LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION |
License plate recognition technology
is revolutionizing car parks for both
drivers and operators, significantly
boosting safety and efficiency
Words | Sara Pérez, Quercus Technologies, Spain
Above: Operators
need technology
they can rely on
when it comes
to license plate
recognition – if
they have that,
both they and the
customers benefit
When people think of
high-level technology,
the parking industry
is not always their first
thought. Technological innovations
are changing the industry, however.
The cost of operating parking
structures has increased, and an
anticipated trend of fewer cars
on the road thanks to automated
vehicles and ride share services
may reduce revenues. Dark clouds
ahead? Not necessarily.
Parking facilities can stay
profitable by offering convenience
and efficiency to their customers. In
order to monetize their business,
car park operators have an array
of new ways to increase profits
while minimizing costs that
will not scare off their clientele.
Installing energy-efficient
lighting and solar panels is an
option. Using smartphone apps
to help customers locate and pay
for parking spaces and retrieve
their vehicles is another. These
can help reduce costs and create
a safe, attractive environment
that will benefit operators and
will keep customers coming back.
All of these options are smart
applications that have changed
our parking expectations and
experience. The foundations,
however, lie on license plate
recognition technology.
206 Intertraffic World | Annual Showcase 2020
Essential innovation
License plate recognition technology
can be used at two important places
in the parking facility: the entrance/
exits and the parking bays. In these
locations the technology is very
efficient at preventing fraud and
undue access, the exchange of tickets
in order to pay two stays for the price
of one, fake tickets, and so on.
At the parking spot, it monitors
the parked vehicle, taking photos
and video of everything happening
in or around the bay so that not only
robbery and assault are hindered,
but also false damage claims.
Identifying the plate number
of every vehicle has several
advantages, with one being the
way it increases general safety in
the facilities. The other main perk
is mobility, meaning that customers
will find a free parking bay or the
bay their vehicle is parked in easily.
This is not just convenient for them,
but is also beneficial for operators
because it increases rotation, favors
customer loyalty and tends to
improve benefits in general.
Unlike traditional parking
structures that require a lot of
manpower to manage incoming
and outgoing cars and tickets, a
license plate recognition system
brings a higher level of excellence
to parking operations. The software
automatically saves the images or
video files from entries and exits
and links them with those from
the parking spot, offering a global
picture of the stay of every vehicle
from the moment it enters the car
park until it leaves.
During the stay, every event
is related to a plate number and
a vehicle. Due to its extensive
range of additional functions
and its high degree of integration,
LPR technology enables highly
professional parking management
while depending on fewer hands.
If technologically speaking license
plate recognition is an option, from
a strategic point of view it is a must.
Global parking solution
License plate recognition technology
is the key to making the most out
of parking, but it might not be
enough. Every parking situation
is different. In order to have a
professional result at the end of the
day, you need to determine your
priorities. Do you need to get rid of
those queues that keep putting off
customers or is it security your
biggest concern? Is it a system to find
a free spot fast or a customized app
that helps the client find the car
easily? Are you missing having
systematic information about your
clientele consumption patterns in
order to adapt your prices or prepare
a marketing campaign? Once you
know what you need, you can then
choose the perfect parking solution.
From potential
to reality