DESSI

Decision Support on Security Investment

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The DESSI project will develop a highly structured and versatile method for Decision Support on Security Investment, which provides a participatory assessment process, which takes into account the many and complex societal dimensions of security investment decisions. The method will be developed through a combination of foresight and technology assessment methodologies, threat, security and criminology research, and praxis in multi-criteria assessment methods in fields such as cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment and impact assessment. The user will be able to compare alternative ways of counteracting a specific threat. The comparison will be made on a set of dimensions in security investment decisions, such as security gain, privacy impact, social implications, political significance, and economy. The assessment will be future-oriented by testing the investments against a set of future scenarios on possible changes in the societal context, thereby checking the robustness of decisions. DESSI will include participatory procedures, in which users, stakeholders, experts, decision-makers and/or citizens contribute to the structured consultation process, and thereby ensuring a balanced and broadly accepted assessment. It includes an internet-based work-flow tool. The method provides for overview and insight into the pros and cons of a certain investment, as compared to a set of alternatives, and leave the final decision up to the user. A strong dissemination strategy ensures effective diffusion of the method. The DESSI consortium contains expertise in: High-level decision support and advice; Conflict and national security research; Criminology and inner security; Impact assessment procedures; Foresight praxis; Participatory methodologies; Cost-benefit analysis and innovation economy.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An online system to help authorities, businesses and social organisations choose the most appropriate security solutions will help promote safety and security in Europe.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

From closed-circuit cameras to sophisticated sensors, investments that go towards improving security for Europeans are constantly rising, bringing a host of ethical, political and social considerations into play. Hospitals, transport services and public buildings require high-tech solutions that address all these different factors, prompting a need for a transparent and participatory decision support system (DSS) for security investments. Choosing the right approach and security system from among a large choice of technologies and strategies has become pivotal for ensuring safety and security in Europe.

Against this backdrop, the EU-funded project 'Decision support on security investment' (http://securitydecisions.org/ (DESSI)) is developing a robust system providing support for investments in security. It is working on the required methodology and infrastructure for the DSS, considering research and procedure design related to the whole process.

Already, the project team has defined the system's criteria, and conducted two workshops with experts and stakeholders. It outlined the overall process and illustrated scenarios for using the system.

DESSI is currently building an understanding of the challenges that face security investments in the post-911 era. It is also looking at how political frameworks lead to decisions on security investment.

Once the envisioned web-based assessment prototype tool for security decisions is completed, it will be tested rigorously in real scenarios to check its viability. Intended user groups include local and regional public authorities, developers of security solutions, businesses such as energy companies or chemical plants, and social organisations, including the media, non-governmental organisations and other actors.

This powerful DSS intended for end users of security investments will reveal the advantages and disadvantages of each investment. It will help promote a more transparent and participatory decision-making process in this respect and ultimately strengthen security on many levels.