The Reality Of Homeland Security

June 29, 2006
Homeland security and the enabling technologies to make it happen are still far apart. The U.S. government has invested billions of dollars for homeland-security needs at airports, bus and train stations, stadiums and arenas, shopping malls, and many othe

Homeland security and the enabling technologies to make it happen are still far apart. The U.S. government has invested billions of dollars for homeland-security needs at airports, bus and train stations, stadiums and arenas, shopping malls, and many other places where large groups of people congregate. Yet "total" security remains an elusive goal.

Ironically, the technology to make large improvements in homeland security either exists or is under investigation, but its widescale implementation is far from certain. That's because bureaucratic, economic, and political roadblocks stand in the way. Also, there's a lack of technical infrastructure and experienced technologists to operate these systems and interpret their data.

According to INPUT, a company that helps other companies develop federal, state, and local government business and public-sector organizations achieve their objectives, the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) enacted about six years ago has been mostly ineffective. That's because it's "largely a paperwork drill among departments and agencies that consumes an inordinate amount of resources."

Last year, the U.S. government X-rayed or physically examined only about 5% of the 11 million containers that entered U.S. ports. Fewer than 40% were checked with portable radiation detectors. Part of the problem is the slow pace of equipment deployment. Another part is getting enough government funding to cover the cost of equipment purchases and installation. Nonetheless, the technology is there to do a better job.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $5.5 billion plan for port security alone. The six-year plan includes a requirement for nearly all shipping containers to be screened for nuclear and biological materials by next year. The plan contains an annual $400 million yearly grant program to pay for security improvements at U.S. ports. But it remains to be seen how quickly and widely advanced technology can be deployed effectively for homeland security, given the government's track record.

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.

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