21st Century Security and CPTED, 2nd Edition

147

10

Terrorism and Infrastructure

Protection

Risks and Protection

Randall I. Atlas and Anthony DiGregorio

After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the subject of security in critical infrastructure facilities gained

interest among engineers, security professionals, and public and private entities. Drinking water

facilities, waste treatment plants, electrical generation plants, natural gas pipelines, and commu-

nication networks serve thousands of communities within the country. They are the most impor-

tant support for life in the built environment, bringing communities to civilized standards of

life. Infrastructure is the most feasible indicator of the economic capacity of the United States

and most advanced countries, at the same time is susceptible to potential threats with devastating

consequences for human life and economy. Most governments view critical infrastructure as those

assets, services, and systems that support the economic, political, and social life of a country whose

importance is such that any entire or partial loss or compromise could:

1. Cause large-scale loss of life

2. Have a serious impact on the national economy

3. Have other grave social consequences for the community

4. Be of immediate concern to the national government

Critical infrastructure is categorized as these major sectors:

1. Communications

2. Emergency services

3. Energy and power suppliers and distribution

CONTENTS

Water Treatment and Waste Management ...................................................................................... 148

Protection of Water Distribution and Waste Treatment Plants .................................................. 149

National Interest in Infrastructure Safety .................................................................................. 153

Water Infrastructure in Residential, Commercial, and Ofce Buildings ..................................154

Protecting Electrical Infrastructure ................................................................................................ 155

Outdoor Electrical Substations/Design Considerations ............................................................ 159

Fence Signage ........................................................................................................................... 160

Design Considerations for Mechanical Rooms and Spaces ........................................................... 162

What to Do for Protection of Critical Infrastructure ...................................................................... 162

Protecting Infrastructure against CBR ........................................................................................... 163

What Not to Do ......................................................................................................................... 163

Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 168

Appendix: Antiterrorism CPTED Considerations ......................................................................... 168

References ...................................................................................................................................... 171

148 21st Century Security and CPTED

4. Finance

5. Food and food supply

6. Government and public service

7. Health

8. Public safety

9. Transportation systems: air, water, sea, rail

The most common risks for infrastructure facilities arise from natural disasters, human mistakes,

crime, sabotage, and terrorism. Infrastructure facilities design aims to protect buildings from natural

disasters, reduce the possibilities of human errors, and protect working personnel from the event

of an accident. Although the focus is primarily on natural disasters, sabotage or terrorist attacks

also must receive design considerations. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

principles bring a new perspective to critical infrastructure buildings in order to protect these facili-

ties against potential crime, sabotage, and terrorism and natural disasters (Figure 10.1).

The CPTED risk-assessment process, described elsewhere in this book, examines how critical

infrastructure facilities can be a powerful weapon in the wrong hands. The purpose of this chapter

is to establish how CPTED principles support design considerations (see Figure 10.2) in order to

create safer critical infrastructure facilities.

WATER TREATMENT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

The most obvious example of critical infrastructure and one of the most precious assets in our envi-

ronment is water. All life depends on good drinking water and waste treatment.

The water that we drink and manage can come from groundwater supplies or surface water.

To extract groundwater from aquifers by wells, each water supply system uses one or more wells,

commonly arranged in clusters or well elds. The type of well used depends on the kind of geo-

logical conditions of the aquifer because the way water enters the well is by drilling a hole below

the well casing. Groundwater extracted from wells is sent to a water treatment plant and after

being treated, water is sent to a pump station, where it is pumped to an elevated storage tank.

From the elevated tank, the water is sent to a water main and then to a water distribution system

that supplies urban areas. Surface water may be obtained from natural or regulated lakes, or from

FIGURE 10.1 Attack on the oil pipelines represents a large vulnerability of this type of infrastructure. Note

that the bombers had good intelligence on how to disable the pipeline and be shut off adding to the ecological

and nancial damage. (From Hall, K.G., Bombers also hit crude oil pipeline, Miami Herald, July 25, 2007.

With permission.)