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2 December 2004

1. Editorial
2. Brief news from Engineers Australia
3. List of resources
4. Technical note on selected features of a truck bomb
5. TISN's Built Environment Expert Advisory Group
6. Local government counter-terrorism risk management kit released
7. Work on Emergency Planning & Management for High-Density Communities being converted into Standards Australia manual
8. First impact test of an electro-mechanical bollard
9. Monash University PhD Opportunities

1 Editorial
Planning is well underway for the 3rd national Engineering-Security Research Forum for late February 2005. Last year it attracted over 150 people with 40 presentations from industry and academics on their research and capabilities.

It is the year's main forum which brings together those who are interested in knowing who is doing what, and those wishing to meet others who may be interested in applying their research and capabilities.

The one day event is being held in Canberra this year and the information on it will be going out shortly.

2 Brief news from Engineers Australia

1. Bruce Howard, Security Commissioner, Engineers Australia, met with representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to explore the concept of a regional engineering-security information sharing network, and to obtain a briefing on the Australian embassy bombing in Jakarta. Download background on the network proposal.
2. Athol Yates, editor of this newsletter, presented an update on critical infrastructure developments at the Energy Supply Association conference in Novemember, and at the annual conference of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers in October.

3 List of resources
Engineers Australia has started compiling an online list of guidelines and resources that would be of use of those considering security and risk issues in the Australian built environment. Click for list.

4 Technical note on selected features of a truck bomb
Analytical Service Company of Sydney has produced a technical note on selected features of a truck bomb. The note examines the consequences of a slab shaped explosive and the suspension of the explosive a short distance above a service. Download Technical Note 41

Information:
Dr Gregory
Szuladzinski Analytical Service
5 Warwick St. Killara,
Sydney 2071,.
Tel: 02 9418-1842. Fax: 02 9418-1842.
ggg@bigpond.net.au

5 TISN's Built Environment Expert Advisory Group

Two meetings of the Built Environment Expert Advisory Group (BEEAG) have been held recently. Bruce Howard, Security Commissioner, is the chair of the BEEAG.

The BEEAG is able to examine critical infrastructure protection (CIP) issues that relate to built environment factors, including:

• building design;
• construction and maintenance of built infrastructure;
• environmental issues;
• council planning issues;
• federal and state/territory regulatory issues;
• zoning;
• professional competencies;
• commercial planning, building and fire codes;
• built environment challenges;
• identification of standards gaps;
• occupational health and safety and duty of care; and
• issues relating to leased and multi-tenanted premises.

The BE EAG will provide expert advice on issues identified by the sectoral Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Groups (IAAGs) relating to security and the built environment. The BE EAG will also advise the CIAC on built environment issues. It is envisaged that most of the Group's work will be performed in close collaboration with one or more of the IAAGs.

6 Local government counter-terrorism risk management kit released
A kit has been released which enables Queensland's local governments to address terrorism risks in their areas of responsibility.

The kit aims to develop local governments' capacity to undertake counter-terrorism and infrastructure security risk management assessments and integrate counter-terrorism considerations into existing disaster management arrangements.

The kit is made up of four sections-security environment, workbook, worksheets and training material.

The first section outlines the security situation in Australia. It helps users of the kit understand potential terrorism threats and incidents.

The process the kit provides is based on the risk management process in Australian Standard and New Zealand Standard 4360 (AS/NZS 4360:1999). The kit focuses at a strategic overview level and applies the judgments and experience of users with broad local knowledge. Users are not expected to have counter-terrorism expertise to complete the steps in this kit.

The workbook provides the primary information of the kit and consists of three phases. The first phase guides the development of an agreed community, disaster and risk context for each local government. Much of the detail will already be available in many local governments-for example, as information developed as a result of disaster management planning guidelines under the Queensland Disaster Management Act 2003.

The second phase of the workbook focuses on identifying potential security targets within the local government area and helps assess a local authority's preparedness to manage community consequences of a security related incident. This phase also evaluates possible treatment options for the most likely incidents.

The third phase of the workbook compares the community's security requirements with existing disaster management arrangements. This phase covers the development of action plans to integrate security and disaster management arrangements and closes any gaps in existing plans. This phase also includes the establishment of arrangements to monitor, review and update security and disaster management plans.

Worksheets are provided to capture the information generated from the three phases of the workbook.

Finally, training material is provided as a stand-alone section of the kit to support the introduction of local government officers to the kit and its application. This material includes notes for facilitators and supporting visual aids.

The kit was produced as a joint project between the Queensland Government and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ).

The kit is available to relevant organisations from the LGAQ, Tel 07 3000 2245, www.lgaq.asn.au

The consultants for the project were Tony Ralph, Maurie Meecham and Ian Ferguson from the Latihan Group, tel 07 3630 2475, latihangroup@bigpond.com

7 Work on Emergency Planning & Management for High-Density Communities being converted into Standards Australia manual
Work undertaken with an Emergency Management Australia (EMA)-funded research grant is being converted into a Standards Australia manual aimed at body corporates and managers of other high-density communities.

The EMA work was undertaken by Dr Julie Shaw, and focused on the difference in emergency planning and management between private residents and people in workplaces. There are two main differences and they are in communications & enforcement.

Below is a summary of the report to EMA.

Whether their fears are actual or potential, Australian residents in high-rise & multi-unit dwellings are increasingly concerned about hazards such as fire, gas leaks, explosion, water damage or possibly, terrorist attacks. The private housing sector is less well-served in this regard than public housing because participation of private owners in community education & training (e.g. for evacuation) is up to individuals.

