Our Risk, Compliance and Quality Management software has been extended to encompass Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. This system, called 4Recognition, is highly flexible suite of web-based software and hardware that can automatically read number plates by converting pictures into number plate text strings. The number extracted from the picture can then be used in a range of different control situations, either by 4Compliance or other enterprise management systems.

4Recognition is a fully integrated turnkey system involving software, hardware and communication networks that can be configured many different ways to suit your requirements.


What is Automatic Number Plate Recognition?
4Recognition uses ANPR technology as the basis to enable number plates to be extracted from standard video streams or still pictures. ANPR is a mass-surveillance method that uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on images to read the number-plates on any vehicle. It can use existing closed-circuit television, road-rule enforcement cameras, or cameras specifically designed for the task. ANPR can be used to store the images captured, as well as the text from the number plate. It is also able to store a photograph of the driver. Our system commonly uses infrared lighting to allow the picture to be taken at any time of the day. ANPR technology tends to be region specific, owing to variation of number plates from place to place. Initially image manipulation techniques are used to detect, normalise and enhance the image of the number plate. Then the OCR is used to extract the alpha-numerics of the number plate.

The ANPR engine is the true genius behind the 4Recognition system, and uses the CARMEN engine by Adaptive Recognition Hungary. The key task of the ANPR engine is to provide accurate reading capability “tuned” specifically for a country’s number plates style. CARMEN has been tuned for both Australian and New Zealand number plates, providing brilliant accuracy and speed of resolution. 4Recognition complements this technology perfectly by providing the complete solution, designed to suit the environment. This ensures the ANPR technology will provide you with the maximum advantage.

The CARMEN ANPR engine is being used successfully the world over, and as a result Adaptive Recognition Hungary has development partners in over 70 countries.

Example Applications
4Recognition is invaluable in situations where automatically recognising vehicle number plates can be used effectively, whether it is for compliance, operational, or financial purposes. Some examples are:
· Site Security
· Weigh Bridge Management
· Motorway Control
· Petrol Stations to log when a driver drives away without paying
· Car Parks or Entry Security Systems to control access
· Traffic management systems, to determine traffic flow
· A marketing tool to log patterns of use. For example, drive-through customer recognition that automatically recognize customers based on their number plate and offers them their last selection