Remote Sensing and Transportation Security

Transportation lifelines are a vital element in maintaining U.S. security from terrorist attack. They are also vulnerable to attack and disruption. As officials have discovered since September 11, 2001, protecting and preserving the extensive U.S. transportation networks against terrorist attacks remains a daunting task. Fortunately, today’s powerful geospatial tools, especially remote sensing, GPS, and GIS, can assist in this crucial effort. The National Consortium on Safety, Hazards, and Disaster Assessment (NCRST-H) within the National Consortia For Remote Sensing in Transportation is uniquely positioned to assist security officials in applying these tools to protecting critical infrastructure. Many of the methodologies and technologies that have been identified or developed by this consortium over the past two years of research are ideal for responding to the challenge of improving the safety and security of transportation lifelines. In order to understand the full scope of the challenge and to chart an appropriately focused response, the consortium convened a workshop focused on exploring how and where remote sensing and related geospatial technologies can assist in achieving a high level of U.S. transportation security. This paper reports on the findings and recommendations of this workshop. In particular, it explores the benefits and limitations of current remote sensing capabilities and data policies for addressing transportation security needs.