ANPR INFORMATION PACK. NDI Recognition Systems

Transcription

1 ANPR INFORMATION PACK NDI Recognition Systems ANPR INFORMATION PACK NDI Recognition Systems

2 NDI Recognition Systems Limited In response to a number of high profile terrorist attacks in the UK in the early 1990 s, a British technology development company called Racal Research was briefed by the UK Government to develop a high performance Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system to be used in all weathers, visibilities and at high speeds. The system was designed to assist in the prevention of terrorist attacks and to deny terrorists the use of the road. Today NDI Recognition Systems Ltd (NDI-RS) wholly own the TALON number plate reading software and have further developed it to become the best ANPR software available globally. The NDI-RS Headquarters is located in Nantwich, Cheshire (UK) and has other offices in Longwood, Florida (US) and North Carolina (US). NDI-RS employs over 50 members of staff globally all of whom are dedicated to the design, development and manufacture of our ANPR software, ANPR cameras and ANPR hardware. Today NDI-RS is a leading international provider of security, surveillance and traffic management products. Our product portfolio includes the Talon and Shark ANPR software systems and the VISCE back office data management server solution, a complete range of high technology ANPR cameras and processors. These products provide accurate cost-effective systems for the Security, Police, Traffic and Commercial Markets around the world. Company Established: 2008, Private Limited Company Main Type of Work: Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) & traffic management products and solutions. ANPR cameras, software and hardware. VAT No: GB Company Reg No: SC Contact Details Europe / Asia / Africa NDI House Barony Court Nantwich Cheshire CW5 5RD, UK Tel: +44 (0) Fax: +44 (0) sales@ndi-rs.com America / Australasia 385 Commerce Way Longwood Florida United States of America Tel: +(1) Fax: +(1) sales@ndi-rs.com

3 What is ANPR and how does it work? Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a surveillance method that uses optical character recognition to process images and read number plates on vehicles. An ANPR system typically comprises of cameras, ANPR software (normally referred to as the engine) which is installed onto a computer and finally a database. The camera can either be a standard CCTV camera or specialist ANPR cameras. The camera creates imagery that is processed by the ANPR software engine. This is how the process works; The engine is constantly scanning in bound imagery from the camera. A primary trigger algorithm is constantly looking for the presence of a number plate in frame or field of video. This plate finding algorithm is looking for rectangular or square shaped objects that contrast with the surrounding scene. Once the software has detected the presence of a number plate then the recognition algorithms get to work. These algorithms identify the position of the plate in the image, extract the plate image, apply geometric distortion compensation if necessary and segment the plate into individual characters. NDI-RS s ANPR products are based on a proprietary neural network recognition engine called Talon. Each character is then fed into a software neural network, in the case of UK plates there are 10 number neural networks (0-9) and 26 (A-Z) letter neural networks. Each network produces a score for every character input resulting in a winner or a top scorer for that character. The computer automatically selects the best or highest result from all the results generated by the algorithms. The differentiation in the numerical value for each network results in an overall confidence score for the plate as a whole. The recognition outputs the result and this is checked against a database. This is where the real power of any ANPR system is derived from. The process described above takes approximately 5 to 20 milliseconds. Every number plate read is compared to a list of vehicles of interest commonly called a hot list. Hot lists are user databases imported into the ANPR system (e.g. Stolen Vehicles, Weapons, Drugs or any other local or national database). However the ANPR system can also automatically export the recognition results to external computers and databases. In the case on a Law Enforcement vehicle ANPR system, this is a very handy feature, the result is sent via 3G / GPRS to an external database for real-time checking. When a positive match is received, users are alerted by audio and / or visual alarm. They, then, respond to the hit in the appropriate manner for that particular ANPR application. We primarily sell fixed site and mobile ANPR systems. Talon fixed ANPR systems are permanent roadside installations, capable of processing and recognising number plates in very high speed, high density traffic environments, including motorways and freeways. Existing town and city centre CCTV cameras, or highways monitoring cameras can be used in Talon fixed ANPR systems.

