The Border and Maritime Security Division (BMD) is a division of the Science and Technology Directorate of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Within the Homeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency, BMD develops tools and technologies that improve the security of the United States's land borders and waterways.
The 2007 High Priority Technical Needs Brochure published by Homeland Security defines critical focus areas for Border and Maritime research, falling primarily under the categories of border security, cargo security and maritime security.
Improved ballistic protection via personal protective equipmentImprove detection, tracking, and identification of all threats along the terrestrial and maritime borderNon-lethal compliance measures for vehicles, vessels, or aircraft allowing for safe interdiction by law enforcement personnelNon-destructive tools that allow for the inspection of hidden or closed compartments to find contraband or security threatsImproved analysis and decision-making tools that will ensure the development/implementation of border security initiativesAbility for law enforcement personnel to quickly identify the origin of gunfire and classify the type of weapon firedAbility for law enforcement officers to assure compliance of lawful orders using non-lethal meansEnhanced screening and examination by non-intrusive inspectionIncreased information fusion, anomaly detection, Automatic Target Recognition capabilityDetect and identify WMD materials and contrabandCapability to screen 100% of air cargoTest the feasibility of seal security; Detection of intrusionTrack domestic high-threat cargoHarden air cargo conveyances and containersPositive ID of cargo & detectionWide-area surveillance from the coast to beyond the horizon; port and inland waterways region - detect, ID, and trackData fusion and automated tools for command center operationsVessel compliance through non-lethal compliance methodsEnhanced capability to continuously track contraband on ships or containersImproved ballistic personal protective equipment for officer safetyImproved WMD detection equipment for officer safety; improved screening capability for WMD for maritime security checkpoints
