planning Model (REPM) that will enhance interagency communication by designing a framework for effective disaster response; devise an effective methodology for considering human behavior in emergency situations that can be adopted and implemented throughout our nation; identify important policy considerations and best practices that must be examined for effective disaster responses; and disseminate the information to relevant practitioners.
 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Western Carolina University
Reports: Regional Emergency Planning Model for Continuous Disaster Mitigation Response
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:38:44 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=39 Dr. Gordon Skelton http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=32 Project: Disaster Response Intelligent System
Research Area: Incident Management
Description:
Information technology decision aids and data fusion systems are revolutionizing decision making in operational scenarios. The JSU team is proposing to leverage these advances by developing innovative decision support aids useful for converting and fusing data to useable knowledge for DHS emergency response. Specifically, the JSU team will transition an existing analysis and fusion system developed from an on-going DOD program into a Disaster Response Intelligent System (DRIS). The system is designed to be interoperable with the Jackson State University proposal “All Hazards Emergency Operations Management System (ALLHAZ)” and/or any other open architecture system. The Disaster Response Intelligent System (DRIS) is designed to provide real-time analysis and decision support for the Department of Homeland Security and operational agencies in disaster response.
 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Jackson State University
Reports: Disaster Response Intelligent System
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:22:21 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=32 Dr. Greg Easson http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=29 Project: Specification, Validation and Verification of Imagery Products for Disaster Management and Response
Research Area: Incident Management
Description:
The goal of this project is to create a reference key designed to increase the utility of imagery products for disaster response. This reference key will describe the technical specifications for remote sensing data acquisition systems that are necessary to produce data products that address the functional requirements of the first responder community and the FEMA Essential Elements of Information.
 

 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: University of Mississippi
Reports: Specification, Validation and Verification of Imagery Products for Disaster Management and Response
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:18:41 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=29 Dr. David R. Shaw http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=28 Project: Capturing Hurricane Katrinia Data for Anlaysis and Lessons-Learned Research
Research Area: Incident Management
Description:
Hurricane Katrina represents an unparalleled opportunity for homeland security research and study. During this event of national significance, the importance of geospatial data was demonstrated during the search, rescue and recovery efforts. The Mississippi Geographic Information System community volunteered countless hours in the weeks following Katrina, generating thousands of GIS, remote sensing and map products for use by local, state and federal agency personnel. However, the lack of a central archive for geospatial information presents a lost opportunity for understanding how these services could be improved for future events. For most major catastrophic incidents, the acquisition, management and archive of critical data does not occur in a coordinated, organized manner. Instead, various agencies that have operational responsibilities acquire and hold data that pertain to their mission without the mandate or funding to share those data to a central archive. Data held by individual agencies is maintained for varying lengths of time and is then either discarded or written out to a permanent storage media. Without a central archive to hold the entire collection of data from all agencies the full understanding of response efforts to any incident will be very difficult.
 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Mississippi State University
Reports: Capturing Hurricane Katrinia Data for Anlaysis and Lessons-Learned Research
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:13:34 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=28 Dr. Donald T. Resio http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=24 Project: Rapid Repair of Levee Breach
Research Area: Flood Management
Description:

This research will generate a novel device and approach that has never been attempted for rapid levee repair. The device is a specialized fabric tube that can be moved to a breach site by helicopter or barge and then inflated with water and air. Referred to as PLUGs (Portable Universal Lightweight Gaskets), the tube should greatly reduce the required logistics footprint for levee repair. Provided the concepts are proven out with further testing on a full-scale level, the new technologies under development to refine deployment methods should allow helicopters or barges to transport and deploy all of the system elements. The full-scale system should be capable of “sealing” a man-made or natural breach in a matter of hours. Given the many miles of levees along the Mississippi River and in the rest of the US, technologies being developed on this project could be very important to the nation as a whole; and in areas with historic record floods from levee breaches, such as in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Iowa, such a technology could help meet critical needs for faster, more resilient response to flooding situations.

