Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1327492
60 I ICT TODAY Electronic Access Control Inevitably, when someone thinks of electronic access control (EAC), the first thing that comes to mind is a card reader. Card readers have been around for decades, granting access to individuals with proper credentials. They are typically stored in a database either onsite or in the cloud depending on the preferences of the enterprise. How can AI assist in EAC? Consider, for instance, that an employee needs to access a building but does not have the fob or credential card. With the ability of newer AI integrated IP-based CCTV cameras to provide facial recognition capabilities, the employee can be admitted with only the face being processed. Two-factor authen- tication can be incorporated with a pin pad or mobile application if necessary. Wearables are also becoming more commonplace for EAC. Biometrics is used to determine whether some- one should have access to a space. Biometric, AI, and wearable technologies can allow someone not only access to a facility, but they also provide the ability to skip manual login procedures for workstations, disarm intrusion detection systems, and manipulate the controls of the building automation system (BAS). Furthermore, AI can assist in determining access to different spaces and who should be where and when. The ongoing problem of understanding proper conference room etiquette is a prime example. Con- ference rooms now can be booked online via several different platforms (e.g., Office 365, Exchange, G Suite). However, the problem still exists of individuals FIGURE 2: An example of facial recognition for access. incorrectly occupying spaces. Artificial intelligence can take this to the next level with automatic shutdown of non-life safety systems, including audio and visual indicators, if incorrect or unauthorized individuals are occupying the space. A little extreme, some may say, but the technology can be used to detect dangerous intruders as well. Panic Duress and Location Systems Panic buttons have long been incorporated into buildings to alert safety and security personnel that assistance is needed. These systems are somewhat "static" because the button is hard coded to a specific room. If someone initially presses the button and has to escape to another room for safety, the new location would not be evident. Individuals that work in hospitality and health care have concerns about personal safety while on the job, such as dealing with difficult patients, guests, and people who are not supposed to be in the facility. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and the sophisticated algorithms of triangulation can help. While RFID is not new to the built environment, the use of panic buttons alongside this technology allows safety and security personnel to respond in a precise fashion to exact locations. Cities have passed ordinances in hospitality environments that require this type of technology to protect staff, which is a new technological challenge for many facilities. As an ICT professional, this type of technology presents many new opportunities, not only as a mandated requirement in some localities, but also in the ability to interpret these requirements for clients and incorporate them as needed to satisfy any required laws or ordinances. The use of drone technology with camera integration is a perfect complement to AI in assisting safety and security personnel with keeping an area or campus secure.