Most Common Automatic Number Plate Recognition Software Applications

As the name implies, automatic number plate recognition software (also commonly referred to as ANPR for short) is a type of technology that uses optical character recognition to analyze images, pulling out vehicle registration plate information and pairing it with precise location data.

In other words, it’s a special type of camera that can instantly recognize the numbers and letters on a license plate, giving you a huge amount of information about who is entering a particular space. It’s also a technology that is valuable in a variety of different contexts, all of which are worth a closer look. For more information, check out this article on how ANPR cameras work.

1. Law Enforcement Agencies

One of the most common ways in which ANPR technology is often used has to do with its role in the work of law enforcement agencies across the country.

ANPR camera systems give police officers the ability to track criminals not only on a local level but on a regional or even national level as well. If a particular law enforcement agency is looking for a criminal who is on the run, they can get notified of said criminal’s exact location if they pass by one of these cameras. This is true whether they’re in the same city or several states away.

The license plate on the car in question can be added to a database and, when spotted, it can notify the proper authorities instantly. They’ll get high-quality images, location and time data, and more information from which to work with.

For the same reasons, this can also be an ideal way to help track and apprehend organized crime groups and even terrorist organizations as well.

2. Parking Garages

Another common application for ANPR technology often takes place in parking garages. Here, these innovative camera systems can prove useful in a few different ways.

For starters, they’re ideal when it comes to things like access control. Authority figures know precisely who is coming and going from the garage (and when) at all times. When paired with the right type of software, they can even help to create a far better experience for people who are using the garage to park as well. If you’ve ever pulled into a parking garage and paid via an app on your phone, all without taking a ticket or interacting with an employee in any way, ANPR technology is likely why.

When paid, your license plate would be scanned into the appropriate system and listed as current. Any cars with license plates that are not in the system have therefore not paid, which will allow them to be ticketed or removed from the area as quickly as possible.

3. Local Government Buildings

Speaking of access control, another common use for automatic number plate recognition software involves local government buildings and similar secure areas. Especially in major cities, you can’t just pull up to a local government building and head inside anytime you want.

You need clearance or at the very least a reason to be there. ANPR systems can help security teams identify vehicles (and thus individuals) who don’t have the security access necessary to be on the grounds, allowing those professionals to investigate the situation as soon as they can.

The same technology can also be used to automatically alert people when certain individuals have arrived at a local government building, too. If there is a particular person who should not be present at any time, security officials can be alerted as soon as that car pulls into the parking lot. This can help eliminate surprises with potentially dangerous consequences, all while creating a safer environment for everyone at the same time.

4. Commercial Parking Lots

Automatic number plate recognition systems are also often used in the commercial parking lots of various types of businesses. If you’ve ever been to a big box electronics retailer, home improvement store, or similar type of establishment, you know that the parking lots are typically massive. They’re usually far too big for a single security guard to patrol on their own, especially overnight when it is pitch black outside.

Enter: automatic number plate recognition software. When paired with other security measures, these systems can be a great deterrent for the types of problems that these businesses often have. If someone steals something and drives off in a particular car, you can add that vehicle to a block list to know instantly if it shows up again. The system can even be used to prevent people from gathering after hours and participating in the types of illicit transactions that often take place.

In the End

Overall, automatic number plate recognition software is nothing if not versatile – it can benefit many different types of businesses in a host of unique ways. This is also the reason why, if you haven’t already considered investing in an ANPR system for your own space, now would be an excellent time to start.