Concluding remarks

• Author: Vasilis Karlos - Martin Larcher
• Pages: 86-87

86

7!Concluding remarks

The current guideline has sought to underline the need for both state and private stakeholders to update their

strategy on building perimeter protection, especiall y in response to emerging threats and challenges arising

from the great technological advancements of the modern era. A number of different threats against the

building infrastructure and linked to the risk of terrorism have been collected, adapted and presented in this

report, focusing on the principles that guide the selection and installation of protection solutions. As has been

highlighted in many parts, a reliance on a sole protection measure is highly unlikely to safeguard against all

the presented attack scenarios. Consequently, it is imperative to develop of a comprehensive protection strategy

that will effectively integrate the different protection technologies within a broad multi-threat framework.

A holistic protection planning, followed by a multidimensional response, needs to commence with an asset-

specific risk assessment that draws together various terrorism-related data and provides tailor-made

suggestions for reducing the risk of a terrorist attack. Prior incidents may provide valuable information regarding

the likelihood of an attack and prevailing attack tactics, while assessing the vulnerabilities of the examined site

can reveal the consequences if an attack materializes. Despite the fact that zero risk is impractical in both

technical and economic terms, a carefully considered, thorough and well-balanced protection plan will

substantially reduce the risk posed from a terrorist attack against a building structure.

A methodology for the calculation of external explosion loads that need to be considered in the blast protection

design of a structure has been presented. Thus, several formulas, graphs and diagrams have been included,

which make this guide sufficiently self-contained, especially for relatively simple cases of blast loading. Various

techniques for the protection of structures against external and internal explosive loads have been introduced

which are of particular interest for vulnerable areas, such as access control zones and other freely accessible

building locations. Moreover, to minimize the likelihood of the development of a progressive collapse

mechanism, design considerations have been included, such as the reinforcement of key structural elements

and promotion of structural robustness techniques.

Protection against attacks with the use of vehicles, that are used to either ram into crowded places or to transfer

an explosive device close to a facility, can be accomplished by implementing a hardened perimeter. Physical

protection measures around buildings and critical infrastructures restrict unauthorised vehicle access and

enforce a minimum stand-off distance between the building façade and the potential IED. Within this guide an

approach for the selection of simple, tailor-made and effective perimeter protection measures has been

exhibited, focusing on measures that can be harmonically integrated to the surrounding environment according

to a security-by-design concept. This means that security measures can be embedded into innovative

architectural and artistic concepts, without sacrificing their impact performance and stopping power.

Digital advancements can al so facilitate building security by employing state-of-the-art technologies, such as

video surveillance, intruder detection, smart sensors, access control and video analytics. These systems can

significantly enhance the security of vulnerable sites through harnessing and analysing incoming data,

predicting states of emergency and guaranteeing quick response in case of an incident. Intelligent video

surveillance systems and smart sensors bring security breaches directly to the attention of security officials

minimizing reaction time and therefore mitigating potential consequence s. The integration of different building

perimeter securi ty systems into one software platform resul ts in increased effectiveness and lower

administration, training and maintenance cost. This cooperation of various securi ty components under a single

and flexible system is usually complex and characterized by interoperability issues, requiring immediate data

sharing and standardized interfaces and protocols that in some cases are still missing.

Building perimeter protection planning needs to include techniques that enhance conventional security

measures, so as to respond to the novel threat landscape, such as the misuse of UAS. To counter these complex

and rapidly evol ving threats one has to prepare for terrorist tactics that were not considered in the past and

respond dynamically by investing in innovative countering tools. Careful consideration is required when selecting

counter technologies, as legal restrictions and lack of common testing protocols may result in operational

constraints and ineffectiveness respectively. The preferred response to the multifaceted threat of UAS depends

greatly on the operating environment, the location of the examined facility and the legal and regulatory

frameworks set in each Member State. Moreover, artificial intelligence and automation are quickly transforming

the threat landscape creating new security challenges that call for continuous monitoring of technological

developments both in a ‘malicious use’ (attacking vulnerable facilities) and a countering (providing practical

countermeasures) concept.