Presented at USA-SOUTH AFRICA: BORDER SURVEILLANCE AND ANTI-POACHING TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION SYMPOSIUM Dr. Stephen Lee, Chief Scientist U.S. Army Research Office

1. What are Appropriate Border
Surveillance Technologies?
Dr. Stephen Lee, Chief Scientist
U.S. Army Research Office

2. United States – South Africa
Border Surveillance Technology
Cooperation Symposium
Dr. Stephen Lee, Chief Scientist
U.S. Army Research Office
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 • PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

3. • U.S. ARO Overview
• Counter Poaching Perspective
• Projects Being investigated
• Observations
3

4. U.S. Army Research Office
• 293 Institutes of higher learning
• 1093 Individual investigators
• 47 Research centers
-
Overview
• Utilize the vast intellectual capital
of our nation’s universities to:
• Exploit scientific opportunities for
revolutionary new Army capabilities
• Drive science to develop solutions to existing
Army technology needs
• Accelerate transition of basic research
• Strengthen university, industry, government
partnerships
• Educate and train the future S&E workforce
for the Army
Research ranges from atom optics for
underground bunker/tunnel detection to nano-energetics
for more powerful and insensitive
munitions and propellants
Research Thrusts
 Chemistry
 Computing and
Info Science
 Electronics
 Environmental
 Life Sciences
 Materials
 Mathematics
 Mechanics
 Network Science
 Nanoscience
 Physics

5. U.S. Army Research Office
Organization
Director
Engineering
Sciences
Physical
Sciences
Chief Scientist
Operations
Directorate
Special Assistant
Information
Sciences
Support
Management
Physics
Mechanical
Sciences
Mathematical
Science
Information
Management
Chemistry
Materials
Science
Computational
Sciences
Acquisition
Center
Life
Sciences
Electronics
Network
Sciences
Environmental
Sciences
Outreach
Programs
Military Deputy
Legal Counsel
ARO executes the majority of ARL’s
university research
~ 100 employees at RTP, NC
44 PhD Program Managers

6. U.S. Army Research Office
International Cooperation

7. Perspective:
The U.S. Army Faces Similar Challenges
to those of Counter Poaching Activities
ONE of 1,000+ in South Africa in 2013
Infiltration
Large Area
Surveillance
Small Unit Conflict
Smuggling

8. To Win, we need to get ahead of the Act
Counter Improvised Explosive Device
Acquire & Store
Transport
Counter Poaching
Bomb
Builder
Transport Device
Concealment
Detonation
The Act
Acquire
Train
Recruit
Spot
Infiltrate

9. Counter Poaching
R&D Technical Framework
Organized Crime / State-sponsored Corruption
Local
Handlers
Poachers
Local
Transport
National
Transport
International
Transport Manufacturers Suppliers
Consumers
Poaching Supply Chain
Indigenous
Initiated

10. Organized Crime / State-sponsored Corruption
Local
Handlers
Poachers
Local
Transport
National
Transport
International
Transport Manufacturers Suppliers
Indigenous
Initiated
Night Vision
UAVs, Aerostats Dyes
Unattended Sensors GPS Tags
Poaching Supply Chain
Horse-Dog Teams Ethnographic Analysis
RFID Proximity Tags Forward-Deployed Forensic Labs
Consumers
Counter Poaching
R&D Technical Framework
Poaching

11. Organized Crime / State-sponsored Corruption
Local
Handlers
Poachers
Local
Transport
National
Transport
International
Transport Manufacturers Suppliers
Contraband Detectors
GPS Tags & Seals
Beef Test
Indigenous
Initiated
Poaching Supply Chain
Consumers
Counter Poaching
R&D Technical Framework
Transportation

12. Organized Crime / State-sponsored Corruption
Local
Handlers
Poachers
Local
Transport
National
Transport
International
Transport Manufacturers Suppliers
Ethnographic
Analysis
Indigenous
Initiated
Poaching Supply Chain
Consumers
Counter Poaching
R&D Technical Framework
Consumer

13. Counter Poaching Funding Status
U.S. Army R&D Technical Initiatives
Current Funding Status
Funded
Partially Funded **
Organized Crime / State-sponsored Corruption
Poaching Supply Chain
Contraband Detectors
GPS Tags & Seals
Beef Test
Local
Handlers
Demonstrations of existing Army Technologies & Systems **
Poachers
Local
Transport
National
Transport
International
Transport Manufacturers Suppliers
Indigenous
Initiated
Consumers
Night Vision
UAVs, Aerostats Dyes
Unattended Sensors ** GPS Tags
Horse-Dog Teams Ethnographic Analysis
RFID Proximity Tags Forward-Deployed Forensic Labs
Ethnographic
Analysis

14. Contraband Detection
Rhino Horn Sensing
Supported by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and White Oak

15. Prototype Beef Test
Discriminate Game Meat
Objective
To develop and field test a rapid
analysis tool (~2 hours) to
discriminate between “beef” and
game meat to interdict poaching
Positive on test identifies
Cattle (Bos Taurus) or
Zebu (Bos Indicus) or
hybrids
Negative on test indicates
NOT Cattle (Bos Taurus) and
NOT Zebu (Bos Indicus).
Further laboratory testing is
required to identify species.

16. Unattended Sensors
Doppler Radar for ID & Tracking
rScene®
Micro Radar
Classification
Algorithms
Supported by NC Zoo and MCQ Inc.

17. Unattended Sensors
Doppler Radar for ID & Tracking
• Objective to develop and field test a system
for monitoring and tracking people, vehicles,
and target animals.
• Distinct animal signatures collected.
• Each radar can monitor an area of
approximately 100 by 300m
• Radar can be complemented with seismic,
acoustic, magnetic, and cameras
Rhino Elephant
Supported by NC Zoo and MCQ Inc.
Dog
Time 
Frequency 

18. Final Observations
Observations
Dr. Stephen Lee
Chief Scientist
U.S. Army Research Office
stephen.j.lee28.civ@mail.mil
919-549-4365
P.O. Box 12211
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
USA 27709-2211
www.aro.army.mil