All residents of multi-unit dwellings will be better prepared & reassured if they have:

• an emergency strategy & a plan
• relevant, useful, easily comprehensible information available to them
• a structure for communications
• facilitation by a responsible body (e.g. the Body Corporate)
• concern for an ethical framework e.g. privacy & choice, which are more of an issue in a residential than an employment environment
• coverage for people of non-English speaking background
• arrangements for infants, young children, older residents, disabled residents, &
• a recognised volunteer component.

It is generally well-known in the community that in the Emergency sector, elaborate command-style response exercises are being conducted. Urban Search & Rescue systems have been designed state-by-state. Joint service coordination exercises are conducted to manage communications between authorities & hopefully, the roll-out of services & provisions in case of a large-scale, unexpected urban event such as a terrorist attack.

However as yet relatively little research-based information is available about human factors & human behaviour in urban disaster situations. Observational reports from urban disaster settings in overseas countries are relevant, but they do not exactly reflect the conditions of daily work, transportation & home life in Australian cities. Workplace-based models of emergency planning are also relevant, but the Report found that the needs of private residents differ from those of workers & public tenants in two significant aspects, i.e. communications & enforcement.

Based on research undertaken in typical multi-unit buildings & the perceptions & needs of their residents, & also on current models for volunteer & community participation, this Report makes recommendations for infrastructure development, procedures & training in case of emergencies affecting all types of multi-unit & high-rise dwellings.

The response to the report has already been positive. Already, in 2 of the 3 buildings surveyed, measures including resident notice-boards, fire orders & floor plans have been installed & volunteer residents have become involved in safety audits & evacuation planning. The City of Melbourne has also responded to the Report by planning the development of similar measures city-wide.

The Standards Australia manual is expected to be out within a few months.

Information:
Julie Shaw
Safety By Design
julie@danrotman.com
Apt 83, 299 Queen St Melbourne 3000
T/F 03 9670 3167 M 0412 036 474

8 First impact test of an electro-mechanical bollard
LEDA Security Products successfully undertook what is believed to be the world's first crash test of an automatic, electro-mechanical retractable bollard (ERB) at Monash University on 28 October 2004.

The LEDA ERB150C electro-mechanical retractable bollard, tested under the Australian Government standard, passed the 2,500kg vehicle travelling at 42kmh crash test with flying colours. Preliminary test results indicated vertical deflection of the bollard of 8-10% with no bollard separation at ground point. This was an exceptional result, given that the bollard penetrated the vehicle by approximately 700mm.

The crash test, conducted under strict conditions and supervision, was part of the SCEC endorsement process for the Australian designed bollard. Although tested under the Australian Government standard, full consideration was given to US and UK standards.

All post crash analytical results and video of the test are available at www.ledasecurity.com.au. The video of the impact can be seen at http://www.ledaint.com/austnz/products/downloads.htm

In addition to proving its anti-terrorist application, the ERB bollard is designed to rise and lower in 2 -3 seconds. One of the benefits of the ERB bollard is that its positioning is not limited to the proximity of operating equipment and unlike other retractable bollard systems, a series of ERB bollards may be inspected or serviced quickly with less interference to traffic.

The ERB bollard was awarded the ASIAL Best New Product for Physical/Barrier Security at the Security 2004 Exhibition in July, and third prize for Best New Security Product at the Safety and Security Exhibition and Conference in Singapore 12 months ago. The ERB bollard was also considered one of the most exciting new products to emerge in the field of perimeter security at the 2004 ASIS Exhibition in Dallas in September.

Testing of the larger LEDA ERB200C electro-mechanical retractable bollard will be conducted in December 2004. The ERB200C will also be tested at 40kmh but with a 4,000kg vehicle. LEDA Security Products is an Australian owned company committed to developing technology in high security retractable bollards to protect high profile Australian sites. LEDA is rapidly becoming recognised globally as a leader in the design and supply of high security anti-terrorist bollards.

Information: LEDA Security Products Pty Ltd, Ph: (02) 9737 8730

9 Monash University PhD Opportunities
Monash University's Department of Civil Engineering has 2 PhD opportunities related to security. They are:

Thin-Walled Structures Subjected to Impact and Blast Loads: Terrorist attacks have cost Australians much human grief and billions of dollars. Containing the consequences of a blast or impact is crucial to survival as well as to restricting damage to crucial civilian/defence infrastructure. Thin-walled structures are used extensively in such infrastructure. Much is known about their behaviour for traditional and seismic design loads. However, very little is known about their behaviour when subjected to impulse and blast loads. This project will establish the most economical means of designing passive blast protection into thin-walled structures and hence, Australia's critical infrastructure. The main aim of this project is to investigate the fundamental mechanics governing the behaviour of different types of thin-walled structures subjected to loads ranging from medium strain-rates up to severe impulse/blast loading rates.

The candidate will be required to carry out a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation. The knowledge gained will be transferred into design standards and Australia's defence resources. The project has significant potential to develop original ideas and produce internationally important publications. http://civil.eng.monash.edu.au/News/20041122

High Strength Steel Protection Bollards (Industry Partner: LEDA Security Products Pty Ltd) Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and billions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Likewise, the cost of criminal theft in Australia reach comparable orders of magnitude. Passive barrier systems are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes in form of bollards are often used to manufacture such barriers. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The main aims of this project are to:

1. understand and quantify the impact gross deformation behaviour of tubular structures made from very high strength alloy steels in the range of 700 to 1350 MPa,
2. establish the most economical means of designing a cost effective crashworthy bollard, or design variations such as incorporating wire rope or alternative products, that produce a passive high strength resisting barrier to a ramming or errant vehicle.
   

The candidate will be required to carry out a comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation. The knowledge gained will be transferred into design standards and Australia's defence resources. The project has significant potential to develop original ideas and produce internationally important publications. http://civil.eng.monash.edu.au/News/20041122a

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