Access Control

The application of access control to a barrier whether it is a doorway, a computer network, or a bank account provides a means of ensuring that only authorised persons or users can pass the barrier. The traditional approach to access control is through tokens such as keys and tickets, and knowledge such as PIN’s and passwords.

The weakness of authorization in tokens such as keys and tickets is the absence of a link from the person presenting the token to the true owner of the card. The traditional and readily accepted techniques for linking the person to the card are by:

• Photograph identification.
• Personal identification number (PIN).
• Password

However, none of these methods truly identifies the token holder as the authorised owner of the information stored on, say, a card.

Systems are being developed that link-authorised user of the smart card to the card and its contents through the registration of a biometric signature stored on the card.

Recognizing people is a fundamental activity within our society, and people have always relied on their natural abilities to recognize other people by biometric characteristics such as faces, voices and writing patterns. The emphasis on security today is large and access control for authorized people through biometric identification has become increasing critical in the modern society.

Biometrics is a general term for measurements of human characteristics of physical features and behavioural characteristics. Such features as fingerprints, facial features, iris structure and hand geometry can be physically determined, as can behavioural characteristics as voice patterns, hand writing, and walking gait. It is the unique physical or behavioural characteristics that allow us to recognize or authenticate the identity of a person.

Biometric systems come in many shapes and sizes depending upon the particular biometric feature that is being used as the identifier. These systems can both measure and image the biometric features, and can range from hardware alone, to software alone to complete systems containing both hardware and software. However all biometric systems have the principles of capture, extraction and comparison and matching for identification.

The workshop will discuss the following ideas and principles in security and will develop an understanding of the issues associated with biometric access control so that the participants will be able to make decisions on the selection and choice of biometric systems for specific applications in facilities.

• Understand and apply the principles of security practices and technology in the area of physical security.
• Be aware of the need for access control in a security strategy.
• Strategies for the protection of assets.
• Types of access control in a security strategy, including cards and smart cards.
• Biometric identifiers.
• Biometric recognition and identification.
• Biometric multimodal systems.
• Biometric applications.
• Strengths and weaknesses of biometric identification.
• Testing biometric systems.

• Senior members of both public and government organizations that are involved in security related areas.
• Those with a wider interest in the broader issues of new security related areas such as access control, biometric verification, security technology, and physical security

Professor Clifton Smith initiated the commitment of Security Science at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia in 1992. Associate Professor Clifton Smith proposed the establishment of a research centre in security at ECU and he was appointed Director of the Australian Institute of Security and Applied Technology (AISAT). Professor Smith has developed research profiles for AISAT in security imaging, biometric imaging, ballistics identification, infrared sensing, and strategic security, and security short courses in retail security, computer security, bank security, physical security, and security management.

In 2004, Professor Smith established the Security Systems Research and Test Laboratory at Edith Cowan University for the design and testing of security technology. The security systems evaluated and tested are intelligent CCTV and access control including biometric systems, for government and industry organizations. Professor Smith has been involved in the development of future forensic ballistics imaging systems for the identification of firearms, which has been in progress for eight years. The development of security industry standards continues to be a priority of the Laboratory. Professor Smith established the International Centre for Security and Risk Sciences at Edith Cowan University to provide a platform for the research in security related areas and the development of security risk studies. Professor Smith’s research expertise includes biometric imaging, forensic ballistics imaging and analysis, security education and training, the human-technology interface, and intrusion detection systems.

Professor Smith has presented about 120 conference papers on topics including security risk, security technology, biometrics access control, security management, and forensic ballistics identification technologies and techniques. He has also published about 150 papers and book chapters on both research and review topics in security, security science, forensic science, security risk, and security management.

Present Positions

• Honorary Professor, Security Science in the School of Engineering at Edith Cowan University
• Professor, School of Engineering, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK

• Director, Australian Institute of Security Technology
• Director, International Centre for Security and Risk Sciences
• Director, Security Systems Research and Test Laboratory
• Coordinator, Post Graduate Studies in Security Science, Edith Cowan University
• Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology Executive Committee
• Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology International Advisory Committee
• Non Executive Director, Amlec House, Pty Ltd

• An international award from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, USA for my contribution to International Security Education, 1997.
• A national award from the Australian Security Industry Association (ASIAL) for my contribution to Security Education in Australia, 1998.
• Visiting Professorship at Nottingham Trent University, UK for my contribution to International Security Education, 2000.
• Best paper at the Security Information and Systems Conference entitled Multi-dimensional cluster analysis of class characteristics for ballistics specimen identification, Beijing, China, 2001.
• Honorary Professor, Security Science, Edith Cowan University, 2006.

Consultancies

A range of consultancies have been provided over the last 20 years including a number of United Nations Development Programme consultancies in Indonesia, a number of consultancies for Seatro Pte Ltd in Singapore, and consultancies for Tenaga Power Authority in Malaysia, the Education Department of WA.

Current consultancy skills include design and analysis of physical security systems, security risk analysis and security risk management for strategic facilities, the security of national infrastructure facilities, and the application of access control systems and intelligent CCTV. The design and presentation of specialized training programmes in security risk, security technology, and security management from fundamental to advanced courses can be presented for industry and government organizations.

Professional Affiliations

Professor Smith has professional memberships of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the Australian Institute of Physics, WA Science Teachers Association, the Australian Science Teachers Federation, and previously the American Society for Industrial Security. He also has professional affiliation with T4 ASIO, the Police Scientific Development Branch of the Home Office, Langhurst, UK, and Sandia National Laboratory, USA.