License plate recognition uses a camera and software to read vehicle plates at a gate or entrance. Accuracy depends on the camera angle, the lighting and the plate itself. An LPR camera is a purpose-built device, not a general camera with a plate feature switched on.
LPR is used at storage facilities, parking entrances and gated sites to log vehicles and, where integrated, to allow or deny entry.
What affects accuracy
The plate has to be large enough in the image, at a consistent angle, and lit without glare. A camera aimed across a wide gate will read fewer plates than one positioned for the plate lane.
- Dedicated lane and a consistent approach angle.
- Infrared or controlled lighting for night reading.
- A camera and lens chosen for the distance to the plate.
- A clean plate, which no system can guarantee.
What to do with the data
An LPR system creates a record of vehicle movements. Decide who can search it, how long it is kept and whether it is linked to access control before the system is installed.
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