Highways England Passport NFC

NOTE: Once installed, the app name will be displayed as ‘Passport NFC’ in your list of installed apps.

The app allows anyone to check their own Highways England Passport smartcard to view their current competences.

In addition to Passport smartcards, the app will also read any CSCS smartcards that have been enrolled into the database.

The app also allows authorised card checkers to undertake a range of other activities. These are:

• undertaking spot checks

• managing access control in and out of work – for both cardholders and visitors

• recording locally-delivered training (e.g. inductions and briefings).

A record of all checks and awards is automatically synchronised to the passport database to provide a full audit of activities and checks completed.

This app allows checks to be completed either using NFC or QR code (where applicable). Highways England Passport smartcards can either be checked by scanning the QR code on the front of the card or by reading the microchip within the smartcard using NFC.

Note: Visitor passes can only be checked by scanning their QR code and CSCS cards can only be checked using NFC as they do not have QR codes printed on them.

This app can be used with any Android smartphone or tablet (Android 4 and above) with a rear-facing autofocus camera and NFC. Passport smartcards can be read securely using NFC, as these devices read information from the smartcard’s microchip electronically. Internet access is not required to read smartcards using NFC. The smartcard’s microchip can be checked using NFC even in areas where there is no mobile data connection available. However, if internet access is available when reading a card using NFC, any updates for that card that have been applied to the central database are transferred automatically to the smartcard when it is scanned in this way.

All checks and awards are uploaded automatically to the database when an internet connection is present or can be uploaded later when connectivity is restored by re-launching the app.

USING THE APP:

This first time the app is launched you will need to scan the QR code available at the following address when prompted (you will only need to do this the first time the app is installed): https://he.validate.mitie.com/mobileapp

Now you’re ready to start checking cards. First scan your own card to log into the app as instructed.

You can scan the card via the smart chip inside – just hold the card flat to the rear of the device until it is recognised (make sure NFC is enabled on your phone!) then hold it steady until the app has finished reading the card details.

You can read a card when you’re in an area without any mobile signal if you scan using NFC, but bear in mind that any recent updates may not be visible until the card is next NFC scanned whilst the mobile device is online – it’s this process that copies the cardholder’s updated details to the smart chip in the card.

Remember, when offline the information you see is only current as of the last online scan, so you should ensure you scan cards when online whenever possible to make sure the information you are seeing is up to date. To help you, the app will always show the last time the cardholder’s data was updated from the central database, allowing you to make an informed decision about how current, and therefore, reliable, the information shown may be.

If you are an authorised card checker, once you’ve logged in with your card, pick the location

(and, if relevant, zone) you’re working at. If there are lots defined, just start typing the name and all matching locations will be returned. Otherwise, just select from the dropdown list displayed. If you think you should be able to scan other people’s cards as well, contact your Highways England Passport administrator.

You are now ready to start swiping people into your selected location, spot checking cards etc.

Validate is sold exclusively by MITIE and is the full copyright of Reference Point Ltd.