The need for improved security has prompted an in-depth review
of technologies designed to make safe mass passenger surface
transport and infrastructure. GHD was engaged by the Australian
Government’s Department of Transport and Regional Services to
conduct a comprehensive review and prepare a report on current and
emerging security technologies that could have application in mass
passenger surface transport.
The first stage of the review involved
detailed discussions with transport owners, transport operators,
regulators and Governments to ascertain their concerns.
This was followed by visits to the United States, United
Kingdom and France to identify the technologies being trialed and
used in these countries.
"We examined the limitations of the
technologies and investigated the community response to some of the
screening technologies. We also qualitatively assessed
effectiveness, affordability and impact on passenger flow-through
in terminals," reports GHD’s Service Line Leader, Security
Consulting, Paul Murphy.
GHD also met with a number of authorities and
research organizations, including the US Department of Homeland
Security, UK Department of Transport Security, GE Global Research
Centre and the US Department of Defence Technical Support Working
Group.
In the final stage of the project, GHD
evaluated each of the technologies and prepared a report that
included a summary of the technologies, an overview of key economic
factors, the likely impact on operators, the potential for risk
reduction and a prioritised list of the technologies.
The report was presented to the Transport
Security Working Group earlier this year. Key observations were
also presented to the Maritime Industry Security Consultative Forum
and Aviation Security Research and Development Group in July
2007.