Are you lost in the sea of license plate reader camera options?
This blog will help you sail confidently and make an informed choice.
We are talking about a license plate reader camera that captures crystal clear pictures even if cars are zooming away in rain, snow, or pitch darkness.
Proactive detection is what you need to control access, help with parking management, and ensure that you can act quickly on suspicious vehicles that enter or exit your property or highway.
We can help you! Additionally, studies have shown that the most recent license plate reader cameras provide 98% recognition accuracy!
If that sounds promising, and you want a more secure business, keep reading.
For all the newbies in the security domain, let’s just take a step back and define what actually a license plate reader is:
What is a license plate reader camera?
A unique security camera that automatically reads, records, and logs license plates in a database is called a license plate reader (LPR) camera. It is also called an automatic number plate reader (ANPR).
Want to find out more? Here we go!
LPR cameras take things one step further by using specialized software that’s built either into the camera or DVR, or both.
The LPR software recognizes that the image that is being recorded includes the presence of an automobile license plate.
So, license plate recognition uses analytic software intelligence that is built into the camera and/or the DVR or NVR that recognizes that there is a license plate object in view.
Where are LPR (license plate reader) cameras used?
- LPR cameras are used to ensure traffic laws and maintain road safety. Speeding tickets are also issued when the camera is integrated with a city surveillance system.
- LPR cameras are placed on highways to develop traffic management strategies
- LPR cameras are integrated with access controls to restrict entry to specific areas, enhance security, and control traffic in designated zones.
- Car washes use LPR cameras for automated ticketless parking systems. The parking process is enhanced by eliminating the need for physical tickets, offering a more convenient and efficient solution.
- Drive-throughs use an LPR camera system to speed up the services of fast food delivery.
- Toll roads, gates, and booths also use an LPR camera system that facilitates the collection of tolls.
Often, people confuse license plate capture ( LPC ) with an LPR camera. However, there are a few distinctions.
Differences between LPC and LPR cameras
| Feature | License Plate Capture (LPC) Camera | License Plate Recognition (LPR) Camera |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Functionality | Records video with clear license plates | Goes beyond recording, uses specialized software |
| Identification Ability | Allows human identification of plates | Utilizes analytic software intelligence to identify plates |
| Software Integration | Generally focuses on video recording | Includes OCR software to capture and recognize plates |
| Automated Recognition | Depends on human review for identification | Automatically recognizes and stores license plate data |
| Technology Used | Standard camera technology | Utilizes OCR technology for character recognition |
| Database Storage | Typically records video footage | Converts images to text, stores plates in a database |
| Example Scenario | Reviewing recorded video footage where license plates are clearly visible | Automatically detecting and recording license plate information in real-time |
How does an LPR camera detect license plates?
LPR cameras use special software called OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to capture license plate numbers and store pictures of the plates.
These pictures are then converted to text and stored in a database.
This OCR technology enables the camera to pick up text from a digital image!
This smart detection capability of the camera can recognize license plates in videos and still camera pictures.
So what happens is that as the vehicle passes through the license plate detection zone, the software that’s built into the LPR camera detects the plate.
All the letters and numbers on the plate are saved accurately in the database. So, this is detected through an LPR license plate recognition software.
How does OCR read different number plates?
The placement of license plates varies on vehicles such as bikes, cars, and trucks. Some luxury vehicles may feature license plates in less conventional or discreet locations to maintain a sleek aesthetic.
But no problem! OCR technology can adeptly scan license plates. ensuring effective and accurate results regardless of the vehicle type or plate placement.
How LPR software reads different fonts of number plates?
LPR cameras are trained on a wide range of font styles and sizes to ensure adaptability.
Additionally, OCR systems may use techniques such as feature extraction and pattern matching to enhance the recognition of characters, making them capable of handling fonts with different styles, serifs, and proportions.
Why use a license plate recognition camera?
Because it is a specialized camera with default settings meant to capture high-quality license plate images.
For example, you cannot expect a wide-angle camera to take crisp pictures of license plates.
When the car is not moving, it might function, but at night, flashing cars would produce blur images.
The image above illustrates how a CCTV surveillance camera provides a blurry image of the license plate on the right side while an LPR camera detects clear images on the left side.
What features to look for in a LPR camera?
• Capture distance:
The best license plate reader should be able to recognize and record the license plate from the farthest point.
For effective traffic monitoring or entrance security, it is advisable to opt for License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras capable of capturing images from distances ranging between 5 to 12 feet.
This ensures the camera’s ability to accurately read license plates at different locations along a roadway or at various entry and exit points.
• Lighting:
For precise and reliable license plate recognition, appropriate lighting is essential. This ensures that regardless of the conditions—be it bright sunshine, nighttime, or low-light scenarios—the captured images remain clear and can be accurately deciphered.
While you can use an external infrared lighting source, you will have to mount it at a particular angle. Because it is invisible to the human eye, this infrared light will not bother drivers when it is directed towards the number plate from the front.
Certain premium LPR cameras are equipped with specialized, optimized IR (infrared) lighting. This feature is particularly beneficial because license plates are designed to reflect IR light, making them significantly more visible and easier to identify in low-light conditions or at night.
LPR cameras with infrared lighting are the most effective option for capturing license plates, as the camera’s illumination range reaches up to 50 meters.
