Mapping the Risks Assessing Homeland Security Implications of Publicly Available Geospatial Information

by Baker, John C.; Lachman, Beth E.; Frelinger, Dave R.; O'Connell, Kevin M.; Hou, Alexander

• ISBN13: 9780833035479
• ISBN10: 0833035479
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 3/19/2004
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Assesses the homeland security implications of publicly available geospatial data and information.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Sponsor Guidance	v
The RAND Corporation Quality Assurance Process	vii
Figures	xiii
Tables	xv
Summary	xvii
Acknowledgments	xxxv
Abbreviations	xxxvii
CHAPTER ONE Introduction	1	(16)
Assessing the Homeland Security Implication of Geospatial Information	3	(3)
Public Access to Geospatial Information	6	(2)
Research Objectives	8	(2)
Research Methodology	10	(2)
Demand-Side Methodology	10	(1)
Supply-Side Methodology	11	(1)
Need for an Analytical Framework	12	(2)
How the Report Is Organized	14	(3)
CHAPTER TWO What Are the Attackers' Key Information Needs?	17	(24)
Methodology	18	(1)
Defining the Threat Space	19	(2)
The Attacker: Motivations, Strategies, and Modalities of Attack	21	(1)
The Attacker's Tool Box: Types of Weapons Considered	22	(2)
A General Model of Attacker Information Needs	24	(14)
Accessibility and Critical Sites	27	(2)
How the Attacker Acquires the Necessary Information	29	(5)
Harmonizing Objectives, Attack Modalities, and Information Requirements	34	(3)
Lessons from Analysis of Attackers' Information Demands	37	(1)
Attackers Have Substantial Flexibility in Fulfilling Their Information Needs	38	(1)
Summary	39	(2)
CHAPTER THREE What Publicly Available Geospatial Information Is Significant to Potential Attackers' Needs?	41	(52)
Federal Geospatial Information in the Public Domain	42	(6)
Structured Survey Used to Identify Federal Geospatial Data Sources	42	(6)
Availability of Nonfederal Geospatial Information	48	(11)
Diverse Range of Nonfederal Geospatial Sources	50	(6)
Nonfederal Geospatial Sources Derived from Federal Sources	56	(3)
Assessing Whether Sources Contain Potentially Critical Site Information	59	(4)
Assessing the Potential Significance of This Information	63	(10)
Assessing Potential Usefulness of the Geospatial Information	64	(2)
Assessing the Uniqueness of the Geospatial Information	66	(3)
Assessing the Significance	69	(2)
A Closer Examination of the Potentially Significant Federal Databases	71	(2)
Case Studies Comparing Federal and Nonfederal Sources of Geospatial Information	73	(14)
DOI Minerals Management Service: Houchin Offshore Mining Platform Case Study	75	(8)
The Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory: Marcus Hook Facility Case Study	83	(4)
Other Observations About Publicly Accessible Federal Geospatial Information	87	(2)
Key Issues in Federal Agency Data Sources	87	(2)
Summary	89	(4)
CHAPTER FOUR An Analytical Framework for Assessing the Homeland Security Implications of Publicly Accessible Geospatial Information	93	(28)
Framework for Analysis: An Overview	94	(1)
Framework for Analysis: Three Analytical Filters	95	(10)
Filter 1: Assessing the Usefulness of Geospatial Information for Target Selection and Attack Planning	96	(2)
Filter 2: Assessing the Uniqueness of Geospatial Information	98	(1)
Filter 3: Weighing the Societal Benefits and Costs of Restricting Public Access to Geospatial Information	99	(4)
Quantifying the Benefits of Public Access to Geospatial Information	103	(2)
Illustrating the Framework	105	(7)
Options and Precedents for Permitting Conditional Public Access	110	(2)
Considerations in Restricting Public Access to Sensitive Data	112	(2)
Federal, State, and Local Government Concerns About Restricting Federal Data Access	112	(2)
Long-Term Need for a More Comprehensive Model	114	(5)
Summary	119	(2)
CHAPTER FIVE Key Findings and Recommendations	121	(10)
Key Findings	121	(3)
"Demand" Analysis Findings	121	(2)
"Supply" Analysis Findings	123	(1)
Broader Implications	124	(3)
General Recommendations	127	(1)
Agency-Specific Recommendations	128	(3)
APPENDIX
A. Federal Agencies Examined	131	(4)
B. Federal Geospatial Data Sources Identified	135	(36)
C. Detailed Examples of Geospatial Information Analyses	171	(8)
D. Overview of Critical U.S. Sites: Critical Infrastructure and Other Key Homeland Locations	179	(12)
Bibliography	191