Patent ID: 8370111

Claim:
A method, implemented using a computer, for forming a virtual tripwire through a subregion of an area of interest, the method comprising: using geographic information system to perform a geometric analysis of terrain in said subregion, said geometric analysis determining a location within the subregion for each one of a pre-designated plurality of candidate sensors that may potentially be used in forming said virtual tripwire, and a viewshed for each said candidate sensor, each said viewshed representing a coverage region for its associated said candidate sensor; defining a geometric beginning point and a geometric end point within the subregion for said virtual tripwire; defining a maximum distance for one or more gaps that are allowed to exist along said virtual tripwire; and using the computer to analyze said viewsheds to initially determine a minimum number of said candidate sensors required to form a path for said virtual tripwire from said beginning point to said end point, and which also satisfies the maximum distance for said one or more gaps.