Institutional and operational issues in facilitating international border crossings by commercial vehicles

Summary form only given. Fundamental changes in border processing environments and procedures are occurring in response to the realities of demand, resources, and service quality expectations. The US and Canadian Customs and Immigration Services have all embraced technology to streamline border processing of travelers and commercial cargo movements. The more significant institutional and organizational issues which shape and contain possible technology solutions are explored. Investigations, undertaken for Detroit-Windsor border crossings, of institutional and operational constraints and opportunities which shape possible intelligent vehicle highway system (IVHS) technology applications are discussed. Potential strategies to streamline the movement of low-risk commercial goods and low-risk travelers, and several technology application scenarios to support these strategies and operational practices are outlined.