SERON

Security of Road Transport Networks

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The European road network, particularly TERN highways and TENT projects, is of major importance for the European economy and the mobility of the European citizens. A major task of highway owners and operators is to ensure a high availability of all important links. Even smaller disruptions due to traffic restrictions or failure of road network elements lead to severe traffic interferences resulting in high economic follow-up costs and negative environmental impacts. Such infrastructures also constitute attractive terrorist targets due to their accessibility and great potential impact on human lives and economic activity. Attacks may cause considerable damage, including structural damage or demolition, substantial human casualties, socio-economic losses (unemployment, relocation of firms, reconstruction costs) and socio-political damage (public uncertainty, confidence loss) and even environmental consequences, each being accompanied by the related costs. Particularly bridges and tunnels, key elements of the road network, are highly vulnerable to terrorist attacks due to their bottleneck function. The SeRoN project will undertake a holistic approach both at individual infrastructure object and at road network level. Its main objectives are to investigate the impacts of possible terrorist attacks on the transport network, in particular the resulting regional and supra-regional impacts on transport links and their economic impacts. SeRoN will focus on the development of a methodology which is to help owners and operators to analyse critical road transport networks or parts hereof with regard to possible terrorist attacks. It will evaluate planned protection measures for critical road transport infrastructures concerning their impact on security and cost-effectiveness. Finally SeRoN will give adequate recommendations concerning possible current and future threat situations and the related most effective security measures.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Europeans are increasingly security conscious. Vital infrastructure, such as power stations and especially transport networks, are the subject of EU-funded research to ensure Europe's economy and that citizens remain safe from attack.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

A deliberate assault on Europe's road infrastructure, for example, could have a devastating impact on human lives and economic activity. Researchers in the 'Security of road transport networks' (SERON) project are keen to help authorities identify the risks and take appropriate steps to protect the road system in the event of an attack.

SERON researchers studied the possible impacts of human attacks on the transport network, in particular the effects on regional and supra-regional transport links. From a detailed investigation using SERON's innovative hazard analysis and simulation methods, a set of recommendations was drafted.

The recommendations cover macroeconomic, institutional, organisational and technical considerations. This work supports public and private infrastructure owners and operators developing short-term and long-term strategies to improve the security of transport structures. It also provides guidance for putting in place counter measures and risk-mitigation strategies.

A threat and hazard analysis revealed that threats based on fires and explosions are the most relevant to road networks. Through surveys and interviews, the team also identified and categorised critical infrastructure objects such as bridges and tunnels.

Based on the types and classes of infrastructures defined, a risk assessment tool was developed which takes into account various assessment parameters and risks at object level.

The team also set up a knowledge repository to manage the data gathered on different infrastructure objects. This database has proved useful for handling data collected in the wider context of the SERON project and relevant findings from other research projects.

Several test regions were defined to analyse individual objects (bridges, tunnels). National bodies in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom were called on for input. This helped SERON develop risk assessment methodology for the relevant infrastructures based on defined scenarios.

Thanks to SERON project activities, the partners were able to identify those elements of the road network most in need of protection measures. They also determined appropriate and cost-effective responses that make optimum use of available finances.

The findings are also relevant to networks used by other traffic modes (e.g. railway links) and possibly in response to natural disasters.