The ELSAG Fixed Plate Hunter Automatic License Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology allows for the instantaneous reading of number plates and the comparison of each to databases of suspect number plates (hotlists) or of authorized number plates (white lists).
The system is comprised of energy-efficient fixed ELSAG F3™ digital cameras with built-in processors mounted to structures such as gantries, bridges and overpasses, and a user interface for the in-car laptops and command centres.
The ELSAG F3 digital cameras take photos of number plates on passing vehicles, day and night, in any weather, from up to 35m (115 feet). Instantaneously, the photographic number plate is converted into a string of alpha-numerical characters which are compared to hot lists to identify suspect vehicles (a stolen vehicle, for example), or compared to a white lists to verify a specific number plate has permission to be in a certain area (in a permitted parking area, for example).
When looking for suspect vehicles, if the ELSAG Fixed ANPR system reads a plate number included on a hot list, alarms are broadcast in real time to nearby police officers, through the user interface on their in-car laptop, and to a command centre. Alarm information includes an audible statement as to the nature of the offence associated with the number plate, photos of the number plate and the surrounding area on the vehicle, identification of the specific F3 camera that read the plate, and date and time stamps of the number plate reading. Officers can interdict immediately. Additionally, the ANPR data collected for every read (not just ones that alarm), can be stored in the ELSAG Enterprise Operations Center data management server for analysis at any time, to aid investigations.
When using whitelists, if the ELSAG fixed ANPR system reads a plate, which is not included in the database, the system will broadcast alarms in the same manner as when using hot list databases.
Also available as a fixed system with cameras mounted to structures such as gates, poles and gantries, ELSAG ANPR technology is a force multiplier that substantially increases the efficiency of reading and processing plates, and locating suspect vehicles. Law enforcement agencies around the globe deploy it for best practices such as the recovery of stolen vehicles and number plates, identification of unlicensed drivers, the collection of delinquent taxes/fines, aiding of homeland security, assisting of Amber and Silver alerts, and much more.
