What is an Autonomous Plot Protection System? How does it detect the license plates? Why do we need this system? How can we use it? What are the characteristics of this system?
Where is this system used? If you are looking for answers to all these questions, be patient because this article will provide you with all the answers!
You may have noticed that there are more and more cars on the roads nowadays. In 2010 there were more than 1 billion cars on the roads, including light, medium, and heavy cars. The number of cars has increased significantly in the current year. It is estimated that in the coming 15 years, the number of vehicles on the roads will increase to 2.5 billion. This means that there will be an urgent need to identify and find out the owner’s information in case of an accident.
Have you ever wondered how long it takes to do that? Well, the answer is ANPR. So, check out this content to learn some awesome facts about ANPR.
What is ANPR?
You’ve probably heard of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). It’s the automated version of license plate recognition.
ANPR stands for Automatic Number Plate Readout, but it goes by many other names such as Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR), Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI), and License Plate Recognition (LPR).
Basically, it’s a highly precise system that automatically reads license plates without any human input.
What are the processes involved?
The detection process of an ANPR system is based on the use of specialized algorithms and pattern recognition technologies. There are four stages in the ANPR process:
- Vehicle number plate photography:
Vehicle number plate photography is the process of taking pictures of a vehicle’s number plate using cameras.
- Number plate detection :
To detect license plates, trained algorithms analyze the image. The system converts the captured image into a gray-scale image. Binarization is the process of converting the image into a grayscale image. After binarization, the image’s noise is removed. This helps in step 3.
- Character segmentation:
This acts as the entry point for the correct results. If characters are not segmented correctly, they can split into two segments, which is why algorithms mostly rely on neural networks for segmentation. There are two ways in which characters can be segmented: Horizontal segmentation, Vertical segmentation. This entirely depends on the placement of the numbers.
- Character recognition: The last step is to identify the characters in the segmented picture. This step is known as feature extraction. The data transformation takes place from the bitmap representation. The data is then converted into character vectors (computer-friendly). Character vectors, which are numerical representations of a specific character, are called character descriptors.
As a result, systems utilizing these processes to identify license plates are referred to as an ANPR system.
Now that you are familiar with the process, let us move on to its significance.
Why do we need ANPR?
As mentioned earlier, Anomaly Detection and Response (ANPR) systems offer a smarter vehicle surveillance solution. This helps to alleviate one of the main concerns of the security sector. Automated monitoring saves them a lot of time, which allows them to concentrate on other important tasks.
Here are some of the benefits that make ANPR systems a necessity:
· Faster traffic management
· Improved parking management
· Increased security and the prevention of crimes such as car theft
· Improved evidence and lines of investigation
· Automated access control systems
· Modern and effective law enforcement
