Study on Potential Application of Rfid Technology in Intelligent Customs.pdf

1、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,

2、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

3、. 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

4、 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

5、 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 coreof the thes

6、is 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 proc

7、esses 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.
　　 I

8、ntelligent Packing and Dispatch is a process that is undertaken at the premise of the exporteror seller of the goods. The process entails automatic data capture of the items loaded into the container to be shipped follow

9、ed 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

10、simulationsusing 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

11、logic using relevant blueprints. Included in the thesis also, are simulations on how RFID technology can be usedin arrival process to undertake reconciliation of cargo against received shipping manifests. In the simulati

12、on 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

13、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 curre

14、nt risk management systems. Mathematical examples are used to demonstrate the features of the model and how it distinguishes the risk Ievels for difference in reliability of systems and loading processes.
　　 The thes

15、is 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 releasefrom the port. Tracking of goods from

16、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. A

17、n 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 toaddress ch

18、allenges 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 sit

19、es included port and Container Freight Stations (CFS) gates for recording departure and arrival of transit goods, transit check pointsand border stations. Electronic Seals were used to secure the entrance of the containe

20、rs 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

21、 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 i

22、n the cabin of the trucks to facilitatereal time visibility. Electronic Seals were used to secure the transit containers or tankers andarmed. Upon arming, the cargo status and location was monitored from the beginning of

23、 thejourney 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 discu

24、ssed where the strengths, weaknessesand limitations are discussed. The two solutions are subseq rently used in a latter chapter to evaluate the benefits realisable from intelligent technologies. The design of a multi-ven

25、dorplatform 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

26、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 qual

27、ity 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 aler

28、ts 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