Virtual Borders

Here is an interesting piece from the BBC on electronic borders. It discusses the EADS deal with Saudi Arabia to install an electronic system for monitoring of its land and sea borders. Systems such as SBInet use advanced electronic systems such as cameras, radars, motion sensors, etc. to detect individuals, groups or vehicles crossing a border between recognized check points. In theory, these detections can then be passed to law enforcement to conduct the interecpt and apprehension. It is analogous to air intercept with an AWACS and fighters.

The challenges come with integration of mutiple sensor systems. Determining if the motion detector picked up a person or an animal is a non-trivial problem. Likewise finding people in a sandstorm.

Then you have to communicate with your interceptors.

Lots of promise, but lots of risk.