Vitronic’s TollChecker, incorporating ANPR along with other image analysis techniques,
is designed for automatic tolling schemes.
a Dutch company that designs software and implemented to measure the height of trucks
video analysers for object recognition. using a laser-based system, and flash up a warning
VID has implemented a number of traffic on a road sign telling the driver to leave at the
monitoring schemes using the smart camera. One next exit. A second camera is then positioned
such scheme advises motorists of the respective on the exit ramp to register if the truck leaves
travelling times of different routes. A camera is the road. If the system doesn’t register the truck
placed at the intersection between two routes leaving the road, the traffic lights are activated
and monitors car number plates, sending the and the traffic stopped.
information to a central server. Separate cameras ‘For each application, the flexibility of the
are set up further along both routes, carrying cameras to be moved to different positions and
out the same task. When the server registers a
match it can calculate the time taken for the car
to travel from the first to the second camera. The
‘One of the main advantages
information flashes up on a road sign providing
of the smart camera is its
the driver with up-to-the-minute travel times for
different routes. flexibility and its ability
‘One of the main advantages of the smart
camera is its flexibility and its ability to be
to be easily moved and
easily moved and set up in different positions,’
set up in different positions’
explains Allard Blom, chief operating officer
at Abstract Computing International. ‘Power
consumption is low, and the cameras can operate combat local traffic conditions is a big advantage,’
on a combination of using the power from public says Blom. ‘Other ANPR cameras can be more
lighting during the night and battery power restrictive in positioning.’
during the day.’ ANPR lends itself very well to setting
Sony’s cameras are also used to restrict queue- up automatic tolling schemes. TollChecker
hopping at petrol stations and other rat-runs, systems from Vitronic, a global manufacturer
where motorists are prone to drive through to of industrial image processing systems, are
avoid queuing. Cameras are set up at the entrance designed for this purpose, and are generally
and exit to the compounds; the number plate is more complex than the company’s PoliScan
read at both ends and if the time interval is too systems – also incorporating ANPR and aimed
short between entering and exiting, a red light at traffic enforcement. ‘Automated toll systems
will force the car to wait. require more information about the vehicle than
A third application is to ensure high-sided just the number plate, as often vehicle types –
vehicles leave the road when approaching a cars, trucks, motorbikes, etc – will be charged
low bridge. The standard safety method for this different amounts,’ comments Daniel Scholz,
scenario is to have a set of traffic lights that turn international sales manager at Vitronic.
red and stop the traffic if a lorry approaches ‘The toll plaza, where cars are forced to stop
that is too high. Sony’s smart cameras have been and pay a fare, is no longer a modern solution
IMVEfeb09 pp12-15 traffic.indd 13 27/2/09 16:59:02
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