Technological challenges for managing border security

When it comes to border security, conventional means seem to be unable to counter modern challenges on a large scale. A new approach is vital to address this issue more adequately. One of the main challenges is for example the management of goods and persons at the borders. Could the implementation of technology be the key for securing our borders?

With the declared H2020 goal of developing and implementing new technology, the European Union intends to put its partly defective border control mechanisms onto another level. Technically enhanced systems, better equipped personnel and further methods for faster identification of individuals are primary aims. At the same time, the free movement of persons, as well as the protection of personal data and privacy should be maintained.

Improved information exchange

In its Horizon 2020 work programme on secure societies, the European Commission states:

“One major challenge is to manage the flow of travelers and goods arriving at the Unions external borders, while at the same time tackling irregular migration and enhancing our internal security. Better modelling and predicting migration flows, based on a sound analysis, is required for high-level strategic decision-making, to plan and implement operational activities. For the management of the migratory flow, including relocations within the EU, it is necessary to map public sentiment by analysing data available from many different governmental or public sources, and by developing socio-economic indicators of integration strategies.”

When dealing with incoming traffic, communication and the availability of information is of vital concern. However, the border control and coast guard authorities of different countries use different formats, sources and software to access data. Moreover, those systems often lack compatibility and therefore limit possibilities of cooperation. Consequently, the further aim in this matter is to integrate systems into a standardized and intuitive interface that shares real time information and provides assistance to border guards for decision making, while at the same time remaining in contact with their command. New technological approaches should therefore target and optimize the exploitation of data for their specific use in surveillance.

Managing migration flows

“One main challenge is to manage the flow of travellers and goods arriving at our external borders, while at the same time tackling irregular migration and enhancing our internal security. The adoption of appropriate organisational measures and the deeper understanding of how novel technologies and social media impact border control are required.”

Within this context, it is important to understand how the EU is perceived in foreign countries by analysing social media data and public sources. Effective remedy will be necessary, as well as international cooperation in research and innovation in order to find out if there is a security threat such as terrorist activities.

When it comes to monitoring individuals, document fraud has become a topic of a growing concern, since it enables all types of organized crime and terrorism. Hence, new countermeasures are needed to address potential forgeries: The use of biometric techniques (in particular for the detection of morphed face images) for identification could be essential. However, this technology needs further testing in real environments before the actual implementation.

Surveying goods

Another big issue is the monitoring of goods. The detection of dangerous and illegal products such as drugs as well as smuggled goods should be supported by new sampling strategies that can be implemented without disrupting the legal business by using non-intrusive security checks. New methods should target the integration and automation of existing and new technologies for the purpose of identifying possible problematic materials and ensuring the full supervision of the logistic flow of goods.

“The enhancement of detection capabilities of contraband (mainly cigarettes) hidden in high density cargo (coal, iron ore) in particular for rail cargo transport, and well as the fight against illicit trafficking of radioactive and nuclear (NR) materials through the establishment of trans-European network of detection facilities with its specific concept of operations is of particular relevance.”

Artificial intelligence and remotely piloted equipment

With the implementation of artificial intelligence, the transition from innovation to operation could be facilitated. Persistent surveillance in maritime areas and complementing operation from offshore patrol vessels could be promoted via such means. This would contribute to better situational awareness beyond coastal waters; while at the same time amend cost effectiveness and reliability in recon missions. However, such automated and unmanned systems are far from being ready for implementation.

Technology will play an crucial role when it comes to securing Europe and its borders. However, more research is still necessary, as the actual effectiveness of existing software as well as the development of novel approaches need to become even more advanced.

References

[1] European Commission.  (2017). Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020.

Keywords

Border security, Technology, Information exchange, Safety, Migration, Artificial intelligence, External borders, Internal security, Social media, Border control, Flow of goods, Contraband, Maritime area, Organised crime