A common challenge with this issue, especially in Belgium, the Middle East, and some US states, is the camera’s difficulty in accurately identifying the red characters on the number plates while using infrared illumination. This very issue was affecting the efficiency of a chemical manufacturing facility in the Netherlands, and as such they needed an alternative solution that would combat this problem.

The end-user needed an intelligent automated barrier system that incorporated ANPR and was capable of clearly reading the number plate, conveying information, recording entry and exit time, and monitoring how many vehicles are allowed on the premises at any time.  The company approached the security camera & video surveillance expert, Akkadia, to design a Data Logistic Recording system, which stores data including, number plates, drivers names, trucking company, loading bill numbers and vehicle specifications. This meant that they needed reliable and intelligent lighting to complement their advanced system. 

Red number plates can be an issue with infrared

There were growing concerns with the aforementioned red number plates. Since this automated barrier system relies on clear and legible images of the number plates to function effectively, including opening the barrier gate, an alternative lighting solution was needed. The standard infrared lighting, typically used in these scenarios, does not provide consistent results with the red characters on the number plates, which meant the system risked misreading the plates. Misreading the number plate would result in a system failure with incorrect data being recorded and, in many cases, access to the site would be denied.

Raytec has many years’ experience developing lighting solutions for ANPR and LPR applications, utilising wavelengths of light, such as 850 nanometres to read number plates for a range of different projects, from fast-moving motorway monitoring to automated barrier projects. 

Pulsed white-light illuminators

However, in this instance the solution was to design the system using Raytec pulsed white-light illuminators, specifically the Pulsestar W32 units, installed at each of the three access gates on-site. The white-light units ensured the characters on the plates were visible for the camera to read and synced with the camera shutter speed for precise illumination.

As the Raytec lights are controlled by the camera shutter, this meant that only when the vehicle is within the defined range will the lights switch on, saving energy, extending the lifetime of the illuminator, and reducing over-exposure of the number plate due to headlights blinding the camera.

"With our new system, the main focus was ensuring seamless data collection at the entry gates to the Chemical Plant. Raytec's reliable, intelligent, white-light, pulsed LED lighting provided the perfect solution, playing a crucial role in ensuring the characters of the number plates were visible in full colour for the camera both in day and night situations to read. Helping us to achieve precise results," said Henk Bogers of Akkadia.

Full lighting solution

Not only did Raytec provide the end-user with pulsed white-light illumination for the automated barrier system, it also provided the general area lighting within the chemical plant. Due to the unique environment of a chemical plant, this lighting needed to be certified for use in hazardous areas. Raytec’s Spartan FL24 Flood Zone 2 luminaires were installed inside the plant, offering the end-user powerful, durable, flexible, and easy-to-maintain lighting.