A Department of Homeland Security Emeritus Center of Excellence led by the University of Maryland

Innovation and Technology


Innovation and Technology

Project Title Investigators Project Period
Tracking Cartels: Exploiting Open Sources to Identify Trends Marcus A. Boyd, Samuel D. Henkin July, 2019 to July, 2020
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency SIGMA+ Thomas Guarrieri, Marcus A. Boyd, Steve Sin July, 2018 to April, 2020
Counterterrorism Net Assessment Data Structure (CT NEADS) Barnett S. Koven January, 2019 to January, 2020
Social Media Influencers: Re-domaining Fashion Industry Forecasting to Anticipate Online Extremist Radicalization Barnett S. Koven, Ramon F. Brena March, 2018 to September, 2019
The Arctic All-Hazards GIS Platform Marcus A. Boyd September, 2018 to June, 2019
Resources and Resilience: A Computational Model of Strategic Influence January, 2018 to June, 2018
Violent Non-state Actors and Contested Space Operations Amy Pate, Barnett S. Koven August, 2017 to April, 2018
Towards an Understanding of Explosive Detection Technology Adoption: Results from Two Surveys Brooke Liu May, 2016 to June, 2017
Geospatial Analysis of Terror Finance Marcus A. Boyd July, 2015 to July, 2016
Mapping and Evaluating Online Salafi-Jihadism Arie Kruglanski, Jarret Brachman, Michele Gelfand July, 2012 to December, 2014
Understanding and Combating Mass Casualty Terrorism (MCT) Gary Ackerman, Victor Asal June, 2008 to December, 2011
Behavioral Assessments Based on Automated Text Analyses James Pennebaker November, 2008 to May, 2010
More Bang for the Buck?: Examining the Effect of Technological Change on Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction Gary Ackerman, Jeffrey Bale July, 2005 to September, 2009
Project Title Publication Date START Authors Publication Type
'Designing Danger': Complex Engineering by Violent Non-State Actors: Introduction to the Special Issue April 2016 Ackerman, Gary Journal Article
A Smart Bomb in Every Garage? Driverless Cars and the Future of Terrorist Attacks September 2015 Discussion Point
A Study on a Sequential One‐Defender‐N‐Attacker Game January 2019 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
A.Q. Khan Nuclear Smuggling Network March 2016 Journal Article
Al-Qaeda's Propaganda Decoded: A Psycholinguistic System for Detecting Variations in Terrorism Ideology May 2016 Kruglanski, Arie; Gelfand, Michele Journal Article
An Aggregation of Geo-coded Violent and Non-violent Conflict Events April 2016 McGrath, Erin Conference Paper
An Exploratory Analysis of the Characteristics of Ideologically Motivated Cyberattacks August 2020 Freilich, Joshua; Chermak, Steven Journal Article
An Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills Perspective on Terrorist Propaganda August 2019 Lemieux, Anthony Book Chapter
Anthrax in Transit: Practical Experience and Intellectual Exchange September 2008 Jones, Susan Journal Article
Aum Shinrikyo’s Nuclear and Chemical Weapons Development Efforts March 2016 Smith, Daniel Journal Article
Autologistic Models for Benchmark Risk or Vulnerability Assessment of Urban Terrorism Outcomes October 2017 Cutter, Susan Journal Article
Call to Action: Mobilizing Community Discussion to Improve Information-Sharing About Vulnerabilities in Industrial Control Systems and Critical Infrastructure July 2019 Washburn, Rhyner Conference Paper
Clearing the Smoke and Breaking the Mirrors: Using Attitudinal Inoculation to Challenge Online Disinformation by Extremists September 2020 Braddock, Kurt Book Chapter
Comparative Analysis of VNSA Complex Engineering Efforts March 2016 Ackerman, Gary Journal Article
Comparing Social Media and Traditional Surveys Around the Boston Marathon Bombing April 2016 McGrath, Erin; LaFree, Gary Conference Paper
Computational Social Science: Understanding Terrorist Attacks on Twitter July 2016 McGrath, Erin Discussion Point
Coping with Uncertainty in Adversarial Risk Analysis January 2017 Bier, Vicki Journal Article
Countering Violent Extremism Online and Offline January 2017 Szmania, Susan Journal Article
Counterterrorism Net Assessment Data Structure April 2020 Koven, Barnett S.; Lindquist, Katy; Erdemandi, Max Project Fact Sheet
Counting Little Words in Big Data November 2012 Pennebaker, James Book Chapter
Data-Driven System Identification of the Social Network Dynamics in Online Postings of an Extremist Group June 2016 Freilich, Joshua; Chermak, Steven Conference Paper
Defender–Attacker Games with Asymmetric Player Utilities September 2019 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Development and Optimization of Machine Learning Algorithms and Models of Relevance to START Databases April 2016 Misra, Prabhakar START Reports
Diffusing Controversial Technology: Barriers, Incentives, and Lessons Learned July 2015 Liu, Brooke; Petrun Sayers, Elizabeth; Ackerman, Gary; Roberts, Holly; Iles, Irina A. Journal Article
Digging Into Israel: The Sophisticated Tunneling Network of Hamas March 2016 Journal Article
Do Machines Replicate Humans? Toward a Unified Understanding of Radicalizing Content on the Open Social Web September 2019 Ligon, Gina Scott Journal Article
Domestic Terrorism and Digital Media: Planning in Cyberspace August 2019 Smith, Brent; Gruenewald, Jeff; Fitzpatrick, Kevin Book Chapter
Driving-Forces Model on Individual Behavior in Scenarios Considering Moving Threat Agents April 2017 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Dynamic Ad Hoc Social Networks in Improvised Intelligence/Counter-Intelligence Exercises: A Department of Homeland Security Red-Team Blue-Team Live-Action Roleplay June 2019 Fefferman, Nina Journal Article
Ethnopolitical Political Mobilization on the Web March 2006 Harwood, Paul Conference Paper
Exploring Behavioral Regions in Agents' Mental Maps August 2015 Journal Article
Explosive Detection Technology Adoption: Findings from a General Population Survey October 2017 Liu, Brooke; Iles, Irina A.; Egnoto, Michael Research Brief
Guiding Principles for Countering and Displacing Extremist Narratives August 2016 Beutel, Alejandro; Weine, Stevan Journal Article
Hacking the Human Body: The Cyber-Bio Convergence April 2019 Earnhardt, Rebecca (Becca) White Paper
Illegal Roaming and File Manipulation on Target Computers: Assessing the Effect of Sanction Threats on System Trespassers’ Online Behaviors August 2017 Maimon, David Journal Article
