Paid parking without a ticket or a barrier is already used in a growing number of car parks. The key technology behind it is automatic licence plate recognition. Mobility Hub uses this technology to make parking simpler and more seamless.
Here's how it works.
What is automatic licence plate recognition?
Parking management is changing quickly. Digital technology is increasingly replacing barriers, paper tickets and parking discs. One of the core technologies is automatic licence plate recognition.
You may see several abbreviations: ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition), ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), as well as AVI (Automatic Vehicle Identification) or CPR (Car Plate Recognition). The names vary, but the principle is similar: the system recognises a vehicle's licence plate and associates it with an entry or exit.
How does licence plate recognition work?
With Mobility Hub, the process takes place in a few steps:
- The camera detects the licence plate: when a vehicle enters the detection area at an entrance or exit, the camera captures the licence-plate area. Important: the capture is focused on the vehicle and its plate, not on identifying the people inside it.
- The software reads the plate: automatic recognition is used to extract the characters from the image. The plate is then associated with the exact entry or exit time.
- The parking duration is calculated: by matching the entry and exit, the system automatically determines how long the vehicle stayed at the location.
What else is needed for digital parking with Mobility Hub?
For drivers, the process stays straightforward. The main elements are:
- Clear signage: it explains licence plate recognition, the parking rules and the available payment methods.
- Cameras at the entrance and exit: they record the licence plate as the vehicle passes.
The software handles the rest. This can, for example, make it possible to apply a maximum parking period consistently without relying on a parking disc.
At paid locations, touchscreen payment machines are often available as well. Many locations also allow drivers to pay conveniently by smartphone.
The system can automatically identify stays that do not meet the parking conditions
Digital entry and exit records make it possible to check parking conditions consistently. With traditional systems based on paper tickets or parking discs, checks often take place only at certain times. With licence plate recognition, each entry and exit is recorded.
If the applicable conditions are not met, for example because the parking fee was not paid or the maximum stay was exceeded, the case can be handled under the rules displayed at the location and the applicable law. For drivers who follow the conditions, this helps keep spaces available and discourages unauthorised long-term parking.
Example: keeping customer spaces available at a retail site
Consider a large store whose customer car park is close to an event venue. Before digital parking management, people attending nearby events may occupy customer spaces for hours. Store customers then spend longer looking for a free space, while occasional parking-disc checks may not solve the problem.
With digital management, Mobility Hub can automatically compare the recorded stay with the parking conditions. If a vehicle exceeds the permitted duration, the case is handled according to the rules for that parking location.
The result: unauthorised long-term parking becomes less attractive and genuine customers are more likely to find an available space. Where appropriate, the operator can also provide a way for customers to extend a free parking period if their visit takes longer.
Simple and efficient: parking with automatic licence plate recognition
Automatic licence plate recognition makes it possible to manage parking without barriers or paper tickets. For drivers, that means a more direct process: drive in, park, pay using an available option and drive out.
