What is an ANPR camera?
An ANPR (Automatic Number-Plate Recognition) camera is a specialized device designed to capture and process images of vehicle license plates. These cameras use high-resolution imaging and infrared technology to accurately read plates in various lighting and weather conditions. ANPR cameras are commonly used in security, traffic enforcement, toll collection, and parking management, allowing for automated vehicle identification and monitoring without human intervention. They’re powerful security devices that rely on quality images and robust ANPR software that can perform various functions, which we will mention later in this blog post.
What is the function of ANPR?
The primary function of ANPR is to recognize and analyze vehicle license plates using optical character recognition (OCR). ANPR systems capture plate images, convert them into text, and cross-check them with databases for specific applications such as law enforcement, access control, toll payments, and traffic monitoring. This automation enhances security, improves efficiency, and streamlines vehicle-related processes in both public and private sectors.
Adaptive Recognition is a leader in the ANPR industry. Our purpose-made Vidar traffic monitoring camera is a giant leap in traffic flow security because it can pull driver details from the number plate and index them in the backend data. The main purpose of these cameras is number plate recognition, a specialized functionality you can’t get with a conventional camera. They need to take clear images at any time of the day and any speed up to 320 km/h.
What is an example of ANPR?
A common example of ANPR technology in action is automated toll collection on highways. Many modern toll roads use ANPR cameras to capture license plate numbers as vehicles pass through toll booths or designated entry and exit points. The system then matches the plate number with a pre-registered account or bills the vehicle owner automatically, eliminating the need for physical toll booths or manual payments. This improves traffic flow, reduces congestion, and enhances convenience for drivers.
What Are the Key Benefits of ANPR Cameras?
ANPR cameras are the most advanced cameras in the market. They can perform various functions, like reading number plates and identifying the make and model of cars regardless of how fast or slow their speed is. Moreover, a number plate recognition camera can also identify the vehicle’s color. Besides, it sends the ANPR and make-n-model data to a central server, verifying the toll payment verification. Sometimes, manufacturers calibrate these cameras only to count cars to predict traffic jams and control the traffic flow.
1. 24/7 Monitoring – Enhanced Car Park Security by ANPR Cameras
Unlike most car park barrier systems, an automatic number plate recognition camera is your best bet to track entering and exiting vehicles at the car park. Moreover, these cameras are active 24/7, and they record every detail of the scene. Therefore, you won’t be leaving your car park insecure even for a second. If there is an incident in your car park at late hours, a license plate recognition camera can record the scene, and you can pull driver information via their number plate.
2. Why Are ANPR Cameras a Better Security Solution Than Manned Guards?
Manned guards are excellent to control any criminal situation in your car park, but human error can sometimes become troublesome. Guards are efficient in the daytime, but they need breaks and cannot concentrate at the same level during an 8 to 12-hour shift. Moreover, it’s comparatively expensive to hire a person to secure your car park when you can do it at a lower cost with a license plate camera. Your guard can benefit from a digital ally so they can supervise multiple sites. This significantly improves the efficiency of available resources.
3. How Do ANPR Cameras Automate Entry and Exit Control?
License plate recognition cameras allow complete automation at the entry and exit points of your vicinity and control the incoming traffic flow. Company employees registered in the company database are allowed swift access through electronic barriers once the ANPR camera pulls their information. So, how does this work? Let’s take an example of the advanced Vidar ANPR camera by Adaptive Recognition. It sends signals directly to the gate/barrier. As a result, you won’t depend on any third-party software or hardware anymore. You can use the camera as a stand-alone gate controller to store an authorized and non-authorized list of license plates stored onboard.
However, people with less frequent visits must stop at the entry point and can go through the barrier once the guard presses a button in the control room. These entry and exit methods secure your location and provide complete visibility entering and leaving your car park.
How Do ANPR Cameras Work? A Step-by-Step Breakdown
The ANPR process consists of several well-coordinated steps, each designed to ensure maximum accuracy and reliability in identifying and processing license plates. Here’s a detailed step-by-step breakdown where you can learn how Adaptive Recognition’s smart ANPR cameras work:
1. How Do ANPR Cameras Capture High-Quality Vehicle Images?
The process begins when ANPR cameras, strategically positioned along roads, entrances, or checkpoints, capture high-quality images of vehicles as they pass by. These cameras are specially designed to focus on both the vehicle and its license plate, ensuring clear and precise visual data is collected for the next stages of analysis.
