June 16, 2004—AXCESS International Inc., a provider of RFID systems for physical security and supply chain management announced its solution for improving the management of evacuations in the event of a building disaster. The unique RFID (radio frequency identification) solution automatically identifies personnel as they leave the building and assemble at a disaster “mustering” point away from the facility.
The ability to identify personnel without the physical presentation of a credential is called “hands-free identification” and is a critical capability in responding to help those impacted by a disaster. The credential tag has a small, lightweight form factor compliant with the ISO 7810 ID-1 standard and is also available as a “docking” tag to be affixed to an existing access control card. The system currently provides personnel and vehicle access control to military bases. And, its mustering capabilities have been successfully tested at a DoD research facility. The system supports both government and commercial applications and is available immediately.
The RFID system automatically tracks personnel entering and leaving the facility whether or not their access card or credential is in their wallet, purse, and briefcase or attached to an outer garment. The keys to hands-free identification are the range over which the RFID tag credential can send a signal, and the transmission frequency used to avoid traditional elements of interference. “Passive” RFID systems, which lack batteries, do not have the necessary range and often use a more interference prone frequency, which makes them unreliable for disaster mustering.
AXCESS’ patented ActiveTag RFID system uses an embedded battery in the card sized, electronic “tag” for extra-long range identification. Tags are used for personnel, vehicles, and inventory. Each tag transmits at a UHF frequency band to palm-sized, network-based receivers from 18 inches up to 700 feet away depending upon the antenna used. Tags are automatically activated as they move through a doorway, gate, docking bay, or into a parking/staging area. Tags also autonomously beacon at pre-set intervals for real-time inventory counts and location. Embedded sensors, such as temperature, regularly report data or are programmed to alarm when outside the norm. The ActiveTag system is sold through the world’s largest security system integrators.
For more information, contact AXCESS.
