ANPR Technology is Stuck in the 1980s – it’s Time We Saw More Innovation

While imaging science, imaging software, CPU performance, solid state lighting, optics and camera equipment have developed dramatically in recent years, ANPR systems have failed to keep pace.

Consequently, CCTV installers and ANPR operators have struggled to benefit from the latest advances in imaging technology and are falling short of customer requirements.

The case for change

Most existing ANPR systems are based on core infrared (IR) technology developed in the 1980s. The IR-enabled approach involves complex hardware, sensitive software and a narrow field of view that typically requires expert installation and frequent fine-tuning. Added to the high cost, deployment problems and poor user experience, vulnerability to environmental conditions such as light and damage, dirt, dew or frost on the surface of the plate critically limits reliability.

The lack of functionality, performance and flexibility to utilise the latest camera technologies is a serious constraint, both operationally and financially. These limitations have, for example, hindered the capacity to transmit high quality live ANPR images via CCTV and security systems due to high costs, set-up challenges and a lack of confidence in reliability.

But without viable alternatives, CCTV and video management software providers have tended to take the most expedient, lowest-cost routes to integrate ANPR software, such as running video through an ANPR engine with no dynamic camera control. This type of compromise has lead to poor performance, particularly during bad weather conditions, low-light and night/day and day/night transitions.

Turning point

However, a radically new approach to ANPR development is enabling installers, operators and users to benefit from the latest advances in high-resolution digital imaging. Harnessing powerful new imaging science methods improves flexibility, reliability, robustness and ease of use, while significantly reducing the cost of buying, deploying and operating ANPR systems.

Adaptive self-learning software ensures extremely high read performance accuracy and reliability, no matter how variable and demanding the environment, lighting and weather conditions.

Open architecture principles facilitate easy integration of multi-vendor equipment and commercial off-the-shelf components, including the latest high-definition IP camera technology, solid-state lighting, optics and advanced analytic toolkits. This enables a radical simplification in image module design and provides unprecedented flexibility to create highly customised solutions combining best-of-breed technologies.

The latest plug-and-play solutions eliminate much of the complexity and need for ongoing maintenance. They can be installed in under an hour by a non-ANPR expert and, with self-optimising configuration, require no further visits. This represents savings of thousands of pounds and a dynamic solution for rapid volume deployment in new regions and markets.

Approved for use in certified cloud environments they reduce the administrative burden while enabling web-based management with zero risk and guaranteed redundancy, even for high-demand, mission-critical ANPR.

Next generation benefits

Offering transformational improvements in every aspect of ANPR, next-generation solutions leverage advances in off-the-shelf equipment, systems and processing power. This in turn is creating new opportunities to take advantage of:

• Flexibility to create customised solutions
• Maximum ease of deployment and use
• Industry-leading accuracy in all conditions
• Reduced cost of ownership and measurable savings
• Rapid ROI and increased profitability
• Improved reporting, dispute resolution and compliance.

 Proven in practice

One of the UK’s leading car park operators has deployed a next generation ANPR solution nationwide to reduce costs while delivering consistently high performance, without the need for constant reconfiguration. In addition to major savings it is benefiting from significantly enhanced image accuracy, reliability and operational quality.

4Sight Imaging will be at ASIS, Anaheim on IDIS Booth #3401.

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