4 Neural Network Technology vs. OCR Leading Edge Technology The Neural Network Approach Talon represents an alternative direction to conventional OCR template or rule based solutions in solving the challenges associated with ANPR. Instead of relying on these conventional processes Talon uses pattern recognition techniques incorporating neural networks. Neural networks offer much greater potential in terms of performance than conventional pattern recognition methods. The networks are not programmed in the traditional sense but are trained by example on a large number of repetitions of character sets. As a result, the network builds a statistical model which focuses on the features making each individual character distinctive, rather than forming a definitive. Capability To Read International Number Plates Understanding and experience of neural networks has enabled NDI-RS engineers to build a multinational neural network. This retains the capabilities of the earlier UK product but recognises number plates of many other countries at the same time. The performance on individual country plates is not diminished, furthermore additional country plate reading capabilities can be added by retraining with new video data. In a European, cross border, exercise it correctly recognised 97% of all captured number plates. Our system has the capacity to receive in-life updates to accommodate additional nationalities and other software upgrades. Changes to plate formats will be added very quickly when implemented. The hardware is of modular design and can be upgraded as and when new demands are placed upon it. Why Talon? Talon provides all that may be needed from an Automatic Number Plate Recognition System: High Accuracy - Reliable recognition performance allows the system to be deployed with confidence. Stationary and moving vehicles number plates captured. Modular Design Cost - Effective, application specific solutions can be provided. Can accommodate up to 4 cameras per unit High Speed of Operation - Can recognise many vehicles per second travelling at speeds of over 200 kph. 24 hour / 365 day operation - Night time operation in all conditions. Automatic in Picture Trigger - No requirement for external system triggers such as inductive loops or light beams. The system will recognise a number plate that appears anywhere in the video image. Positive Vehicle Identification - Number plate characters can be entered in a number of internal or external databases. System alarms are generated when one of those plates is identified. Alarms can be routed to different users according to need. Image output - The system can provide images of both the number plate and the vehicle for verification purposes.

5 Who Uses ANPR and Why? Crime Reduction and Counter Terrorism The system provides state-of-the-art intelligence support for the surveillance needs of the Police, Military and Law Enforcement organisations worldwide. The system can be used to match passing vehicles against a target list, which can either be held in the system s integral database or within a central computer providing an instant warning when a vehicle of interest passes by. NDI-RS equipment is at the heart of the majority of counter terrorism sites within the UK, including the Ring of Steel around the City of London. These fixed ANPR systems are responsible for safe guarding some of Great Britain s key strategic infrastructure. Site Security The system provides effective monitoring of entry and exit points, controlling access, maintaining an inventory of all vehicles and raising an alarm on detection of an unauthorised entrant. Traffic Monitoring By efficiently collecting large volumes of data identifying individual vehicles, the system can provide valuable statistical analysis of traffic movements for highways and transport planners. Traffic Regulation The system can capture high-quality, tamper-proof evidential images of vehicles breaking traffic. NDI-RS has a growing base of customers who have benefitted from the extremely high performance capabilities of our ANPR systems. Congestion and Road User Charging ANPR is used as a means of identifying individual vehicles and charges are calculated depending on vehicle type and the extent of road use. ANPR cameras are typically sited on the boundary areas of congestion charging zones and vehicles that enter are charged accordingly.

6 NDI-RS Installations NDI have installed ANPR systems in Police sites throughout the UK. We have systems in the following locations (unnamed due to security classification): Law Enforcement 30+ UK Police forces 7+ UK International Airports Ports All UK West Coast Ports Strategic Motorways / Highways Strategic bridges not named due to security classification Inner City Rings-of-Steel London, Manchester, Brighton Strategic Tunnels - not named due to security classification Military Royal Navy, Royal Air force and Army Bases Our Commercial Customer portfolio is extensive and includes many large organisations within the UK and internationally: Commercial Motorway service stations National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham White City Shopping Centre, London (largest single storey shopping centre in Europe) Petrol Forecourts Blue Chip Headquarters for site security Banking Institutions Ford motor company, Dagenham Internationally our client base is expanding rapidly. We already have many significant installations outside of the UK including systems in: International USA Police mobile and fixed systems Ireland Fixed site ANPR Spain Guardia Civil Romania Police mobile ANPR systems Bulgaria City centre Police ANPR systems Cyprus Border Crossing Point Dubai Exclusive hotel chains Mexico Police mobile systems and multiple fixed sites Australia Fixed and mobile ANPR systems Germany Port systems Malaysia Road Tolling Sweden - Port installation Libya Security system Afghanistan Military system

