Larry Roth, Assistant Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers

On 31 March 2005, DomPrep.com’s John F. Morton and Martin Masiuk visited with Larry Roth, a professional engineer and the American Society of Civil Engineers’ assistant executive director and chief operating officer. Last month, the ASCE released its 2005 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure with updated grades on the condition of the nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water, transit systems, energy, and schools, among other elements and components graded. ASCE represents over 125,000 civil engineers in the public, academic, and private sectors. Earlier this year, the association helped develop three security guidance documents that cover the design of online contaminant monitoring systems and physical security enhancements for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure systems.

DomPrep.com divided the ??-minute interview into four segments.

In Segment One, Mr. Roth discusses the ACSE 2005 Report Card:

• Recommendations
• What they mean for first responders and public and private-sector facility managers
• Resources currently available to engineering professionals as they consider securing the nation’s built infrastructure

Duration :6 Minutes 55 Seconds

Play Segment

In Segment Two, Roth outlines the work on security performance standards, measures, and indices for critical infrastructure:

• The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TSIP)
• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Duration :2 Minutes 23 Seconds

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In Segment Three, Roth talks about vulnerability assessments

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants and funding for vulnerability assessments
• A summary of the recommendations in this year’s ASCE guidance documents
• Future guidance documents in the pipeline.

Duration :6 Minutes 36 Seconds

Play Segment

In Segment Four, Roth addresses information sharing and coordination across infrastructure sectors, jurisdictional boundaries, and geographic locations

ASCE’s Infrastructure Security Professional Advisory Network (I-SPAN)

Duration :2 Minutes 43 Seconds

Play Segment

Lawrence H. Roth, P.E., G.E., F. ASCE, Deputy Executive Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), responsible for ASCE’s professional, technical, educational, and international activities. Oversees ASCE’s publications and Continuing Education programs, a registered professional engineer in six states and a registered geotechnical engineer in California.

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Mr. Roth was instrumental in designing and implementing ASCE’s Critical Infrastructure Response Initiative (CIRI), which is defining ASCE’s efforts to improve anti-terrorism and asset protection methods. On behalf of ASCE, he was a founding member of The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP), a coalition of over 175 governmental agencies; professional, technical, and industry trade organizations; and educational institutions focused on the security of the built environment. Mr. Roth served as the TISP Chair in 2003.

Over the past year, Mr. Roth has led ASCE’s efforts to better connect with civil engineers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the developing world to facilitate knowledge exchange and to assist in capacity building. In Iraq, ASCE has focused on creating and supporting a local Society chapter, providing access to technical literature, conducting web seminars, advising on codes and standards, and assessing environmental degradation in the Mesopotamian marshlands.