  When we talk about safety, we first and foremost have in mind transport safety and safety against terrorist attacks. Global transport safety is a matter of countless effects and circumstances, reflecting the general level of development of the environment. An important role in this is played by the level of development of information technology and its integration into transport systems, the level of automation of transport processes, and the level of development of logistics. With regard to all this, in certain segments it is sensible to plan measures for improving transport safety at the national level; in other segments, these measures must take into account the specificities of individual regions. Of course, the specific characteristics of individual modes of transport must also be taken into account.
The FBI defines terrorism as the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in the furtherance of political or social objectives. In this sense transport systems are extremely vulnerable and the problem of safety must therefore be tackled with extreme care. In this connection we must not forget that this sphere is subject to rapid change. In addition to classic (or physical) types of terrorism, we are facing increasing threats from cyber-terrorism and information terrorism. We can counter these threats only by engaging the most intelligent weapons.
 Transport systems have positive but of course also negative effects on the environment. Though the latter cannot entirely be avoided, they must be mitigated as much as possible. Action must be based on the determination of vulnerability, an assessment of environmental impact (noise, pollution of the air, soil and water) and proposed protective techniques. The European Union has been devoting a great deal of attention to this problem. Once the transitional period expires, the IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) Directive will also come into force in Slovenia; as a result, we must immediately begin to prepare for its implementation.
An important part is also played by measures for the prevention of emergency situations and, if they nevertheless take place, rapid and effective reaction. Electrical engineering and information management experts participate in both prevention and rectification, rendering the theme of this year's Symposium so much more attractive for guests. The issue of the retrieval, processing, management and dissemination of information, and the control and management of processes, arouses the interest of all of us. |
