In Scotland, the University of Dundee is updating its city campus estate with readers for staff and students to enter using RFID cards and smartphones.
The uni is having installed mobile-ready HID Signo readers at around 40 buildings, in a staged rollout over two years by by security installer, Scottish Communications Group. The university has purchased 10,000 HID Mobile Access licenses to offer its people the option to use their Apple and Android smart phones for touchless entry into its facilities.
Colin Stebbing, the University’s Head of Precinct Services, says: “We wanted a modern system which is safe, secure and easy for everyone to use. Complying with forthcoming legislation was also another important project requirement. With bills like Martyn’s Law soon to be enacted, ensuring the University is ready for this was important given that we have a duty to protect to ensure everyone is safe. The HID solution enables us to not only lock down buildings immediately, but it has built-in functionality which we can leverage over time, meaning we’ve invested in ‘future proof’ equipment which will last us long term.”
The HID Signo readers integrate with the university’s AEOS access control software from Nedap. Supporting both native Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC) connection, they allow touchless smartphone entry. As for install, the wiring uses common protocols like OSDP [Open Supervised Device Protocol] and Wiegand. Access cards already in circulation can be used with the new HID Signo readers.
Before, the university used to print and issue plastic RFID cards so staff and students could access buildings. This was time-consuming, especially during peak times like Freshers Week, when some 2,500 to 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students turn up each autumn to start the academic year. Issuing cards was logistically complex due to the demand plus the need for identity checks, which could take up to ten minutes per card.
Shifting to HID Mobile Access – which uses cloud-based HID Origo management software integrating with the AEOS system – changes this and delivers wireless credentialling. This simplifies all the licensing, allocation of credentials, setting of building access rights, validating or revoking of IDs – all of which is now done virtually and remotely.
Paul Brady, HID’s End User Business Manager for Physical Access Control Solutions, says: “Once registered by Student Services in AEOS, a student simply gets an email to their phone, they tap on a link, the app automatically uploads and a mobile credential is granted. Not only does this improve the overall student experience because it’s substantially quicker and more efficient, but it’s far more sustainable as you’re not issuing PVC cards anymore.”
While the strategy and aspiration are for the university population to shift wholesale to mobile access, its approach for now is to operate a dual system. Stebbing says: “We recognize that some visitors and staff still want to use a physical pass and not all employees have a university issued mobile credential. HID Signo readers allow us to run both credential types in tandem, with HID Mobile Access giving us the option to scale up to include digital wallets from Apple and Google, as well as integrate with digital campus cards should we decide to go down this route in the future.”
Given RFID cards are still required, Dundee uses its FARGO DTC4500e printers to back up this transition to digital. The FARGO range of ID card printers integrate with the AEOS software so that Student Services staff can issue physical IDs themselves.
Stuart Leslie, Scottish Communications Group’s director, says: “HID Signo readers are going in now across the main buildings including the new Innovation Hub site. HID’s reputation is built on reliability and security with its solutionssupporting the latest encryption, communications and authentication standards. Their devices have an open architecture so they’re easy to install and integrate which reduces the cost for the university and makes time to value that much quicker.”
The installer is supplying Motorola MOTORTRBO Ion smart radios to the university’s security staff. The radios will be configured to run HID Mobile Access so they can open doors fitted with the new Signo readers. Because these smart radios also link to the university’s CCTV, alarm systems and CriticalArc Safezone lone worker and emergency response app, security staff need carry only a single device to carry out their duties.
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