Building and Infrastructure Protection Series Workshops

The Building and Infrastructure Protection Series (BIPS) developed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) includes several workshop proceedings, reports, and manuals sponsored by the DHS S&T Infrastructure Protection and Disaster Management Division (IDD). The intended audience for these publications includes architects and engineers working for private institutions, building owners/operators/managers, and state and local government officials, but is not limited to these groups. The BIPS provides information that is applicable for a wide range of users.

Not all of the documents on this page are fully Section 508 compliant. If you have difficulties accessing a file or need assistance, please email bips@dhs.gov.

Designing for a Resilient America

The DHS S&T Directorate and IDD sponsored this workshop, held at the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C., on November 30 - December 1, 2010. The Workshop focused on understanding issues concerning the resilience on of buildings and related infrastructure, and discerning possible strategies for the Federal departments and agencies to pursue in creating a resilient America. Many speakers at the summit addressed the resilience of U.S. buildings and infrastructure against man-made attacks and natural hazard events with four design-related approaches: high performance, codes and standards, continuity of operations, and integrated design. These approaches support resilience in buildings through promoting good initial design and construction for new facilities, effective retrofit for existing facilities, and appropriate operational programs to ensure that mitigation plans are in place, and building systems operate as required. The Summit was attended by 82 experts from the building industry, federal agencies, state and local governments, universities, and professional and trade organizations.

More information can be found in Designing for a Resilient America: A Stakeholder Summit on High Performance Resilient Buildings and Related Infrastructure (PDF, 56 pages - 3.18 MB).

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Aging Infrastructures Workshop Proceedings

The DHS S&T Directorate and IDD sponsored the Aging Infrastructure Workshop, held at Columbia University, New York City, on July 21-23, 2009. The purpose of the workshop was to support the DHS S&T Directorate's goal to accelerate the delivery and understanding of enhanced technology that addresses the challenges of aging infrastructure. Through white paper discussions and breakout sessions, participants in the workshop explored topics such as the roles and challenges facing stakeholders, decision-making methods, solutions to aging infrastructure issues, and infrastructure investment prioritization, including the current economic stimulus package.

These proceedings consist of the workshop materials including the agenda, presentations, list of papers submitted, and presenter and author biographies. Also included are the workshop conclusions and discussion matrices that will be the basis of the research agenda to develop improved technical options for upgrading and increasing the service life of aging infrastructure.

More information can be found in the Aging Infrastructures Workshop Proceedings (PDF, 171 pages - 120 MB).

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Stabilization of Buildings Workshop Proceedings

The DHS S&T Directorate sponsored the Stabilization of Buildings Workshop, held at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Vicksburg, on August 25-27, 2009. The purpose of the workshop was to support the DHS S&T Directorate's goal to accelerate the delivery of enhanced technological capabilities by preparation of a research agenda to investigate building stabilization after an improvised explosive device (IED) attack. Through white paper discussions and breakout sessions, participants in the workshop explored topics such as monitoring and assessing buildings that are near failure, real-time decision making methods, first responder access during an emergency, and cost-effective stabilization techniques that could be implemented immediately following an IED attack.

These proceedings consist of the workshop materials including the agenda, presentations, papers submitted, and presenter and author biographies. Also included are the workshop conclusions and discussion matrices that will be the basis of the research agenda on stabilization of buildings after an IED attack.

More information can be found in the Stabilization of Buildings Workshop Proceedings (PDF, 311 pages - 60.72 MB).

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Security, Energy, and Environmental (SEE) Summit Proceedings

The DHS S&T Directorate sponsored the Security, Energy, and Environmental (SEE) Summit, held at L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in Washington, DC on December 2-3, 2009. The goal of the summit was to develop a roadmap for the successful integration of building security design measures, applications, materials and systems to our nation's building stock along with energy efficiency and environmental sustainability to address the aggressive plan the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) if 2007 (Public Law 110-140).

More information can be found in the Security, Energy and Environmental Summit Proceedings (PDF, 9 pages - 1.56 MB).

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2010 Monitoring and Sensing of Near-Collapse Buildings Workshop

The DHS S&T Directorate and IDD sponsored the 2010 Monitoring and Sensing Activities Workshop at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, MS on April 6-7, 2010.The information gathered from this workshop will be used to support IGD's program to investigate the enhancement of building stabilization after an IED attack.

The objective of the workshop was to investigate monitoring and sensing technology to interpret, analyze, and distribute data, in real- or near-real-time, which are critical in assessing the stability of a building struck by an IED. The availability and transfer of information is vital to stabilizing a structure for rescue efforts.

These proceedings consist of the workshop materials including the agenda, presentations, papers submitted, and presenter and author biographies. Also included are the workshop conclusions and discussion matrices.

More information can be found in the Monitoring and Sensing of Near-Collapse Buildings Workshop Proceedings (PDF, 149 pages - 32 MB).

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2010 Near-Collapse Buildings Workshop for Emergency Management Personnel

The DHS S&T Directorate and IDD sponsored the 2010 Near-collapse Buildings Workshop for Emergency Management Personnel at the Texas Engineering Extension Service's (TEEX) Disaster City® in College Station, TX on April 27-28, 2010. The information gathered from this workshop is being used to support IDD's program to investigate the enhancement of building stabilization after an IED attack.

The objective of this conference was to investigate the on-site needs and concerns of emergency management personnel (firefighters, search and rescue, police, and emergency medical personnel). The decisions of emergency management personnel and rescue engineers on site are critical to the stabilization of a building susceptible collapse. A clear understanding of their needs will help facilitate research and development of state-of-the-art technologies and methods to stabilize structures after an IED attack.

These proceedings consist of the workshop materials including the agenda, presentations, papers submitted, and presenter and author biographies. Also included are the workshop conclusions and discussion matrices.

More information can be found in the Near-Collapse Buildings Workshop for Emergency Management Personnel Proceedings (PDF, 139 pages - 31.49 MB).

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