Number plate recognition
LPR and ANPR parking systems explained
LPR (licence plate recognition) and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) are two names for the same technology: a camera reads a vehicle's number plate and software matches it against a list. In a car park it replaces swipe cards and tickets, opens the gate for known vehicles and records every entry and exit.
LPR, ANPR and ALPR
| Term | Stands for | Where you will hear it |
|---|---|---|
| LPR | Licence plate recognition | Used worldwide, including in Australia |
| ANPR | Automatic number plate recognition | Common in the UK and Australia |
| ALPR | Automatic licence plate recognition | Common in North America |
All three describe the same thing. This site uses both LPR and ANPR.
How plate recognition works
- A camera at the entry or exit captures an image of the vehicle.
- Software finds the number plate in the image.
- The characters on the plate are read and turned into text.
- The plate is matched against a list: bookings, permits, tenants or a block list.
- The system acts on the result. It opens a gate, logs the visit or raises an alert.
What affects whether a plate is read
Ask any supplier how reads will be validated at your own entries, and what the process is when a plate is read wrongly or not at all.
- Camera position. The plate has to be in view, at a workable angle, for long enough.
- Lighting. Night, glare and headlights are the hard cases, which is why plate cameras often use infrared.
- Vehicle speed at the capture point.
- The plate itself: dirt, damage, frames and unusual formats.
- What happens to a misread. A good system keeps the image so a person can check.
What it is used for in a car park
| Use | How plate recognition helps |
|---|---|
| Access | Known vehicles are let in without a card, fob or ticket |
| Bookings | A booking is tied to a plate, so the vehicle that arrives can be checked against it |
| Tenant allocations | Each plate belongs to a tenant, so occupancy can be counted per tenant |
| Unauthorised parking | A plate that is not on any list is flagged when it arrives, with a photo |
| Records | Every entry and exit is logged with a time and image |
Plate recognition and privacy
A number plate linked to a person, such as an employee's registered vehicle, can be personal information. Treat plate data the way you treat your other access records: tell people it is collected, limit who can see it and decide how long you keep it. Put plate recognition on your car park signage.
How ParkEase uses plate recognition
- ANPR cameras read plates automatically as vehicles enter and exit.
- Each vehicle is matched to its booking and validated against the facility's rules.
- Vehicle registrations are linked to access credentials, with Gallagher integration for cardholder lookup.
- Every event is logged with a timestamp and camera snapshot.
- Unauthorised parking and rule breaches trigger alerts with photo evidence.
Common questions
Is ANPR the same as LPR?
Yes. ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) and LPR (licence plate recognition) describe the same technology. ANPR is the more common term in the UK and Australia, and ALPR is common in North America.
How accurate is plate recognition in a car park?
It depends on camera position, lighting, vehicle speed and the condition of the plates more than on the brand of software. Ask how reads will be validated at your own entries, and make sure the system keeps an image of every read so misreads can be checked.
Can plate recognition open a boom gate?
Yes, when it is connected to the access control system. ParkEase integrates with physical access control systems including Gallagher, so a recognised plate with a valid booking can be linked to boom gates and barriers.
Does plate recognition replace swipe cards and fobs?
For vehicle access it can. The plate becomes the credential, so there is nothing to issue, lose or lend. Many sites keep cards for pedestrian access and link the two, as ParkEase does by linking vehicle registrations to access credentials.
What happens when a plate is not recognised?
Decide this before you go live. Common fallbacks are an intercom to security or a manual override. The event should still be recorded so the plate list can be corrected.
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