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
RAND Study Provides Framework for Passenger-Rail Systems to Cost-Effectively Protect Riders from Terrorist Attacks
U.S. communities depend on reliable, safe, and secure rail systems, but such systems are vulnerable to terrorist attack. A framework developed for rail security planners and policymakers can help guide cost-effective plans to secure their rail systems from attacks.
Dec 11, 2007
Report
A Framework for Planning Cost-Effective Rail Security Against a Terrorist Attack
U.S. communities depend on reliable, safe, and secure rail systems, but such systems are vulnerable to terrorist attack. A framework developed for rail security planners and policymakers can help guide cost-effective plans to secure their rail systems from attacks.
Dec 2, 2007
News Release
RAND Europe Study Says Evidence-Based Planning Will Be Critical to a Successful 2012 London Olympics
Planning a successful Olympics in London in 2012 will require organizers to learn from the successes and problems of past games in the areas of transportation, infrastructure and security.
Nov 28, 2007
Research Brief
Can Publicly Available Information Be Used in Planning Terrorist Attacks?
This fact sheet describes a framework for assessing the availability of publicly available information for planning attacks on the U.S. air, rail, and sea transportation infrastructure and the results of applying the framework in a red-team exercise.
Aug 1, 2007
Report
Can Terrorists Use Publicly Available Information in Attacks?
How much data regarding U.S. defenses is publicly available and how easily could it be found by individuals seeking to harm U.S. domestic interests? A new framework guides assessments of the availability of such information for planning attacks on the U.S. air, rail, and sea transportation infrastructure.
Jul 18, 2007
Report
Leveraging Complementary Distribution Channels for an Effective, Efficient Global Supply Chain
Analyzes the five different distribution channels used to sustain U.S. military forces overseas. Discusses which transportation modes should be chosen and where materiel should be stocked to provide effective support as efficiently as possible.
Jun 5, 2007
Commentary
Racial Profiling Won't Stop Terror
Logical as it may seem to a fearful traveling public, a profiling policy focusing on people who appear to be “flying while Muslim” would be extraordinarily difficult to implement and counterproductive. There are more than 1 billion Muslims in the world and only a tiny fraction are members of a terrorist ...
Oct 11, 2006
Commentary
Speed Low-Risk Travelers Through Increased Security
Published commentary by RAND staff: Speed Low-Risk Travelers Through Increased Security, in Los Angeles Business Journal.
Sep 4, 2006
Commentary
Tighten Up Mass-Transit Security
Published commentary by RAND staff: Tighten Up Mass-Transit Security, in Newsday.
Aug 22, 2006
Commentary
Selecting for Security
The recent decision to conduct random searches of backpacks and packages carried by passengers on New York and Boston subways, commuter trains, and buses has provoked controversy. Americans want better security, but remain wary about how it is provided.
Jul 26, 2005
Report
Study Finds Airliner Anti-Missile Systems Too Expensive and Unreliable
Equipping America's commercial airliners with systems to guard against attacks from shoulder-fired missiles is currently not cost-effective, but RAND-initiated research suggests the investment could be justified later if anti-missile systems are made more economical and reliable.
Jan 20, 2005
Testimony
Terrorism and Rail Security
Testimony presented to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on March 23, 2004.
Dec 21, 2004
Testimony
Terrorism and the Security of Public Surface Transportation
Testimony presented to the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 8, 2004.
Dec 21, 2004
Commentary
Trains, Buses and Terror
Published commentary by RAND staff.
May 3, 2004
Commentary
Breach of Airline Security Is Nothing to Panic About
The arrest of Nathaniel T. Heatwole on charges of smuggling box cutters, bleach and matches aboard two commercial airliners reminds us that, despite significant improvements since Sept. 11, our security systems are not perfect. They never will be.
Oct 21, 2003
Report
Designing Airports for Security: An Analysis of Proposed Changes at LAX
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Master Plan explores a variety of ways to meet the changing aviation needs of Southern California in coming decades.
Jan 1, 2003
Commentary
Fliers Have Reason to Jettison Jitters
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Sep 3, 2002
Commentary
Get Used to It: Our Airports Are Vulnerable to Terrorism
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Jul 25, 2002
Report
Safer Skies: Baggage Screening and Beyond — With Supporting Analyses
Is the FAA's accelerated schedule for implementing air travel safety improvements feasible?
Jan 1, 2002
Report
Safer Skies: Baggage Screening and Beyond
Is the FAA's accelerated schedule for implementing air travel safety improvements a reasonable goal?
Jan 1, 2002

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Paul Brenner

Senior Management Scientist

Paul Brenner is a senior management scientist at the RAND Corporation. He focuses on government’s management of science and technology, including best practices for technology development, acquisition programs, R&D portfolio management, program evaluation, and risk management. He has supported…

Joseph C. Chang

Senior Physical Scientist

Joseph Chang is a senior physical scientist at RAND. He has more than 30 years of experience in diverse technical areas, including border security, immigration, chemical security, transportation security, infrastructure protection, risk assessment, operational analysis, analysis of alternatives,…

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Transportation Security

RAND Study Provides Framework for Passenger-Rail Systems to Cost-Effectively Protect Riders from Terrorist Attacks

A Framework for Planning Cost-Effective Rail Security Against a Terrorist Attack

RAND Europe Study Says Evidence-Based Planning Will Be Critical to a Successful 2012 London Olympics

Can Publicly Available Information Be Used in Planning Terrorist Attacks?

Can Terrorists Use Publicly Available Information in Attacks?

Leveraging Complementary Distribution Channels for an Effective, Efficient Global Supply Chain

Racial Profiling Won't Stop Terror

Speed Low-Risk Travelers Through Increased Security

Tighten Up Mass-Transit Security

Selecting for Security

Study Finds Airliner Anti-Missile Systems Too Expensive and Unreliable

Terrorism and Rail Security

Terrorism and the Security of Public Surface Transportation

Trains, Buses and Terror

Breach of Airline Security Is Nothing to Panic About

Designing Airports for Security: An Analysis of Proposed Changes at LAX

Fliers Have Reason to Jettison Jitters

Get Used to It: Our Airports Are Vulnerable to Terrorism

Safer Skies: Baggage Screening and Beyond — With Supporting Analyses

Safer Skies: Baggage Screening and Beyond

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