Potential Application Of RFID Technology In Intelligent Customs

Customs administrations play a significant role in world economy and trade. During times of no major disruptions their work is largely seen as one of creating bottlenecks in an otherwise efficient supply chain. However, in the event of terrorist activities, focus shifts to them where often high expectations of what they should have done to prevent it from happening or how they should have stopped entry of materials and tools used abound. The increasing trade volumes and frequency of terrorist activities complicate further the work of customs. For this reason, if customs administrations are to adequately deal with all the challenges facing them, then new ways of tackling them have to be considered.Use of intelligent technologies is one area that can make a substantial difference for customs administrations. In this thesis, a study on the potential application of RFID technology to provide intelligent customs processes devoid of limitations inherent in current systems. The salient features are speed of processing, efficiency and effective electronic controls. The core of the thesis is the design of intelligent customs processes based on RFID technology. The testing of the components was undertaken through pilot implementations or simulations. The potential of RFID is demonstrated in customs processes beginning with pre-arrival processes through all the intervening stages to border control where applicable.In pre-arrival, design and demonstration of intelligent packing and dispatch is discussed. Intelligent Packing and Dispatch is a process that is undertaken at the premise of the exporter or seller of the goods. The process entails automatic data capture of the items loaded into the container to be shipped followed by automated generation of shipping documents. The process is further supported by secure tracking of the goods once loaded from source to destination port. Demonstration of the process was undertaken through several simulations using several tools with multiple scenarios.The simulations are undertaken in a manner to mimic actual operations. One of the simulation tools, Rifidi Prototyper is used to test the business rules and logic using relevant blueprints. Included in the thesis also, are simulations on how RFID technology can be used in arrival process to undertake reconciliation of cargo against received shipping manifests. In the simulation generation of landing reports is demonstrated.A novel Enhanced Automated Targeting and Profiling System for targeting goods by use of Kipkalya Risk Suppression Factor (KRSF) is also defined and discussed. The enhancement draws from the advanced facilities offered by intelligent tracking in reducing the risk level based on effectiveness and reliability of the tracking equipment, an aspect that has not been catered for in current risk management systems. Mathematical examples are used to demonstrate the features of the model and how it distinguishes the risk levels for difference in reliability of systems and loading processes.The thesis next discusses the definition, design and operation of an intelligent port that spans from goods arrival, movement and tracking to and within the yards to verification and release from the port. Tracking of goods from arrival to release is demonstrated through simulations. Scenarios depicting violations form part of the simulations. Alert generation through several channels of communication is demonstrated in the simulations. An elaborate discussion of Intelligent Verification is also provided with its own independent simulations.Discussed in this thesis also, are the design and piloting of two intelligent tracking systems to address challenges of transit goods diversion into local markets. The first system entailed installation of RFID readers and supporting equipment in all twenty-six critical sites of customs for monitoring of transit goods. The sites included port and Container Freight Stations (CFS) gates for recording departure and arrival of transit goods, transit check points and border stations. Electronic Seals were used to secure the entrance of the containers of the cargo and allowed to proceed. The installations at the transit check points would then confirm the status of the cargo as the trucks passed the check points. Finally, the ones at the border confirmed the status of the cargo upon reaching the borders and acted as a terminal point for clearance and tracking of transit goods. The second system was based on Real Time Location Tracking System (RTLS). Installations were undertaken in the cabin of the trucks to facilitate real time visibility. Electronic Seals were used to secure the transit containers or tankers and armed. Upon arming, the cargo status and location was monitored from the beginning of the journey to the border, or destination where required. The RTLS solutions also included constraining the movement of cargo along gazetted geofenced routes.An evaluation undertaken on the two solutions is discussed where the strengths, weaknesses and limitations are discussed. The two solutions are subsequently used in a latter chapter to evaluate the benefits realisable from intelligent technologies. The design of a multi-vendor platform to allow operation of multiple vendors by supporting inter-working of heterogeneous tracking systems is also discussed.Intelligent border, the last of customs clearance processes is finally discussed where simulations are used to demonstrate its features.Simulations undertaken in the study closely mimic actual operation of the various components and use several scenarios and multiple tools to enhance the quality of the demonstration process. How an intelligent environment can simplify processes and provide electronic methods of tracking, verification, inspection and secure environment; that would automatically respond to alerts and events are demonstrated.The required RFID infrastructure to support all areas of intelligent operations is also discussed in the thesis; which included the need for all containerised cargo arriving to have inter-modal or In-Transit Visibility tracking devices and RFID readers to provide RFID interrogation coverage of all critical areas including verification of the port.