BankSec
by Fastcom Technology S.A.

SMACS, the SMart Airlock Control System, is a video-based security hardware and software product designed to secure the passage of persons. In particular SMACS performs singularisation analysis, i.e. ensuring that only one person is present to enter the secure zone.

The main difference between the standard SMACS and the SMACS BankSec is that the standard SMACS performs singularisation in airlocks and creates the airlock effect, and the SMACS BankSec handles the flow of persons and material in the same airlock. It can perform the singularisation of persons and, in the material flow mode it can ensure that there are only objects inside the airlock. Switching between the two modes can be achieved by any system, from a simple button to a fingerprint reader.

Environment
To use video analysis, the environment in which this system is installed becomes very important.
Despite being one of the most versatile singularisation systems that exists, SMACS requires the following factors to be taken into consideration at the design stage: 

Stable lighting - Video-based analysis systems require proper lighting conditions for reliable analysis. In total darkness or dim light no analysis is possible, and strongly varying lighting poses an equal problem. Direct sunlight is to be avoided, as it can saturate the camera image, cast strong shadows, and fluctuate rapidly. If the airlock is made partly of glass it would be possible, if necessary, to make the glass more opaque.

Ceiling height - The principle of SMACS is based on a "bird's-eye view" of the activity inside the corridor. If the camera is too low, not only is it difficult to see everywhere in the airlock, but also a tall person standing under the camera would occupy the whole image. This would not pose a security issue (SMACS would never open the airlock in such a case), but tall people would not be authorised as SMACS cannot be 100% sure that the person is alone.

High-contrast design elements - For high reliability, standard SMACS requires high-contrast elements in the airlock. This allows accurate detection and avoids ambiguity in the case where part of a user's clothing is similar in colour to the airlock walls or floor. In case of the SMACS Corridor, the high-contrast design elements could be a contrasted carpet, fixed on the floor, only in front of the secure door.

Configuration
General

 The standard SMACS BankSec configuration is:

  • 2 doors which are controlled by the SMACS (airlock effect, i.e. only one door can be open at a time). Note that 3 doors can be managed by the SMACS if necessary.
  • 1 top-view camera mounted on the ceiling.
  • A contrasted floor inside the airlock. This contrasted floor could be a carpet with a logo drawn on it.

In the following figure you can see a standard SMACS BankSec configuration:

Hardware
The hardware configuration of the SMACS BankSec is the same as the hardware configuration of standard SMACS:

Basic SMACS components

  1. SMACS analysing unit (industrial PC)
  2. Power supply cable for the analysing unit
  3. 2 × Termination board of 37 IO signals for mounting on DIN rail
  4. 2 × Low voltage computer cable with 37 pins (DB37), length 1m
  5. Split cable to connect keyboard and mouse to the analysing unit
  6. Dongle USB
  7. SMACS BankSec software, pre-installed
  8. Windows 2000 Pro-Licence (English version)
  9. Documentation (SMACS Hardware Installation Guide and SMACS Software Installation Guide)

Basic camera components
A camera is part of the SMACS standard equipment and is delivered with SMACS. Its components include:

1. Digital CCTV camera with integrated power supply
2. Wide angle lens
3. Coaxial cable, length 10m, 75 O
4. Camera support

Operating configurations
Several SMACS configurations are available:

  • The most common version of SMACS BankSec handles both persons and objects by running two modes only one at a time. To switch between the two modes, several solutions are possible, depending on the security level needed. The "person" mode is configurable and allows the use of the airlock to money carriers.
  • A second version of SMACS BankSec can handle persons and objects (or material) at the same time. Two (or more) discrete zones are defined, and can be marked on the floor. SMACS will then use at least one zone for person flow and one zone for material flow. For a custom application, several object or person zones can be used (e.g. the passage of two carriers with a special money case will be managed by using two person zones and one object zone).
  • Finally, for low flow airlocks, SMACS BankSec can be combined with SMACS BioVisual for a very high security level. SMACS Biovisual is based on the fact that each person has a personal visual signature in the image; it uses identification information to know who is currently inside the airlock and to adapt the singularisation process to him. A registering procedure for each person that will use the airlock is needed first.