ITS at Borders

Edward McCormack

Winter 2009

2

National Borders Problem Context

• Primary Border Function– Ensure That Only

Permitted Persons and Goods Enter the Country

• Inspection Process Results In Congestion

• ITS Solution Sets – Provide Traveler

Information– Improve Processing

TimeSource: Bart Cima IBI

3

Border Data• Freight (much of the paper work is handled

by brokers)– Tariffs – Quotas– Bills of lading/manifests – Produce control (such as drug interdiction) – Currency law

• People (held by each individual traveler)– Nationality– Health– Employment status– Time in or out of county– Permission to enter or stay in country– Political status – Criminal record

4

Many Agencies Involved in Border Operations

•Customs and Border Protection– Immigration– Cargo– Agriculture

•DEA•Fish and Wildlife •U.S. Marshals•ATF•Coast Guard

•Border station “owned” by Government Services Agency

5

Complex Environment

Source: WCOG

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The Border Post 9-11

• Emphasis on security• Customs went from revenue collection

to a security agency• Increasing reliance on pre-clearance of

known shippers and closer scrutiny of chains of custody

• Increasing use of ITS and other technologies to verify people, cargo, vehicle

8

Smart Border Accord & Technology

• In 2002, US and Canada agreed to sort out border issues

• 30 point accord heavy on technology including ITS

• But technology alone does not make the border smart• It can enhance security

• by reducing identity fraud• by help to sort and analyze traveler information

• And can improve traffic flow• by linking data and pre-clearing travelers / cargo• by managing congestion

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Washington - British

Columbia Region

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Washington Borders

• Four Crossings at Wash./B.C. border

• Two can be used by trucks

• Operates as a system

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Example Washington/B.C. Border has a Congestion

Problem• 4th busiest commercial crossing on

border• 700,000 trucks crossed in 2006• 6 million cars crossed in 2006• Delay costs millions per year• Enforcement staffing has not kept up

with traffic

ITS Solutions – Border Crossing Advanced

Traveler Information System (ATIS)

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Background

Traveler Information Needs:

• Pre-trip planning information

• Advance notification of crossing wait times

Source: Bart Cima IBI

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Pre-Trip Information

• Traffic Cameras• Historical Wait Time Data• Customs Reports

15

Peace Arch or Pacific Highway?

, WA

SURREY, BC

??

??

PeacePeace Arch Arch

Pacific Pacific HighwayHighway

99

Source: WCOG

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, WA

SURREY, BC

PeacePeace Arch Arch

Pacific Pacific HighwayHighway

PA….25 minPH….37 min

PA….55 minPH….10 minSource: WCOG

The ATIS Solution

NB: Save 45 minutes at Pac Hwy.SB: Save 8 minutes at Peace Arch.

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British Columbia Southbound ATIS Project

• Funds From Both Countries

• Measures Real-time Border Crossing Times

• Captures Video Images

• Message Signs, Telephone, & Internet

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Southbound ATIS

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Northbound ATIS • Developed by WSDOT• Project includes:

– Web Site– Traffic Cameras– Highway Advisory Radio– Loop Detectors

• Border Agencies Also Interested in Data– Including Access to CCTV

Cameras

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Northbound ATIS

Improving Processing Time

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ITS Approaches to Improve Processing Time

• Identification of lower-risk people, vehicles and shipments

• Make the data exchanges electronic (reduce paper transactions)

• Use inspection technology

ITS Solutions for Passenger Vehicles

Border Technology

25

License Plate Readers

• Electronic identification of license plates

• Automatic link to law enforcement databases

• Helps identify of vehicles of interest

License Plate Readers

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License Plate Readers

• Uses optical character recognition and works at night

• Have difficulty reading some state’s plates, some fonts, and in some weather conditions

• Border traffic is slow speed so system works well

• Needs to tied to a database

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NEXUS Program

• Passenger vehicles• Smart card-based,

bi-national travel program

• Pre-approved travelers can skip queues and access a dedicated commuter lane

1-866-NEXUS26

www.ccra.gc.ca/nexus

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Nexus Card

• Cost $50 (US) for approved individuals

• Proximity-based radio frequency card with chip and antenna

• Reader next to inspection booth

• Displays data and digital photo inside booth

Passport/License Card

• New Washington State driver licenses with RFID chip and unique ID number (no information)