Innovations in Disaster Mental Health Services and Evaluation: National, State, and Local Responses to Hurricane Katrina April 2009 Norris, Fran Journal Article
Innovative Algorithm and Database Development Relevant to Counterterrorism and Homeland Security Efforts at START August 2014 Misra, Prabhakar START Reports
Insider Threat for Inbound International Air Cargo October 2015 Matuzsan, Gabrielle; Ackerman, Gary; Tinsley, Herbert; Halverson, James; Jacome, Michelle Research Brief
Instruments and Arrangements against Online Terrorism Relating to International Cooperation August 2019 Leuprecht, Christian Book Chapter
It's not Big Data, but Little Data, that Prevents Terrorist Attacks July 2013 Dahl, Erik Discussion Point
Legal Restrictions and Challenges for Police and Law Enforcement Authorities August 2019 Hodwitz, Omi Book Chapter
Legislation Specifically Targeting the Use of the Internet to Recruit Terrorists August 2019 Freilich, Joshua; Chermak, Steven Book Chapter
Los Zetas and Proprietary Radio Network Development March 2016 Halverson, James Journal Article
Malevolent Innovation: Novelty and Effectiveness in Terror Attacks April 2019 Ligon, Gina Scott White Paper
Micro Big Data and Geosimulation April 2015 Conference Paper
Modeling a Multi-target Attacker-defender Game with Multiple Attack Types May 2019 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Modeling and Validating Public–Private Partnerships in Disaster Management May 2018 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Modeling Multi-target Defender-attacker Games with Quantal Response Attack Strategies January 2021 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Modelling Terrorist Technology Transfer April 2019 Ackerman, Gary; Earnhardt, Rebecca (Becca) White Paper
Motivations, Mechanisms and Determinants of Terrorist Technology Transfer October 2017 Ackerman, Gary; Halverson, James; Earnhardt, Rebecca (Becca) Research Brief
N-stage Security Screening Strategies in the Face of Strategic Applicants September 2017 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Perspectives on Cybersecurity Information Sharing among Multiple Stakeholders Using a Decision-Theoretic Approach August 2017 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Putting Terrorism in Context: Lessons from the Global Terrorism Database (Contemporary Terrorism Studies) January 2015 Miller, Erin; LaFree, Gary; Dugan, Laura Book
Search Engines: Terrorism's Killer App July 2008 Harwood, Paul; Asal, Victor Journal Article
Searching for the Nuclear Silk Road: Geospatial Analysis of Potential Illicit Radiological and Nuclear Material Trafficking Pathways January 2016 Boyd, Marcus A.; Sin, Steve Book Chapter
Slipstreaming Human Geosimulation in Virtual Geographic Environments February 2015 Journal Article
System, State, or Individual: Gaming Levels of Analysis in International Relations October 2019 Asal, Victor Journal Article
Terrorism January 2016 Dugan, Laura Book Chapter
Terrorism and the Internet January 2017 LaFree, Gary Journal Article
Terrorist Use of the Internet by the Numbers: Quantifying Behaviors, Patterns, and Processes January 2017 Horgan, John Journal Article
The Damoclean Sword of Offensive Cyber: Policy Uncertainty and Collective Insecurity March 2019 Leuprecht, Christian Journal Article
The Internet in the Islamic world: No panacea for democracy. January 2008 McLeod, Douglas Journal Article
The Provisional Irish Republican Army and the Development of Mortars March 2016 Ackerman, Gary Journal Article
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Development of Narco-Submarines March 2016 Jacome, Michelle Journal Article
The Role of Risk Preferences in a Multi-Target Defender-Attacker Resource Allocation Game August 2017 Zhuang, Jun Journal Article
Understanding the Adoption Process of National Security Technology: An Integration of Diffusion of Innovations and Volitional Behavior Theories February 2017 Liu, Brooke; Smith, Daniel; Ackerman, Gary; Roberts, Holly; Iles, Irina A.; Egnoto, Michael Journal Article
Utilizing Web-based GIS Platform to Visualize and Explore the Spatiotemporal Trajectory Behavior Pattern April 2015 Conference Paper
Violent Jihadism in Real Time: Al-Shabaab's Use of Twitter January 2013 Research Brief
Title Byline
GRU team gives virtual talk on cartels for National Security Forum Erin Copland
START formalizes commitment to Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism Erin Copland
UMD researchers win $1.5M Minerva Grant to understand social media information campaigns Jessica Rivinius
New study examines FARC’s development of narco-submarines Valerie Snaman
START study leads to support for SLTT officials Jessica Rivinius
Designing Danger: Complex Engineering by Violent Non-State Actors Jessica Rivinius
Intern team authors peer-reviewed journal article on Hamas Jessica Rivinius
Scavenger hunt activity helps START team assess capability of mobile radiation detectors
START launches online course on terror-crime nexus and CBRN Beth Schwartz
A Smart Bomb in Every Garage? Driverless Cars and the Future of Terrorist Attacks Jeffrey W. Lewis
Study finds that warning banners deter hackers Mary Beck
Discussion Point: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Methodological Advancements in Data Collection and Coding: Insights from the Global Terrorism Database (GTD) Michael Jensen
START Newsletter: Intelligence and security; perspectives on terrorism; Hezbollah; 'big data' and coding
Discussion Point: Embrace "Big Data," but don't ignore the human element in data coding Peter S. Henne, Jonathan Kennedy
START seeking 2014 Outstanding Article Award nominations Jessica Rivinius
JOB OPPORTUNITY: IT Student Assistant - Application Development
Discussion Point: It's not Big Data, but Little Data, that Prevents Terrorist Attacks Erik Dahl
Call for Proposals: Interactive teaching units on human aspects of cybersecurity
Policy specialist takes on new challenge with START's Graduate Certificate Emily Smith
Jeffrey Lewis discusses history and culture behind suicide bombings Mary Beck
START research informs Senate report on Chesser
START Bulletin Summer 2008 Inaugural Issue
New Fall 2008 UMD Course: Innovation and Terrorist Tactics
START Announces 2007-08 Fellowship Awards
START Research Symposium: Wednesday, June 28th
START Announces Fellowships for 2005-06
White House Science and Technology Director Addresses Need for Innovations to Combat Terrorism
Image Title Job Title Institution
Alexandra Williams

