Geographic Information Systems and Risk Assessment

This report presents projects developed by the Unit IPSC/SERAC regarding the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for supporting the study of critical infrastructures and the security/defence industry. It also discusses how risk assessment can benefit from geographical representations. Risk assessments have an important spatial component and GIS can be central to risk identification, quantification, and evaluation. Furthermore it presents a wide-ranging description of different GIS techniques and web-technologies, and its potential application to supporting the European Program for Critical Infrastructure Protection, and the mapping of the European Defence industry.JRC.G.6-Sensors, radar technologies and cybersecurit

Sexual offender risk assessment strategies: is there a convergence of opinion yet?

While there is no convergence of opinion in the academic literature, many clinicians have already adopted a convergent approach to risk assessment, whether through deliberate adoption of complementary instruments or through informal clinical modification of risk assessment instrument findings. The present paper suggests that a convergent approach to risk assessment may be both the most responsible and most appropriate approach at this time, given the lack of research to substantiate a strong superiority of one type of instrument (actuarial risk tests versus structured clinical guidelines) over the other as well as the complementary nature of these types of tests in terms of how risk is conceptualized and analyzed. The research in a convergent approach is meager and this issue deserves some attention to ensure that all clinicians doing risk assessments of sexual offenders are providing the most information possible to decision makers to protect the rights, safety, and security of our clients (the correctional and justice systems, the public, and the offenders)

An Aggregated Information Technology Checklist for Operational Risk Management

This study addresses the issue of the Information Technology (IT) Governance frameworks and standards that respond to different levels of operational risks, especially those caused by the information systems and technology infrastructure. A requirement analysis regarding Basel II is conducted, a gap analysis between the Information Control Models (ICMs) is performed, and the aggregated IT checklist for Operational Risk Management (ORM) is proposed by mapping the control objectives in ICMs to the operational risk categories described in Basel II as loss event types. The validity and reliability of the study is based on the focus group assessment of the mappingsBasel II, Operational Risk Management, Information Control Model, Information Technology Governance.

Knowledge Systems and Risk Management: Towards a Risk and Threat Assessment Framework

Knowledge is the most important asset that a company can have. Thus, it is imperative that this asset is safeguarded just like generic information assets. However, knowledge management (KM) and knowledge systems are different than traditional information systems with different threats and different operational requirements. Risk assessment is the corner stone to security. This paper discusses risk assessment. frameworks and builds on a KM/knowledge system specific risk assessment framework with a step-by-step guideline for managers as well as a generic KM/knowledge system specific threat assessment

IMPROVEMENT OF PROJECT RISK ASSESSMENT METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF AUTOMATED INFORMATION COMPONENTS OF NON-COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONAL AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS

The results of a study using the methodological apparatus of the theory of fuzzy logic and automation tools for analyzing input data for risk assessment of projects for the implementation of automated information components of organizational and technical systems are presented. Based on the model of logistics projects for motor transport units, the method for assessing the risks of projects implementing automated information components of non-commercial organizational and technical systems has been improved. To do this, let’s analyze the peculiarities of implementing ERP projects as commercial ones and investigate the specifics of the activities of state institutions, when successful tasks, and not economic indicators, lay the foundation for the assessment. It is considered that it is possible to formulate a system of risk assessment indicators for reducing the effectiveness of projects for implementing automated information systems in non-commercial organizational and technical systems. A meaningful interpretation of the fuzzy approach is carried out regarding the formalization of the risk assessment process for projects of automated information systems of public institutions. A tree of fuzzy inference is constructed based on the results of a study of the description of indicators and expert assessments on the risk assessment of the implementation of the project of such an automated information system. The improved method differs from the known ones by the use of hierarchical fuzzy inference, which makes it possible to quantify, reduce the time to evaluate project risks and improve the quality of decisions. An increase in the number of input variables leads to an increase in complexity (an increase in the number of rules) for constructing a fuzzy inference system. The construction of a hierarchical system of fuzzy inference and knowledge bases can reduce complexity (the number of rules). The development of a software module based on the algorithm of the method as part of corporate automated information systems of non-commercial organizational and technical systems will reduce the time for risk assessment of projects for the implementation of automated information systems

Ground Risk Assessment Service Provider (GRASP) Development Effort as a Supplemental Data Service Provider (SDSP) for Urban Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Operations

NASAs Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Traffic Management (UTM) project aims to enable the integration of new aviation paradigms such as Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) while providing the necessary infrastructure for future concepts such as On-Demand Mobility (ODM) and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). In order to do so, the UTM project has developed an architecture to allow communication among UAS operators, UAS Service Suppliers (USS), Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP), and the public. As part of this framework, the Supplemental Data Service Providers (SDSP) are envisioned as model and/or data based services that disseminate essential or enhanced information to ensure safe operations within low-altitude airspace. These services include terrain and obstacle data, specialized weather data, surveillance, constraint information, risk monitoring, etc. This paper highlights the development efforts of a non-participant casualty risk assessment SDSP called Ground Risk Assessment Service Provider (GRASP) which assists operators with preflight planning. GRASP is based on the previously introduced UTM Risk Assessment Framework (URAF) and allows UAS operators to simulate and visualize potential non-participant casualty risks associated with their proposed flight. The risk assessment capability also allows operators to revise their flight plans if the casualty risks are determined to be above acceptable thresholds. GRASP is configured to account for future improvements including servicing airborne aircraft as part of NASAs System-Wide Safety (SWS) project

"Last-Mile" preparation for a potential disaster

Extreme natural events, like e.g. tsunamis or earthquakes, regularly lead to catastrophes with dramatic consequences. In recent years natural disasters caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, destruction of infrastructure, disruption of economic activity and loss of billions of dollars worth of property and thus revealed considerable deficits hindering their effective management: Needs for stakeholders, decision-makers as well as for persons concerned include systematic risk identification and evaluation, a way to assess countermeasures, awareness raising and decision support systems to be employed before, during and after crisis situations. The overall goal of this study focuses on interdisciplinary integration of various scientific disciplines to contribute to a tsunami early warning information system. In comparison to most studies our focus is on high-end geometric and thematic analysis to meet the requirements of small-scale, heterogeneous and complex coastal urban systems. Data, methods and results from engineering, remote sensing and social sciences are interlinked and provide comprehensive information for disaster risk assessment, management and reduction. In detail, we combine inundation modeling, urban morphology analysis, population assessment, socio-economic analysis of the population and evacuation modeling. The interdisciplinary results eventually lead to recommendations for mitigation strategies in the fields of spatial planning or coping capacity