• Less costly than a passport• Passports also have

RFID chip

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Proximity Card Reader

Cameras

Solutions for Freight Movement

34

The Trade Flow

Cargo

Shipper

Customs Forms

Carrier

Border Inspection

Driver

Vehicle

Source: Bart Cima IBI

35

Electronic Filing

Customs Forms

Cargo

ShipperCarrier

Border Inspection

Driver

Vehicle

Customs Systems

US Now Requires One Hour

Notification

Source: Bart Cima IBI

36

WSDOT In–Bond Project

• In-Bond Shipments– Transit shipments thru the US– Shipper posts a bond

• Tracks shipment from Ports of Seattle and Tacoma to border with Canada

• Uses Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) Technology– Vehicle Mounted Transponder (the CVISN

Transponder)– Roadside Readers

Advanced Notification for Entering US

• Trucks – one hour• Ships – 24 hours• Airplanes – Before leaving• Cars/People - none

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Source: Bart Cima IBI

In-Bond Project

Cargo

ShipperCarrier

Border Inspection

Driver

Vehicle

Customs Systems

Transponder

Source: Bart Cima IBI

Source: Bart Cima IBI

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Northbound In-Bond Process• When truck exits port,

the system alerts US Customs

• AVI readers at weigh stations provide en-route information

• AVI reader south of the border gives preview of in-bond status

• Automatically clears out the bond and marks the cargo as exported

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Risk Assessment• Identification of Lower Risk

Shipments • A number of programs designed to

reduce risk– Pre-arrival program for trusted truckers– Automated targeting systems– Electronic container seals

• Allow inspection agencies to focus on higher-risk traffic

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Risk Assessment

Cargo

ShipperCarrier

Border Inspection

Driver

Vehicle

Customs Systems Risk Assessment

E-Seal

Source: Bart Cima IBI

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Risk Assessment & Container Seals

Standard “dumb” seal

Transponder door seal

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One eSeal that was tested in Washington

• Disposable transponder for container door

• 316 MHz (military frequency)

• Costs $5

• Tamper indicator message

• Readable at 35 MPH

• Transmits unique ID number

Another E-seal Tested in Washington

• Semi-disposable• CVISN Compatible• 915 MHz • Costs $50

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Other Electronic Container Seals

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Electronic Seal Functions

• Reusable or disposable• Battery life• Durability• Cost• Active or passive• Frequency (no standard yet)• Readable at freeway speeds• Range• Security

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Example: How Electronic Seals Work

• In-transit containers of prohibited foods “lost” by US Department of Agriculture

• Seal track containers from Texas and Port of Tacoma to Canada

• Reader at border indicates when containers have left country

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eSeal being Programmed

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eSeal Installed

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eSeal Readers at Border

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Internet Backbone

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Advantages of the Electronic Seals

• Electronic data reduces paper work, increase accuracy

• Security – more positive ID of container

• Track freight in ports and on highways

• Step towards tagging all containers

• Focus enforcement resources

53

Risk Assessment - FAST• Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Program• Pre-Screens

– Commercial Drivers– Carriers– Shippers

• Transponder Issued to Trucks• Smart Card to Drivers• Requires Electronic Filing of Custom Forms• Provides Dedicated Lane• As trade partners in supply chain must be

certified

54

Source: Bart Cima IBI

FAST

Cargo

ShipperCarrier

Border Inspection

Driver

Vehicle

Customs Systems Risk Assessment

Transponder FAST

Source: Bart Cima IBI

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FAST Proximity Card

Screening Technologies

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Biometrics

• Fingerprint, iris scan, facial, hand geometry, speech recognition

• Expensive and requires large database

• Privacy concerns• Slows border process – false positives• Best used in indoor, controlled

environment

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The new VISIT Program uses Fingerprint

Biometrics

                                                                 

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Mobile VACIS

• Vehicle And Cargo Inspection System

• Truck Mounted Gamma Ray Mobile Scanning System

• Captures an Image of Contents

• Image Similar to an X-ray.

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VACUS

Radiation Detection

• Both fixed and handheld devices common

• False positives common

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Screening Technologies

• Computer tomography (CAT scan)• x-ray scanning• gamma-ray imaging (VACUS) • neutron interrogation• ultrasonic and thermal imaging• Spectral analysis• Others under development

65

In-Bond ITS Needs Border Infrastructure

• No advantages to transponder truck if stuck behind untagged trucks

• New Lane at Blainewill provide access for transponder equipped trucks