Closing the security loop

With over 24 higher educational institutions as registered members, the Campus Protection Society of Southern Africa (CAMPROSA) aims to assist and mentor educational institutions regarding safety and security solutions.

Due to increasing pressure to improve security on campuses and mounting pressure from a number of different stakeholders, a solution is sought. Fortunately, Powell Tronics' new MorphoWave Compact, which uses frictionless, contactless 3D technology, is designed for areas with high-traffic throughputs like university entrances, identifying each student without having to stop and place a finger over the sensor.

This is essential, especially when implementing a campus solution that offers high security without inconveniencing students and staff.

Access control

Another solution is the PT-Roll Call that prevents exam fraud. This mobile solution identifies students for exam purposes by merging biometric access control with student PT-Roll Call data for prompt and accurate verification of students attending an academic event like an exam.

PT-Roll Call offers educational institutions the ability to effectively record student presence using biometric technology as a means to deter fraudulent attendance. The added benefits include the live summary of attendance, comprehensive reports as well as an overview dashboard.

John Powell, MD of Powell Tronics, says with a number of solutions implemented across educational institutions, Powell Tronics’ solutions are threefold, reaching university access, exam fraud and visitor management. And through an integrated system that reaches all disparities, breaches in the security loop of the university or college can be resolved quickly.

Customised solutions

Campuses can also enhance visitor management with PT-GUEST, which scans and decrypts South African drivers' licences and then seamlessly integrates the data with the Impro IXP400 ImproNet and Portal range of access control system. PT-GUEST is available in multiple formats for visitor entry, including one-time pin (PAC), proximity card issue and biometric enrolment, all conducted at the main gate entry points via portable devices.

Together with scanning in the visitor’s full name and ID number, the scanner also stores a photograph of the visitor on the database, so visual verification is provided. It can also scan all the available information encoded into the vehicle’s licence disk.

The full enterprise PT-GUEST solution also has the ability to pre-register guests through either the customer’s intranet or via SMS, replacing what was traditionally a manual process – a book that was used to log all visitors to the university.

For Powell, each university has unique requirements that a customised solution can link up, in addition to visitor management (PT-Guest), exam fraud (PT-Roll Call) and access control solutions, the company’s portfolio includes intruder detection, video surveillance, intercom solutions, time and attendance. In our experience, by using a basket of different products and solutions, the security gap can be successfully closed, reducing the risk of a security breach and creating a secure campus for students and staff.