security

Activity 7
Section 3: Ground Transportation Security
Ground transportation includes rail, trucking, and pipeline systems within the United States. In this section, you will have the opportunity to consider the security of ground transportation assets within the United States. Ultimately everything moves on the ground, so the security of the ground transportation network is essential to the physical and economic well-being of the United States.



One of the issues is the changing dynamics of threats against ground transportation. According to the Homeland Security News Wire of April 13, 2012,

…from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s, terrorist groups used chemicals to attack surface transportation; from the mid-1990s on, multiple bombs became the new prototype for terrorist attacks (http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/dr20120413-new-insights-into-terrorist-threats-to-ground-transportation).

 
This indicates that viable solutions today may not be appropriate in the future. Transportation security specialists much be prepared for tactical threat changes by terrorists.



Required Reading:
Please refer to each Activity for required readings within Activity Resources.

Assignment 7   Truck and Pipeline Security
Trucks and pipelines follow prescribed pathways in a network of nodes established to facilitate the transfer of cargo. In this sense, these two modes are similar. However, trucks will transport dry and liquid cargo while pipelines only transmit liquid resources generally over long distances. Trucks move over short and long distances depending on assigned routes. Therefore, there are similarities and differences in the security needs of both types of transportation assets.

Activity Resources

Childress, V. W. (2012).
Sperling, D., & Nichols, M. (2012).
Yung-Hsiang Cheng. (2010).
Main Task Part 1 (10 points): Compare the Security Requirements of Ground Networks
Road and pipeline resources are critical elements of the ground transportation network within the United States. Assume that you are Department of Homeland Security staff officer tasked with the need to summarize critical features of the ground transportation network for your superior and co-workers. Compare and contrast the security requirements of rail, road, and pipeline transportation networks. Provide your analysis in a research paper in which you address:

Route security
Network node security
Cargo security
Support your paper with at least 5 scholarly or professional resources. In addition to these specified resources, other appropriate scholarly resources, including older articles, may be included.

Length: 5-7 pages not including title and reference pages

Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts that are presented in the course and provide new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University's Academic Integrity Policy.

Submit your document in the Course Work area below the Activity screen.

Main Task Part 2 (5 points): Discuss Future Expectations
In Week 1, you initiated a discussion of your concepts, ideas, and thoughts on transportation security. The goal of this discussion is for you to summarize your thoughts on the key points of transportation security moving forward for future applications. Being able to successfully discuss the possible characteristics of transportation security that may appear in the future will assist Homeland Security professionals in preparing for that future and not falling victim to a surprise. This discussion will be open-ended to afford you the opportunity to interact with your course instructor and possibly other students during the course.

Please note that your content post is due by 11:59:59 on Wednesday of this week. Once this is complete please post a response post by 11:59:59 on Sunday, the due date of this week’s assignment.

Length: Content post 150-200 words; response post 75-100 words.

Both your content post and your response post should reflect a collegial attitude, be free of grammar and spelling errors, and include criteria mentioned above.

Post the response into the Activity Discussion Forum area below the Activity screen.

Learning Outcome: 7
Assignment Outcomes
Compare and contrast the security requirements of rail, road, and pipeline transportation networks

Activity Discussion Forum