- 8 min read
- Dec 5, 2024
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In the ever-changing world of automotive technology, ANPR is emerging as a valuable innovation that harnesses AI and computer vision. Artificial Intelligence has gained immense popularity in recent times for different applications transforming different aspects of human life. In this blog post, we will unveil the major implications of ANPR software and how it is influential in detecting license plates to character segmentation and neural networking training. The context takes readers through the core elements of ANPR technology, focusing on its diverse applications across toll collection, law enforcement, parking management, and traffic monitoring.
To have a complete understanding of ANPR and its applications, we need to learn what exactly ANPR is. Nextbrain provides a detailed approach to a powerful ANPR solution that enables leading organizations to build, deploy, and scale their computer vision solutions.
Table of Contents
What is ANPR? How does ANPR function? Delving deeper into the ANPR techniques Top advantages of automatic number plate recognition Major use cases of ANPR Conclusion |
What is ANPR?
Vehicle number plate detection and automatic number plate recognition are two sides of the same coin. Powered by computer vision algorithms, the number plate detection system leverages optical character recognition on images of vehicle registration plates. It reads the vehicle’s registration number and applies image processing techniques to automatically identify vehicles in image frames or real-time videos.
While discussing ANPR, it is important to understand the automatic license plate recognition system that can be used for detecting specific cars, tracking the movement of vehicles and automated parking enforcement. The utilization of ANPR systems is becoming more relevant as the technology is advancing rapidly with the advent of machine learning, deep learning and the accuracy of applied image techniques.
Distinct types of ANPR systems involves:
- Fixed systems: Fixed ANPR systems can be easily installed at a specific location. For instance, these systems can be installed at toll collection booths and border crossings.
- Mobile systems: Mobile ANPR systems can be carried out by a vehicle and can be used to scan the registration plates of other vehicles. For instance, these systems can be used by police cars for tracking down vehicles.
How does ANPR function?
Automated number plate recognition systems employ optical character recognition in combination with other image-processing techniques for reading vehicle registration plates. It is one of the most widely applied computer vision systems that are constantly evolving to increase the robustness, accuracy, performance and scalability of automatic license plate recognition software.
Let’s take a look at the different techniques that are popularly used in ANPR as a part of the computer vision pipeline.
Delving deeper into the ANPR techniques
Real-time object detection
Object detection harnessing deep learning helps in recognizing vehicle classes in images of video streams. Leveraging world-class object detection algorithms like YOLOv3 and YOLOv7 using neural networks trained on a dataset of images.
Image processing
Image processing involves conventional computer vision techniques to prepare images for being processed by the OCR algorithm. ANPR applications are more likely to be used in real-world environments having varying degrees of aspects like occlusion, weather, varying illumination, and inconsistent set-ups. Image processing functions can crop and colour-correct images to improve the results of subsequent algorithms.
Optical character recognition
Optical character recognition is considered a valuable vision AI strategy for reading text from images and videos. It enables the ANPR system to recognize and process license plate information. Several image processing algorithms are utilized to detect individual alphanumeric characters, evaluate their sequences and convert the number plate image to text.
Template matching
For ANPR and ALPR, template matching is crucial to the overall functionality of the system. As a technique, it compares an image of a license plate against a library of images of plates to find a match. It is highly influential in parking management applications. Optimizing the OCR software for distinct character sets makes it possible to use the same ANPR system in different countries.
Leveraging number plate information
After conversion into plain text format, the vehicle number plate is stored in a database for integration with other IT systems. When a match is found in the database, the software returns stored data regarding the vehicle.
This context paves the way to the major advantages of automatic number plate recognition systems and the functionality of AI video analytics for smart cities. AI video surveillance systems come with ample features that are applicable to real-world applications. Different benefits of ANPR come with effective space management, governance, automating manual tasks, and excelling the customer experience.
Top advantages of automatic number plate recognition
Accuracy
ANPR systems are capable of accomplishing highly accurate results and can easily identify vehicles by their license plates.
Automation
Automated recognition of number plates enables automated alerts and control for facilities. ANPR is a key technology for smart cities.
Identification
Fast recognition of a vehicle number plate is the basis for fast and seamless vehicle identification. It can be used to grant entry and exit access control.
Scalability
The utilization of advanced technologies comprising IoT and machine learning at the edge allows the development of distributed systems.
Security
ANPR systems are of great importance for different reasons. These systems assist in improving security by administering a method to identify and track multiple vehicles autonomously.
Cost-effectiveness
Faster real-time identification of vehicle number plates is the basis for fast and seamless vehicle identification. The identification is important for granting access and exiting access control.
Major use cases of ANPR
Law enforcement agencies
ANPR is promoted by police forces for different law enforcement purposes. It can be used to identify vehicles for traffic violations. The technology is capable of detecting and identifying number plates in real time. It enables authorities to identify vehicles involved in criminal activities and track their location.
Smart parking management
ANPR is considered key to effective car parking management and enables parking garages to automate parking management for seamless license plate recognition. The excellent parking systems are capable of keeping track of different vehicles in the facility and ensuring complete governance.
Excellent traffic management
ANPR offers ample features for traffic management. Leveraging automatic number plate detection can be used throughout cities for detecting high-speed vehicles that drive rashly. It can be used to identify vehicles for measuring and analyzing area-related traffic data of a specific area generating insights into traffic congestion for better traffic planning.
Tollbooth records
Manual toll stations can be quite challenging to manage however, still it is prevalent in different parts of the world. Toll stations leveraging the potential of automated toll management systems enable authorities to receive plate numbers for paying tolls by mail. It eliminates the requirement for drivers to stop and pay at a manually run toll booth. It enables effective toll booth management and dynamic road pricing enabling a decrease in operational time and increasing productivity.
Retail part security
For security purposes, nowadays retail parks are harnessing AI video analytics software for retail scenarios. ANPR allows effective toll booth management and dynamic road pricing. Right from identifying distinct technologies for receiving license plate numbers for paying tolls by mail automatically.
Wrapping up
Automatic number plate recognition is a crucial AI technology that provides different advantages for distinct applications. The advantages of ANPR are far-reaching and involve traffic management, toll booth records, retail park security, and journey time analysis. Is your organization looking to take advantage of the powerful technology? Nextbrain’s AI video analytics software comes with a wide plethora of features that are useful in manufacturing, traffic management, construction, healthcare and many other industries.
Do you want to know more about AI video surveillance technology and ANPR? Connect with our professionals.