CLIS (Computer Laboratory Information System) is a comprehensive, IoT-powered platform engineered to digitize and streamline the access control and operational management of computer laboratories in educational institutions. Leveraging a robust combination of web technologies and embedded systems specifically RFID authentication integrated with Raspberry Pi hardware CLIS enables seamless, automated check-in/check-out processes, real-time monitoring of lab activity, dynamic computer assignments, and centralized administrative control. It is designed to enhance efficiency, accountability, and security while reducing manual workload and eliminating paper-based tracking systems.
The primary goal of CLIS (Computer Laboratory Information System) is to modernize and optimize the management of university computer laboratories through automation, real-time monitoring, and secure user access. By leveraging RFID and IoT technologies, CLIS transforms traditional manual processes into a streamlined digital workflow.
Specifically, CLIS aims to:
- ✅ Eliminate paper-based entry systems by automating student authentication via RFID card scans.
- 📊 Enable real-time logging and tracking of student attendance and session activity.
- 💻 Facilitate efficient computer assignment and resource allocation through an operator-managed dashboard.
- 🧠 Provide administrators with centralized tools for user management, analytics, system configuration, and historical reporting.
- 🔐 Enhance access control and security by enforcing role-based authorization.
- ⚙️ Improve operational efficiency and transparency across lab environments.
- 🌐 Lay the foundation for scalable, smart-campus infrastructure in educational institutions.
CLIS uses Role-Based Access Control. Each role has specific responsibilities and dashboard access:
- Authenticate access to computer labs via RFID smart cards.
- Track their personal lab attendance logs and session history.
- Query real-time availability of lab resources through the web interface.
- View operator schedules in advance and plan their lab visits accordingly.
- Oversee active lab environments with real-time occupancy dashboards.
- Dynamically allocate or release computing resources to authorized users.
- Manage workstation statuses by toggling between operational, maintenance, or fault states.
- Validate and rectify anomalies in attendance or session logs.
- Collaboratively create and manage their own lab duty schedules, ensuring proper staff availability and shift coverage.
- Centrally manage system users, including role-based account provisioning for students and operators.
- Configure and maintain lab inventories, including adding, updating, or deprecating lab resources and machines.
- Generate and export advanced analytical reports on attendance metrics, lab utilization, and system health.
- Broadcast institutional or system-wide announcements to targeted user roles.
- Monitor and audit all lab operations in real time with elevated access controls and administrative insights.
- 🔐 RFID-based Authentication
- 📡 Raspberry Pi Integration
- 🖥️ Real-time Lab Monitoring
- 👥 Multi-role Web Dashboard (Student, Operator, Admin)
- 💾 MongoDB Cloud Database
- 📊 Detailed Usage Reports
- 🧠 Operator Scheduling
- 🚦 Computer Status Management
- 🔒 Data Encryption and Role Authorization
- 🌍 Scalable and User-Friendly Design
- 🎇 Others...
This section outlines the core design components of the CLIS system, including user interaction, system structure, data modeling, and hardware communication.
Provides an overview of software, hardware, and communication layers.
Illustrates the interaction between system users and functionalities.
Describes the relationship between entities in the database.
Demonstrates the real-time interaction between RFID reader, Raspberry Pi, and backend API.
- Node.js – Event-driven JavaScript runtime environment powering the backend.
- Express.js – Minimalist web framework for building fast and scalable RESTful APIs.
- Mongoose – Elegant MongoDB object modeling for Node.js.
- MongoDB (Cloud / Local) – NoSQL document database designed for high availability and scalability.
- MongoDB Atlas – Fully managed cloud database service used for production deployment.
- dotenv – Manages environment variables securely for configuration management.
- EJS (Embedded JavaScript Templates) – Templating engine for generating HTML markup with plain JavaScript.
- HTML5 & CSS3 – For structuring and styling responsive user interfaces.
- JavaScript (ES6+) – Client-side scripting for dynamic content updates.
- Bootstrap 5 – Responsive CSS framework used to create clean, mobile-first UI components and layouts.
- Raspberry Pi – Acts as the hardware bridge for RFID scanning and server communication.
- RC522 RFID Reader – Reads RFID card UIDs via SPI interface.
- Python 3 – Scripting language used for handling RFID scans and sending HTTP requests to the backend.
- GPIO & SPI – Communication protocols on Raspberry Pi for hardware interfacing.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) – Differentiated access levels for Students, Operators, and Admins.
- JWT / Session Authentication – (Optional extension) Secure authentication token handling.
- Data Encryption (at rest & in transit) – Ensuring privacy and compliance with data protection standards (KVKK/GDPR).
- nodemon – Automatically restarts the Node.js server during development.
- Postman – API testing and debugging during backend development.
- VS Code – Primary code editor used in the development process.
- Git + GitHub – Version control and collaboration.
- Chart.js / D3.js – Data visualization for admin reporting panels.
- Socket.io – Real-time bi-directional communication for live dashboard updates.
- Cron Jobs / Node Schedule – Task automation for periodic data cleanup or reminders.
This project was developed as a final year thesis for the Computer Engineering Department at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University.
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Cross-Platform Mobile Application
Develop a native or hybrid mobile app (using Flutter or React Native) to provide real-time notifications, lab schedules, and self check-in/out capabilities. -
Advanced UX/UI Revamp
Redesign the user interface with modern design systems (e.g., Bootstrap 5, Material Design) for enhanced accessibility, responsiveness, and user satisfaction. -
Peripheral System Integration
Extend the system to manage additional lab resources such as smart lockers, 3D printers, and shared peripherals via modular APIs and GPIO extensions. -
Face Recognition-Based Authentication (Optional Mode)
Integrate a privacy-compliant facial recognition system as an alternative or secondary authentication method using OpenCV or cloud-based vision APIs. Ideal for environments requiring elevated security, this mode would support dual-authentication along with RFID or for entry-only terminals.
This project is licensed under a custom license.
See the LICENSE file for more details.
RFID Raspberry Pi Node.js IoT MongoDB Lab Management Access Control Fullstack Educational Tech