Beyond the Wire: A Holistic Approach to Security Engineering

Sponsored Content, Presented by Jacobs

Innovation Theater presented by Jacobs

Conventional security engineering is shaped by practical, real-world demands. However, the traditional concept of military security is evolving. Amid a changing landscape, security engineering must embrace a holistic approach that delivers solutions for military bases inside and outside “the wire.” While delivering physical protections remain a fundamental part of security engineering, military bases and facilities increasingly face security challenges due to external factors.

Military installations and defense infrastructure more than ever are intertwined with critical civilian assets. A failure in one can have profound consequences on the other, with any vulnerabilities threatening to expose and affect operations as rapidly as an adversarial force. Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions and the world’s increasingly digital nature, vulnerabilities in one place can ripple elsewhere.

The other major challenge facing military facilities “beyond the wire” is the need to build resilience and mitigate risk in the face of climate instability, with critical infrastructure increasingly affected by hazards such as storms, flooding, and slow-onset changes, including sea level rise.

Holistic Approach

Responding to these emerging challenges requires a holistic approach, and nowhere is this better exemplified than at Tyndall AFB, Fla. In October 2018, the base experienced Hurricane Michael, a category five storm that resulted in nearly 90 percent of structures being damaged or destroyed.

The rebuilding of Tyndall saw Jacobs design a strategy that made a critical large-scale facility more resilient and sustainable by integrating both traditional and natural infrastructure. The project also provided a platform to create locally relevant social, environmental, and economic benefits.

The planning phase focused on a coastal resilience study that was led by Jacobs and included input from stakeholders such as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The study sought to evaluate delivery strategies and accelerate program development. It determined external stakeholder interest from neighboring communities, government agencies, conservation organizations, academia, and other groups in nature-based measures with regional resilience co-benefits. Based on these insights, Jacobs developed a coastal resilience implementation plan to quantify both present and future risks.

When it came to implementation, the project team used a two-fold response that focused on managing coastal flooding and delivering nature-based solutions. This approach created multiple lines of defense to protect the base against future natural disasters, creating a resilient and smart installation for the future. It involved moving infrastructure out of harm’s way and elevating structures and sensitive infrastructure so that they would not be damaged by coastal flood waters.

While the risk of infrastructure flooding was relatively low, as most facilities and infrastructure sit on higher ground, the modelling showed that over time, this risk would increase and inundate large areas of the base. The team also deployed nature-based coastal resilience solutions that self-maintain and offer a range of co-benefits.

Restore and Enhance

The reconstruction of Tyndall underlines the many interacting factors that need to be considered when it comes to modern-day military security projects. It shows how a holistic approach can be put into practice to meet project needs and protect critical facilities and installations. It highlights the importance of a resilience strategy that restores and enhances natural features within and surrounding the base to reduce risk while benefiting the local community.

As the line between military and civilian infrastructure blurs, emerging threats are too complex for old security models. Security requires collaboration, lateral thinking, and innovation. The future of military engineering will enhance these interdependencies if we can expand our ability to look “beyond the wire.” By embracing a holistic approach that includes physical protection as well as environmental and community resilience, we can ensure that military installations (and the communities around them) are prepared—whatever the future holds.

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