2. How Does License Plate Localization Improve ANPR Accuracy?
At this stage, you can learn how the system’s ANPR software algorithms analyze the pre-processed image to detect the location of the license plate. The algorithms identify the exact position, size, and orientation of the plate within the image, which is essential for precise reading by eliminating distractions and cropping only the license plate from the image as an add-on feature.
3. How Does Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Ensure Reliable Plate Reading?
Once the license plate has been located, the system employs Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. This process involves analyzing each character individually while also considering the full syntax of the license plate to ensure accurate interpretation. The system effectively excludes irrelevant elements and focuses solely on the license plate, enabling precise recognition and conversion into digital data. This step is critical for ensuring that the license plate is accurately read, even under varying conditions, such as different fonts or plate designs.
+1. How Do ANPR Cameras Identify Vehicles Beyond License Plates?
Finally, smart ANPR cameras, such as Adaptive Recognition’s Vidar, go beyond simple license plate recognition. They also identify the vehicle’s make, model, and color, adding valuable context for enhanced vehicle profiling. This advanced capability supports more efficient and automated systems for tasks like access control, security monitoring, and traffic management.
The data collected by ANPR cameras is utilized by systems and business intelligence solutions built by system integrators. These systems can cross-check the data against police databases and other sources to enable informed decisions and trigger specific actions based on the results.
By following this detailed, step-by-step process, ANPR systems provide a robust solution for a wide range of applications, from enhancing traffic safety to streamlining access control in secure facilities. The technology’s ability to read and process license plates with high accuracy and speed makes it an invaluable tool for modern traffic and security management.
How Do ANPR Cameras Support Smart City Development?
Smart City projects can significantly benefit from ANPR cameras as these cameras remove the need for human intervention. Here are four ways automatic number plate recognition cameras can improve security and help in smart city development.
1. How Do ANPR Cameras Improve Restricted Access Control?
ANPR cameras are efficient in tracking cars and pulling their records, but they have other use cases as well. For instance, the Einar vehicle access control & parking camera can detect and enforce vehicles entering the low emission zones (LEZs) 24/7. With a vehicle processing rate nearing 100%, they offer a terrific value for money. In case a vehicle violates programmed permissions, Einar will inform law enforcement and share all relevant vehicle details with them.
2. Why Are ANPR Cameras Crucial for Law Enforcement?
ANPR cameras can ease the job of law enforcement by tracking and analyzing number plates. When a car crosses a plate recognition camera, it compares the car’s data against its number plate. Then the speed detection camera (or the mobile speed camera) informs law enforcement if the vehicle is wanted for any of the following reasons: previous criminal activity (e.g., vehicle theft, carjacking), speeding (e.g., in a school zone), or any traffic violation (e.g., driving under the influence)
Moreover, a purpose-made ANPR camera might be integrated with the law enforcement server to track vehicles of interest. These cameras pull number plate information and take adequate images in any light condition of the vehicle and its driver, making them efficient in a manhunt.
3. How Does ANPR Technology Enable Toll Automation?
Toll stations are notorious for causing traffic jams and highway accidents. Even if an efficient staff consistently monitors the toll station, the threat is still there when the driver has pulled over to receive a ticket against their payment. Sometimes, it becomes agonizing when the ticket doesn’t come out. Automatic number plate recognition can also serve the purpose of a traffic monitoring camera that mitigates accidents and traffic jams by reading license plates and generating a toll ticket. If ANPR cameras are connected with online payments, drivers can pay for their toll tickets without stopping, reducing traffic jams.
4. How Can ANPR Cameras Revolutionize Logistics and Transportation?
ANPR cameras can reduce transportation and logistics companies’ costs through their robust and innovative number plate reading technology. The license plate recognition camera installed at the exit point can record the departure time for a transport van and ping the transport company once its delivery reaches its destination. This innovation can remove the need for calling and confirming the delivery status for B2B logistics companies. However, if ANPR technology is widely accepted, it might make B2C deliveries simpler.
