ADaMS 3: An Enhanced Access Control System for CERN

ADaMS is CERN's Access Distribution and Management System. It evaluates access authorizations to more than 400 zones and for more than 35k persons. Although accesses are granted based on a combination of training courses followed, administrative authorizations and the radio-protection situation of an individual, the policies and technicalities are constantly evolving along with the laboratory's activities; the current version of ADaMS is based on a 7 year old design, and is starting to show its limits. A new version of ADaMS (3) will allow improved coordination with CERN's scheduling and planning tools (used heavily during technical shutdowns, for instance), will allow CERN's training catalog to change without impacting access management and will simplify and reduce the administrative workload of granting access. The new version will provide enhanced self-services to end users by focusing on access points (the physical barriers) instead of safety zones. ADaMS 3 will be able to cope better with changing and new requirements, as well as the multiplication of access points. The project requires the cooperation of a dozen services at CERN, and should take 18 months to develop.