iNEST – IOT Architecture
Requirement
The physical security industry has been solely focused on the needs of the enterprises where all the solutions have been designed keeping in mind therequirements of corporate sector. No particular efforts have been taken to address the needs of the residential gated communities (housing industry). The demands of an electronic security solution in the communities and residential complexes have been met with the pre-designed solutions for enterprises. However, not all of these solutions are viable to address the specific needs of the residences or fit into their budget constraints. Furthermore, many of these solutions have been designed keeping in mind the extensive infrastructure available with the corporates that is practically non -existent with the gated communities.
The need of the hour is that of a complete electronic security solution specifically intended for residential complexes and gated communities, focusing on their resources, limitations and diverse demographic characteristics. The primary requirements of the residential complexes involve facility for access control, visitor management, vehicle access management, CCTV, emergency call stations, intrusion alarm systems and guard tour monitoring. Access control and visitor management is required in order to regulate the entry of residents, visitors and vendors into the community. Vehicle management system helps the residents in tracking the vehicles that are entering the community.These features are the vital components in any electronic security system for gated communities and residential complexes in the present times and the industry is in need of a complete solution including all these features.
The Challenge
Lack of proper infrastructure, demographic differences, high level of mobility amongst the residents and casual environment where people often refuse or forget to carry their credentials are amongst the few challenges that are faced during the implementation of an advanced security system in communities and residential complexes. Where corporates have proper infrastructure to support the functions of an extensive security management system, small gated communities usually do not have the budget to maintain high end security mechanism.
The environment of the communities and that of the corporates are significantly different from each other. Corporate demography often falls under a certain age group and are easy to discipline. On the other hand, communities consist of people from different age groups (including children and elderly) and are unexpected to behave in a similar manner. The resident- credentials, required to access protected areas in the community such as access cards are considered a burden to carry all the time.Additionally, children and elderly people are often prone to losing these credentials, posing the threat of unauthorized entry into the community.
In the communities, the environment is more casual where the residents are not accustomed to use complicated software system to monitor the occurrences in the community.
Solution
In order to meet the growing demands of a technologically advanced security solution for residential complexes, apartments/ condominiums and gated communities,IDCUBE has developed a comprehensive cloud based electronic security system, known as i-NEST.
Cloud based application
Implementation and maintaining a cloud based application is easier and economical than one that has an on premise server. With much lower set up and maintenance cost, implementation of this application is well within the budget of gated communities and residential complexes. Additionally, cloud architecture makes the application scalable and provides a huge scope of expansion as per the requirements of the residences.
A comprehensive solution
i-NEST is a comprehensive solution and addresses all the security needs of a gated community and a residential complex. The platform allows residents to invite visitors from their mobile phones using an app. The user can also set the time duration of visit and generate a pin (needed at the time of visit) which will be sent to the visitor via SMS. The pin is used to gain automatic access to main entry doors, boom barriers, lift/ elevator lobbies, elevators, common areas and even house doors.
Through i-NEST application the residents can create events like birthday parties, anniversaries etc. where they have the provision of sending group invitations.
Apart from restricting the access of visitors/ vendors to certain areas of the communities, i-NEST also has the provision to restrict their access to certain floors in the complex.Further, the platform also allows the users to check the visitors for a specific day. The residents receive real time notifications from the cloud portal when the visitor arrives and where all he has visited.
Besides addressing the security needs of the gated communities and residential complexes through a variety of features, i-NEST also helps to notify the gate about the arrival of a visitor/vendor or any particular event, so that the security personnel can take the required actions. The option for notice board allows the users to view notice or messages on their application as entered by community admin. The application establishes an easy communication platform between the residents, community admin, security guards and the facility management company through provisions in resident mobile app and web portal as well as viaemergency call stations.
Variety of credentials
One of the primary issues faced in an electronic security system implemented in a gated community is that the residents often find it bothersome to carry their credentials like access cards, all the time. Losing of credentials is always a concern and the reissuing cost is often high. I-NEST allows the users to register with multiple credentials such as mobile credentials, biometrics (finger prints, iris, voice, face etc.) and key fobs, which eliminates the need for the residents to carry an access card.
Mobilized solution
The environment in a gated communityis very casual and informal. In such an environment, the residents are often reluctant in spending time and resources to monitor the daily occurrences in the community. i-NEST provides a simple and user friendly platform which is compatible with the mobile devices, making it much easier for the residents for monitoring and control.
View CCTV cameras
i-NEST application has the scope to be integrated with the CCTV cameras installed at various locations in the community, enabling the residents to keep a watch on their kids when they are playing in the community park, for observing elderly when they are alone at home or even checking for visitors standing at the gate. The option of view CCTV in the application allows the users to select particular cameras that they wish to view and watch the footage.
Remote monitoring
The system allows the facility management and the security companies to have a remote watch on the facility. They can monitor and respond to alarms from intrusion detection systems, anomalies in guard tours, respond to calls from emergency call buttons, view CCTV cameras, remotely lock- unlock common doors on specific requests.
Vehicle access management
The system integrates with boom barriers to offer automated vehicle access management for the vehicles belonging to the residents, visitors, call cabs and vendors. Besides, it also integrates with the CCTV cameras for the ANPR/ LPR, keeping record of the vehicular number plates entering the facility. Through i-NEST mobile app the residents may allow the visitor vehicles into the facility by the issuance of a temporary PIN. The resident vehicles can enter the facility through tamper proof RFID tags attached to the vehicles or by flashing of their mobile phones.