AUTOMATIC NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION SYSTEM

INTRODUCTION Vehicle Registration Plates A vehicle registration plate is a metal or a plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle for official identification purposes. The license plates are placed on the front and back of the vehicle.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition System(ANPR) ANPR is an image –processing technology which is used to identify vehicles by their number plates using Optical Character Recognition. This technology is used in various security and traffic applications such as access-control system.

ANPR(contd…) Various names of this technology are: License Plate Recognition Car Registration System Intelligent Transport System

Access-control While the vehicle approaches the gate ,the ANPR unit automatically reads the license plate registration number, compares to a predefined list and opens the gate if there is a match.

ANPR EQUIPMENT ANPR equipment incorporates all the hardware and the software necessary to capture the images of the vehicles and to recognize the number plates. ANPR system consists of: ANPR hardware ANPR software

ANPR HARDWARE It comprises of: Camera system Computer Frame Grabber Trigger

Camera System The camera system takes a snapshot of the trespassing vehicle. It uses an IR light spectrum and illuminator which produces an illumination. The illumination used is Infra-Red(IR) because it is invisible to the driver.

Below we can see the picture of a car with headlamps on; on the left there is a picture of a car taken by an ordinary camera whereas on the right there is the same car photographed using IR filter and IR illuminator.

Computer The computer is normally a PC running Windows. It runs the ANPR applications which Controls the system Reads the images Analyzes and identifies the plate and Interfaces with other applications and systems.

Frame Grabber Frame Grabber is an interface between the camera and the PC It is a computer module that provides digitalization of pictures in case analog camera is used. Most commonly used frame grabber is FXVD4

Trigger Trigger is used by ANPR systems to know that vehicle came to the control spot so that the camera can be triggered.

ANPR SOFTWARE When a vehicle approaches the camera, the ANPR software takes a series of snapshots and stores them in a file. When the number plate is of sufficient size, it is scanned, the registration number is converted into ASCII code and held in a list.

ANPR SOFTWARE(contd…) This process continues for a series of images depending upon the speed and the position of the vehicle. Upon the completion of the process , an accurate result is selected from the stored list.

WORKING The ANPR process is divided into three steps: Detection of vehicle Capture of images Process of recognition The next few slides show how a typical access-control system works

Detection Of Vehicles The vehicle approaches the secured area and the process starts when the vehicle steps over a magnetic loop detector. The loop detector senses the car and it’s presence is signaled to the ANPR unit.

Capture of Images The ANPR unit activates the illumination and takes pictures of the front and rear plates using ANPR camera. The images of the vehicle is read by the ANPR unit’s image processing hardware or the frame grabber.

Process of Recognition The ANPR unit analyzes the image with different image processing software. The ANPR unit checks if the vehicle appears on a predefined list of authorized cars and if found it signals to open the gate by activating it’s relay.

Process of Recognition(contd…) The authorized vehicle enters the secured area and after passing the gate it’s detector closes the gate. The system waits for the next vehicle to approach the secured area.

ANPR Unit

CONTROL SYSTEMS Traffic Control Traffic control systems use ANPR units which provide details about the movement and flow of vehicles around the road network. These details can highlight the problem areas and help to make incident management decisions.

Electronic Toll Collection ANPR can be used for electronic toll collection on smart highways and roads. This process does not require cars to stop at the toll booth but instead uses Radio Frequency Identification to deduct toll charges.

Electronic Toll Collection(contd…) One smart road in operation is the E-Z pass in New York. In this system a computer reads an electronic tag mounted inside the car’s windshield and automatically deducts the toll from a pre-established account.

ADVANTAGES ANPR systems make use of registration plates that all cars already have, so there is no need to add transmitters or special signs to vehicles which results in saving towards the implementation of the system.

ADVANTAGES(contd…) The photograph of the car and the driver can be stored and retrieved if there is a need for evidence in disputes or crime situations.

APPLICATIONS The various applications are: Parking Access-control Tolling Border control

Parking The plate number is used to automatically enter pre-paid members and calculate parking fee for non-members (by comparing the exit and entry times).

Access-Control A gate automatically opens for authorized members in a secured area, thus replacing or assisting the security guard. The events are logged on a database and could be used to search the history of events.

Tolling The car number is used to calculate the travel fee in a toll-road, or used to double-check the ticket.

Border Control This installation covers the borders of the entire Country. Each vehicle is registered into a central database and linked to additional information such as the passport data. This is used to track all border crossings.

Security Features On Registration Plates Electronic vehicle identification A potential to provide an accurate vehicle record Means for Personal identification to be checked in the system

Security Features On Registration Plates(contd…) Minimize evasion of Tax and Insurance. Unambiguously links a car with a person.

CONCLUSION There is an immediate need of such kind of Automatic Number Plate Recognition system in India as there are problems of traffic, stealing cars etc. Government should take some interest in developing this system as this system is very economical and eco-friendly, if applied effectively .

CONCLUSION(CONTD.) It is still not being used in our country but will be prove to be effective. This change will help in the progress of the nation.

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