Optimizing Border Patrol Operations Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

The most common approach for border patrol operations is the use of human personnel and manned ground vehicles, which is expensive, at times inefficient and sometimes even hazardous to people involved. A better approach would be using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in combination with such ground sensors. This would help improve the overall effectiveness of the surveillance system as a UAV could first scan the alert area before sending in personnel and vehicles, if deemed necessary. We propose border surveillance using multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in combination with alert stations consisting of Unattended Ground Sensors (UGSs) along the border line/fence. Upon detecting an event, an alert would be triggered by any UGS. We simulate this process by reading probability data for different timestamps from a text file. And, based on utility values of each station, two UAVs decide on which alert station to service.