Archive of content that is from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
Unraveling the Net
Unraveling the Net snapshots article. National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism(START), a DHS Center of Excellence based at the University of Maryland, uses state-of-the-art theories, methods, and data from the social and behavioral sciences in an attempt to understand terrorism and its roots. START asks: What reasoning can be used to deprive violent extremists of recruits? How can communities undermine sympathy for terrorists and better anticipate terrorist actions? And what can be done to improve the public’s resilience to attacks?
Looks Can Be Deceiving
New homeland security research is showing how terrorist groups around the world develop strategic relationships with charity and humanitarian organizations in the very communities where they operate. In fact, these groups often fund or provide direct services such as medical care, wastewater treatment, and garbage collection, only to help build their legitimacy and recruit members for more acts of violence.
Deception Detection
The goal of Project Hostile Intent is a prototype technology that can improve the abilities of today’s screening methods—without impeding the flow of travel.
Radical Research
Generally, it was blissfully quiet in the row houses on Forest Road in London’s gritty East End. In the cramped quarters of one apartment, however, even those living next door knew nothing of the terror being concocted within. With fanatical determination, the men living there were devising a plan to mix a sports drink with a gel to make an explosive that could be detonated using an MP3 player or cell phone. They were hell-bent on bringing a second September 11th aboard a dozen aircraft bound for different cities in the United States. Two wrote out martyrdom notes.
Security from Chaos
A DHS-sponsored research project out of the University of Southern California (USC) helped to beef up security at LAX airport and to predict and minimize risk.
Eye in the Sky
MANPADS (man-portable air defense systems)—a real concern for commercial airlines; a challenge for homeland security agencies searching for a counter-strategy.
Better Than New Tricks
DHS S&T is enhancing the invaluable skills of trained dogs by partnering them with technology led by the Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL).
Booming Research
With funding from the Science & Technology Directorate (S&T), Darrell Taulbee putters with the stuff to make sure that an Oklahoma City bombing never happens again.
Wireless Stakeout
AZLink lets officers find, read, and share mug shots, incident reports, and other law enforcement data in the field and from their smartphones.
See You in Cyberspace
If you’re an urban planner, you may learn how a proposed road could affect gridlock by “building” a city in Sim City. If you’re an environmental engineer, you might explore “eco what-ifs” in Sim World. But if you’re a DHS emergency-response planner... you’re stuck in Real World 101.