Helios

Invisible Border Monitoring System Uses Fiber Optic Cables for Detection

With the state of Arizona appearing in the news somewhat regularly for its numerous attempts at border security legislation, it’s not surprising that an invisible monitoring system is being developed and tested within the state.

The system, known as Helios, consists of laser pulses transmitted through fiber optic cables buried in the ground that respond to movements on the surface above. A detector at one or both ends of the cable analyzes these responses.

The system is more accurately described as a “distributed acoustic sensor” and is made by British company Fotech Solutions. Zonge International, a Tuscon-based geophysical engineering company, brought the technology to the states and installed a test system in the Southern Arizona desert late last year. Scott Urquhart, Zonge president, said there are a few things that make Helios a unique border monitoring system.

“First, it’s completely out of sight, so the visual impact is zero. It’s also hard to interrupt because you can’t just go shoot it or something,” he said. “It’s actually quite inexpensive. It’s just traditional fiber optic cable, so the primary cost is actually just in digging the ditch.”

The University of Arizona’s Lowell Institute for Mineral Resources and National Center for Border Security and Immigration led the evaluation of the system.

“The fact that it’s distributed sensing makes it interesting and extremely useful,” said Moe Momayez, associate professor in the department of mining and geological engineering at the University of Arizona. “You can select how closely you want to monitor a stretch of land, for example. Once you set up the system and you start monitoring, there is a huge amount of data coming in. The system can be set up to monitor every meter along the fiber in real-time, and that’s probably one of the reasons (the Department of Homeland Security) would be interested because you can locate these border crossers in real-time.”

The system is sensitive enough to detect a dog and can discriminate between people, horses and trucks. It can be set to avoid being triggered by small animals, and can also tell if people are running or walking or digging, and in which direction.

“This type of distributing sensing device could be used as an early warning system for border security to tell them that there are border crossers approaching a certain location or a certain sector,” Momayez said.

The system is designed to be a component of border security and work in conjunction with existing technologies.

“From my understanding the border crossers or traffickers, they move in groups of two or three or five from different locations and then they congregate at a specific point. Border security…they want to know so they can bring their people and other technologies to that congregation point,” he said.

The system is not without some drawbacks in its current state, with the lack of an automated discrimination or classification capability described as a one downside. This means a human has to sit and monitor the system to distinguish between people, dogs, vehicles or large animals crossing the fiber.

“Fotech has told us that they are working on it, so the new version should have event detection and pattern recognition capability,” Momayez said.

Another potential problem is that someone could dig down and cut the cable. However, the issue is very preventable, Urquhart explained.

“You can see the guy starting to dig for your cable. You have an opportunity to respond to that,” he said. “The other thing is the Helios system, if you had lasers on each end, even if they cut it, both sections are alive. It’s not like an electrical wire if you cut it, it’s dead. It would still basically be working, even if there was a hole in the middle. It’s difficult to completely blind it.”

The Helios system is not new technology and is already used to monitor large engineering works such as dams, pipelines, bridges, and highways for cracks or seismic damage. It has also been used along military bases and prisons as a stand-alone system.

As far as a border security application, the University of Arizona has recommended deployment of the system over much longer stretch of land, preferably where the border patrol operates. At this time, the system is currently in a holding pattern, Urquhart said, as Zonge is seeking additional funding to do a larger experiment.

Photo: Pete Brown/UA College of Engineering

Featured

  • An Inside Look From Napco at ISC West

    Get a look into the excitement at ISC West 2025 from Napco. Hear from some of their top-tech executives live from the show floor. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Upping the Ante

    I am not a betting man in terms of cards, dice, blackjack or that wheel with the black marble racing around the circumference of a spinning wheel, but I would bet on the success of ISC West this year. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • It's Show Time

    I am one of those people that likes to see things get bigger and better. As advertised, ISC West is going to be bigger (more exhibitors) and better (more attendees). It’s show time in Las Vegas. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • SIA Releases New Report on Operational Security Technology

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has released an impactful new resource – Operational Security Technology: Principles, Challenges and Achieving Mission-Critical Outcomes Leveraging OST. Read Now

New Products

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.