Open AccessChallenges Associated With the Use of Radio Frequency Identification Tags and Vehicular Access Control Systems: A Case Study of Two Ghana Universities
Author(s) -
Obed Persie Appiah-Kubi,
Kafui Kwesi Agyeman,
Frederick Ampah Clement,
Harold Awuley Quaye
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of innovative science and research technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2456-2165
DOI - 10.38124/ijisrt20jun889
Subject(s) - snowball sampling , access control , control (management) , authentication (law) , business , computer security , computer science , telecommunications , engineering , medicine , pathology , artificial intelligence
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Ghana (UG) have embraced the use of electronic tags to grant users access to their campuses via electronic vehicle access-control gates. This introduction has not only granted or denied users entry into the university community, but has helped increase security, monitored movement of vehicles, kept records, reduced the rate of vehicle theft and unnecessary traffic jams. That notwithstanding, there are some challenges. This study focused on analysing the existing vehicular accesscontrol systems in both universities and the challenges faced with the use of the systems. The qualitative research method and the descriptive research design were employed in the study. In all, one hundred and forty (140) users of the access-control systems: seventy (70) from each university, were selected for interview using the convenience, snowball, and purposive sampling techniques. The findings of the study showed that out of the 140 respondents, fifty-four (54) respondents representing 39% indicated they have encountered one or more of these challenges: system authentication failure, delay in system operation, interrupted power supply, tag abuse and/or theft. These are coupled with challenges of the safety of the equipment adapted. In this regard, this paper resulted in a clear picture of the technology adopted by the two institutions, their pros and cons, as well as user friendliness and sustainability. This is followed by constructive recommendations regarding sustainable components for the vehicular access-control systems such as improvement in the bio data reading technology, more active chips, energy efficiency, and more effective but durable systems. This is expected to improve the institutional/employee security of such institutions as wells provide information on the RFID technology, its use and challenges to other institutions who are yet to embrace the system.