Smart border for disease control

Abstract

© 2020 River Publishers. Border crossing poses various risks, such as national security risks, risk of terrorism, and human trafficking, as well as the risk of an epidemic. In the process of disease control, Thailand has a system and mechanism of control in accordance with the standards of the World Health Organization and is recognized for the precision and tightness of the process. However, the screening and control process at land and marine border checkpoints still face the risks associated with cross border disease control due to the lack of preliminary information from passengers before crossing the border similar to those at an air-border crossing. It was found that the agencies involved in the land cross-border process would only become aware of passenger information when the passenger arrived at the crossing point. Initial screening and preparation procedures for coping with the risks were not timely, including the various resources at the border checkpoints such as screening tools, personnel, and screening sites. This paper aims to develop a cross-border management model that can help screen for diseases and support national security through digital technology. Therefore, the hypothesis has been proposed through the form of electronic border checkpoints for prevention, control, and tracking of transnational epidemics by screening all cross-border travelers. The existing system will be studied. The principles of collaborative border management (CBM) are the basis for the design, linkage, and integration between relevant departments. Further, simulation is a proof of our concept. The results show that data linkage and coordination between organizations build confidence and safety, reduces the risk of infection to people traveling across border agencies, and is in accordance with the National Digital Policy.