RAND research addresses the challenges of developing, managing, and protecting energy, transportation, water, communications, and other critical infrastructure throughout the world.
REPORT
Shortly after the inauguration of President Barack Obama, RAND hosted a panel discussion with three former U.S. secretaries of transportation. These conference proceedings summarize their comments on which issues should be among the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) top priorities, DOT funding and appropriation, earmarking and transparency in the transportation funding process, and the federal role in transportation policy.
REPORT
This training manual — which consists of nine lecture and seminar sessions that can be used together or alone, in full or in part — is intended for use by the U.S. Geographic Combat Commands in training personnel assigned to them for participation in PSI activities. Its purpose is to help the Commands deal with normal issues arising from staff turnover and with any insufficiencies in the Commands' institutional memory.
NEWS RELEASE
The United States should forge a strategic partnership with Mexico that emphasizes reform and long-term institution building as a way to battle the ongoing drug war and other security challenges that face Mexico.
REPORT
The United States should forge a strategic partnership with Mexico that emphasizes reform and long-term institution building as a way to battle the ongoing drug war and other security challenges that face Mexico.
COMMENTARY
The recent French and American rescues of hostages held by pirates off the coast of Somalia were necessary and proper. No one believes these actions will end piracy. But unless we impose risks on the pirates—which means taking some risks ourselves—piracy will certainly flourish, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
MULTIMEDIA
This video overview presents key aspects of The Arc, an exploration of options for strengthening the physical infrastructure for a new Palestinian state.
REPORT
Titanium is a significant element in the construction of aircraft. However, in recent years a major spike in titanium prices is expected to significantly influence the acquisition costs of future aircraft. This monograph examines the titanium industrial base, production technology, and the factors underlying its market price fluctuations, with a focus on the role of supply-side drivers.
REPORT
Devising policies to mitigate greenhouse gases responsible for climate change is one of the great challenges facing the U.S. Options that are effective and politically feasible must not just be cost-effective but also consider the realities of passing major federal legislation with widespread impacts on U.S. producers and consumers.
MULTIMEDIA
RAND Maritime Piracy Expert Peter Chalk, in a Fox Business interview, offers insights on whether the successful rescue of captain Richard Phillips will be a deterrent for pirates.
COMMENTARY
Mississippi can work to find smart ways to address the chronic social and economic problems that have plagued the state for decades — now, not in some far-flung future, writes Melissa Flournoy.
COMMENTARY
As recent events off the Horn of Africa have demonstrated, armed violence at sea is emerging as a growing threat.... Piracy threatens the freedom of the seas, increases the cost of international business, endangers political security through corruption, and could trigger a major environmental disaster, write Peter Chalk and Laurence Smallman.
COMMENTARY
Celestial real estate is increasingly popular. All in all more than 900 satellites, along with tens of thousands of bits of man-made space detritus, jockey for elbow room overhead. The result: a growing threat our atmosphere will soon become so crowded with floating junk as to become almost unusable, write Caroline Reilly and Peter D. Zimmerman.
REPORT
In testimony presented before the California Little Hoover Commission, James Dobbins suggests financing alternatives to replace declining fuel taxes and non-user fees in order to promote efficient transportation infrastructure development.
NEWS RELEASE
A federal program designed to help metropolitan public health agencies prepare to deliver essential medicines to the public after a large-scale bioterror attack or natural disease outbreak has succeeded in improving the level of readiness.
REPORT
Over the next 20 years, the further aging of already-old aircraft will introduce challenges and issues for aircraft operators. The technical challenges relate to structures, propulsion, and systems. The institutional challenges include limitations on independent verification of fleet status and future condition and on information needed for engineering analyses including risk assessment, and an overall scarcity of resources.
REPORT
Meeting mandated standards for managing individual travelers' entry and exit at U.S. borders has been a longstanding difficulty for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. border protection apparatus. This paper examines related policies and procedures critical to their success.
REPORT
Looking across U.S. Air Force mission designs (systems), the author estimates general, historical relationships between expenditure levels and flying hours, noting that current Air Force budgeting approaches likely overestimate funding needs when flying hours are increasing and underestimate needs when flying hours are decreasing.
REPORT
In June 2008, RAND convened three workshops for private and public sector representatives to discuss their competing views on climate change mitigation. The conference allowed them to find commonality on such issues as technological innovation; potential legislative and regulatory solutions; international cooperation; and public engagement.
RESEARCH BRIEF
In an effort to share different perspectives on potential climate policy solutions, RAND convened three workshops — one each on climate change policy, energy, and transportation — in which stakeholders addressed climate policy ideas and challenges.
NEWS RELEASE
A new study from the RAND Corporation examines how China's Tianjin Binhai New Area (TBNA) and Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) can best spur regional development and economic growth by focusing on emerging high-technology applications.
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