The Evolution of ALPR

With the fast pace of technological advancements appearing, we are still surprised when we see the systems we only know from science-fiction movies around us. Automatic Licence Place Recognition is one of the cutting-edge systems introducing a new era of automation and accuracy. How does the system work, what are some of its best applications, and how is the system different from the previous methods used?

How to understand ALPR?  

The technology employing optical character recognition and image analysis to automatically identify and read license plates on vehicles is called Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR). By using specialized cameras and software to capture images of license plates, extract the alphanumeric characters, and then convert them into readable text, we are able to simply manage parking cars, control traffic, or identify cars taking part in accidents.  

The ALPR cameras capture images of passing vehicles, thanks to the specialized optics used, with optimal image quality even under poor lighting conditions. The image is then processed, and the license plate is isolated for further analysis. The OCR software identifies and extracts the characters to decipher the plate number.  And last but not least, the characters obtained are compared with the information in the database to identify the owner of the car. 

The system can also greatly increase the possibility of punishing people who violate the law or drive a stolen or suspicious car.

The benefits of ALPR use

There are a few situations when the ALPR system is of great help, allowing for fast identification and detection of illegal behavior.  

ALPR by SentiVeillance is a great tool to track cars connected with criminal activities, for example, when someone escapes from the scene of an accident or steals a car. Traffic violations can be easily monitored too.  

Parking management is another example of ALPR benefits, which means the automation of entry and exit procedures in parking lots next to public places, shopping centers, or even workplaces.  

It’s the same with toll collection automation, when cars can easily pass through toll booths, reducing traffic to a minimum. ALPR can also be successfully used to enhance border security, facilitating faster immigration processes.

ALPR vs. traditional methods 

It’s been quite a journey comparing ALPR with the traditional methods of license plate recording and tracking, which were mostly based on manual data entry and human observation.  

ALPR is much faster and more efficient, operating in real-time and processing license plates at such a fast pace that delays and traffic on parking lots disappear. The system is also accurate due to the advanced image processing applied without the risk of human errors.  

It’s quite obvious how automated the system is, reducing labor costs and increasing reliability. It can also work in high-traffic areas by being able to identify multiple license plates in a short time.