Welcome to the fourteenth century. The Wall Street Journalchronicles the new jargon and design considerations that creep in as more buildings require ‘hardening.’ Bollards, barriers, clear distances, and the like are the latter-day versions of moats and perimeter walls, all designed to stop the proverbial truck laden with explosives. It’s interesting, but not surprising, considering the source, that no one is asked to speculate on methods that don’t start with the presumption that vehicles must be allowed in city centers with so little control that bollards become the inevtiable accompaniment to every courthouse in an urban area. None of the strategies discussed minimize the possibility of smaller but more deadly options (nuclear or biological agents), or how to handle threats from compromised systems (if someone packs the Aramark van with C-4). Nope. Entire industries are springing up to counter exactly one threat. One that, in probably 70% of high risk areas (basically, DC and NYC), could be countered by changing policies about vehicle access. So a big lump of granite is a ‘creative’ solution? How about vehicle-free CBD’s? (via The Morning News)
This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
Cars still win.
Welcome to the fourteenth century. The Wall Street Journal chronicles the new jargon and design considerations that creep in as more buildings require ‘hardening.’ Bollards, barriers, clear distances, and the like are the latter-day versions of moats and perimeter walls, all designed to stop the proverbial truck laden with explosives. It’s interesting, but not surprising, considering the source, that no one is asked to speculate on methods that don’t start with the presumption that vehicles must be allowed in city centers with so little control that bollards become the inevtiable accompaniment to every courthouse in an urban area. None of the strategies discussed minimize the possibility of smaller but more deadly options (nuclear or biological agents), or how to handle threats from compromised systems (if someone packs the Aramark van with C-4). Nope. Entire industries are springing up to counter exactly one threat. One that, in probably 70% of high risk areas (basically, DC and NYC), could be countered by changing policies about vehicle access. So a big lump of granite is a ‘creative’ solution? How about vehicle-free CBD’s? (via The Morning News)