ASCE to explore resilience of America's critical infrastructure

JACKSONVILLE, FL, Aug. 9, 2005 -- Despite being critical to each and every one of our daily lives, protecting the physical security of the nation's water, energy, transportation, and other critical infrastructure systems--from natural or man-made force -- is often overlooked, or simply dealt with via a "guns, gates and guards" approach. The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) will examine and address these issues and possible solutions at the fourth annual TISP Congress on Infrastructure Security for the Built Environment (ISBE 2005), taking place Oct. 18-20, 2005, at the St. Johns County Convention Center in St. Augustine, Fla.

The Congress will focus on the security of critical physical infrastructure, and will be co-sponsored by The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME).

Held jointly with SAME's South Central-South Atlantic Regional Education and Training Conference, that will include sessions on infrastructure and environmental topics, the two-day event will bring together experts from federal, state, and local agencies, professional associations and industry trade groups, as well as representatives from design firms, construction companies, codes and standards organizations, universities and service providers.

ISBE attendees will have the opportunity to participate in plenary and breakout sessions highlighting best practices in technology/standards and building design/construction, risks and mitigation strategies, liability issues, sector interdependencies and other security challenges, while the SAME conference will feature discussions on such topics as the rebuilding efforts in Iraq, the Everglades Restoration Project, coastal shore protection and hurricane recovery, aquifer storage and recovery/sustainable water supply, and Naval operations and environmental protection. Among the scheduled speakers are Michael Chertoff, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (invited), Rear Admiral Mike Loose, commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and Brig. Gen. Jose M. Rosado, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Antilles Office. The sold out exhibit hall will feature demonstrations of the latest products, services and technologies.

For more information on the joint congress/conference, please visit www.samejax.com/regional/.

The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) was established following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, as a forum for U.S-based public and private sector non-profit organizations to collaborate on issues regarding the security of the nation's built environment, including resilience to natural and man-made disasters through effective and efficient planning, design, construction and operation. Membership includes more than 200 organizations and agencies representing more than 2 million individuals and firms. For more information, visit www.tisp.org.

Founded in 1920, SAME brings together public and private architects, engineers of most disciplines, constructors, and manufacturers and suppliers of engineering equipment for the purpose of improving U.S. national security. SAME represents nearly 22,000 members and 3,100 companies and public agencies. For more information, visit www.same.org.

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