This ANPR system design consists of 2
GeoVision LPR cameras, 2 standard GeoVision IP cameras (to provide area overview), and a custom built GeoVision NVR with GeoVision LPR software installed. This is how it works.
- The 2 LPR cameras and 2 overview cameras are hardwired to the network switch using CAT5 cable.
- Typically the bullet cameras are mounted in the same area as the LPR cameras and used to capture overview video.
- The network switch is connected to one of the Ethernet ports on the NVR.
- The other Ethernet port on the NVR is connected to an Internet modem. This second connection is optional and used by clients that want to access their system remotely over the Internet.
- The dual Ethernet ports built into our NVRs is a huge advantage. It allows you to segregate all of the bandwidth used by your IP cameras on a separate network than the rest of your office.
- The NVR is running GeoVision ALPR / ANPR software which automatically captures license plate numbers and records the ALPR data into a database.
- CCTV Camera Pros installed a dedicated hard drive for the LPR database on the NVRs that we build.
There is a lot of overlapping terminology and synonyms when it comes to ALPR technology. Here are some useful definitions for your reference.
LPR Camera - license plate reader cameras, or license plate recognition cameras, are specialized high shutter speed, high contrast, black & white cameras designed ONLY to capture text characters of license plates on stationary or high speed moving vehicles. LPR cameras enable clear video recording of numbers and letters on plates, but DO NOT on their own provide character recognition. They can be used in conjunction with DVRs and NVRs with ALPR / ANPR software to automatically identify the text on plates. The use of a recorder with ALPR capability is optional. These are also sometimes referred to as license plate capture (LPC) cameras.
LPC Camera - license plate capture camera is another term used to describe specialty security cameras designed to record vehicle license plates.
ALPR Software - automatic license plate recognition software uses optical character recognition to convert license plate images to text for video overlay and logging plate numbers to a database. ALPR software typically runs on a PC based DVR / NVR that also records non-LPR video surveillance. ANPR software can also be used in access control applications such as gated entry systems.
ANPR Software - automatic number plate recognition software is another term for ALPR. ALPR and ANPR are the same thing.
DVR - digital video recorder. A recorder is used in conjunction with an LPR camera in license plate capture systems. ALPR software is optional to use. If you only need to record video of plates clearly without character recognition logging to a database, you DO NOT need ALPR software running on your DVR. Here is an example of a license plate capture system without ALPR software. DVRs typically use coax cable and BNC connectors to receive video from security cameras.
NVR - network video recorder. An NVR is basically the same thing as a DVR except that network IP cameras are used and video is transmitted over an IP network to the NVR using CAT5 cable. This is an example of an NVR with ALPR software that is optional to add.
Overview Camera - LPR cameras are typically paired with one or more overview cameras in ALPR systems. Being that LPR cameras are normally always black and white, and they are narrowly focused on the license plate area of recording, overview cameras help identify vehicle color, make, and model. Standard, non-LPR security cameras, are used for overview.
Why do I need to use additional cameras for overview?
Overview cameras are optional but highly recommended to use with LPR cameras. LPR cameras are typically mounted low to the ground and must be narrowly focused on a single lane of traffic. Most customers want to capture an overview of vehicles in addition to license plates.
What is the difference between LPR vs LPC?
LPR stands for license plate recognition. LPC stands for license plate capture. These terms are used interchangeably by many people in the industry. However, some use the term LPC when referring to a security camera and DVR system that is capable of recording license plates clear enough for a human to read when reviewing recorded video. Some use the term LPR when referring to security cameras and software that automatically can recognize the letters and numbers on plates and map them to text characters.
Why are LPR cameras typically installed so low?
In order to have the best chance of recording clear video of a plate, the downward angle of view should not be greater than 30 degrees. The more level that the angle can be to the plate, the better.
Does CCTV Camera Pros sell wireless LPR cameras?
Yes. We have add-on wireless security camera systems that can be used with our license plate capture systems. Transmitting video over WIFI is actually pretty common on LPR systems because many installations are done at gates and guardhouses that do not have IP connectivity back to a main building. CCTV Camera Pros can design a wireless LPR camera solution using these wireless camera systems. You can learn in detail about a wireless surveillance system that CCTV Camera Pros designed for a storage facility here.
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