This one is for my Search and Rescue Colleagues (and geeks of all professions)…. Expanding on the theme of using robots to replace humans in potentially life threatening situations (think bomb disposal robots), the US Pentagon’s DARPA has held a Robotics Challenge, 2013 with the initial trials just completed. The robots were required to perform 8 […]
Industry Developments
Solar, Wind, Geothermal…oh my!
A new supertall highrise will be rising above the skyline of Jakarta in 2020 and it will generate its own power. SOM has been working with the energy company Pertamina to design a 99 story headquarters building that will incorporate multiple modes of power generation. Between energy saving measures and the planned power generation, the goal […]
Smart and Subtle, Security for Shopping Malls of the Future
The question of the day is how to keep shoppers safe from the increasing number of mall attacks, without letting the shoppers know it…. (Read Article Here)
British Maker of Anti-Ram Bollards Named “Most Innovative Company”
In a sign that anti-terrorism design is now part of the main-stream, a UK company that makes anti-ram bollards out of a patented material dubbed “spring steel” was named Britain’s most innovative company (click here to see article). The firm – Safetyflex – makes a range of anti-ram bollards, fences, and street furniture that […]
Can you Design a Building to Resist 250 MPH Winds?
This FastCompany article examines the feasibility of designing a structure to resist typhoon force winds. Robust building components, alternate building design, and cost are a few of the items discussed. One of the items discussed is a report written by the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council that speaks of the benefits of mitigation ($1 spent: $4 savings) […]
GrideExII – Training Drill Involving The National Grid
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) conducted its second nation-wide grid security exercise, GridEx-II (http://stne.co/1j8XQF7), on November 13 and 14 2013. The exercise was intended to “validate the readiness of the Electricity Sub-sector to respond to a cyber incident, strengthen utilities’ crisis response functions, and provide input for internal security program improvements.” […]