Is having a camera with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) better than using a physical barrier system in your car park?

Is having a camera with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) better than using a physical barrier system in your car park?

Acronym explanation:

ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)

ALPR (Automatic Licence Plate Reader)

Barrier system/boom gate

ANPR, in a nutshell, works like this:

The system (camera) records the licence plate number, logs the time the vehicle enters and exits, and calculates the total parking duration. This is done in accordance with data protection laws. Using this information, the system can determine if someone has overstayed their allotted time or has paid for their parking.

A brief history of ANPR:

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was originally invented in 1976 by the UK police for law enforcement, but early systems were too expensive and complex for everyday commercial use. However, thanks to rapid advancements in digital cameras and reading software, the technology finally became affordable and accurate enough to be widely adopted for car park management throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Uses of ANPR:

• Law enforcement: checking if vehicles are registered, licensed, or uninsured, and tracking the movements of suspects or stolen cars.
• Electronic toll collection: automatically billing drivers on pay-per-use roads.
• Speed enforcement: calculating a vehicle's average speed between two fixed camera points.
• Traffic management: monitoring traffic flow and analysing journey times for highway agencies.
• Car park management: logging entry and exit times to monitor lengths of stay and enforce parking rules.
• Congestion and clean air charging: enforcing fee zones in busy city centres, like the London congestion charge or Birmingham clean air charge.
• Bus lane enforcement: automatically catching unauthorised vehicles driving in restricted lanes.
• Security checkpoints: identifying suspect vehicles at secure facilities (often paired with under-vehicle inspection scanners).
• Private data collection: gathering vehicle location data for fleet management, vehicle repossession, or consumer profiling.

ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and traditional barrier systems (such as tickets or swipe cards) differ mainly in their access control methods, traffic flow speed, and maintenance needs. While traditional barriers are physical, often slow, and require hardware upkeep (tickets, readers), ANPR uses cameras to identify authorised vehicles and open barriers automatically or manage sites without any physical barrier at all.

Core Differences:

• Access Mechanism:
  • Barrier System: Involves having a physical boom gate (barrier) at the entrance and exit of a car park, which requires a driver to take a ticket or scan their credit card.
  • ANPR System: Automatic Number Plate Recognition allows cars to enter a car park without a barrier. The ANPR cameras record the time of entry and, similarly, the time of departure. This is known as a ‘ticketless system’.
  • The cameras can also be connected to Pay&Walk machines, allowing them to verify if a driver has paid the correct amount for the time they spent in the car park.
  • If a physical barrier remains needed at the car park, ANPR cameras can be set up to recognise authorised plates and automatically open the barrier for those drivers.
• Customer Experience & Speed:
  • Barrier System: Slower, potential queues to operate the mechanism, and lost tickets.
  • ANPR System: Faster, free-flow entry and exit improve traffic flow.
• Maintenance & Costs:
  • Barrier System: High maintenance due to mechanical failure and consumables (tickets).
  • ANPR System: Low maintenance, with a one-time investment in cameras and software.
• Security & Data:
  • Barrier System: Physical, but prone to tailgating. Also likely to experience damage.
  • ANPR System: Provides 24/7 logging of all vehicles, real-time alerts, and more accurate data for parking management, which can reduce unauthorised parking more effectively than a barrier.
  • ANPR System added benefit: In a car park, if a vehicle enters without proper authorisation, the ANPR system can immediately notify the CCTV cameras to start recording the vehicle's movements. This footage can then be used by security personnel to track the vehicle and respond to any potential security threats.
• When to Use Which:

• Choose ANPR if: You need to improve traffic flow, reduce staff costs, manage parking capacity, or operate in a space that needs a "ticketless" experience.
• Choose Traditional Barriers if:You require a very high-security physical obstacle.

• What are the benefits for the customer?

• Congestion at the entrance and exit is reduced by using ANPR cameras instead of a barrier.
• Customers can trust that all motorists will adhere to the rules, ensuring there's no resentment over illegal parking.

Cost of Physical Barriers versus ANPR Cameras

• Automatic Barriers: Basic automated boom barriers often range upwards of $3000 per unit, while advanced, cloud-managed, or AI-enabled systems are considerably higher.
• Additional Costs: Installation, electrical work, and maintenance are usually extra.
• Advanced Features: ANPR systems, ticketless operations, and cloud-based management systems provide higher security and convenience.

What is an automatic car park barrier system?

An automatic car park barrier system consists of several vital components.

• The barrier arm
• The control unit
• The motor
• Access control
• Safety features

The barrier arm is the physical barrier that blocks or allows access to the car park. Other costs to consider are the setup and the time and expense of an electrician.

How do ANPR camera setup costs compare to installing a physical barrier system?

This is a fixed cost payable at the start of a contract with the car park owners. The costs are usually covered by the car park management company, which is contracted to ensure smooth operation for everyone. Up-front costs are similar to those of a physical barrier, approximately $5000. However, ongoing upkeep and maintenance costs are much lower because everything is managed digitally from an office setting.

Smart Parking currently operates worldwide and effectively manages various types of car parks, including hospitals, train stations, retail centres, fast food outlets, pubs, and hotels.

If you're keen to improve your car park, please contact Smart Parking for a chat about your needs.

https://www.smartparking.com/uk/latest/2024/december/how-has-smart-parking-technology-improved-the-customer-experience/