The progress of contemporary society is largely due to extensive and intensive research being conducted across the globe. The government and other international organizations are increasingly investing in research and development to improve different aspects of their operations and therefore improve the quality of life of US citizens. The US security domain is one of the areas that has benefitted from massive investment in research and development. For example, in 2020, the federal government spend about $134 billion in research, with the security sector receiving a considerable share of this allocation. The federal government almost doubled this allocation in 2021, whereby it allocated about $250 billion to facilitate its research endeavors (Andrew, 2021). The Department of Homeland (DHS) is one of the key security departments in the US mandated with securing the nation's air, land, and sea to prevent unlawful activities while facilitating safe travel and trade. Research is at the center of the DHS's operations, whereby it partners with different universities in research endeavors whose outcomes aim to improve its ability to execute its core mandates. DHS partners with different universities such as the University of Minnesota, the University of Maryland, and the University of North California, among others ( Macri, 2020 ). The different research collaborations that the DHS undertakes in conjunction with these emeritus institutions support the agency's mission. The universities develop tools, applications, and analytical processes to address the DHS's challenges at different levels.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of the leading universities that DHS partners with to conduct research. The renowned institution of higher learning is famed for its culture of research and innovation. Fundamentally, the University of North Carolina is the US's first public university focused on preparing highly trained scientists through the institution's able faculty members ( The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, n.d. ). The university partners with different government agencies to develop different solutions, especially those associated with the country's security needs.
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ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) Storm Surge Model
University of North Carolina partners with Coastal Resilience Center, a DHS Center of Excellence, in designing and implementing ADCIRC. ADCIRC is a system that helps the US Coast Guard (USCG) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) get people and property out of danger way during life-threatening and catastrophic storm surges ( Department of Homeland Security, 2019 ). The system combines different data such as precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind projection to forecast when, where, and the expected extent of flooding in a given coastal area. From such a prediction, decision-makers can identify which locations will face destructive storms. Thus, they are able to plan for mitigation and any necessary evacuation (Tolman, 2018). Apart from FEMA and USCG, other system users include the US Army Corps who uses it for hurricane protection system design. Also, the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Agency's (NOAA's) Extratropical Surge and Tide Operational Forecast System uses the ADCIRC ahead of Nor'easters.
ADCIRC system was designed after years of destructive storms in different US coastal regions. The project's outcome was a highly coveted system that has helped prevent loss of life, destruction of property, and evacuation efforts. Designed in 2018, ADCIRC was successfully first used during Hurricanes Florence and Michael as they blew towards Carolina and Florida panhandle (Department of Homeland Security, 2019). The project's outcome is that the system can provide some of the most detailed and accurate storm surge and flooding information that decision-makers can use. According to ADCIRC (n.d.), the project was successful, and that the system can be forced with elevation boundary conditions, tidal potential, and earth load tide, among others (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2019). One realizes that ADCIRC can be optimized for performance enhancements to make diverse predictions on coastal weather dynamics.
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is the other university that has undertaken a project in conjunction with DHS. Similar to the University of North Carolina, Texas A&M University is committed to providing top-notch education and research endeavors for an innovative America. To achieve this, the institution partners with DHS and other government departments and agencies in research endeavors to improve government service delivery (Texas A&M University, n.d.). One key such partnership is the Improved Decision-Making During Outbreaks: AgConnect Fact Sheet.
Improved Decision-Making During Outbreaks: AgConnect® Fact Sheet
The suite developed by DHS, Science Technology Directorate, and Center for Zoonotic and Animal Disease Defense at Texas A&M is geared at integrating and analyzing data to boost situational cognizance during infectious disease animal epidemics. AgConnect®, a portable system, can be speedily launched and implemented. The system combines a diverse set of data with customizable applications that are easy to use and allow real-time data input and output ( Department of Homeland Security, 2019 ). AgConnect® has several benefits that include support for an entire emergency cycle, allows customization to fit certain needs of end-users, and supports domain-specific business continuity strategizing, among others. Since its inception, the project has largely been successful and continues to help predict the occurrence of infectious and deadly livestock diseases. During its development cycle, the project's outcome was a product that could give the government insights into infectious livestock disease progression and how to counter any emergence of such diseases. The recommendation was that the agency or department responsible for the system always update its data.
Protecting Critical Infrastructure: Department of Energy
The Department of Energy is mandated to protect thousands of electricity, oil, and natural gas assets labeled under critical infrastructure. These assets are spread across the country and interconnected by high-tech systems into energy networks. Due to the role that energy plays in running diverse areas of the US economy, protecting these infrastructural assets is important in providing resilience in the face of both human-made and natural disasters. The Department of Energy partners with public and private entities to provide security to these critical energy infrastructures ( Energy.gov, n.d. ). For example, the department conducts security assessments, develops programs, and establishes long-term solutions, including research on securing the country's critical infrastructure within the energy sector. CESER’s Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration (ISER) Division leverages the Department of Energy technical proficiency to ensure the security, resiliency, and survivability of critical energy infrastructure within US borders ( Energy.gov, n.d. ). Other duties of the Department of Energy in conjunction with its partners such as DHS include supporting critical national assets protection programs, strengthening the energy sector's cybersecurity preparedness, and coordinating cyber incident response and recovery.
Conclusion
DHS is one of the US security departments that use modern technology in its operation. The department, just like other government bodies, leverages research to conceptualize, develop and implement technological products. The department collaborates with universities such as the University of North Carolina and Texas A&M University to achieve this. The DHS joined forces with the University of North Carolina to develop the ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) Storm Surge Model, which is used to predict the onset of ravaging storms that can cause loss of life and destruction property. Regarding Texas A&M University, DHS collaborated with the institution of higher learning to develop Improved Decision-Making During Outbreaks: AgConnect® Fact Sheet. AgConnect® helps predict the onset of infectious livestock diseases that helping scientists to develop preventative plans, including medicines. Last, the Department of Energy has the mandate of protecting critical infrastructure with the energy sector. For example, the department assesses, develops programs, and establishes long-term solutions based on research for protection purposes.
References
Andrew Lewis, J. (2021). How Much Is Enough? Csis.org. Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://www.csis.org/analysis/how-much-enough .
Department of Homeland Security. (2019). Snapshot: The ADCIRC Prediction System . Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2019/07/30/snapshot-adcirc-prediction-system .
Department of Homeland Security. (2019). Getting Ahead of the Storm Surge: ADCIRC Model: A DHS Center of Excellence Solution [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-3). Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/crc-adcirc-factsheet_2019-updated_0.pdf.
Department of Homeland Security. (2019). Improved Decision-Making During Outbreaks: AgConnect®: A DHS Science and Technology Center of Excellence Solution [Ebook] (1st ed., pp. 1-3). Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/zadd_protecting-ag-infrastructure_coe-factsheet_1701-508.pdf .
Energy.gov(n.d.). Energy Security . Energy.gov. Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://www.energy.gov/ceser/energy-security.
Macri, K. (2020). How Academics Lead Research Efforts for Homeland Security Needs . Governmentciomedia.com. Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://governmentciomedia.com/how-academics-lead-research-efforts-homeland-security-needs .
Texas A&M University. (n.d.) About. Texas A&M University. https://www.tamu.edu/about/index.html
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (2019). ADCIRC: Introduction . The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://adcirc.org/home/documentation/users-manual-v50/introduction/ .
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (n.d.). About the University . The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 30 May 2021, from https://www.unc.edu/about/ .
Tolman, H. L. (2018). ADCIRC Users Meeting 2018 Keynote-Operational Modeling at NWS-Where does ADCIRC fit in?