View Video:  http://www.serri.org/research/Pages/RapidRepairofLeveeBreachMovie.aspx

Project URL: http://chl.erdc.usace.army.mil/rrlb/

 

Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Engineering Research and Development Center
Reports: Rapid Repair of Levee Breach
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:59:09 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=24 Dr. Mustafa Altinakar http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=23 Project: Simulation-Based Decision Support System for Water Infrastructural Security (DSS-WISE)
Research Area: Flood Management
Description:

Water infrastructures such as dams, levees, water control structures, etc. are critical. infrastructures whose incapacitation/destruction may have a serious negative impact on our nation’s security. We propose the development of a new “systems approach” for carrying out threat-risk vulnerability analysis of water resources and water-related infrastructures based on robust, state-of-the-art, realistic two-dimensional (2D) numerical simulations. The proposed approach yield spatial variability of solved variables and various criteria computed by 2D numerical models, and thus eliminates the deficiencies of the currently used one-dimensional approach, which is neither sufficiently reliable nor provides enough information for a detailed damage analysis. The present proposal also involves development of innovative spatial risk and uncertainty analysis methods and procedures making use of the rich level of spatial information provided by two-dimensional approach.

Project URL:  http://www.ncche.olemiss.edu/

Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: University of Mississippi
Reports: Simulation-Based Decision Support System for Water Infrastructural Security (DSS-WISE)
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:58:20 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=23 Dr. Rayford Vaughn http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=13 Project: Southeast Region Critical Infrastructure Protection Center Initiative (CIPC)
Research Area: Cyber
Description: The first phase of the project focused on training that was conducted by university-based experts in a particular field of relevancy to protection and preparedness. During FY 2008, the Critical Infrastructure Protection Center Initiative (CIPC) was able to leverage an NSA grant opportunity to purchase and put in place a one-of-a-kind control system security laboratory (also known as a SCADA security laboratory). Phase II of the project will focus on several tasks that utilize the resources of the SCADA security laboratory. The first task is to develop an appropriate test bed from which the CIPC can conduct vulnerability analyses of commercial software used within control system environments. A second task is to investigate the development of tools to mitigate the flaws discovered by the first task. To this end, encryption strategies will be developed to assist in control system protection. A third major task is to develop tools to forensically capture evidence of malicious activity within control system environments.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Mississippi State University
Reports: Southeast Region Critical Infrastructure Protection Center Initiative (CIPC)
]]> Secondary uid Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:20:40 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=13 Dr. Lori Bruce http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=4 Project: Rapid Detection of Agriterrorism via Remote Sensing
Research Area: Chem Bio
Description:
Interruption of the agricultural food supply could be accomplished by widespread application of airborne bio-chemical agents (ABAs) to agricultural crops. Terrorists could utilize plant pathogens or existing, commercially available herbicides and pesticides that may be safely used in some crops but which would have catastrophic effects on others. There exists a strong need for a means to rapidly and accurately detect such an event, or the lack thereof in the case of a hoax. This project includes the design, implementation, and validation of an automated target recognition (ATR) system for utilizing hyperspectral imaging (HSI) data to detect when an ABA has been applied to an agricultural crop.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Mississippi State University
Reports: Rapid Detection of Agriterrorism via Remote Sensing
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:02:02 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=4 Dr. Gordon Cannon http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=6 Project: Real-Time Detection of Chemicals and Biological Pathogens in Fluids
Research Area: Chem Bio
Description:
The goal of this project is to produce a simple-to-use, portable detector system that is able to sense in real time various pathogens and toxic chemicals that pose potential threats to both Mississippi and the nation as a result of acts of terrorism, accidental events, or acts of nature.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: University of Southern Mississippi
Reports: Real-Time Detection of Chemicals and Biological Pathogens in Fluids
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:22:08 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=6 Dr. Mingzhou Jin http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=1 Project: Real-Time Identification and Monitoring of Barge-Carried Hazardous Commodities
Research Area: Cargo Security
Description:
In response to increased terrorist threats related to hazardous material movements on the U.S. inland waterway system, towing vessel operators and fleet area managers, at specified reporting points, are required to notify the U.S. Coast Guard’s Inland River Vessel Movement Center of the movement of barges loaded with Certain Dangerous Cargo (CDC). The current reporting process is manual and cannot identify and monitor CDC loaded barges in real-time. The objective of this project is to develop and field test a prototype system that provides more accurate, uniform, and timely data on hazardous movements by barges, especially those certified as CDC, and to identify and report barges with potential security threats. The proposed system is expected to automatically track and monitor barges with CDC and communicate the real-time information to a data server.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Mississippi State University
Reports: Real-Time Identification and Monitoring of Barge-Carried Hazardous Commodities
]]> Secondary uid Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:30:25 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=1 Dr. Rayford Vaughn http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=58 Project: Southeast Region Critical Infrastructure Protection Center Initiative (CIPC)
Research Area: Infrastructure Protection
Description:
The Critical Infrastructure Protection Center will provide training, awareness, testing, technical advisement, and emergency response capability. The CIPC will initially focus on cyber security, digital forensics, and biological agents during the first year of operation and will expand into a more comprehensive operation during years 2 and 3 which will address all critical infrastructure priorities as identified by PDD-63 and HSPD-7.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Mississippi State University
Reports: Southeast Region Critical Infrastructure Protection Center Initiative (CIPC)
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:47:24 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=58 Dr. Kalyan Perumalla http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=65 Project: REALSIM: Data-Driven Simulation System for Training, Decision Support, and Policy Evaluations
Research Area: Regional Resilience
Description:
A key objective of this project is to develop a prototype modeling and simulation system that has the capability to support emergency response planning, training and policy evaluations. The system will be able to simulate the dynamic movement and tracking of material assets and people based on simulated real-time data feeds. The system will be developed to be scalable from local to state to regional to national needs. The system may also be used as a dynamic information repository to archive information. The system will be developed to provide a flexible range of user interfaces based on open standards to support interoperability with existing and future applications and data systems.
 
