Border crossing data acquisition, analysis, and use

The centerpiece of the legacy system was the system to capture the identifying information of a traveler and private vehicles, forward to a central processing facility, and obtain the guidance on whether the subject should be admitted. Surveillance cameras, fingerprint scanners, RFID tag readers, and license plate readers did generate additional data but it maintained its own identity. Looking at this operation from an IoT (Internet of Things) lens, and taking account of the latest technology, it seems necessary and desirable to integrate the data sources to make sure that the perspective that decision makers need is based on a complete picture of the situation - not just whether the traveler or a vehicle is on the watch list. This paper looks at some of the issues and opportunities that appear to be worth considering. It is necessarily a cursory look presented in the hope that it will be of use as the thought process for such a project starts. These are strictly personal views of the authors who have no connection with any law-enforcement agency.