NIHS News

NIHS Implementing New Process for Project Review

Date:  June 29, 2011

The NIHS is undergoing a new process for the project review process.  The NIHS typically hosts a semi-annual review conference that allows PIs to present their projects to the various sector representatives followed by a Q&A session.

Dr. Darrell Taulbee Receives Safety Act Designation for Ferti-Safe Technology

Date:  June 22, 2011

Darrell Taulbee received the safety act designation for Ferti-Safe technology from the Department of Homeland Security. This means DHS took an objective look at the technology and considers it a QATT - qualified anti-terrorist technology and DHS has placed limits on any potential liability claims against UK as owner of the technology.

NIHS Hosts a Webinar for KCI Water Sector Projects

Date:  June 14, 2011

On June 7, 2011, the NIHS hosted a Review Conference Webinar for the KCI Water Sector projects. The webinar allowed the PI s to share detailed information about the projects and allowed time for a Q&A session from the webinar participants.  The projects that presented were:

Response of Curtain Wall Architectural Envelopes to Negative Phase Blast Effects Project Reaching Milestones

Date:  May 31, 2011

The Need Addressed By the Project:  

Reduce collateral damage to structures and protect citizens near terrorist targets by increasing the resiliency of curtain wall systems in the negative blast phase.

Project Overview:     

·         Develop architectural envelopes for blast mitigation solutions in typical curtain wall configurations

The Challenge

The task of assuring the security of our homeland involves protecting the citizens of the United States, the nation's critical infrastructure and key assets. This is necessary to sustain the nation's vitality against terrorism and other threats. This protection must originate at the community level. It requires discovering, developing and deploying new technology that will support first responders and key decision makers in local communities.

The Mission

NIHS' mission is to discover, develop and deploy solutions that protect and preserve the critical infrastructure of the nation's communities.

The Institute

NIHS aligns projects and research objectives with the needs and requirements of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The strategy is to manage a distributed research enterprise that effectively transitions research and development into solutions. NIHS works with DHS to determine technology needs at the community level. Then, teams are quickly assembled from multiple universities to develop solutions to the needs.

The Strategy

Through management of the Kentucky Critical Infrastructure Protections Program (KCI), the National Institute for Hometown Security (NIHS) provides an ongoing, integrated program dedicated to developing new technologies and devices. NIHS works through qualified academic institutions to accomplish the technological objectives.