Aviation Security
GSN looks at efforts by the Transportation Security Administration, better known as TSA, to enhance airport security with the help of metal detectors, security cameras and various biometrics, while paying close attention to the privacy issues that surround each governmental step to improve security.
DHS poses five technical challenges to small businesses
December 12th, 2007
Small business entrepreneurs: Put on your thinking caps.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program run by the science and technology directorate of DHS is looking for creative ways to…
• identify a deceitful terrorist by seeing if the pupils in his eyes are dilating suspiciously;
• detect chemical, biological or explosive threats with miniature sensors that can communicate data via cell phones or wireless personal devices;
• graphically depict complex, long-term terrorist threats and U.S. vulnerabilities in easy-to-understand and visually appealing ways;
• gather samples of explosives from the exterior of a vehicle in order to detect a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED);
• develop a "smart sensor system" that can acquire and process data from all kinds of imaging, environmental, nuclear, chemical or biological sensors quicker and more intelligently than existing systems.
More...
TSA seeks more information about general aviation flights
November 26th, 2007
As it focuses more and more of its attention on flights by privately-owned general aviation aircraft, the Transportation Security Administration has concluded that its needs better "situational awareness" of such flights as they occur within the National Airspace System.
IG skeptical about Alaska Native company’s CBP maintenance contract
November 26th, 2007
Chenega Technology Services Corp. was awarded a sole source small business set-aside contract worth $475 million by Customs and Border Protection to maintain X-ray equipment and metal detectors nationwide because the company is considered an "Alaska Native Corporation," but the award was made inappropriately by CBP and Chenega has not performed enough of the actual work itself.
Homeland security, by gender and race
November 12th, 2007
I saw some interesting statistics the other day from the recently-released "Unisys Security Index," a poll of 1,002 U.S. consumers about their perceptions of national security threats.
Air Force One mockup needs a face-lifting
October 25th, 2007
The U.S. Secret Service teaches its agents to protect the president while he is using Air Force One – or its helicopter counterpart, Marine One -- by training on life-size mockups at its training center in Laurel, MD, but the exterior of those mockups are in urgent need of a face-lifting.
Stopping intruders from entering an airport’s "exit" lane
October 22nd, 2007
In an effort to prevent people from entering secure areas of an airport by penetrating through an "exit" lane -- which can cause huge disruptions, delay flights and cost airlines millions of dollars -- TSA is gathering information about new technologies that might help thwart such human breaches.
Reservation for a party of four at 3:00 PM, compliments of TSA
October 18th, 2007
Troubled by the long lines of passengers that appear
regularly at airport screening checkpoints in the early
morning and late afternoon, the Transportation Security
Administration (TSA) is contemplating a plan to introduce a
Checkpoint Reservation System that would encourage
passengers to arrive at airports during off-peak hours.
Management support for critical info program
October 15th, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security might be looking to replace Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. as the contractor providing program management services in support of its Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) program.
