Texas A&M University researchers are developing an electronic monitoring system that could be placed in the 1,950 mile border between Arizona and Mexico. The system consists of fiber optic cable that is placed 8-20 inches underground.
Last summer, tests were conducted at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona, and the system was able to detect people on foot, helicopters overhead, vehicles and even movements that were near and not over the cable.
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (Democrat-Arizona) says "It has a level of appeal because it's not as intrusive — such as a 12-foot fence from one end of the border to another — in terms of damage to habitat and wildlife corridors."
