• Aiding the fight against terrorism, ASME-ITI gets contract to develop RAMCAP guidelines to protect critical infrastructure.
WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 14, 2006 -- The ASME Innovative Technologies Institute LLC (ASME-ITI), has announced the commencement of a $5 million contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for continued work using its risk analysis methodology known as RAMCAP™, short for Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset Protection.
Created and developed by ASME-ITI, a unit of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and adopted by DHS, this is a framework for analyzing and managing the risks associated with terrorist attacks against critical infrastructures. The purpose is to provide essential information to government decision makers about consequences and vulnerabilities in the private sector, which owns 85% of the nation's critical infrastructure.
RAMCAP is unique in that it facilitates the comparison of risks within a sector and across multiple sectors by employing a common terminology and standardized measurement metrics. The methodology is a seven-step process for assets analysis -- asset characterization, threat characterization, consequence analysis, vulnerability analysis, threat assessment, risk assessment, and risk management. The process is then tailored to specific aspects of various sectors of the critical infrastructure in documents called Sector-Specific Guidance documents (SSGs). The SSGs will enable companies to identify and report on the vulnerabilities and potential consequences of terrorism by providing guidance on how to complete both preliminary and in-depth assessments.
The contract supports the development of SSGs in the Dams, Locks and Levees Sector and the Water/Wastewater Sector. In addition, ASME-ITI will be tasked with providing education and awareness for five previously completed sectors: nuclear power plants, nuclear spent fuel storage and transportation, chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and liquefied natural gas terminals.
"The development and implementation of RAMCAP(TM) has been a true public-private partnership with collaborative efforts from DHS, industry, academia, non-governmental organizations and other government agencies," said Reese Meisinger, president and CEO of ASME-ITI. "Looking forward, we are committed to continuing our work with DHS and our joint partners on analyzing and disseminating information essential to protecting our nation's critical infrastructure."
ASME-ITI is a not-for-profit limited liability company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASME (www.asme.org). The institute provides market-relevant engineering and technology-based products and services to government, industry and academic markets. ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization promoting the art, science and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences.
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Also see:
-- "City of Inglewood introduces 3n Mass Notification System to inform residents of emergencies and important public service announcements"
-- "ArcSight releases new 'early warning' system to help commercial and government organizations address insider threats"
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