Attendance Tracking using RFID and IoT

Abstract

Technologies played an important role in developing the way of living life in terms of making it more easer and flexible than the past. One of the technologies in prominence is RFID which stands for “Radio-Frequency Identification”. RFID uses electromagnetic fields to transfer data that can automate identity and track using tags.  This technology has been widely used in IT Asset Tracking, Logistics, Real Time Location Systems, Library systems and many more including Attendance Management in schools and colleges.  Internet of Things (IoT) is considered as a technology that monitors the status of physical objects, capture meaningful data and communicate them through internet to software applications.  The advancement in 4G and 5G technologies have accelerated the use of IoT and for instance with RFID wearable devices in collecting data wirelessly and sending them to software applications for better decision making. This project proposes a smart Attendance Tracking system using RFID and IoT for tracking attendance of students in classrooms.  The project proposes to eradicate the time consuming, insecure and inefficient way of attendance tracking by calling names or signing on paper.  A common way of attendance tracking with RFID is with the biometric system. However, this project proposes a protype using RFID and IoT with cloud-based applications that reduces IT support, decreases costs and builds intelligence to RFID tags.  The prototype experiments with Ultra High Frequency RFID cards in association with Arduino Raspberry Pi microcontrollers and Microsoft Azure for cloud-based app and data storage.  The software recognizes the student through the information on the UHF RFID smart card for recording attendance.  Besides sending SMS or email to stakeholders confirming their presence in the class the prototype also uses built-in intelligence that informs about class timings, venue and cautioning late arrivals.  The data obtained wirelessly from RFID cards can be analysed and provide the organization with information related measuring attendance at sessions, demographic visibility, engagement metrics, duration spent in seminars or events and understand interests and preferences. The project accentuates the role of RFID and IoT in enhancing the smart attendance system.