Nedap's AEOS system ensures public security at Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, Netherlands

‘Two years ago, I accepted the position of facility manager for Amsterdam Music Dome Exploitatie. At the time, work had just started on casting the concrete ground floor for the Dome.’ says Ruud Bongers. This was the start of a hectic period for Bongers, which has involved specifying and purchasing all kinds of equipment and furniture varying from items as mundane as tables and chairs to the sophisticated access control and intrusion detection system. In his position as facility manager, Bongers is currently responsible for all building plant and systems, including the security systems such as the camera system and the access control and intrusion detection system.

Future-proof

Bongers and a project manager of Black Box jointly analysed which systems were available on the market, finally narrowing down the candidates for access control and intrusion detection to a shortlist of three. Because Ziggo Dome was looking for a system that could offer more than just access control and intrusion detection, Nedap’s AEOS system was finally selected as the winner. Bongers explains why: ‘We also wanted to be able to set up links to other building systems in the future, such as the heating system, the air conditioning system, the beer cooling system and, something that is very important here, the lockers for visitors. So we were actually looking for something that offered building management system functionality. The other suppliers on our shortlist were only able to offer access control and intrusion detection systems.’ The future-proof nature of the AEOS system swung the scales in its favour at the end of the day, because we were really choosing a platform and the system’s scalability and flexibility were decisive factors.

PIN identification

In addition to future-proof functionality, the system also helps to satisfy a further key requirement, which was PIN identification in order to gain access. This feature was required as a solution for specific challenges faced by the event venue. Madonna’s last performance here is a good example. When having 300 people at work here for that event, you can’t issue an access pass to each individual. So a PIN code is an ideal solution. AEOS is very easy to use and the codes can be created in just a few minutes. Bongers acknowledges that this is not really a high-security solution, but rather a clear choice in favour of a compromise between convenience and safety. ‘Because the building is compartmentalised, this isn’t really a problem as somebody who has a code will eventually come across a door that doesn’t allow code entry. An identification unit with a card reader and keypad is fitted to all doors. For security reasons, a code will not unlock all doors as some are programmed to only react to an access pass. Furthermore, a combination of a code and a pass is also possible. This applies mainly for doors for which only permanent employees have access rights.