Development of patrolling schemes for improved border security performance through an evolutionary approach

The potential danger of unauthorized cross-border activities is a considerable national and trasnational security threat that has raised international concern over enhanced border control. In many cases, the vast size and geographical diversity of international borders increase the complexity of border security missions. Such situations require an optimal surveillance strategy to help prevent and deter suspicious activities along borders. This paper focuses on developing patrolling schemes that deploy personnel to patrol designated areas previously suspected for having unauthorized cross-border attempts. A multi-objective optimization model is proposed to design patrolling schemes that minimize vulnerability and cost. An evolutionary algorithm is used to generate a Pareto set of optimal solutions, which are characterized by the routes of patrol units. Illustrative examples are provided to discuss the effectiveness of the model.