Welcome to ISE
Public safety and other public goods increasingly concern matters of homeland security and science and technology policy. Recognizing these mutual dependencies and others that involve physical infrastructure and the environment, RAND has formed a new research division: RAND Infrastructure, Safety and Environment (ISE). ISE consists of four programs -- Homeland Security; Safety and Justice; Environment, Energy, and Economic Development; and Transportation, Space, and Technology -- as well as several centers and projects. More...
Featured Project
The RAND Worldwide Terrorism Incident Knowledge Database Project — May. 23, 2008
The Terrorism Incident Database defines and categorizes terrorist attacks in order to help analysts, policymakers, and practitioners understand general trends in the threat. It is based on over 30 years of research by analysts at RAND.
Visit the RAND Terrorism Incident Database
Featured Research
A Framework for Planning Cost-Effective Rail Security Against a Terrorist Attack — Dec. 11, 2007
U.S. communities depend on reliable, safe, and secure rail systems, but such systems are vulnerable to terrorist attack. A framework developed for rail security planners and policymakers can help guide cost-effective plans to secure their rail systems from attacks.
Recent News and Findings
Benefits and Costs of Increased Water-Use Efficiency in Commercial Buildings - October 24, 2007
This report suggests ways for the owners of commercial buildings to determine how to invest in water-efficient equipment, and uses two configurations of the current RAND headquarters as a case study.
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 - September 12, 2007
This report assesses the impact of a new income requirement outlined in BAPCPA on debtors and courts. Among other findings, it was revealed that similarly situated debtors may have substantially different payment obligations depending on the jurisdiction in which they live.
Full Document
Related Reports:Full Document Identifying Fraud, Abuse, and Error in Personal Bankruptcy Filings Full Document Prebankruptcy Credit Counseling
Economically Targeted Terrorism — June 27, 2007
Acts of terrorism, including September 11th, and statements by terrorist organizations have focused attention on the economic damages that terrorist activities can produce. This report describes the range of economic effects of terrorist activities and provides a framework capturing the full range of costs possibly resulting from economic targeting, as well as recommended defensive measures.
Should the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 Be Extended?— June 5, 2007
Interim findings from a RAND Center for Terrorism Risk Management Policy project suggest that the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act performs well on outcomes examined for conventional attacks but not for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear ones.
Improving Recruitment and Retention in New Orleans — March 30, 2007
Hurricane Katrina created unprecedented staffing challenges for the New Orleans Police Department. The RAND Center on Quality Policing staff analyzed the problems and developed lessons for the City based on RAND's experience with large personnel systems.
News Release Research Brief Full Document Center on Quality Policing Research Area
RAND will conduct an assessment of how the New York City Police Department conducts pedestrian stops — March 1, 2007
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly announced that the RAND Corporation will conduct this comprehensive and objective assessment of how the New York City Police Department stops and questions pedestrians. RAND will analyze more than 500,000 pedestrian stops that occurred during 2006, in addition to and engaging in interviews and observations of current officers conducting stops.
News ReleaseCenter on Quality Policing Research Area
Characterizing and Communicating Uncertain Climate Change Information for Policy Makers — Feb. 2, 2007
This multi-year project conducts fundamental research to help improve methods for providing uncertain scientific and economic information to water managers and other policy makers confronted by climate change. The work links new robust decision approaches to computer modeling with survey research and psychology experiments evaluating the impact of different characterizations of uncertainty on people's decisions.
RAND Corporation will assess NYPD firearms training & tactics and firearms discharge review procedures — Jan. 4, 2007
RAND was chosen to perform an objective and comprehensive review of the New York City Police Department's firearms training and tactical procedures. The study will collect information about similar firearms training nationwide and identify best practices. The study is expected to be completed by summer of 2007.
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