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ANPR’s local potential

While Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) has been around for decades, the technology has grown in leaps and bounds in recent years with increasingly more integrated solutions providing an enormous benefit to law enforcement agencies and security services providers around the world.

ANPR works by reading vehicle registration information in real time as vehicles pass by the camera. The impressive developments in IP camera technology over recent years means that these cameras can capture high-definition images regardless of vehicle speed or quality of light.

ANPR software can be used to cross-reference licence plates against law enforcement databases to identify stolen or unroadworthy vehicles, as well as criminals that have had their vehicles flagged in the system.

According to Gus Brecher, managing director of Cathexis Africa and business development director of Cathexis Technologies, ANPR offers a significant potential for private and public applications, and when integrated with other security solutions, it is potentially an extremely powerful law enforcement tool.

CathexisVision provides an ANPR solution for both low and high-speed applications. The ANPR software allows for the identification and capturing of number plate information via cameras and databases.

“This provides 24/7 access to users who can compare images captured to blacklists or whitelists and take immediate appropriate action against these comparisons,” says Brecher. “The ANPR feature is well-suited to any parking/access control application as well as any high-speed freeway detection requirements. The CathexisVision ANPR feature can be used in over 200 countries worldwide.”

For a simplified user experience, the ANPR feature allows for the simple setup of cameras at any height or angle, which will not interfere with accurate identification capability. The system is then easily configured to allow for instant use and maximum capability.

Brecher adds that a major feature associated with CathexisVision ANPR is the advanced automated data mining software that trawls through vast amounts of data collected. This process can be used on previously captured records for comparisons or to collect intelligence about specific plates.

Another key feature of this software feature is the creation of unique groups. Groups can be designated as blacklists and whitelists. Whitelists may include employees, tenants or contractors, for example. The CathexisVision ANPR software automatically captures and records each number plate as it passes the IP surveillance camera. Having captured licence plates and having information stored in various groups, users are able to setup predetermined actions based on those groups. For example: an employee vehicle has approached the company parking lot, open access gate.

These features all provide security services providers and law enforcement agencies with a number of key benefits that ensure maximum security regardless of the time of day.

The accelerated development of ANPR technology is paving the way for more integrated solutions. With the ability to connect with existing cameras such as CCTV, speed cameras, and tolling systems, ANPR is taking on an even greater role in the industry.

“This advanced technology provides a proactive solution where security service providers can actively detect and prevent criminal activity or potential incidents from occurring,” says Brecher. “The instant recall of previously recorded licence plates help identify threats as they arise and provide ample time for assessment and handling of these situations before any incidents arise.”

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