Research Strength
The RNSA has identified the majority of
Australia’s leading researchers, Commonwealth and state officers and industry leaders
involved in critical infrastructure protection (CIP). The Network Convenor - A/Prof Mendis has a distinguished and internationally
recognised track record for research in protective technology of engineering structures. He led a
successful seed funding bid (ARC) receiving a top rating based on funding (only one in
engineering) to form the Research Network for Engineering a Secure Australia (RNESA).
Subsequently, the Research Network for a Secure Australia (RNSA) was formed with the merger of
RNESA and two other significant seed-funded research networks – the Australian Security
Technologies Integration Network (ASTIN) and Information Security
Research Network (ISRN).
RNSA's links with Local, State, Federal
Government Organisations and Industry
The RNSA has established links with many local, state and
federal government organisations. A list of several key organisations involved in the RNSA is
given in the Resources & Links page. Strong links with these organisations will help to shape
the RNSA’s research agenda to meet Australia’s needs for improving the safety of the
nation’s critical infrastructure.
Research Opportunities
The Australian government has set as a national priority the
need to secure critical infrastructure against potential natural or human-caused disasters
including terrorist acts. Incidents such as the Longford and Moomba gas explosions and the water
contamination in Sydney clearly show the impacts of critical infrastructure failure. The reasons
for infrastructure failure are varied and complex, thus CIP research must be inherently
multidisciplinary. Collaborative research by the RNSA can develop methods and tools that can be
applied to examine protection needs of widely different infrastructure. These same methods and
tools can also be applied in developing counter-terrorist options.
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