Editing Counterterrorism (section)

=== Designing counterterrorist systems ===

{{tone|section|date=June 2021}}
The scope for counterterrorism systems is very large in physical terms and in other dimensions, such as type and degree of terrorist threats, political and diplomatic ramifications, and legal concerns. Ideal counterterrorist systems use technology to enable persistent [[intelligence]], surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and potential actions. Designing such a system-of-systems comprises a major technological project.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | doi = 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2008.01160.x| title = Reducing Risk Through Real Options in Systems Design: The Case of Architecting a Maritime Domain Protection System| year = 2009| last1 = Buurman | first1 = J. | last2 = Zhang | first2 = S. | last3 = Babovic | first3 = V. | journal = Risk Analysis| volume = 29| issue = 3| pages = 366–379 | pmid = 19076327| bibcode = 2009RiskA..29..366B| s2cid = 36370133}}</ref>

A particular design problem for counterterrorist systems is the uncertainty of the future: the threat of terrorism may increase, decrease or remain the same, the type of terrorism and location are difficult to predict, and there are technological uncertainties. A potential solution is to incorporate [[Flexibility (engineering)|engineering flexibility]] into system design, allowing for flexibility when new information arrives. Flexibility can be incorporated in the design of a counter-terrorism system in the form of options that can be exercised in the future when new information is available.<ref name=":0" />