king Equipment


How toWirelessly Electronify Access Wireless electronic access control requires neither on-site


power nor network communications, and it can be easily retro- fitted into almost any mechanical locking mechanism. Here’s how it works: The cores of the mechanical locks are replaced with new


electronic ones. Electronic cores are now available to replace almost any mechanical core, including all the ones commonly used in parking equipment, and the procedure for swapping them out is simple and quick and usually can be done in the field. The electronic cores require no on-site power because they


are battery-powered keys when the key is presented to the core. Different manufacturers make different size keys, and while some are unwieldy, there are reasonably sized ones available. The locks are programmed to accept specific keys within specific time frames for a specific period of time. The keys are


Benefits to Electronifying:


• You know when your equipment is accessed. • You know when unauthorized access is attempted.


• You can limit access to specific days and times.


• You don’t have tomanagemany keys. Electronic locks and keys allow each person to carry only one key that has all the permissions required for whatever locks they are authorized to open.


• Nomore re-keying locks.When an electronic key is lost or stolen, it can simply be killed and no lock is compromised.


• Electronic keys can’t be copied, picked or vandalized (no key hole).


• You have an audit trail you can use to detect or investigate problems.


• You not only control access, but you also can record cash in equipment at the time it is accessed so that cash turned in can be reconciled with that removed fromthe equipment.


ever, single-space meters lack the on-site power and network communications required by conventional electronic access con- trol. Pay-on-foot machines and multi-space meters usually have on-site power and network communications, but conventional electronic access control is often difficult, and sometimes com- pletely impractical to retrofit with the various locking mecha- nisms in such equipment.


The fundamental problem with mechanical locks and keys is that you can’t really control access.


programmed to open specific locks within specific time frames for a specific period of time, and are assigned to specific personnel. When a key with the proper permissions is presented to the


lock, the lock opens.When a key that isn’t authorized to open the lock is presented, the lock rejects it. The programming of the locks and keys is done by a desig-


nated administrator using either desktop or hosted software.The administrator then uses the same software to monitor and con- trol access, as well as automatically generate desired reports. The communication link is the key. Each time a key is pre-


sented to a lock, it uploads access information (including denied access) from the lock, which will date to when it was last opened. This information is downloaded to the administrator’s system when the key is placed in a download station, usually located at some central dispatch point, or presented to a smart phone, PDA or computer. At the same time the access information is downloaded, the


key is refreshed with any new permissions, which can include renewing the previous permissions, changing them, or killing the key completely. Downloading should be at regular intervals to keep the access information in the system current and to enable permissions to be changed in a timelymanner.


A Compelling ROI When you compare the cost of wireless electronic access


control for your parking equipment to the cost savings and the reduced shrinkage you can expect from the investment, the typi- cal return on investment ismore than 30%.


Mike Hopkins is CEO of EZ-Assure (www.ez-assure.com). He can be reached at mhopkins@ez-assure.com.


PT JUNE 2009 • PARKING TODAY • www.parkingtoday.com 29


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56