ACCESS AND ASSET MANAGEMENT OF AN ACADEMIC INSTITUTE

Abstract

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are two very important emerging fields of technology which are opted for prevalent application types, like item tracking, tracing, antitheft, access monitoring, asset monitoring and management, management of outdoor and mobile assets, vehicle tracking etc. Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) technology is widely used for monitoring environmental parameters. In access monitoring and control, RFID smart cards are used, to allow or to deny entry to members, as per a predetermined policy. Detection and identification of objects carrying RFID tags is much easier and reasonable than other sensor technologies. GPS is indispensable system in vehicle tracking and tracing of assets in outdoor environment. Its integration with RFID facilitates the identification of vehicle and monitoring of its position. In this dissertation, access management system is implemented by using RFID smart cards with the available database containing information about each individual working or studying in the institute along with the facility which allows entering information about visitors. RFID is also used to track, manage and secure institute assets which are broadly classified in seven categories viz, electronic products, laboratory equipments, library stuff, office documents, furniture, vehicle, thesis. Asset management also includes monitoring condition of assets for which mainly environmental parameters are monitored such as temperature, pressure, humidity and light intensity. Any sudden environmental disturbances or intended deeds to damage or destroy the assets results in change in these parameters which are sensed and displayed along with alarm by using WSN technology. GPS integrated in Crossbow sensor board (MTS420) is used to track institute vehicle while the Zigbee protocol based MIS 400 is used to monitor environmental parameters. Integration of these technologies will help in enhancement of productivity, efficiency and satisfaction of user. LabVIEW provides the necessary platform required to integrate these technologies along with Microsoft Office Access database. The database maintains the complex relations between assets and their access to different users. Security and integrity of database is maintained by allowing its access only to respective authority. Highly informative and user friendly GUIs developed in LabVIEW display the obtained results.