ASPRS 2011 Annual Conference Milwaukee, Wisconsin  May 1-5, 2011 NEAR REAL-TIME CHANGE DETECTION FOR BORDER MONITORING Lloyd L. Coulter, Research Specialist 1 Christopher D. Lippitt, Doctoral Candidate 1 Douglas A. Stow, Professor 1 Richard W. McCreight, Director 2 1 Department of Geography San Diego State University San Diego, CA 92182-4493 2 NEOS, Ltd. 2930 Horizon Hills Dr. Prescott, AZ 86305 lcoulter@geography.sdsu.edu lippitt@rohan.sdsu.edu stow@mail.sdsu.edu neos500@gmail.com ABSTRACT Advances in aerial platforms, imaging sensors, image processing/computing, and geo-positioning systems make near real-time detection and tracking of moving objects on the ground more practical and cost effective. We present a methodological framework for near real-time monitoring of border areas with active and frequent illegal immigration and/or smuggling. The goal is to assist law enforcement in locating and monitoring people and/or vehicles traversing the border region. The approach utilizes low cost platforms such as light aircraft (LA) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for repeat imaging over short time periods of minutes to hours depending on the border response zone (i.e. urban, rural, and remote). Specialized image collection and processing techniques are employed for automated detection of changes potentially associated with security threats along the U.S. border. This type of near real-time change detection with subsequent pattern/trend analysis is expected to also be applicable to other applications such as live stock management, biological surveys, disaster management, etc. KEYWORDS: change detection, automated, real-time, sensor orientation, airborne, UAV, border security INTRODUCTION The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency is responsible for securing the borders of the United States, and the Border Patrol specifically is responsible for patrolling the 10,000 kilometers of Mexican and Canadian international borders. Their general mission is to detect and prevent illegal entry of people and/or goods into the United States. The Border Patrol also performs a humanitarian mission, by rescuing people lost in remote locations and exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the focus of the Border Patrol has expanded to include detection, apprehension and/or deterrence of terrorists and terrorist weapons. It is not practical, however, to closely monitor the tens of thousands of square kilometers of open land within close proximity of the border using agents and ground-based sensors alone. Airborne remote sensing offers the potential to monitor expansive areas within the border region, and identify activity of people/vehicles that has not been detected by agents patrolling the border or by ground-based sensors. As part of the National Center for Border Security and Immigration (NC-BSI or BORDERS), San Diego State University (SDSU) is developing low cost remote sensing techniques that can aid the Border Patrol in their mission. The vision of this project is to have light aircraft (LA) and/or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) patrolling active border regions, collecting repeat-pass imagery over periods of minutes, identifying changes in the imagery that are associated with the movement of people and/or vehicles through the border region, and providing that information in a timely manner to agents on the ground. Agents may then utilize the information to locate individuals of interest.