Networks, Security and Complexity: The Role of Public Policy in Critical Infrastructure Protection

By Sean P. Gorman

In 1997, for his doctoral dissertation in public policy from George Mason University, Gorman (public policy, George Mason U.) began constructing a map of all the interdependent telecommunications and information technology networks, gas pipelines, railroad systems, and electric power lines in the US. After 9-11, he extended that effort to assist th

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1843769522
• ISBN13: 9781843769521
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

A Look at Infastructure Weak Points

Although it touches on other areas such as electric power distribution, this book is mostly concerned with the fiber optic backbone of the telecommunications industry. It began as a map showing where the fiber goes. Then with 9/11 it became expanded to show where weak points might exist. To no great surprise, the fiber follows the interstate highways and the railroads. These already have right of ways that cover the distance between the major cities, exactly where the fiber needs to go. Specifically, interstate I-10 running across Texas and the southern part of New Mexico and Arizons, and interstate I-80 from San Francisco across Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Nebraska are where the major pipes run. Note that the Union Pacific railroad has track the roughly parallels both I-10 and I-80. In at least one spot (just west of Elko, Nevada) both UP tracks (each of which has fiber along its roadway) go under an Overpass. A bit of explosives here would seriously hamper truck, rail and information traffic across the middle of the country. I presume similar sites exist along I-10. This is an interesting look at a little appreciated danger spot.