Issue 1, Volume 1 (2004)

Editor's Comments
R.G. Johnston

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CITE as: Journal of Physical Security, Vol. 1 no. 1, 2004, http://jps.anl.gov/

Paper 1 - Detecting Nuclear Material in International Container Shipping: Criteria for Secure Systems
CISAC Stanford Study Group

This article grew out of a week-long study in August 2002 to assist ongoing efforts inside and outside the government to remedy some vulnerabilities of the international shipping system on which US and a great deal of world prosperity depend. The study's objective was to identify the most important research initiatives and the major policy issues that need to be addressed in order to improve security of imports using shipping containers, particularly against the importation of nuclear materials and weapons, while maintaining an open trading system. To be effective, a system to detect nuclear weapons or special nuclear material before they reach U.S. ports must be international in scope and reach. It must also be economically acceptable both in terms of total cost and with respect to how these costs are allocated; degrade gracefully when subjected to attack; produce actionable intelligence in a timely manner; treat false alarms realistically; be adaptable to a variety of local physical and political conditions; be auditable, secure yet accessible to the needed foreign and domestic security agencies, and have clear lines of oversight and responsibility. Finally, the system should be flexible enough to allow for regular updates as users and operators gain experience and system performance is reviewed. This study identified a sample technical approach that is feasible technically and operationally and involves components already in the early deployment stage. The approach involves container certification; monitoring at ports of embarkation, debarkation, and continuously during shipment and storage; and continuous data fusion. Specific recommendations regarding system characteristics made by the study include rigorous testing during deployment and in the field, international coordination of standards and protocols, careful analysis of the system for compatibility with pertinent governmental policies and business and labor agreements, and early provision for forward-looking research and development.

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CITE as: Journal of Physical Security, Vol. 1 no. 1, Paper 1, 2004, http://jps.anl.gov/

Paper 2 - Radiation Litmus Paper
D.M. Johns, J.A. D'Alessio, K.S. Sheafe, and B.P. Warner

We have developed a colorimetric method for measuring doses of ionizing radiation at low (10^-4-10^-2 Gy) levels. This method uses photographic film as the sensor and amplification method, coupled with developers that are extremely non-fogging and tolerant of acidic conditions, and a pH indicator. The reaction is packaged so that the film can remain unactivated by ambient light while the developer and pH indicator can migrate to a viewing window. The result is a self-developing film badge that provides real-time dose information. This device, called Radiation Litmus Paper, is modeled after the M256A1 Chemical Test Kit which is manufactured by Anachemia and used by the US military as well as state and local first responders.

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CITE as: Journal of Physical Security, Vol. 1 no. 1, Paper 2, 2004, http://jps.anl.gov/

Paper 3 - Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism Threats for India: Risk Potential and Countermeasures
R.M. Basrur and F. Steinhäusler

In an era characterized by the rising threat of indiscriminate terrorism and the diffusion of instruments of mass destruction, the possibility of nuclear/radiological terrorism, though yet unrealized to a significant degree, is a grave one (Leventhal & Alexander, 1986; Cameron, 1999). India is particularly vulnerable to such threats owing to the wide distribution of nuclear/radiological material and concurrent threats from numerous terrorist groups. Few studies have attempted to gauge the extent of the problem (Leventhal & Chellaney, 1988; Basrur & Rizvi, 2003). In this paper, we attempt to identify possible threat scenarios arising from nuclear/radiological terrorism, the sources of threat, and countermeasures to combat the threat.

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CITE as: Journal of Physical Security, Vol. 1 no. 1, Paper 3, Fall 2004, http://jps.anl.gov/

Paper 4 - Approaches to Quantitative Risk Assessment with Applications to Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials
G. Geiger and A. Schaefer

Violations of physical protection combined with threats of misuse of nuclear material, including terrorist attack, pose increasing challenges to global security. In view of this situation, we exploit recent advance in theoretical and applied risk and decision analysis to attain methodological and procedural improvements in security risk management, especially quantitative risk assessment and the demarcation of acceptable risk. More precisely, we employ a recently developed model of optimal risky choice to compare and assess the cumulative probability distribution functions attached to safety and security risks. Related problems such as the standardisation of risk acceptance criteria frequently used in physical protection can also be approached on this basis. With regard to nuclear and radiological threats, the paper suggests possible applications of the improved methods to the safety and security management of nuclear material, cost efficiency of risk management practices, and the harmonisation of international safety and security standards of physical protection. An example selected from the security risks of spent nuclear fuel transport will be presented in some more detail to demonstrate the practical force of the approach.

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CITE as: Journal of Physical Security, Vol. 1 no. 1, Paper 4, 2004, http://jps.anl.gov/

Paper 5 - A Cognitive Model for Exposition of Human Deception and Counterdeception
D.R. Lambert

A primary objective of this report is to develop a coherent theoretical basis for understanding human deception, and to provide a comprehensive and understandable framework for organizing deception principles and examples.

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CITE as: Journal of Physical Security, Vol. 1 no. 1, Paper 5, 2004, http://jps.anl.gov/