Engineering Homeland Security Strategies  (Print This) 02/19/2006 The U.S. has almost limitless potential terrorist targets, but limited money. How can the Department of Homeland Security prioritize what to protect?

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Randy Atkins:  DHS is funding development of mathematical models to identify the most dangerous and costly terrorism threats.  Vicki Bier, a University of Wisconsin engineering professor doing some of the work, says the biggest variables are terrorist goals and mindset.

Vicki Bier:  We have to look not only at our investments and our side of the equation, but at how terrorists will respond to that.

Randy Atkins:  Bier says it's a more complex calculation than for natural disasters.

Vicki Bier:  The earthquake does not become stronger or harder or move to a different city because we've defended our buildings against it.

Randy Atkins:  With the National Academy of Engineering, Randy Atkins, WTOP Radio.

• More on the project to prioritize targets and reduce risks
• Bier's modeling is based on game theory
• Bier's team is part of the DHS Centers for Excellence in research and technology

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