This could be a lower-cost way to do the border wall with Mexico in isolated areas. Use this to detect activity of interest, then dispatch a fast drone.
For detecting persons, it’s just an evolution of the existing process with the massive camera setups.
Sensed/taped footfalls -> closest CBP station -> agent response
To do what, exactly?
Or solar powered, regular-assed Ring doorbells (once they get that heat problem fixed). As a side effect, then CBP will be subsequently able to find their lost car keys out there.
But also consider its the desert, you know?
They just don't come together enough for much rain.
It looks like some do and some don't, proving my assumptions rather uninformed. The southern US border area looks to range from about 60-25%, distributed more towards the high end of the range.
I'm aware of coastal deserts like the Atacama which have exceptionally low precipitation but lots of foggy conditions, but I don't know of any like that in the US areas described.
Regardless, I still imagine that satellite, drone, and observation posts are the smart way to create the absurd Iron Curtain down there. Not that we should...