FOLDOUT project: Towards an enhanced and innovative architecture for border protection

Abstract

The objective of the European Union (EU) in the field of external border protection is to safeguard the freedom of movement within the Schengen area, and to ensure efficient monitoring of people who cross EU's external borders. To achieve an effective and efficient border management, there is a need for applying enhanced technologies and methods that support personnel to ensure the national security interests of states while allowing the cross-border flow of legitimate trade and commerce. The pa per initially discusses and analyses technologies used in EU external borders and res earch projects in border surveillance areas. We will further analyze the FOLDOUT research project, which focuses on through foliage detection in the inner and outermost regions of the EU. Based on the outcome of the aforementioned analysis, border guards’ need for innovative and modern technologies (e.g., maintenance systems, drones, wearable & nbsp; devices etc.) that will support border surveillance processes will be highlighted. Finally, a novel and enhanced FOLDOUT architecture will be developed and incorporated with the technologies described earlier. These innovations (a) could play a significant role in the daily activities organizational and planning tasks of border management, as well as other involved stakeholders federal agencies, and (b) might also enhance EU externa l borders security.