Defence campuses are large, busy, and constantly active. Vehicles move in and out all day, officers and staff walk through the gates regularly, and visitors need to be checked before they are allowed inside. Managing all of this manually means more guards, more registers, and more chances of something being missed.
POXO was engaged to set up a complete RFID-based vehicle and visitor/personnel access control system at a Ministry of Defence (MOD) establishment in Ganjam, Odisha. The project covered two things that usually need separate systems: vehicles passing through the main gate, and people, both staff and visitors, entering on foot. POXO brought both of these together under one roof.
The Challenge
A defence campus gate has to handle several situations at the same time:
- Cars, bikes, and other vehicles entering and exiting all day long.
- Staff and personnel walking in and out through a separate pedestrian path.
- Visitors who need to be identified and verified before entry.
- A clear, automatic attendance record for personnel, without anyone manually signing a register.
All of this needs to work smoothly without slowing down the flow of people and vehicles, while still keeping the gate secure. Doing this with manpower alone means multiple guards stationed at different points, paper logs that are hard to verify later, and a real risk of someone walking through without being properly checked.
The Solution: One Integrated System, Two Applications
POXO designed a single setup that handles both vehicles and people, visitors and staff alike, through one combined software platform. The system runs two applications on the same backend: one for vehicle access and one for visitor and personnel access.
For Vehicles: RFID Reader, ANPR Camera & Boom Barrier
- 1. UHF High-Performance RFID Reader: A long-range reader mounted on a pole at the gate. It picks up the signal from a small RFID tag stuck on the vehicle’s windshield, identifying the vehicle the moment it approaches. No stopping, no manual checking.
- 2. Windshield UHF Tag: Every registered vehicle carries a small RFID windshield tag on its windscreen. This tag is what the reader picks up to confirm that the vehicle is authorised.
- 3. ANPR (License Plate Recognition): Mounted just below the RFID reader, this camera automatically reads the vehicle’s number plate. It acts as a second check, making sure the number plate matches the vehicle registered against that RFID tag.
- 4. Parking Boom Barrier: The striped barrier arm at the gate. Once the RFID tag and number plate are both verified, the barrier lifts automatically to let the vehicle through, then lowers again once it has passed.
- 5. Photo Cell Sensor: A safety sensor fitted near the barrier. If a vehicle, person, or any object is still under the barrier while it is coming down, this sensor detects it and stops the barrier from closing, preventing accidents or damage.
- 6. Two-Way Push Button: A simple manual button for the security guard. If needed, the guard can open or close the barrier directly, which is useful for special vehicles, emergencies, or if there is ever an issue with the automatic system.
For Visitors and Staff (Pedestrian Entry)
- 7. Tripod Turnstile (TWL): A compact rotating-bar gate for people walking in. Only one person can pass at a time, and the bar only rotates once the person is verified, keeping foot traffic controlled and orderly.
- 8. Face Recognition Device: A screen mounted above the turnstile that recognises a person’s face in a second and confirms their identity, shown live on screen with a welcome message and the time. Staff and pre-registered visitors can walk through without showing any card or ID.
- 9. Biometric Time and Attendance System: The same face recognition setup doubles up as an attendance system for personnel. Every time someone walks in or out, their entry and exit time is logged automatically, with no separate attendance register needed.
- 10. Visitor Smart Cards: Pedestrians and visitors register at security kiosks where they receive temporary Mifare Smart Cards. Access is granted through turnstile validation checkpoints.
The Software: One Platform, Two Apps
Everything above connects to a single software platform with two applications:
- Vehicle Access application: manages RFID tags and vehicle records, and logs every vehicle’s entry and exit with time, date, and number plate.
- Visitor and Personnel Access application: manages staff and visitor records, logs every entry and exit through the turnstile, and maintains attendance data automatically.
Both run from the same backend, so the security team has one place to check everything, vehicles and people, instead of juggling multiple systems.
Mounting and Installation
All the hardware, including the RFID readers, ANPR cameras, face recognition units, and barriers, is fitted on sturdy mounting stands designed for outdoor conditions. POXO handled the complete on-site installation, wiring, and setup, so the system was ready to use right out of the box.
How It Works
- For a vehicle: As the vehicle approaches the gate with its windshield RFID tag, the UHF reader picks up the tag while the ANPR camera reads the number plate at the same time. The software checks both against its records, and if everything matches, the boom barrier lifts automatically so the vehicle can drive through. The photo cell sensor then makes sure nothing is left under the barrier before it closes again. If the guard ever needs to step in, for an unregistered vehicle or a special case, the two-way push button gives them manual control over the barrier.
- For a person on foot: The person walks up to the turnstile, where the face recognition device scans their face and confirms their identity in a second. Once recognised, the turnstile bar unlocks and rotates to let them through, and their entry time is automatically recorded. For staff, this becomes their attendance record, and for visitors, it becomes a visit log.
Where Else This Works
This combined vehicle and visitor system is not just for defence campuses. The same setup works well for:
- Corporate offices and IT parks, combining staff attendance with vehicle access in one system.
- Educational institutions, covering student and staff entry along with vehicle gates.
- Factories and industrial units.
- Gated residential communities.
- Government and PSU campuses.
Anywhere with both a vehicle gate and a pedestrian entry point can benefit from running both under one system.
Why This Matters
- One system, full coverage: vehicles and people are both tracked from a single platform, instead of running separate setups.
- Less manpower, more accuracy: RFID, ANPR, and face recognition do the identification work that would otherwise need multiple guards checking manually.
- Automatic records: every vehicle movement and every person’s entry, exit, and attendance is logged without anyone writing it down.
- Safety built in: the photo cell sensor and manual override button keep the system safe and flexible, even in unusual situations.
- Smooth traffic and footfall: authorised vehicles and people move through without delays, while unauthorised ones are stopped automatically.
Conclusion
This installation at a Ministry of Defence establishment in Ganjam, Odisha, showcases POXO RFID vehicle access control and visitor management system, bringing together RFID, number-plate recognition, face recognition, turnstiles, and boom barriers into one connected solution. The system manages both vehicle and visitor/personnel access through a single software platform, providing centralized control and real-time visibility. From defence campuses to corporate offices and educational institutions, this kind of integrated setup makes gate security simpler, faster, and far more reliable than traditional manual checks.