NOTE: For a parking lot, where broader coverage is key, we recommend exploring the versatile AXIS license plate verifier. In situations with a lot of traffic, it claims excellent accuracy.
It offers better vehicle search and parking solutions. It provides accurate recognition at up to 65 mph, making it a reliable choice for comprehensive parking lot surveillance.
• Mounting height and angle:
The height and angle at which the camera is mounted impact the field of view and the camera’s ability to capture license plates. You have to keep in mind three important things for accurate detection.
- The height at which you mount the camera.
- The angle at which the LPR camera is tilted.
- The distance of the vehicle from the camera.
Proper mounting ensures that the camera covers the desired area effectively, minimizing blind spots and capturing license plates at optimal angles for recognition.
However, the best height to place the LPR camera to avoid the light from the headlights blurring the image is at least 3 meters.
• Faster shutter speed:
Look out for cameras that allow a speedy vehicle to pass by and still collect accurate number plates! The speed of the passing vehicles affects the exposure time of the camera.
Fast-moving vehicles require a faster shutter speed to avoid motion blur. In high-speed traffic areas, a camera capable of capturing license plates without blurring is essential for accurate recognition and data collection.
Speed enforcement tickets are primarily issued for traffic management purposes and rely on the clarity of images captured by LPR cameras.
If the images are blurry, it compromises the ability to accurately capture license plates, undermining the effectiveness of the enforcement process.
But now comes the main question!
How to make the LPR camera even more effective?
When your LPR camera is linked to a remote video surveillance center, the entry of an unauthorized vehicle onto your property immediately triggers an alarm at the monitoring hub.
This prompt action cues a trained operator to swiftly respond, following SOPs to address and resolve the situation effectively.
The biggest benefit of connecting an LPR camera to a live remote video monitoring center is that a remote video monitoring centre verifies the validity of the triggered alarm, recognizing false alarms and acts promptly only for real alarms.
Benefits of using an LPR camera:
Cost reduction:
In a busy city parking facility, LPR cameras are installed at entry and exit points to automatically identify license plates, providing improved surveillance.
This technology eliminates the need for manual ticketing or personnel to monitor and log vehicles.
As a result, it streamlines access control and significantly cuts down on the costs associated with employing security staff, which are typically high in traditional parking management systems.
Accidental risk management:
A license plate reader camera efficiently identifies and logs the vehicle plates of high speed vehicles.
A city installs LPR cameras at busy intersections known for high accident rates. These cameras monitor traffic flow in real-time and detect patterns that could lead to potential accidents.
Traffic authorities receive alerts. They can deploy resources to manage traffic more effectively. This ultimately reduces the number of accidents in the area.
Integration capabilities:
Look out for LPR cameras that can seamlessly integrate with other security systems or software platforms.
For example, a corporate office building implements LPR cameras as part of its comprehensive security system.
These cameras are designed to seamlessly integrate with the building’s access control system, allowing authorized vehicles to enter the premises while triggering an alert to any unauthorized attempts, thereby creating a robust security infrastructure.
No human intervention required:
Big cities invest in LPR cameras equipped with advanced LPR software to streamline toll collection processes.
The software precisely processes the captured images, extracts license plate data, and integrates flawlessly with the toll collection system, ensuring efficient and accurate toll transactions.
This is the best way to enable efficient and automated toll payments without the need for toll booths or manual intervention.
Enhanced security:
The primary benefit of an LPR camera lies in its ability to enhance security. It swiftly identifies unauthorized vehicles.
This ensures you have complete awareness and control over every vehicle entering and exiting your property.
You can also use license plate recognition detection capabilities to enhance security. This allows you to restrict access for specific vehicles to certain areas of your property.
Real-life example of Sonny car wash benefiting from the LPR camera system.
An exclusive story of how Sonny’s Car Wash benefits from an LPR camera system is published in security magazine.com.
They wanted to make things easier for customers and work more efficiently. Automatic detection of license plates helped speed up the car wash process and made it smoother for customers.
When you drive in, the plate reader camera swiftly recognizes your license plate automatically, eliminating the need for manual entry.
This results in a quicker entry process, significantly reducing wait times and streamlining the overall experience.
This smart system also keeps track of information, like how often people come for a car wash. This information can help the car wash company understand what customers like and maybe offer them special deals or promotions.
Overall, it’s a cool way to make the car wash experience better for everyone!
How much does a license plate recognition camera cost?
License plate recognition cameras vary in price. The cost can start from a few hundred dollars and go up to several thousand. This variation depends on features, models, and other aspects.
For most businesses benefits outweigh the cost due to the following added features, such as:
- Alarm and Audio I/O Wiegand Interface allows the camera to integrate with other security systems. It enables the use of alarms, audio, and communication with other devices or platforms.
- The built-in heater protects the camera from freezing in extreme cold weather.
- The camera is suitable for outdoor installations where it may be exposed to weather elements. The vandal-proof design adds an extra layer of protection against tampering or intentional damage.
- The integrated microSD slot offers convenient local storage solutions. This feature enables the camera to record and also retain footage for future use as evidence in investigations.
Conclusion:
We are confident our blog will guide you in discovering the top LPR cameras available, ensuring precise vehicle license plate recognition.
Factors like capture distance, lighting, mounting height, and shutter speed play a huge role, depending on your security needs. The benefits of LPR cameras often outweigh the investment for businesses, even though costs may vary.
Contact us for a customized security solution for your business.
