Introduction
Automatic license plate recognition technology is becoming increasingly popular in several industries. What began with speed cameras and the law enforcement sector has now become a go-to solution that allows different institutions and companies to collect taxes, manage parking facilities, and provide access to certain buildings and areas.
Automatic license plate recognition – ALPR technology depends on two artificial intelligence-related solutions to function correctly and effectively. These AI-related solutions are computer vision and machine learning.
Let’s discover more about automatic license plate recognition – ALPR technology, from what it’s to how it works. So read on!
What is License Plate Recognition?
License plate recognition is usually shortened as LPR or ALPR. It’s also known as ANPR, meaning automated number plate recognition, which is popular in the UK. These terms are interchangeable and mean the same thing.
License plate recognition software uses cameras to capture vehicle registration plate images, analyse the data and match it to the one stored in databases they are connected to. This technology can help solve various problems in different industries, including traffic management, parking, law enforcement and security. Also, this technology can be used to track vehicles for fleet management.
Another concept of license plate recognition is ALPR modality which can be used together with VH modality, in cases such as:
- Vehicle Data Detection: In some scenarios a vehicle type like a bus or truck needs to be noticed before running the ALPR algorithm. Additionally, vehicle model, colour and movement direction can be required as a filter before running the ALPR.
- Avoiding Replaced License Plates Cheating: Integrators make the software logic enabling it to check if a recognised license plate corresponds to other registered and stored data such as vehicle model, make or colour, and not being removed or spoofed from another automobile.
How Does License Plate Recognition Work?
License plate recognition uses cameras to capture license plate images. After capturing the image, the system passes it through multiple processes, including image processing and optical character recognition.
During the optical character recognition process, special advanced ALPR software converts characters in the license plate images into alphanumeric codes, which can be compared and matched to those stored in a connected database.
When it comes to image processing, system algorithms analyse the license plate images and determine whether specific features have been fulfilled, including shape and size. After that, the advanced license plate recognition system compares the information against that of the database to identify the vehicle and its owner.
Once the ALPR system identifies the vehicle, it can be tracked in real-time and store correct information for future reference. Modern ALPR systems can process any image, whether it’s clear or not. Also, they can deliver accurate information when the images are taken in any lighting condition. As a result, they have an accuracy rate of more than 95%.
Another impressive feature is that ALPR software can integrate with other applications, including video surveillance software and access control systems popular in parking lots, doors, and gates. When integrated with access control applications, they automatically deny or authorise access based on license plate numbers.
Final Thoughts
ALPR systems can be an essential tool for any business looking to enhance security, boost efficiency and minimise costs. If you partner with the best automatic license plate recognition software provider, you’ll find different configurations and sizes, allowing you to pick a system that blends smoothly with your unique needs and requirements.
