Control de Acceso Local Sistema Seguro para Estudiantes

Security and access control in educational institutions have become essential components in the face of increased risks associated with school attendance, overcrowding, and the need for reliable records for internal audits, emergencies, and statistical analysis. In this context, many schools in Mexico continue to use manual verification methods, such as printed lists, signatures in notebooks, ID badges without digital validation, or visual supervision by security guards. These processes, in addition to requiring more operational staff, present critical limitations: duplicate records, human error, long wait times, poor traceability, and no ability to detect unauthorized access in real time. In response to these problems, an automated access control system was developed based on low-cost, high-availability technologies. The system was implemented using the Python programming language, a MySQL database running on a local server configured with XAMPP, and barcode readers with serial port communication. Its primary purpose is to record student entries and exits by scanning a barcode containing the student's account number, which is instantly validated against an institutional database. The system integrates a graphical interface created with Tkinter, designed for intuitive operation, real-time record viewing, management of student and visitor catalogs, and the generation of personalized ID badges using a thermal printer. By utilizing serial communication and a local network, the system avoids dependence on an internet connection, reducing costs, increasing service availability, and minimizing the risk of intrusions or external failures. During its implementation at the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, the system processed an approximate flow of 4,500 students daily, registering entries and exits with response times of less than one second. Initial issues were also identified—such as thread saturation, readers acting as keyboards, limitations of unidirectional scanners, installation problems, and slow validation—which were progressively corrected until a fully operational, stable, and scalable system was achieved. The results demonstrate that a cost-effective architecture based on serial readers and custom software can match and even surpass the performance of more expensive commercial solutions, especially when tailored to the specific needs of the environment. Furthermore, its modular structure allows for planning future integrations, such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) card authentication, automatic turnstile activation, QR codes, and facial recognition, thus consolidating a flexible access control platform that can evolve with institutional demands. In conclusion, the developed system represents an efficient, secure, scalable, and low-cost alternative to commercial solutions, and demonstrates the feasibility of implementing proprietary technological tools to improve security and school administration in institutions of any size.