Junior Researcher

 University of Maryland
Gary Ackerman Gary Ackerman

Associate Professor, SUNY Albany

 University at Albany, State University of New York
Gina Scott Ligon Gina Scott Ligon

Director of National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE); Jack and Stephanie Koraleski Professor of Collaboration Science, UNO

 University of Nebraska Omaha
John Sawyer John Sawyer

Director of Strategic Corporate Research Relationships

 University of Maryland
Marcus A. Boyd

Senior Researcher, GIS, START

Director, Graduate Studies, START

 University of Maryland
Megan Rutter

Junior Researcher, START

 University of Maryland
Prabhakar Misra Prabhakar Misra

Professor of Physics

 Howard University
Ramon F. Brena

Professor

 Tecnologico de Monterrey
Rebecca (Becca) Earnhardt

PhD student

 University of Maryland
Rhyner Washburn

Cyber Intelligence Researcher, START

 University of Maryland
Samuel D. Henkin

Assistant Research Scientist, START

 University of Maryland
Steve Sin

Director, Unconventional Weapons and Technology (UWT)

Subject Matter Expert Instructor, National Center for Security & Preparedness

 University of Maryland
Tyler A. Clark

Junior Researcher, UWT

 University of Maryland
Victor Asal

Associate Professor of Political Science and Chair of Public Administration

 University at Albany, State University of New York
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