AI-powered mobile autonomous surveillance systems for more efficient border security
By Getter Oper, Chief of Strategy and Communications @DefSecIntel Solutions and Dr Martin Lints (phD), Research Engineer @DefSecIntel Solutions
European Union Member States have altogether 45 000 km of external border. Of that 12 000 km are land borders and 33 000 km are sea borders. European Border and Coast Guard Agency (the Agency or Frontex) has identified the following main irregular border crossing routes: Eastern land borders, Western Balkan, Eastern, Central and Western Mediterranean and Western African. Additionally, it is known that the English Channel crossing is a large problem area.
The security context and landscape have crucially changed, which requires a novel approach for security. The Russian aggression against Ukraine has had a high impact on European (internal) security.
Besides Russia and Ukraine, we also cannot forget Africa and European Union southern border with problems presented by the immigration flows from that direction. Complex challenges affecting Europe, including at the European Union external borders, are forcing members states to act differently- compared with previous years, if not even decades. We can see, as a response to these complex challenges, internal border controls with the objective of improving security, even in the Schengen area.
According to EU policies, the EU helps its member states by coordinating and facilitating cooperation and joint actions against internal security threats such as terrorism or cross-border crime. In addition, the border security covers customs security, law enforcement, external border control, actions related to Schengen and internal borders, preventing and fighting terrorism, combating crimes such as human trafficking, online child abuse, cybercrime and trafficking in firearms and drugs . With Russian agression towards Ukraine came widespread tactics of testing out eastern border by Russian hybrid warfare units, adding another task to the long list of border guard units. These are challenging tasks, taking into account different terrains, and sea-land and coastal dimension as well as limited resources. To add more complexity into fulfilling those tasks, border guard units are facing continued challenge to recruit and train manpower to man problematic areas.
We have witnessed how complex challenges border security end-users are facing, but is there a comprehensive solution?
EU coordinated approach
In the ever-evolving landscape of border security, the need for innovative solutions has become increasingly crucial. We can see, as a response to complex challenges, the EU and its Member States taking a more proactive and comprehensive approach to border management and security. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has been empowered with a stronger mandate and increased resources to coordinate the EU’s external border control efforts. Frontex is now able to deploy its own equipment and personnel, in addition to coordinating the activities of national border guards. This enables a more unified and effective response to irregular migration, cross-border crime, and other security threats at the EU’s external borders.
Furthermore, the EU has been investing in the development of various information systems and technological solutions to improve border surveillance and information-sharing between member states.
However, changing geopolitical situations and dynamically changing user needs require a rapid response with efficient and relocatable mobile systems. It´s important that funding and promoting innovation and technological developments are not just continuing with traditional static surveillance systems as these often fall short in providing the comprehensive coverage and adaptability required to address the complex challenges faced by modern border security operations.
Just to give a few examples: Coastal infrastructure security has been under deeper scrutiny for the last couple of years and this has been exacerbated by 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Due to international waters enabling any ships to travel next to any coast, it is difficult to safeguard coastal and underwater infrastructure from any bad actors. The sea routes of immigration pose their challenges as well.
Aside from coastal border security, challenges have also increased on the land borders. In the past years we have seen spikes of migratory flows and pressure both on Eastern borders, which has resulted in increased investment in Eastern Border security, with Member States that are neighbouring Belarus and Russia, investing large sums of money building border walls and supplying the borders with technical observation means. Yet, there are many limitations in capabilities and efficiency, which is why mobile autonomous systems could be considered instead.
Mobile autonomous systems advantages
Mobile and efficient situational awareness is vital in sea and land border guarding, particularly in areas with limited border infrastructure and sparse human patrols. Mobile multi-domain autonomous surveillance systems offer several advantages over stationary systems. Firstly, they provide greater coverage and flexibility. Stationary systems are limited to monitoring a fixed area, whereas mobile systems can dynamically adjust their positions to track targets or respond to changing circumstances. This allows them to cover a larger geographic area and provide more comprehensive surveillance.
