Comprehensive, large-scale border security that fits within a nation?s budget has been a major challenge to technologists. This is especially true for the U.S. Southwest border where, so far, technology has come up short.

A new system based on existing technology may hold the promise of providing what has been the missing link in border systems ? reliable, seamless detection.

The new system is an adaptation of seismic oil exploration technology and is called IDENTISEIS. It consists of an unbroken line of buried geophones connected to powerful seismographs. A powerful algorithm looks for seismic signals made by humans, vehicles, aircraft and tunnel construction.

The system?s greater range of detection allows the algorithm time to greatly reduce false alarms. The low power draw of the seismographs allows the use of