How Does License Plate Recognition (LPR) Technology Work?

Parking Equipment

Apr 10

Q&A with Senior Systems Engineer, Tyler Duggan

3 min read

The parking and mobility industry is experiencing a transformation driven by frictionless experiences for both businesses and consumers. License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology is at the core of this shift. LPR has enhanced parking operations by simplifying entry and exit procedures, enforcement strategies, and the overall user experience.

In this interview, Tyler Duggan, Senior Systems Engineer at Precise ParkLink, expands upon how license plate recognition (LPR) technology works.

Q. How does license plate recognition (LPR) technology work?

A. License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology enables vehicle license plates to act as a credential at access points, simplifying the payment process and allowing customers to enter and exit parking facilities quickly.

STEP 1 – Image capture. A video or image of a vehicle’s license plate is captured using an optical or infrared camera.

STEP 2 – Localization. Once the vehicle license plate is captured, a license plate localization algorithm is used to determine the specific area of interest in the camera’s field of view where the license plate is located.

STEP 3 – Character Recognition. Character recognition algorithms are used to determine the alphanumeric characters inside the localization part of the image that was previously captured.

STEP 4—Post Processing. The license plate is then compared to either an access, notification, or block list to determine whether the vehicle is granted access.

Want to learn more? Watch the full Q&A below!