printer friendly version

Brooklands security boosted by biometrics

The current buzzword in access control, the world over, is 'biometrics'. Simply put, this means that one uses certain unique elements of the human body for the verification or authentication of an individual.

A direct consequence of this is that only the correct individual will be allowed access based on their unique credentials. Unlike existing access control systems, these credentials cannot be stolen, duplicated, borrowed or accidentally lost.

Although fingerprint recognition has been applied abundantly in the retail, financial and service industries, it has only recently been applied successfully to the residential market in a country where security is of high priority.

Limtech has recently completed an installation of a fingerprint access control system at Brooklands Residential Estate in Gauteng.

Here, 450 permanent residents, domestic workers and regular contractors utilise fingerprint access control for entry to and exit from the complex.

Through customisation of its software system, Limtech was able to fulfil all of Brooklands' access control requirements as requested by the complex security.

There are two main access points into the estate catering for residents and visitors, and a single exit point, all controlled with biometric fingerprint readers.

A separate USB enrolment scanner, linked to the guardhouse computer, captures user fingerprint templates onto the system.

Permanent residents gain entry and exit by placing their finger on the readers to access the booms.

Regular contractors and visitors have all their user information, photographs and fingerprints captured onto the system. On placing their finger on the reader, a successful match brings up their information and photograph on the guardhouse computer screen. The guard verifies the contractor or regular visitor, and places his finger on the scanner, which activates the boom entry or exit, providing a double fingerprint verification for system access of contractors.

The system software provides log data reports of all permanents, contractors and guard authentication on the system.

The user friendly software has enabled the guards at Brooklands to be fully trained on the system to capture user information, authenticate users and generate reports when required.

The second phase at Brooklands will be the installation of a full-height pedestrian turnstile gate with fingerprint readers for further access control of pedestrians.

Having spent five years in the research of both hardware and software solutions for fingerprint biometrics, Limtech has the ability to customise solutions to suit the customer's unique requirements.

Share this article:

Further reading: