Although countries' borders have become more secure, it has never been more vital to guarantee that commerce continues. Vaccines and other critical medical supplies are being delivered all over the world, and checkpoints must ensure that they are processed swiftly so that aid may reach those who need it most.

This procedure may be sped up and made more secure with the use of technology. For countries to gain an advantage in the fight against the virus, border security must become more secure and flexible.

There are technical advancements that can make this procedure easier.

Using IoT to centralise data

Data analysis is crucial when it comes to maximising efficiency and detecting bottlenecks. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of sensors and cameras that can collect real-time data. This simplifies border processing in a number of ways.

IoT sensors can track records, which is important for evaluating the checkpoint's efficiency. These include data such as the overall amount of time spent at each counter by a single person. This data pool may be used by AI to enhance its analytical skills. Machine learning may assist border officials spot possible issues.

Border authorities can also learn from past failures by using data analysis and forecasting tools.

IoT can create a real-time "digital twin" of the border checkpoint on a dashboard using the data collected. Agents in charge of security will be able to monitor the data in order to identify flaws and respond quickly to events.

Using artificial intelligence to spot questionable behaviour

While protecting their nations, border control personnel are put to the test on a regular basis. Many factors, such as a wide range of vehicle kinds, a constantly fluctuating amount of traffic, and criminals' cunning, conspire to make border patrol's job difficult.

AI can help us minimise our reliance on manual inspections, which are vulnerable to smugglers' workarounds. AI-assisted face or iris scans provide an added layer of protection.

Predictive analysis based on AI and machine learning will be able to discover abnormal trends based on previous data. AI will be able to detect forged documents and modified cars that police may have overlooked. This may help to decrease the risk of corruption by lowering the amount of human error involved.

Creating models for issues

DXC Technology collaborated with one of Asia's busiest checkpoints to develop digital models of its facilities. Officials may play around with factors like weather, road closures, and vehicle kinds to see how different situations influence operations.

Three techniques are used in this simulation technology. To begin, there is a Monte Carlo simulation.

This simulation technology makes use of three approaches. Firstly, Monte Carlo simulations, a model which estimates the probabilities of all possible outcomes for a particular event.

Secondly, spatial analysis is able to account for physical changes, such as an addition of a ramp or widened roads. Lastly, the model can determine how rain, fog or even agricultural fires affect the flow of operations.

Simplifying paperwork

As regions enter a period of stricter border controls amidst the pandemic, processing time can drastically increase. Border lines at Tijuana, Mexico stretched for ten-hour queues as the US immigration authorities tightened inspection protocols in August 2020.

The economic impacts can be staggering. A single year’s worth of delays at the San Diego and Tijuana border was reported to cost the region up to US$3.4 billion in lost economic output and 88 thousand jobs.

Integrating automated systems will be key to cutting down processing time at busy checkpoints.

Checkpoints will simultaneously verify health and personal identities, which will be important as Covid-19 moves to become a long-term issue, The Straits Times reports. Vaccination records or Covid-19 test results can be stored on digital health passports, allowing checkpoint authorities to quickly evaluate the risk of travellers carrying the virus.

Border control will benefit greatly from minimising human checking. With the help of AI, security agencies will be able to perform their duties more accurately and efficiently. Amidst the global pandemic, a greater reliance on automation will help to protect citizens and open up economies faster.

(This is a slightly modified version of an article originally published in https://govinsider.asia/innovation/dxc-technology-how-ai-and-iot-will-bring-trade-tech-to-the-cutting-edge/