The U.S. – Mexico border seems to be ready for the high tech “virtual fence,” after being delayed for several months due to minor computer glitches according to a federal official.
This virtual fence would be located in the southwest of Tucson, one section of the U.S. –Mexico border covering approximately a 28-mile radius, which would detect and capture illegal immigrants as well as drug smugglers. This 20- million virtual fence prototype consist of nine towers with sensors, cameras and radar.
Boeing the prime contractor for this project, put it on hold because the computer software for the fence was not reading correctly, in other words it couldn’t distinguish between a human trying to cross the border with a cow grazing. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff stated to a congressional committee that he was going to suspend payment to Boeing until the situation was fixed and the system was ready to be put in use.
Boeing on the other hand has set up a test day for the virtual fence during the last week of October, which would be tested in Arizona since it is considered the focal point for illegal crossings from Mexico to the United States.
If this prototype is a success then approximately 1,800 towers will be in place alongside the U.S. - Mexico border and U.S. - Canada border. By the time this project is completely in 2011 it would have cost the U.S. $8 billion.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-klein20oct20,1,7427730.story?ctrack=5&cset=true
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-fence18oct18,1,2517122.story?ctrack=6&cset=true
This virtual fence would be located in the southwest of Tucson, one section of the U.S. –Mexico border covering approximately a 28-mile radius, which would detect and capture illegal immigrants as well as drug smugglers. This 20- million virtual fence prototype consist of nine towers with sensors, cameras and radar.
Boeing the prime contractor for this project, put it on hold because the computer software for the fence was not reading correctly, in other words it couldn’t distinguish between a human trying to cross the border with a cow grazing. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff stated to a congressional committee that he was going to suspend payment to Boeing until the situation was fixed and the system was ready to be put in use.
Boeing on the other hand has set up a test day for the virtual fence during the last week of October, which would be tested in Arizona since it is considered the focal point for illegal crossings from Mexico to the United States.
If this prototype is a success then approximately 1,800 towers will be in place alongside the U.S. - Mexico border and U.S. - Canada border. By the time this project is completely in 2011 it would have cost the U.S. $8 billion.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-klein20oct20,1,7427730.story?ctrack=5&cset=true
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-fence18oct18,1,2517122.story?ctrack=6&cset=true
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