Summary:
Glenorchy City Council in Tasmania has enhanced the flexibity of its existing Challenger access control system by installing GE’s powerful Forcefield gateway to create a networked solution that supports remote monitoring and maintenance. Background: Glenorchy City Council wanted to get the best possible performance from a network of 24 Challenger panels spread across 14 Council sites in Hobart, Tasmania. Economy is an important consideration for every government organization and GCC is no exception – They wanted to do more than save money on hardware costs. They wanted to reduce inhouse and external maintenance costs while delivering GCC a networked access control solution that was without compromise in functionality and expandability. It wasn’t that GCC wasn’t happy with the standalone Challenger panels chugging away across all those GCC sites. But they knew that a topical application of new technology would save council money, give the system vastly greater power and make maintenance significantly easier. Contract: The technology they had a eye on was GE’s Forcefield server – a multi-node device designed specifically to carry up to 64 Challenger access panels onto a networked environment for management by single or multiple authorized workstations. Forcefield is not only a gateway – it’s an integration solution that can turn isolated legacy Challenger panels installed across multiple remote sites into a single fully networked access control system at very low cost.  The decision to introduce Forcefield to take Council’s access control solution online is the culmination of a lot of careful thought. Direct Alarm Supplies distributes both Challenger and Forcefield gear and has enjoyed a long relationship with GCC and the installer. DAS’ technical sales representative, initial involvement with the upgrade occurred when GCC explained they needed more from the access solution. They wanted to incorporate greater functionality into the system, including photo ID, and Forcefield provided this with images linked to user profiles. It’s possible to configure the system so that when some one opens a door an image of the cardholder comes up. With Forcefield it’s was possible to link live CCTV footage into access events for monitoring purposes. This all combined to make the overall security solution easier to manage across Council’s sites, with upgrades incorporated when needed.
Impact: GCC has plenty of praise for the Challenger gear and for its supplier, Direct Alarm Supplies. Being in Tassie we’re not the centre of the universe and a great thing about DAS is being able to go and get supplies without having to send away for them. If something really nasty happens they know with DAS they are covered immediately. According to GCC works manager, Council saw the upgrade as the perfect opportunity to bring its system together into an homogenous whole in support of Council’s overall security policy. This latest upgrade came as they were undertaking a program to install new card readers at Council Chambers and they decided to put some additional funding into the project in order to install Forcefield. With Forcefield they saw this an opportunity to gain efficiencies – to streamline the process and to bring the system together in terms of operation and control. The new card readers on external doors will provide greater security between public and staff areas in Council sites. The photo IDs which Forcefield allows us to make onsite will be worn by staff so those without an appropriate ID can be challenged. Another real benefit is greater control of valuable equipment. Forcefield also gives them the ability to implement electronic time cards if they choose. With this solution they have deliberately aimed to do things for the long term – quality costs money but in the long run it’s cheaper than installing a solution that’s substandard. FACT FILE: Glenorchy City Council’s GE Forcefield features: - Integrated Photo ID
- Advanced alarm monitoring
- Thin-client network architecture
- Flexible operator permissions and menu options
- Powerful reporting features
- Automatic triggering of predefined functions based on system events
- Real time graphic display
- Door Monitor allows selected doors controlled on a workstation basis
- System backs to external storage devices via NFS or CIF S
- Door lock override feature
- Guard tour feature provides time-based checkpoints for patrol staff
- Supplied by Direct Alarm Supplies
- Installed by Russell-Smith Electrical
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