An intelligent portable border control system combined with a fixed border protection post provides a flexible and dynamic approach to border security. A virtual fence may be the best solution.
Border security is crucial in many countries, particularly those with porous or disputed borders.
Several locations worldwide have open borders without physical barriers, including the Schengen Area in Europe, the Canada-US border, and many small island nations. Despite the benefits of open borders, effective border security remains a significant challenge in many regions due to limited resources, political instability, and porous borders that facilitate the movement of illicit goods and people.
In environments where fencing is not feasible, border security is achievable using a flexible, dynamic approach that combines intelligent portable border control systems and fixed protection posts. Adopting this approach enables flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and provides maximum security in areas where fences are not viable.
While physical barriers such as walls or fences are the preferred solution, they are costly, hard to maintain, and in some cases, controversial. However, alternative strategies can help secure borders without relying on physical barriers.
Surveillance technologies and intelligence-gathering tools are installed in critical areas to address these challenges and provide a robust and reliable defence against unauthorised entry. The strategic placing of these technologies in predetermined locations along the open border allows security forces to receive timely warnings of intrusions and suspicious movements, enabling continuous monitoring and rapid response to potential security threats.
Containment areas are crucial
When combined with permanent protection mechanisms, portable border control systems can enhance border protection. By integrating multiple multi-sensor systems in an overlapping manner, protection circles are an ideal approach to ensuring comprehensive coverage of a protected zone. These systems can be mounted on tactical vehicles and equipped with surveillance technologies, allowing security forces to conduct continuous situational assessments and respond to alerts received through intelligence gathering. This flexible and mobile defence strategy enables security forces to concentrate on areas of highest risk and respond more effectively to potential threats.
For open borders, a containment area is necessary to control the entry of perpetrators. This agreed-upon zone allows them a certain degree of freedom to cross the open border within specific parameters, where border force protection can contain their presence and movements and intervene if necessary.
Intelligence gathering is a top priority for border security. Investing in accurate and timely intelligence enables security forces to receive early warnings of potential threats and make better-informed assessments. This leads to a more effective response to terror organisations planning to penetrate the border and dormant cells within the territory or neighbouring countries.
Risk management is crucial
Enhancing cooperation with neighbouring countries is vital for border security. Sharing information and resources allows governments to coordinate their efforts better to prevent illegal crossings and criminal activities. Joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and joint training exercises can all help improve border security. Cooperation and information sharing with neighbouring countries are essential for ensuring an effective open-border defence strategy.
Risk management is crucial in countries with extensive open borders, particularly in Africa, where appropriate infrastructure may be lacking. Prioritising areas that are more vulnerable to potential threats helps focus border security efforts in preventing infiltration.
Securing an open border requires a comprehensive and strategic approach involving studying the area, gathering intelligence, deploying forces with appropriate training and equipment, strengthening situational awareness through sensors, radar posts, observation towers, and UAVs, implementing multi-layered surveillance and defence, and centralising all means effectively through integrated command and control systems.
The Protection Circle concept
Beesense‘s concept uses five protection circles, integrating various multi-sensor systems in an overlapping layout to provide complete coverage of a protected area. The virtual protection circles range from as near as 140m up to ultra-long ranges of 26 km and more, providing closure of infiltration routes by tracking targets from a distance until they approach the protected area while identifying and characterising their threat. This whole methodology, which requires effort, strength building, training, exercises, and constant improvement, can result in an effective border security solution.
The Protection Circle concept consists of several layers, each providing a different level of security and surveillance.
The first layer, the Virtual fence circle, is based on the FIREFLY system, which delivers the full coverage of an all-in-one perimeter security system and hermetically closes the protected area up to 140m. Each sub-system that constructs the virtual fence is embedded with an inertial AI target classification and video analysis app that analyses the collected data. The fused and analysed data of the different system sensors ensure high-value intelligence with a low false alarm ratio and a high probability of threat detection.
The second layer, called the tactical circle, covers a more extended range of up to 2 km and is based on the Mantis system. This layer closes infiltration routes behind enemy lines and serves as a camouflaged forward observation system customisable with additional sensors, communication, and power supply. Optional add-ons include radar, solar panels, motion/seismic sensors, battery packs, and camouflage kits tailored to the terrain. The system is an ‘Activated Vigilance System’, where sensors awaken upon sensing something. This feature allows the system to have a low energy signature and maintain a long system lifespan.
The third layer, or operational circle, focuses on target identification and characterisation from 2 km to 4 km. This layer is based on the BEE1 camera system, which provides reliable surveillance and monitoring over an even more extensive range. The operational circle is extended further by the fourth layer, which offers mid-to-long-range observation coverage based on the BEE3 uncooled system. This layer provides accurate and efficient surveillance of up to 12 km long distances. The intelligence circle’s final layer is based on BEE5 and features an ultra-long-range observation camera system capable of covering vast areas (Identification range). This layer provides HD effective visual day/night coverage with SWIR and cooled thermic channels, ensuring comprehensive surveillance and monitoring capabilities.
Virtual fencing employs advanced technologies
Virtual fences provide a secure boundary without a physical barrier, safeguarding critical infrastructure such as buildings from intrusion by surrounding their perimeters with a virtual fence. As an essential component of security systems for detecting activities and intrusions, virtual fencing employs advanced technologies to effectively monitor and track the movements of people, vehicles, and even low-flying aerial targets. Due to the nature of virtual fences, they are “higher” than physical barriers, and their sensors enable a wider viewing angle for enhanced coverage. By integrating virtual fencing into a layered perimeter security system, it bolsters overall security resilience, offering real-time threat detection, protection for restricted access areas, and comprehensive 360-degree coverage in all weather conditions.
Beesense’s comprehensive security solution is designed to protect against various targets, including land-based threats such as vehicles and humans, airborne threats like drones, and maritime threats involving vessels and swimmers. By integrating advanced AI capabilities, Beesense’s products significantly reduce the need for human intervention while lowering false alarm rates and increasing the probability of detection. Beesense’s turnkey solution is fully integrated with advanced technology such as EO/IR, radar, communication, command and control, and power supply systems, making it an adaptable choice for any challenge or budget. This smart, tailored approach ensures that Beesense’s clients receive the most effective and efficient protection possible.
By implementing Beesense’s Protection Circle concept, countries can establish a comprehensive and strategic approach to border security without relying on physical barriers. The multi-layered surveillance approach generates an entire security landscape picture that digitally controls any terrain. It allows for continuous monitoring and rapid response to potential security threats, making it an effective solution for securing open borders.
