Automated Item of Interest Detection
Description
The software is designed to analyze photographs and video feeds captured by field imaging equipment for review by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents and personnel. Using proprietary software, the system processes and annotates images to identify whether they contain human subjects, animals, or vehicles. The system is designed to incorporate future enhancements that expand its detection capabilities and to improve accuracy based on user feedback.
Detailed example
The system creates a layer which is overlaid over the image to produce a box around items of interest it has determined to be likely human beings.
AI / analytics pattern
Classical/Predictive Machine Learning: Models trained on data to make predictions or classifications based on identified patterns or relationships.
Automation level / stage
c) Deployed – The use case is being actively authorized or utilized to support the functions or mission of an agency.
Expected benefit
The software analyzes images and video that are taken by operationally deployed equipment, which are then fed into CBP systems for review by USBP agents, Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers, and other CBP users. It provides quick identification of people either crossing into the U.S. at a time and place other than designated for entry, circumventing security at a port of entry, or those already inside the U.S. trying to elude capture, as well as the ability for human operators to quickly determine if subjects in an image are, in fact, human.
Audit / financial statement impact
The AI outputs do not serve as a principal basis for a decision or action concerning a specific individual or entity that has a legal, material, binding, or similarly significant effect on that individual’s or entity’s civil rights, civil liberties or privacy, equal opportunities, or access to or the ability to apply for critical government resources or services. The AI runs on video and images captured from lawfully deployed technologies used to support the U.S. Border Patrol mission between Ports of Entry. The AI provides alerts when it detects the presence of an IoI, such as persons, vehicles, animals in the image frame. With regard to persons, this computer vision application is trained to determine if the object in the image frame is a person with a certain of level of confidence and not another object that may be shaped similarly to a person. After the alert of a detection, a trained agent or user, reviews the image to identify and classify the activity taking place. The AI merely alerts to the presence of an item it was trained to detect.
Controls / human review
ATO: Yes; PIA: Not published
Data needed
All of the image data fed to the models are owned by USBP.