7 ANPR Software Talon ANPR Software Engine This is our core product. Talon is a software based engine or ANPR processor designed to be installed on to modern computers running the Windows operating system. The TALON Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software since its first deployment over 15 years ago has been constantly improved and enhanced and now provides one of the highest accuracy number plate recognition software engines in the world. A full description is given below. Applications such as VeriPlate, SpeedPlate and Access Control can be added dependent on the requirement. Veriplate ANPR Software Application VERIPLATE is the user application that operators see when they are capturing ANPR recognition. It has an easy-to-use graphical set up and can be synchronised to receive hotlist updates automatically. Veriplate also has a mapping functionality to see where the operator is located (MapMe) and where ANPR recognitions have occurred (MapIt). Veriplate is available as a mobile ANPR application or as a Static ANPR application. VISCE ANPR Back Office Facility Engine VISCE is used by security agencies and commercial operators worldwide to manage complex ANPR systems. It is a powerful scalable server software module that is designed to simultaneously manage and analyse hundreds of ANPR assets including fixed site, mobile and portable ANPR devices. The system is able to receive and store in excess of 10 million number plate reads every day. This data can be checked in real time against multiple databases and alerts can be sent simultaneously to users and groups of users instantly.

8 ANPR Cameras C320 Fixed Sites ANPR Camera The C3 Automatic Number Plate Recognition Image Capture system has been designed to read vehicle number plates day and night, in the most demanding conditions. A principal feature is the use of high resolution optical zoom cameras both for ANPR and high definition overview / contextual imaging. Zoom functionality means the C3 system can be rapidly optimised to suit differing plate and environmental conditions at ANPR capture point. Over 8000 C3 systems sold and install across the globe since its launch. V220 Mobile ANPR Camera The V220 is a high performance infra red image capture system designed for vehicle based operations. Due to its small and unobtrusive size, the V220 ANPR camera can be easily mounted on the top of a vehicle or installed elsewhere for covert applications. The NDI-RS V220 camera has a powerful and versatile zoom capability and a high performance colour camera module with the latest Super HAD CCD II sensor with the ability to switch over to night mode in poor light and at night time. V1 In-Vehicle ANPR Camera The V1 is a miniature colour camera designed to be mounted in the front windscreen of mobile surveillance and ANPR vehicles. The camera is attached to the vehicle via a low profile stainless steel bracket; the camera casing is manufactured from T06601 aerospace grade aluminium. This result in an extremely lightweight camera ideally suited for mobile surveillance and ANPR operations.

9 ANPR Systems SC-IV ANPR Processor SC-IV is a powerful and compact rugged ANPR processor unit specifically designed to be completely weatherproof and withstand extreme environmental conditions and temperature fluctuations. The processor unit features a 40 GB hard drive with embedded Windows Operating System, frame grabbers and Talon ANPR Engine. The SC-IV is capable of handling up to 8 separate video inputs, processing imagery from 4 dual ANPR cameras providing colour contextual overview imagery and IR number plate patches. VP300 ANPR Processor The VP-300 is a rugged ANPR processor engineered to withstand the extreme environment and demanding conditions of a patrol vehicle. Leveraging an Intel Core i7 processor, the VP-300 accepts inputs from up to four (4) dual-lens V-220 ANPR cameras. The VP-300 processor receives images from the cameras and uses the powerful TalonTM ANPR recognition engine to locate plates and interpret into useful data. VeriPlateTM user interface software checks this data against any number of hotlists managed by the VISCETM Back Office. The VP-300 interfaces with an existing laptop or Mobile Data Terminal (MDT), or may use a stand-alone touchscreen, to present alerts to the officer without interfering with other mission critical operations. Rapid Deployment System (RDS) Rugged Portable ANPR System The RDS solution offers a true plug and play capability with easy installation and configuration. It has been designed to be fully portable and is provided in a ruggedised copolymer resin case. It ensures that even under extreme transportation conditions and rough handling, the ANPR equipment remains fully protected and operational. This cost effective, rugged, reliable and compact number plate recognition system provides an easy and flexible way to perform mobile or short range fixed site number plate reading.

10 The London Ring of Steel Reference Sites NDI Recognition Systems has commissioned and installed the London ANPR Ring of Steel as well as 250 lanes in the central London Government Security Zone (GSZ) - References available. The Manchester Ring of Steel NDI Recognition Systems has commissioned and installed the Manchester ANPR Ring of Steel as well as the Manchester Airport ANPR system - References available.

11 NDI Recognition Systems Limited NDI House Barony Court Nantwich Cheshire CW5 5RD Tel: +44 (0844) Fax: +44 (0127)