Smart Locking System with Digital Data Logging

Abstract

Security today is a far greater issue than what we used to see in the past with just metal locks. With that in mind think of for instance in factories, office buildings, residential areas and server rooms which all require protection. What we had before does not cut it as basic locks do not have in them the ability to track or to manage everything as a whole or to report who went in and when. That leaves room for issues like break ins or misuse of the locks. Entry is via card swipe or pin which at the same time improves convenience and security. Also each time there is an access attempt the event is put into a secure spot in our MongoDB collection for later look back. A new opportunity presents itself as remote admin control which in turn gives managers the ability to adjust user rights via a web interface built on top of MongoDB, Express.js, and Node.js. As live monitoring goes on constantly alerts go off at the attempt of breach. Because of encryption which we have put in place any connection between device and server is secure from eaves and change. Control is brought to a single point even as units may be located at many sites which in turn makes rules the same throughout their application. We have logs of every event which in turn will aid in later reviews for audit or incident response. Each component is designed to work well, this is to say there is little tight coupling which in turn makes for easy updates and managed growth across different buildings. We have powered down hardware which in the past was a large draw of energy and in the software we have scaled out smartly leaving behind the old lock in issues.

Introduction

The proposed system uses a multi-layered architecture:

• A hardware layer with a Raspberry Pi Pico, RFID scanner, and keypad for dual authentication.
• A processing layer using Node.js and Express for decision-making and access control.
• A data layer with MongoDB to store user data and time-stamped access logs.

When a user attempts access, credentials are verified centrally, and the system either unlocks the door or denies entry, while recording every attempt. This ensures complete traceability and enhances security.

The literature review supports the design by highlighting trends such as smart locks, centralized control, multi-factor authentication, low-cost hardware, and security challenges in IoT systems.

The results show that the system is efficient, reliable, and cost-effective, with fast authentication, real-time updates, and seamless integration between hardware and software. Overall, the project demonstrates a shift toward scalable, intelligent, and secure access systems that combine automation with strong data management.

Conclusion

An IoT-powered lock system was constructed as functioning with a digital record keeping. Rather than having one step verification, it runs two layers of identity checks that are connected to a single web backend consisting of MongoDB, Express, and Node.js. It enhances a sense of security since the events of access are centralized and therefore traceable with time passage. What sets this apart? The layers are divided into hardware, server logic and user interface functional areas. Remote control is painlessly achievable, and record keeping is easily available in the future. All the parts are loosely attached to each other, permitting flexibility in the future. The developments that may take place in the future are the fingerprint sensors, phone-based controls or algorithms that may warn on odd behavior patterns. Not all things are in their places - all things are flexible. The tested ideas here provide a firm basis of solutions, which are smarter to physical access.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 S. Bhuvaneshwari , R. M. Gomathi. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.