NCJ Number
230060
Date Published
2009
Length
195 pages
Annotation
This research study identified the spatial distribution of terrorism risk exposure, and vulnerability within a given area, referred to as the terrorscape and evaluated what kinds of areas most likely to be at risk to terrorism, what kinds of locations included areas most likely to be exposed to a chlorine gas release, which components of populations are most vulnerable, and what are the social, economic, and political population characteristics of the areas at greatest risk.
Abstract
In recent years there has been an increasing number of organized domestic and international extreme religion and ethnic-separatist movements, and confirmation of escalating tactics used by terrorists has likewise accumulated substantially. Attention is turning toward the possibility that terrorists may engage in activities leading to a deliberate release of readily obtainable hazardous materials (HAZMAT) into the environment. However, scholars lack an established model for researching the societal effects of such extreme terrorism events, particularly those which impact large areas. This research publication is based on a feedback mechanism premise that begins with the identification of the special distribution of terrorism risk, exposure, and vulnerability within a given area, the terrorscape. The social, economic, and political characteristics associated with those spatial distributions can be used to predict the population characteristics of high terrorscape value areas of other locations. The spatial analysis of potential large-are terrorism risk, exposure, and vulnerability patterns allows the development of theoretically significant knowledge, providing a new approach to evaluating terrorism hazards from the perspective of place that considers the societal contexts o extreme terrorism events. The theoretical foundations combined in this study can be used in future terrorism and hazards research regarding the risk exposure, and vulnerability to alternative or combinations of HAZMATs that have the potential to be used as terrorism agents. This report provides a research framework and describes the conceptualization of a phased Terrorscape Analysis Model. The application of the model is chronicled and statistical evaluations of the identified distributions of risk, exposure, vulnerability, and the terrorscape are provided. Figures, appendixes, references and indexes