Secondly, mobile systems are less predictable and easier to conceal. Stationary systems are obvious and easily avoided by potential subjects of surveillance. In contrast, mobile systems can be hidden or blend into the environment, making them harder to detect and evade. This enhances their covert monitoring capabilities.
Thirdly, mobile systems can navigate challenging terrain and access hard-to-reach locations that stationary systems cannot. This expands the range of areas that can be effectively monitored, including remote, rugged, or inaccessible locations.
Multi-domain mobile surveillance solutions combine the best technologies for cost-efficiently covering territories with automated missions, which save time and minimize serious threats for end users.
Furthermore, mobile autonomous systems can be rapidly deployed and redeployed as needed. They provide a flexible, agile, and responsive surveillance capability that can be tailored to different operational requirements. Stationary systems, on the other hand, are limited to their fixed locations and cannot easily be moved.
Finally, mobile systems can be integrated with advanced technologies such as facial recognition, object tracking, and predictive analytics to enhance their surveillance capabilities. These technological integrations are more challenging to implement with stationary systems.
Enhancing efficiency by AI-assisted technology
While advancements in sensors and unmanned vehicles have automated data collection, they have also introduced the challenge of managing data overload. However, technology, especially AI-enhanced mobile surveillance systems can make the difference and offer more efficient surveillance and control. Mobile autonomous surveillance systems are enhancing situational awareness and deliver unparalleled efficiency in border surveillance. Unlike static surveillance towers or systems, autonomous platforms can be place where needed and change the position accordingly. Automated drones can be sent out for verifications. This mobility allows for rapid deployment, the ability to cover hard-to-reach areas, and the flexibility to respond to emerging situations in a timely manner.
Systems, equipped with the AI-powered analytics capabilities enable advanced decision-support features. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, the systems can recognize patterns, identify potential threats, and provide valuable insights to border security operators. The systems can accurately detect and classify potential threats, providing border security personnel with real-time alerts and actionable intelligence. AI plays a crucial role in simplifying regular tasks for operators and increasing efficiency. As summary, this enhanced situational awareness allows for more informed decision-making, leading to more effective and efficient border control operations.
AI-enhanced autonomous surveillance platforms for multimodal surveillance and comprehensive situational awareness enabling long-range automated detection of drones, people, and vehicles. These advanced solutions leverage the power of artificial intelligence, seamlessly blending cutting-edge sensors, robust mobility, and real-time data processing to create a comprehensive and adaptive security framework.
Mobile surveillance systems with the integration of AI-driven radars, big data analytics, including employ advanced computer vision, object detection, and machine learning algorithms to continuously monitor and analyse the border environment with cameras, radars and EW. By processing data from a network of high-resolution cameras, thermal imagers, and other specialized sensors, the systems can accurately detect and classify potential threats, providing border security personnel with real-time alerts and actionable intelligence.
Cost-efficiency
Based on public spending documents, on average, building a border with physical barriers and existing technical surveillance solutions has been costing on average €1 million per km.
Although not a direct replacement for other types of border security infrastructure, the mobile surveillance platform can cost between €1-2 million (depending on the integrated sensors and AI analytics) and can have automatic surveillance radius of up to 20 km, which, aside from covering the border line itself (where visible), can give information ‘in depth’ and provide reaction time, all-weather capability and mobility.
Mobile platforms greatly reduce human involvement in the detection of targets. The AI-enhanced workflow will be extensible to existing border sensors and provide comprehensive picture of what is happening both on the demarcation line and also in depth, in an automated way. In terms of cost-effectiveness, mobile autonomous systems may be more efficient, as a single mobile unit can potentially replace multiple stationary cameras or sensors. This can lead to reduced infrastructure and maintenance costs.
To conclude, the superior mobility, flexibility, covertness, and technological integration of autonomous mobile surveillance systems make them a more effective and advantageous solution compared to traditional stationary systems in many security and surveillance applications. We have very good different European solutions available, which can be tailored based on specific needs, and ready to be tested and demonstrated to security end-users.
