One of the UK’s leading providers of video-based intelligent traffic enforcement and management systems, Videalert, has introduced a new-generation ALPR (automatic license plate recognition) camera unit for its mobile monitoring systems.
Designed for use with its expanding range of multi-purpose Mobile Enforcement Vehicles (MEVs), including both cars and bikes, Videalert’s new high-definition (HD) ALPR camera will deliver enhanced capture rates and increase productivity in parking and traffic management applications.
The new 2MP camera is compliant with the ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) global standard and uses the latest Sony DSP technology for noise reduction and infrared (IR) sensitivity to accurately capture crisp images of reflective number plates at distances of up to 130ft (40m). The unit also features a full color overview module to capture contextual images of vehicles in both daylight and challenging light conditions.
As well as equipping MEVs with this new generation ALPR camera, Videalert installs a complete suite of software for rapid deployment in different enforcement and monitoring applications. The MEVs are fully compatible with the company’s hosted Digital Video Platform (DVP), allowing councils to quickly extend enforcement to other areas without having to make further investment in IT infrastructure.
The MEVs can be deployed for unattended or manual operations to enforce all moving traffic and parking contraventions as permitted and specified under current legislation. The flexible mobile solution delivers high productivity at low operational cost by combining ALPR with video analytics to automatically capture accurate video evidence of vehicles committing moving and static traffic offences.
To meet the growing demand from local authorities in the UK, Videalert has recently opened a new MEV engineering hub in Wiltshire, which houses a fully equipped workshop for fitting out new vehicles or refurbishing and upgrading existing units.
The increasing demand for MEVs is being driven by councils wanting to rapidly deploy traffic enforcement to a wide range of locations where non-compliance by drivers is causing congestion or safety issues. The MEVs enforcement applications include:
• Vehicles parked on ‘keep clear’ zones outside schools;
• Vehicles parked in bus stops, bus lanes and on red routes;
• Vehicles performing illegal moving traffic contraventions such as driving in a bus lane, banned turn, box junction or restricted access;
• Vehicles parked in resident permit zones;
• Detection of suspect or blacklisted vehicles that may be known or wanted by the police;
• Environmental offences such as fly tipping and non-permitted or restricted use of waste depots;
• Community safety and crime prevention applications.
The vehicles are also suitable for the monitoring and enforcement of Clean Air Zones (CAZs), as they become more prevalent across the country.
“We are now fitting this innovative new camera technology to all our new MEV platforms as it will deliver number plate read rates of over 98% in a wide range of applications with vehicles being driven at normal speeds,” said Tim Daniels, Videalert’s sales and marketing director.
“Our MEV engineering hub facility in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, enables us to build and test multiple platforms concurrently and deliver in greater volume to meet the requirements of fleet operators for single or multiple vehicles.”
