JOHOR BAHRU, 9 October – A border monitoring system has been developed by a group of researchers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) to assist the authorities to carry out border control tasks.
This is to enable the relevant authorities such as the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) to monitor the border zone more effectively and efficiently.
Project Leader, Prof. Ir. Dr. Abu Sahmah Mohd Supa’at said most of the world today use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) technology to collect information at critical locations.
“Our proposal is to provide a complete solution for border security monitoring system, especially with the use of UAV known as Drones to retrieve information and description of the boundaries in order to provide critical and appropriate security solutions.
“This system can help the Malaysian authorities to combat trafficking of human and goods, combating smuggling and unauthorized arrivals in rural areas for the purpose of monitoring the safety of the border,” he said.
Prof. Abu Sahmah said that the border monitoring system developed by UTM can be divided into three parts which are Tracking, UAV and Observation System.
“Information of the arrival of illegal migrants for instance, will be sent to the UAV through tracking devices installed in designated areas by the Malaysian authorities.
“Based on information received, the UAV will fly to specified areas to take pictures and important data to be sent to the monitoring division which serves as the Operations Room to determine the correct action to be taken,” he said.
All data acquisition will be performed by UAV drones and analysed by a computer in the monitoring centre for the determination of the action, at the same time solving the problem of integrity among staff on duty.
“For a start, the systems will be tested in the Malaysia-Thailand Bukit Kayu Hitam border, Kedah Darul Aman and if successful, will be extended to Lahad Datu, Sabah and other areas deemed necessary,” he said.
Research entitled ‘Border Security System Onshore Compliance’ received a research grant of RM6.85 million from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and delivered by the Minister of Education of Malaysia, Dato ‘Seri Idris Jusoh under the Malaysian Laboratories for Academia-Business Collaboration (myLab).