ASCE 2005 Infrastructure Report Card: Security Implications

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ASCE 2005 Infrastructure Report Card Security
Implications

• Eva Lerner-Lam
• President, Palisades Consulting Group, Inc.
• Member, Advisory Council to the 2005 Report Card

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Solid D for the Nations Infrastructure

• Disappointing results
• Down from D in 2001
• www.asce.org

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Implications for Planners, Architects and
Engineers

• Consider poor and failing infrastructure systems
  as you plan, design and engineer your projects
• Examples
• Power grid
• Drinking water
• Roads, bridges and tunnels

4
Security Incomplete Grade

• Lack of data
• Implications
• Points to a much bigger problem
• Technical Tour participants experienced it
  yesterday
• Any security system that is based on secrecy is
  no security system.
• Other examples
• Professional workshop and web seminar
  cancellations due to gag orders by clients and
  government agencies
• Non-participation in collaborative activities due
  to prohibitions by employers

5
Knowledge Implosion

• Architects, engineers and other professionals are
  suffering from a virtual shutdown of information
  and knowledge sharing
• Plenty of regulations
• But a complete absence of clear guidelines for
  what can and cant be shared
• Wizard of Oz effect (whats really behind that
  curtain?)

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Major Contribution by AEI

• Outstanding symposium program
• Open atmosphere of information and knowledge
  sharing
• Experienced, knowledgeable professionals
• Despite the lack of formal, published guidelines,
  they have the necessary professional intuition
  and sense of what can and cant be said

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Report Card Next Steps

• Federal, state and local actions
• Hopefully, will raise awareness of the overall
  condition of our infrastructure and our
  collective mindset about maintenance,
  rehabilitation and replacement
• Policy makers
• Owners
• Professionals

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What You Can Do

• Consider poor and failing infrastructure systems
  as you design and engineer your projects
• Use your good, professional judgment on sharing
  of information and knowledge trust your
  instincts
• Let your elected officials know youre concerned
  about the condition of the nations infrastructure

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Thank you!