Grosvenor Technology’s JANUS Enterprise access control system is at the heart of the University of Salford’s new One Card project, which allows students and staff access to a wide range of buildings and services throughout the campus.

The University has used JANUS in its original campus buildings for over eight years, with 300+ card readers providing site-wide access control. The One Card project was conceived in 2011 when the University developed its high-tech digital learning, teaching and research campus at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, Manchester.

When a student enrols, specific details of their programme are uploaded to the JANUS system where an access profile is appended to the student profile, allowing them access to their distinct learning areas. In addition, JANUS is further complimented by collaboration with the Condeco room management system to allow staff and students to book available rooms for study groups, etc.

“Grosvenor Technology was pivotal in successfully bringing together several key strategies into a ‘one card fits all’ solution,” said Derek Drury, CIO, Information Services at the University. “With just one card our staff and students link into parking, secure access, the library, follow me printing, leisure centre and fund loading for catering and printing. It is one of the most complex implementations in the University touching multiple systems across the campus. The success of the project has been measured in the wealth of integration across the entire University enjoyed by all.”

The open database structure of JANUS Enterprise provides the central storage for all of the information required to manage the One Card solution and allows a seamless interface to a number of external systems including the Ricoh printing solution, room booking with Condeco along with data feeds to sports and library facilities.

On enrolment at the university the student’s image, if not already available, is captured by the card services bureau and uploaded in real time to a central store for access by other university databases and services. JANUS Enterprise has helped to streamline and dramatically speed up the registration and card personalisation services at the start of each year thus providing the student with a stress free start to university life.