清代臺灣「隘制」的研究成果頗豐，但多數集中於光緒以前。日治初各地的隘防，除位置退卻外，也並未完全包圍原住民；當發生「南庄事件」（1902）後，官方才將隘勇納入警察本署管理，並漸次透過隘勇線推進方式，包圍蕃地，迫使原住民歸順官方。
本文透過大量的田野調查與縝密的史學研究，整理並利用GIS系統繪製隘勇線與「蕃界」位置。並依照推進隘勇線位置、工事、位置與原住民傳統領域之相互關係、官方「理蕃」政策的多重因素影響，指出從1895〜1926年為止，隘勇線可分為六階段。
當時隘勇線所控制的土地，倘若要從「蕃地」變成普通行政區，則需有下列四種過程：一、地圖測繪，二、登錄地籍，三、開墾（開發）與移民，四、編入戶口與納稅，不過因區域間差異，順序稍有不同。隨著北部原住民區域隘勇線推進，南部區域設置「蕃務官吏駐在所」，也逐漸把「蕃地」納入國家行政治理，有三種並行發展模式。
1920年以後，更多「蕃地」被納編成為普通行政區，隘勇線也逐漸被「理蕃道路」所取代，但仍有許多隘勇線轉變成原住民鄉鎮與平地鄉鎮界線，或是原住民鄉鎮內之各村界線，以這些虛擬的行政界線，替代實質的隘勇線，繼續存在臺灣的歷史與地理空間之中。

In the Ching Dynasty, there are abundant researches regarding the frontier guard system, most of which emphasize on the period before the Reign of Emperor Guang Xu. After Taiwan’s cession to Japan in 1895,the frontier guard system collapsed, and the wild aborigines took back the territory demarcated during the Ching Dynasty. The final lineation of the frontier guard was formed in 1902 during the Japanese Colonial Period.
The thesis was done with a large amount of field investigations and meticulous historical researches. The advancement numbers during the Japanese Colonial Period and aboriginal boundary mapped by GIS were indicated here.
Regarding geographic locations, fortifications, traditional indigenous territories, official aboriginal policies, the advancement of defense lines of frontier guards comprise six periods.
The four processes are necessary for circumscription of aboriginal lands into general administrative areas. The fist one is to conduct via surveying and mapping. The second is cadastral registration. The third is land development and immigration. The fourth is to adopt household registration and taxation. Different policies are implemented in different regions. In the north, advancement of defense lines of frontier guard is conducted; in the south, official residences of aboriginal affairs are set up. Besides, Japanese government includes aboriginal lands into national administrative governance. The governance consists of three types.
After 1920, more aboriginal lands were circumscribed to general administrative regions, and the defense lines of frontier guards were replaced with aboriginal ruling roads or with the boundaries of aboriginal villages and plainsmen townships.