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Transportation Security

Attacks on a country's transportation infrastructure can have serious and destabilizing impacts that are further complicated by the public availability of information relevant to these targets. Recognizing the potential damage of such attacks, RAND conducts research and provides essential planning and vulnerability assessment tools to public and private organizations from metropolitan transit authorities to airlines and rail companies.

News Release
Costs, Benefits, and Efficiency of Aviation Security Measures
The threat of terrorist attack on American aviation has made the system the focus of intense security efforts, but it is difficult to determine if the benefits outweigh their cost. Efficient security policy—a focus on getting the most security for the least cost—should be the priority in an era of fiscal austerity.
Aug 20, 2012
Commentary
Three Ways to Improve Airport Screening
The TSA's pilot “Pre-check” program that pre-screens travelers who volunteer for it is an overdue advance in security, but it does not address some larger issues surrounding America's airports, writes K. Jack Riley.
Mar 7, 2012
Journal Article
Assessing the Security Benefits of a Trusted Traveler Program in the Presence of Attempted Attacker Exploitation and Compromise
Fears that terrorists may exploit the minimal security screening of trusted traveler programs have dissuaded the adoption of such programs. Such attempts would reduce the maximum potential security benefits of a program, but they would not eliminate those benefits in all circumstances.
Mar 1, 2012
Research Brief
Targeted Use of Theater Inventory to Effectively Sustain Overseas Forces While Minimizing Supply Chain Costs
Discusses how to design a distribution network that takes advantage of the respective strengths of different modes of transportation to meet combatant command needs while minimizing total supply chain costs.
Nov 29, 2011
Commentary
The Unmentionable Costs of Airline Security
For most of the past decade, the U.S. has pursued policies with very little regard to the costs they impose on travelers or the net reduction in risk that they generate, writes K. Jack Riley.
Sep 13, 2011
Commentary
Is it Time to Consider a New Approach to Airline Security?
It may be possible that the development and deployment of improved security technologies and reconfigurations of security checkpoints will keep security one step ahead of terrorist adversaries, but it also may be an appropriate time to explore fundamentally new approaches, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
Sep 1, 2011
Multimedia
The Long Shadow of 9/11: Author Interviews
Interviews with a selection of RAND's leading experts offer a distinctively farsighted perspective to the national dialogue on 9/11's legacy. Their insights assess the military, political, fiscal, social, cultural, psychological, and even moral implications of U.S. policymaking since 9/11.
Aug 29, 2011
Commentary
Quake a Disaster 'Drill' D.C. Flunked
Fortunately for the nation's capitol, Hurricane Irene and the East Coast earthquake proved to be relatively minor events, as far as disasters go. But before everyone breathes a sigh of relief, it would be wise to reflect on how people responded to what were essentially dress rehearsals for much bigger events, write Lynn E. Davis and Arthur L. Kellermann.
Aug 29, 2011
Brochure
Air Travel Security Since 9/11
The author explores air travel security performance since 9/11, identifies missed opportunities and innovations, and considers potential next steps.
Apr 12, 2011
Brochure
The Tenth Year: A Briefing on Terrorism Issues to New Members of the 112th Congress
The U.S. effort to defeat and dismantle the global terrorism network while protecting itself against further attacks has become its longest campaign. On January 8, 2011, Brian Michael Jenkins briefed newly elected members of Congress on a spectrum of foreign policy, national security, and domestic issues, with a particular focus on domestic terrorism prevention and transportation security in the post-9/11 era.
Feb 3, 2011
Commentary
Why Terrorists Attack Airports
Attacks on airports give terrorists the symbolic value they seek and guarantee the attention of the international news media, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.
Jan 25, 2011
Journal Article
Using Ordered Attitudinal Indicators in a Latent Variable Choice Model: A Study of the Impact of Security on Rail Travel Behaviour
In this article, we present an application of jointly estimated attitudinal and choice models to a real-world transport study, looking at the role of latent attitudes in a rail travel context. Our results show the impact that concern with privacy, liberty and security, and distrust of business, technology and authority have on the desire for rail travel in the face of increased security measures, as well as for universal security checks.
Jan 1, 2011
Journal Article
Deterring the Smuggling of Nuclear Weapons in Container Freight Through Detection and Retaliation
The authors quantify a game-theoretic model of terrorist decision making to understand the role of nuclear detection technologies in deterring nuclear terrorism.
Jan 1, 2011
Research Brief
Security at what cost? Quantifying trade-offs across liberty, privacy and security
RAND Europe undertook an internally funded, innovative discrete choice experiment to understand the real privacy and security trade-offs individuals are willing to make in order to inform policymakers about citizens' true preferences in this domain.
Jun 8, 2010
Journal Article
Quantifying Individuals' Trade-Offs Between Privacy, Liberty and Security: The Case of Rail Travel in UK
This paper uses a stated choice experiment to quantify individuals' tradeoffs between privacy and security within a real-life context, namely rail travel in the UK.
Mar 31, 2010
Commentary
What We Can Learn from the Christmas Day Bombing Attempt
President Obama's nominee to lead the TSA said he would like U.S. airport screening to more closely resemble Israel's. Perhaps attention is turning to what really matters about the attempted Northwest bombing: what it can teach us about aviation security, write Brian Michael Jenkins, Bruce Butterworth and Cathal Flynn.
Mar 26, 2010
Report
Security, At What Cost? Quantifying People's Trade-Offs
To help policymakers understand the privacy, liberty, and security trade-offs individuals are willing to make, RAND Europe examined three real-life case studies where these factors come into play: applying for a passport, traveling on the national rail network, and attending a major public event.
Jan 8, 2010
News Release
U.S. Freight System Modernization Necessary to Reduce Bottlenecks, Improve Security
The long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. freight transportation system is threatened by bottlenecks, inefficient use of some parts of the infrastructure components, vulnerability to disruptions, and crucial environmental and energy concerns.
Jun 9, 2009
Report
U.S. Freight System Modernization Necessary to Reduce Bottlenecks, Improve Security
The long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. freight transportation system is threatened by bottlenecks, inefficient use of some parts of the infrastructure components, vulnerability to disruptions, and crucial environmental and energy concerns.
Jun 5, 2009
News Release
Pennsylvania's Rail System Will Require Collaborative Approach to Improve Safety and Security
Pennsylvania leaders have an active role to play in coordinating public and private efforts to improve the safety and security of Pennsylvania's extensive and complex railroad system.
Nov 24, 2008

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Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Ryan Consaul

Senior International/Defense Researcher

Ryan Consaul is a senior international/defense researcher at RAND and a professor at Pardee RAND Graduate School. Previously, he served as a subcommittee staff director on the House Homeland Security Committee's Oversight and Management Efficiency Subcommittee where he led the Committee's…
Andrew Lauland

Senior International/Defense Researcher

Andrew Lauland is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His recent research includes the impact of COVID-19 and climate change on the nation’s critical functions and infrastructure, improving response and resilience to emergencies,…

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