Dense radar networks for low-flyer surveillance

The present inability to detect low-flying aircraft over international borders renders governments and citizens vulnerable to problems such as drug trafficking and illegal immigration. This paper describes an approach to comprehensive low-altitude surveillance based on networks of small radars being developed by the NSF Engineering Research Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere. We examine how low-cost networked radar technology might be applied to the public safety/security problem of detecting weather hazards while simultaneously supporting the border security mission of detecting and intercepting low-flying aircraft.