Cornerstone in Corrections

Cornerstone 2.8 has most recently been upgraded into one of our correctional customer sites. Highlights of that installation include:

• infrastructure includes approximately 20 iris recognition cameras and three True Identity Controllers (TIC)
• in excess of 30,000 users
• a mix of staff, visitors and prisoners
• Cornerstone manages each of these demographics as discrete groups
• keys are issued only after a user is identified by their iris
• Cornerstone logic prevents keys leaving premises or being taken into unauthorised areas
• iris recognition is used to control access to prisoner records
• access control, visitor tracking and visitor management are controlled via Cornerstone
• Cornerstone manages all applications through a single interface
• More than 2000 camera interactions are carried out each day

Cornerstone Roadmap Update

A number of customers have requested from us enhancements and features which are of benefit to most other clients. So we have packaged these along with some software fixes into a single version we are calling Cornerstone 2.8, on the way to a Version 3.0 which will be a .Net Framework 3.5 Service Oriented Architecture product.

2.8 includes the following:
· A more elegant way of handling data inputs, making it easier to accept non biometric sensors, or non iris recognition cameras.
· In all modules the inclusion of start and expiry dates. This feature means an enrolment can be tied say, to the expiry of a training period, the lapse of a qualification, or can be used to manage employees on a site for a specific time, such as contractors.
· Operators can be switched without having to close the application, helpful for shift changeover.
· Enhanced visitor flow rules, which enable tighter management of who is moving through a particular area of a facility.
· A number of changes which have increased the ability of the application to handle large databases (30,000 + users).
· The ability to monitor iris recognition cameras and their online/offline status.
· The type and style of reports with Time Capture have been upgraded.
· There is now a unified set up package for the software and Cornerstone is installed in near to “one click” as we are able to make it at present.
· The Time Capture module now includes the ability for a supervisor to make manual adjustments to start and finish times.

FBI Prepares Vast Database Of Biometrics

While not specifically about Cornerstone this Washington Post article underscores the government driven market for biometrics in the US. As the technologies associated with fused biometrics, large and fast data base searches and the broadening of applications we can only expect to see the benefit flow down into other non government markets.

You will need to register with the Washington Post (free) to see the full article - header extract included here.

FBI Prepares Vast Database Of Biometrics
$1 Billion Project to Include Images of Irises and Faces

By Ellen Nakashima
Washington Post Staff Writer

CLARKSBURG, W. Va. -- The FBI is embarking on a $1 billion effort to build the world's largest computer database of peoples' physical characteristics, a project that would give the government unprecedented abilities to identify individuals in the United States and abroad.
Digital images of faces, fingerprints and palm patterns are already flowing into FBI systems in a climate-controlled, secure basement here. Next month, the FBI intends to award a 10-year contract that would significantly expand the amount and kinds of biometric information it receives. And in the coming years, law enforcement authorities around the world will be able to rely on iris patterns, face-shape data, scars and perhaps even the unique ways people walk and talk, to solve crimes and identify criminals and terrorists. The FBI will also retain, upon request by employers, the fingerprints of employees who have undergone criminal background checks so the employers can be notified if employees have brushes with the law."

Cornerstone Enrolment Demonstration

The video embedded here walks you through the biometric enrolment process using Cornerstone. The Cornerstone interface is introduced and various elements of the enrolment demonstrated and explained.

Insurance Company Uses Iris Recognition to Detect Fraud

In 2005 the IAG insurance company used iris recognition to detect, remove and deter identity fraud at its car auction yards in Sydney Australia. The customised solution, which integrated IAG workflow processes and requirements, uncovered identity fraud based on fraudulent driver's licenses from the fist day of its operation. This short video clip shows some of the processes and is an example of how Argus is implementing innovative biometric applications. Biometrics are more than just access control!

Demonstration of Cornerstone Throughput

This short video clip gives an example of the throughput which is delivered by Cornerstone, using iris recognition cameras. In this example the throughput can be increased by removing the audio cue at the camera. However most clients find this level of throughput more than acceptable.

Cornerstone Gets Some Fine Tuning

Some of our large users have requested refinements to the way they interact with the software and recently two small patches have been issued to help supervisors better manage the identity profile within Cornerstone.

Switching Operators

The first modification is that of being able to switch operators without having to shut down Cornerstone to do so. A simple thing but not really in demand until larger clients have started using Cornerstone. Shift changeovers, multiple supervisors/operators and so on mean this utility has come into its own. Clicking on "File" presents the Switch operator option, and clicking on this opens up the logon dialogue box. From where operators can log off...and on...

Start and Finish Times

Similarly, supervisors have found their ability to manage short term visitors to a facility better handled though simply having a start and finish time built into the enrolment process. This obviates the need to set those times within a visitor's profile (though that function still exists) and in so doing speeds up visitor interaction with the product and at the front desk. The start and expiry dates are shown here within the enrolment wizard.

Melbourne Assessment Prison

Cornerstone is installed in a maximum security prison in Victoria.

The Cornerstone suite of applications at include:

• access control
• visitor management
• key management,
• and asset management

The logic within Cornerstone which ties these applications together means staff are unable to leave the premises with keys in their pocket - for example. Another example relates to asset management - rules are set which govern who can take what pieces of equipment into various parts of the prison.

Singapore Border Crossing - Cornerstone Origins

The origins of Cornerstone lie in a project established with the Singapore Government on the Tuas border crossing. This short video clip shows what was achieved, including the secondary video validation of how many riders were on the motorcycle.

Cornerstone in Wellington Prison

New South Wales Correctional Services have installed and commissioned Cornerstone in its latest hi tech, showcase prison at Wellington. Wellington Prison, opened recently, is:

• An 600 Bed Male/Female Med/HI/Max security prison, it is located in the Cabonne District just north of Wellington Township toward Gulgong.

• After an exhaustive evaluation conducted by independent consultants on behalf of the Department of Corrective Services NSW, and against fierce competition by the current provider, the Argus Cornerstone Solution was chosen to manage visitors and staff coming in and out of the prison.

• The system deployed at Wellington is comprised of the Cornerstone True Identity Manager for enrolling and identification of staff and visitors, True Identity Visitor Functional Module, for the control and monitoring of movement through the facility (prescribed pathways with alarms) as well as placing subjects on watch lists or black lists, and the EPI Secure Credentials Functional Module for high definition photographs and ID card printing.

• The Biometric chosen was iris recognition using the Panasonic BMET330se Dual Eye Iris Recognition Camera, as it has been proven so effective, easy to use, accurate, and speedy in so many other prisons to date and when coupled with the Cornerstone software, has a flawless record of performance.

• Staff at Wellington have welcomed the new technology and are enjoying the benefits of speed and confidence in processing volumes of people.

• Wellington has attracted the attention of many of the surrounding prisons and regional commanders who have been impressed with Cornerstone when visiting Wellington.

Tips On How to Use the Panasonic Iris Camera (330)

A short video clip which provides some tips on how to use the BMET-330.

Contact us for a DVD quality version if you need it.

Defence Site

Cornerstone has been supplying identity management solutions across the Australian Defence Headquarters in Canberra. It is installed in multiple sites. Cornerstone is integrated into existing building management systems and sits beside other security systems such as card identification documents.

Cornerstone was recently installed at an Air Force base and has been added to an existing security and intelligence facility - indeed, the software is highly modular and expansion of capability is simply a case of "plug".