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Technology
Infrastructure Colors Security Conference
enr.construction.com
- 11/25/02
By Tom
Sawyer in Virginia
Growing political pressure and technical
demands involved in enhancing infrastructure security are
pushing industry interests to do something they rarely do:
work together.
The draft of a technical "roadmapping"
document was well along a year ago to analyze the state of
technology in the industry, identify gaps and development
priorities, and then kick-start researchers down those paths.
But the project got a swift kick itself last year--from the
national campaign to address homeland security issues.
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| JACKSON |
And now, with Congress poised to create
a new cabinet-level agency to drive the process, industry
leaders are feeling the hot wind of top-down regulation. They
are fielding demands from government for answers about their
abilities to apply hardening materials, embed sensors, improve
design and analysis tools, and employ smarter project management
and operation systems.
The growing pressure was obvious, and
faced squarely Nov. 13-15, during a three-day Capital Project
Technology Roadmap workshop in Lansdowne, Va. The agenda was
to define "a path, a schedule, a project plan,"
says Ric Jackson, executive director of FIATECH, the host.
The non-profit, industry-led consortium
is focused on development and deployment of technologies.
It is fast expanding from its process industry origins. The
workshop drew representatives from a range of construction
interests, including companies, scientists, academia and regulators.
The groups are preparing reports and
action plans. They will include pledges from participants
to lead targeted research and development. Proceedings will
be posted at www.fiatech.org.
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