Areas

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Areas

Areas

Location: Main Menu > Access Control > Areas

Overview

Areas in Drawbridge are used to track and control cardholder movement between defined spaces. They are most commonly used for anti-passback enforcement, occupancy tracking, and controlled entry/exit workflows.

An Area requires:

At least one Entry Reader

At least one Exit Reader

Cardholders must present their credentials at both readers to properly track movement in and out of the Area. This ensures accurate occupancy counts and enforcement of access rules.


Key Concepts

Entry Readers

oReaders used when entering the Area

Exit Readers

oReaders used when leaving the Area

Occupancy Tracking

oTracks how many users are currently inside the Area

Anti-Passback (APB)

oPrevents a card from being reused improperly (e.g., entering twice without exiting)

Single Controller Requirement

oAll readers in an Area must be connected to the same Aero x1100 controller


Creating a New Area

Follow these steps to configure an Area:

1.Navigate to Access Control > Areas

2.Click “Create New”

3.Enter a Name

4.(Optional) Enter a Description

5.Open the Entry Readers tab

6.Click “Add” and select all readers used for entry

7.Open the Exit Readers tab

8.Click “Add” and select all readers used for exit

9.(Optional) Configure settings under the Aero Options tab

10.Click Save


Aero Options Explained

The Aero Options tab provides additional control over Area behavior:

Access Control

oEnabled – Allows normal access and tracking

oDisabled – Prevents access to the Area

Max Occupancy

oSets the maximum number of people allowed in the Area

oSet to 0 if occupancy limits are not required

Current Occupancy

oDisplays the current number of cardholders inside the Area

Event Triggers

oEvent Up on Count Up – Triggers an event when occupancy increases to a set value

oEvent On Count Down – Triggers an event when occupancy decreases to a set value

Flags (not used in Drawbridge 8.1)

oPresent but not active in current versions


Editing an Area

1.Go to Access Control > Areas

2.Select the Area from the list

3.Modify:

oEntry/Exit Readers

oOccupancy settings

oAccess Control status

4.Click Save


How Areas Work in Practice

A cardholder badges in at an Entry Reader → occupancy increases

The same cardholder must badge out at an Exit Reader → occupancy decreases

If Anti-Passback is enabled:

oRe-entry without exiting can be denied

If Max Occupancy is reached:

oAdditional entry attempts may be denied


Common Use Cases

Parking garages (track vehicles in/out)

Secure facilities (prevent credential sharing)

Data centers (limit occupancy)

Employee-only zones (enforce entry/exit rules)


Best Practices

Always configure both entry and exit readers

Ensure users consistently badge in and out

Use clear naming (e.g., “Warehouse Area”, “Garage Level 1”)

Set realistic occupancy limits if used

Test Area behavior after setup to confirm proper tracking


Important Notes

Areas only work effectively when both entry and exit events are consistently used

Improper use (e.g., tailgating or missed badge-outs) will affect occupancy accuracy

Anti-Passback rules may rely on Area configuration for enforcement


This is a BETA AI model. Verify all information.

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