As technology advances, so does the potential of higher education systems. Digitized platforms and strategies have increased learning efficiency in schools across the globe, providing students and teachers with an expanded selection of tools and resources.
Radio frequency identification (RFID), one of many technologies enhancing higher education processes, benefits much more than operations—it optimizes safety too. Using RFID technology, higher education institutions can take their emergency response systems to new heights, ensuring more student safety than ever before.
Various technologies, including AI and machine learning, have recently made waves in education. These systems are intended to assist and manage learning and operations, whereas RFID is meant to track assets. Users can determine what asset, item or individual is tracked. The system itself consists of tags and a reader, which work together to create a network-connected device.
How Does RFID Work?
The tag or label is embedded with a microchip and antenna, attached to assets and used to identify and track those assets using radio waves. The radio signals are sent back and forth to a reader, a device that transmits the information, enabling direct data interaction. Through this advanced data analysis, RFID can provide valuable insights for further use, monitoring and performance measurement.
RFID technology is expanding its reach to serve various sectors, including higher education. Regarding education safety, the primary “assets” being tracked are people—specifically, students, faculty and visitors. Schools can implement RFID in the following ways:
- Smart ID cards or badges: These use regular ID elements like picture, name and ID number plus an internal circuit that can analyze data for multiple functions.
- Proximity cards: This type of contactless smart card uses RFID to transmit credentials through radio signals to grant property access or capture information.
How Can Educational Institutions Use RFID for Emergencies?
Higher education institutions can optimize their security functions through various advanced technologies. RFID specializes in tracking, allowing schools to monitor all individuals inside or outside buildings. This contributes to more accurate monitoring of institutions and aids emergency systems. RFID technology improves overall emergency response efficiency by streamlining the following areas:
1. Emergency Evacuation
Although evacuations are uncommon in higher education, procedures are vital to effective safety systems. Roughly 93 percent of public schools drill students on evacuation procedures, highlighting the importance of effective practices. Drills can help keep students informed, but RFID can help them stay safe.
RFID tracking can detect and confirm that all students and faculty have safely evacuated the building during an emergency. With its smart data network, the system stores exact departure times, so there is an accurate record of when, where and how individuals got out of the building. The technology can act on data insights, allowing it to sound an alarm if people remain inside the building during an evacuation.
2. Access Control and Visitor Management
Schools that use RFID technology can give all students and staff smart ID cards or badges equipped with an advanced internal tracking system. The system collects real-time data and insights, providing instant time and location tracking. By granting school systems access to exactly when and where individuals enter and exit buildings, RFID enables accurate student attendance — and visitor management.
In an emergency, schools can identify exactly who is inside or near the building at any given time. For example, if an issue is reported concerning a student, staff member or visitor with a temporary ID badge, authorities can immediately find and stop their activity. This eliminates time spent searching for individuals and, more importantly, decreases time spent in danger.
3. Remote Access
One of the most significant benefits of technologies like RFID is increased security potential. Unlike human employees, RFID and other digitized systems are available 24/7, allowing constant access to configurations and monitorization.
In a shutdown, RFID control systems can be accessed outside the physical building, securing data and reducing the risk of security breaches. Data is accessible through smart devices and online portals, saving recovery time and streamlining emergency response procedures.
4. Lockdowns and Shelter in Place
In opposition to emergency evacuation tracking, RFID can ensure that all individuals who attended school are inside the building during a lockdown. Whether caused by a natural disaster or security threat, RFID helps schools make sure everyone is accounted for and safe inside the institution.
RFID tags can track all assets, from people to goods. In an emergency, all schools should have enough supplies for three days’ worth of shelter-in-place support. RFID tags can be placed on all emergency-related items, including food, water and first aid kits, providing schools with constant asset control. This aids institutions’ emergency response management, as they know exactly what they have and where.
5. Emergency Medical Services
Along with lockdown purposes, the ability to quickly locate material assets also benefits emergency medical services (EMS). Schools can place RFID tags on essential equipment like first aid kits, medical tools, stretchers and radios so they are easy to find in a medical emergency.
If a student gets hurt on campus, nurses and faculty must find assets and equipment as fast as possible. Without RFID technology, time can be wasted finding items, wasting critical moments that could jeopardize the individual’s health and safety. RFID ensures items can be located immediately and helps with inventory control. With constant access, higher education systems know exactly what equipment they have, where it is and when they need to restock.
RFID Technology: The Future of Higher Education Services
Using RFID, higher education institutions can manage their assets; monitor students, faculty and visitors; and most ensure efficient safety protocols. When emergencies happen on campus, there is no time to waste. RFID technology enables schools and universities to provide faster, more efficient emergency responses, streamlining practices for a better, safer future of education.