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Reports: REALSIM: Data-Driven Simulation System for Training, Decision Support, and Policy Evaluations
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:04:40 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=65 Dr. John Plodinec http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=63 Project: Resilient Forests and Forest Products Industries Summit
Research Area: Regional Resilience
Description:
The forests and forest products industries are important parts of the life of the southeastern US.  The forests make up a majority of the land mass in the region.  Over half of the land in the southeastern US is timberland (and more than that is forested); two-thirds in Georgia and South Carolina.  The forests and forest products industries are mainstays of the economy of the region annually contributing several billion dollars to the economies of each of the southeastern states.  Approximately one in ten workers across the region earn their living through the forests, either directly or indirectly.  The forests play an essential role in maintaining the healthy natural environment that the region enjoys, and so much of its tourism depends on.  Thus, the resiliency of the forests and forest product industries – their ability to quickly recover from disruptive events – is an important component of the resiliency of the south itself.  The purpose of this project is to convene a Summit is to develop and implement an Action Plan for the forests and forest industries.  Throughout the presentations and breakout sessions, the Summit will focus on two key questions: 1) What should be done (e.g., preventive measures, immediate responses, and long-term recovery actions) to help forest owners and the forest products industries recover from disruptive events? and 2) How can forest owners and the forest products industries aid in the overall recovery of areas affected by a disruptive event?   Participants will represent the full range of interests – the forest owners; the forest products industries; federal, state and local governments; interested non-governmental organizations; the environment; and other interested groups.  At the conclusion of the Summit, the Steering Committee will finalize the Action Plan based on comments received and the results of the Summit itself. A follow-on Summit is planned for 2010 to evaluate implementation progress.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: Savannah River National Laboratory
Reports: Resilient Forests and Forest Products Industries Summit
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:03:10 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=63 Dr. Robert Holt http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=59 Project: Mississippi Groundwater, Surface Water, and Dam Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment
Research Area: Infrastructure Protection
Description:
Mississippi groundwater and surface water (GW/SW) resources, including shallow aquifers, streams, dams, and reservoirs, represent “key resources” and “key assets” as defined by the Interim National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) of February 2005. The project involves three interrelated tasks to 1) inventory Mississippi GW/SW resources and dams in a GIS spatial database which can be used for vulnerability assessment and to parameterize numerical GW/SW models for additional risk assessment and modeling and 2) assess the vulnerability of these resources to various threats, and 3) provide training to state agency end users of the GIS database and vulnerability assessment tools. The GIS databases and vulnerability assessments produced in this effort will be developed in coordination with and provided to sector specific agencies, including the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Office of Homeland Security, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (including the Dam Safety Division). Database and model training will be provided to end users of these products.
Publications: See related reports, articles, etc.
Status: Completed
Partner: University of Mississippi
Reports: Mississippi Groundwater, Surface Water, and Dam Inventory and Vulnerability Assessment
]]> Secondary uid Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:48:04 GMT http://www.serri.org/research/Lists/Research/DispForm.aspx?ID=59