Think Jacksonville, FL and immediately the U.S. Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville comes to mind. It's the third largest military base in the nation, sprawling over 3,800 acres along the scenic shores of the St. Johns River. Host to more than 25,000 active-duty personnel and civilian workforce, its commanding presence is anything but inconspicuous. Celebrities, U.S. legislators, and presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to George W. Bush have stopped for a visit.
After the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, an extensive antiterrorism construction project was initiated. Security officials report that 10,000 vehicles drive through the three busy entry gates daily, so work at the gates included the latest electronic and intrusion detection systems, extensive road widening, improved curbing, enhanced bulletproof guard shelters, and electronic pop-up barriers.
Another enhancement was implementation of the Military Access Control System (MACS), by Baywood Technologies, of Jacksonville. A database information application, it provides for security check, along with traffic and building access control.
Improving Vehicle Access Control
In 2003, an added layer of security targeting vehicle identification control was added, for identification of essential personnel during heightened alert. Seven bar code readers by Barcode Automation, Inc (BAI), of Winter Springs, FL, were installed. The product is designed and optimized for vehicle access control and automatic vehicle identification (AVI) and is compatible with access control systems in the industry.
"The BAI bar code readers have enhanced what we are able to offer through our system," said William Fitzgerald, chairman of Baywood Technologies. "We have found that the readers have proven to be well suited for high traffic entrances and can activate a variety of access control and surveillance devices."
With all the upgrades now in place, traffic patterns have settled into a routine. Gary White, NAS Jacksonville physical security officer, is impressed with the readers' capability. The latest access control technology installed at NAS Jacksonville, coupled with efficient integration with other systems, has provided the edge needed to maximize security.
"The installation was simple and the reader integrated easily with the MACS," he said. "The readers are quick to respond, and work well for us."
Bar Code Readers Work Well
Featuring driver-friendly convenience and compact styling, the readers have proven reliable in all types of climatic extremes. White credits the bar code readers' operational success to its minimal technical issues. Equally important, technical support is readily available, and replacement bar code decals are printed to order and shipped within a few days.
"We have seven [bar code] readers, one per lane, and they go 24/7," said White. "The goal is to control access of vehicles during increased force protection conditions, to maintain security, and assure quicker personnel access."
Bar code readers for access control were first pioneered over 15 years ago, and in the early years met with limited success. Then in 1997, BAI introduced the BA-200, which can interface with existing access control systems via 26 bit Wiegand, or RS232. It can also be used as a standalone system, which allows direct one-gate control. Furthermore, all components are encased in a NEMA 4 Standard aluminum housing with interior temperature control, extending the operation life of the unit and laser. An internal transaction log retains the last 2,000 vehicle identification numbers, as well as time and date. Even though it arrives from the factory already configured, it can be changed to meet a specific site's need.
The BA-200 is a more practical solution when compared to costlier (and often interference-plagued) RFID systems. ETL listed to UL STD 294, the BA-200 will read a standard size AVI decal at a 6 ft distance and up to 25 mph. When affixed to a car window, AVI decals cannot be photocopied, loaned, or lost, thereby reducing the risk of a compromised site.
