Getting Serious About Games - Using Video Game-based Learning to Enhance Nuclear Terrorism Preparedness

This thesis proposes the development of a video game platform to increase the publics knowledge of required protective actions in the event of a nuclear terrorism attack. Current scientific analyses have identified elementary steps the public should take to increase the likelihood of survival in the event of a nuclear terrorism incident; however, a knowledge gap currently exists with regard to the publics understanding of these required actions. Unfortunately, todays preparedness initiatives do not have the efficacy required to impact significant improvements in this area. Video games, more specifically a sub-genre of games known as serious games, are uniquely postured to address this knowledge gap. Not only do video games provide a motivating, enriching and engaging educational medium, but also they are unique in that they address the emerging educational needs of todays games generation, which desires more interactive educational environments since they have been immersed in technology for the majority of their lives. As such, leveraging this technology can help close the current knowledge gap and increase the nations resilience to nuclear terrorism.http://archive.org/details/gettingseriousab109456803Branch Chief for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-explosiveApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Development of Population Protective Procedures for a Radiological Event

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the execution of emergency preparedness procedures of the west central Ohio region during a radiological event. Preparedness plans were generated by the Dayton Metropolitan Medical Response System and Public Health – Dayton and Montgomery County, which would later be disseminated to eight counties in west central Ohio. Methods: Two live scenarios, a region-wide functional exercise and a Medical Reserve Corps training exercise, were used to test different procedures and protocols for a radiological event relevant to various first response agencies (public health, law enforcement, emergency medical systems, hospitals, etc.). Exercise evaluation guidelines were used as metrics to determine exercise effectiveness for public health, emergency management agencies, and hospitals. Results: Establishment of partnerships and resources among first responders was established and recognized as major strengths. Areas for improvement from each exercise includes providing assistance and emergency information to populations with special needs and updating of guideline materials. Establishment of a community reception center response was also recognized for population monitoring purposes. Conclusions: Overall, both exercise opportunities yielded strengths and areas for improvement to better prepare for a radiological event. Further review of other local, state, and federal best-practice guidelines will improve overall preparedness planning for future scenarios. Improving communication, knowledge of resources and establishing connections among sister agencies and other first response agencies will be needed in the future to ensure a meaningful understanding of the regional radiological response preparedness plan

Understanding the Humanitarian Consequences and Risks of Nuclear Weapons : New findings from recent scholarship

Publisher PD

Dynamic Modeling of the Economic Impacts of a Terrorist Attack Using a Radiological Dispersion Device

The purpose of this research is to model the dynamic economic influences associated with an attack using a radiological dispersion device (RDD). Specifically, this thesis seeks to identify the variables associated with the total economic impact to the local community where the attack occurs and gain better insights into how local, state and federal entities can employ various policy decisions to bring the system under control within the first year of recovery. Of primary interest to the research is the problematic behavior of exponential economic impact and how the final accumulation of fiscal cost can be reduced. Using a system dynamics research method and the dynamic modeling software STELLA©, considerations such as controlling the media’s influence on public fear, consumer confidence, community resilience, and community recovery are incorporated with fiscal impact stocks such as business losses, tax revenue losses, and response costs. Once combined, the model uses historical examples of responses from the September 11 attacks, the Three Mile Island and Goiania, Brazil incidents, natural disasters, and recommendations from the latest Environmental Protection Agency Protective Action Guidance for response to radiological incidents to examine the effect on the impacted community’s recovery and total fiscal impact

Army Officer Corps Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Foundation Gaps Place Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Operations at Risk – Part 1

This is the first of three articles from the authors describing the risk to Joint Operations incurred by an Army that is vulnerable to the STEM challenges faced in a great power competition involving CWMD operations. In this article, we describe the problem. In articles two and three of the series, we will elaborate on the problem utilizing the Joint Publication 3-0 as our guide and recommend solutions to address this gap

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationInjury from explosive blast is a growing public health threat worldwide with complex mechanisms and limited treatment and prevention pathways. Blast-related traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a multimodal injury event in which cerebral blood vessels play a central role in both the mechanical and physiological response to blast loading. This dissertation seeks to define the nature of vessel injury from primary blast loading by measuring injury thresholds for vasculature in bTBI by assessing blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and disruption, examining which types of vessels are affected, and mapping the distribution of injury in the brain. To assess the consequences of vascular injury, we measured inflammatory changes in glial cell activity with immunohistological techniques, and evaluated changes in behavior in a rodent model of bTBI. The importance of overpressure duration and impulse are examined by performing matched assays with two distinct blast tube devices capable of producing a wide range of blast wave characteristics. Exploration in measuring changes in cerebral blood flow, blood oxygen levels, and cerebral hemorrhage is described. Our primary findings include the presence of focal deposits of IgG in the parenchymal brain tissue indicating an elevated permeability of the blood-brain barrier, a heterogeneous distribution of these lesions among various brain structures, changes in astrocyte glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression at lesion locations, and decrease in nociception and pedal withdrawal reflex following primary blast exposure. Changes in macrophage and neural cell populations were observed using markers for IBA1, CD68, and NeuN. Injury levels between devices were broadly similar; however, some differences in both histology and behavior were seen following high-impulse blast testing. Blast injury research remains an important topic with many unanswered questions, and further effort will provide help to those afflicted and preventative protection for those at risk

