Patrol management system goes ‘smart'
The Hong Kong Correctional Services Department (CSD) has launched a project to introduce the Smart Card Patrol Management System to replace the mechanical patrol monitoring system in its penal institutions.
CSD has so far introduced the “smart” system to 18 of its 24 penal institutions. Works on the remaining six will be completed by 2005.
This will not only result in savings in resources and enhance efficiency, but also enable the management of institutions to concentrate on other core business.
The new system was introduced as a result of research and development for a customised product with software design matching operational requirements in a user-friendly manner.
Advantages of Smart Cards
Compared with the mechanical patrol monitoring system, the smart card system has the following advantages:
lower capital and recurrent costs
paperless electronic records in lieu of
paper-based record cards (each day one card for each checkpoint)
less noise generated during operation
middle managers can be released from routine but time-consuming work of replacing record cards (sometimes outdoor in inclement
weathers) so that they can concentrate on core business
software programmes enable faster checking of irregularities associated with patrol duties, and hence more effective monitoring of patrol duties
easier to install or replace smart cards at checkpoints
Before launching the current smart card patrol management system, the Department tested various types of systems employing smart card or electronic technology, but all of their software and functionality did not meet CSD’s requirements.
The new system uses a customised electronic recorder (a smart card reader) to read and save the unique identities (radio frequency identification, ISO 15693 Standard) of the smart cards in its built-in memory as records of visits to the checkpoints involved. After the patrol tour, patrol records in the electronic recorders are uploaded onto a database with customised software installed on a computer workstation for storage, processing and documentation.
The customised software enables middle managers to examine accurately and speedily whether the patrol staff members have fulfilled the requirements of their work. Night visiting officers may also use smart cards to generate records of their visits to the patrol staff in the latter’s patrol reports.
The phasing out system
For a long time, the Department has been using the mechanical patrol monitoring system, which relies on a mechanical recorder operating on clockwork spring and a record card mounted on it. Patrol staff scratch marks on the card with a metal pin as the records of visits to the checkpoints installed with such recorders.
This monitoring system involves a lot of manual work, from replacing records cards (particularly difficult in inclement weathers for those recorders located outdoor), visual checking and counter-checking of all record cards to storage.
|
To enhance efficiency, the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department is replacing the mechanical patrol management system with this smart card patrol management system. |