Modelling human network behaviour using simulation and optimization tools: the need for hybridization

The inclusion of stakeholder behaviour in Operations Research / Industrial Engineering (OR/IE) models has gained much attention in recent years. Behavioural and cognitive traits of people and groups have been integrated in simulation models (mainly through agent-based approaches) as well as in optimization algorithms. However, especially the influence of relations between different actors in human networks is a broad and interdisciplinary topic that has not yet been fully investigated. This paper analyses, from an OR/IE point of view, the existing literature on behaviour-related factors in human networks. This review covers different application fields, including: supply chain management, public policies in emergency situations, and Internet-based human networks. The review reveals that the methodological approach of choice (either simulation or optimization) is highly dependent on the application area. However, an integrated approach combining simulation and optimization is rarely used. Thus, the paper proposes the hybridization of simulation with optimization as one of the best strategies to incorporate human behaviour in human networks and the resulting uncertainty, randomness, and dynamism in related OR/IE models.Peer Reviewe

The mitigation of primary blast injury

While effective against penetrating threats, ballistic armour may not mitigate primary blast injuries inflicted by the pressure wave. It remains poorly understood whether such armour improves blast clinical outcome for the wearer. The aim of this work was to deepen understanding of the nature of modern primary blast injuries, potential materials appropriate for personal blast protection and the influence of hard ballistic plates on expected survivability. The modern prevalence and severity of blast in the civilian environment was investigated by carrying out a meta-analysis of injured populations. The occurrence of primary blast injuries strongly depends on the ventilation of the attack environment. As the rate of pulmonary injury for Improvised Explosive Device attacks is approximately 9%, it is apparent that the blast attenuating capability of thoracic armour is of importance. The blast mitigation performance of polyurethane-based foams, hydrogels and a hard ballistic plate were assessed using a shock tube. The foams and hydrogels were manufactured and mechanically characterised across strain rates from 0.01–1600/s covering regimes relevant to both load-bearing and blast loading scenarios. While reticulated polyurethane foam enhanced the peak blast pressure, the hydrogels dissipated blast energy through brittle fracture. A ballistic gelatine human thorax surrogate was used to evaluate the clinical significance of the mitigation, and the blast loading of the gelatine computationally modelled. The hydrogels yielded a 90% reduction of peak pressure compared to the unarmoured case, comparable to values reported for water-based mitigation systems. By comparison, the addition of a ballistic plate with zero air gap increased lethality from values up to 50% in the unarmoured case to values up to 99%. Under the highest amplitude and duration blast loading, this corresponded to an increase of the delivered peak pressure and impulse to the surrogate of 52% and 27%, respectively, compared to the unarmoured case. Introduction of an air gap between the surrogate and armour further increased the lethality risk to near 99% over the full range of loading conditions due to blunt impact of the plate. However, mitigation could be achieved by combining the ballistic plate with a reticulated foam backing layer greater than a critical thickness.Open Acces

Compilation of thesis abstracts, December 2006

NPS Class of December 2006This quarter’s Compilation of Abstracts summarizes cutting-edge, security-related research conducted by NPS students and presented as theses, dissertations, and capstone reports. Each expands knowledge in its field.http://archive.org/details/compilationofsis109452750

Guideline - Building Perimeter Protection: Design Recommendations for Enhanced Security against Terrorist Attacks

The purpose of the current document is to provide guidance to security and law enforcement officials, building/site owners, venue organizers, state organizations, engineers and other stakeholders that are in charge of securing facilities and critical infrastructures against the growing international terrorist threat. The focus of the report narrows down into recommendations for a robust and usable approach for the physical protection of infrastructures against this borderless phenomenon. It addresses shortcomings encountered in the design of such security solutions and aims at producing a simple, self-contained practical guide to enable the selections and installation of elements that are able to stop and/or deter potential terrorist attacks. A detailed analytical procedure is illustrated for identifying the weaknesses of potential terrorist targets and assess the relevant risk for different terrorist tactics. Advice is provided for the introduction of protection measures against both external and internal explosions and design methodologies are presented for minimizing the likelihood for the development of a progressive collapse mechanism. Moreover, specialized perimeter physical protection measures are proposed that may successfully restrict unauthorized vehicle and intruder access, supplemented by the employment of modern digital technologies, such as video surveillance, smart sensors and video analytics. The novel and emerging threat landscape is also addressed, such as the malicious use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, requiring new response strategies that call for the adoption of state-of-the-art counter technologies.JRC.E.4-Safety and Security of Building