Chatham Historic Dockyard occupies the site of the former royal/naval dockyard at Chatham in Kent, and includes a thriving maritime museum with around 170,000 visitors annually, together with a mixed residential and business community with 400 residents and over 100 small businesses and organisations.

The site had several vehicle access points that were controlled using manually operated security barriers. In order to improve traffic flow, it was necessary to replace the manual system and to fully automate vehicle access to and from the site. The new system was required to automatically recognise authorised vehicles as they approached access points and grant them access through automatic traffic barriers. 

The ANPR cameras housed in elegant stainless steel posts were fitted alongside CAME automatic barriers to detect and read the number plates of approaching vehicles.

Nedap’s ANPR Access is an all-in-one license plate recognition camera, including embedded software, analyser and IR illuminator. The camera uses an interface unit to send a corresponding ID to an access control system, where it is checked for validity. If valid, the access control system sends an open signal to the barrier and records the event. With a read range of 3 (10 ft.) - 6 (20 ft.) metres, the ANPR Access ensures a smooth traffic flow.

This solution provides a fast and unobtrusive means of validating the identity of vehicles as they enter and leave the site, while maintaining a record of their movements.

"SBR’s customers were so impressed with the increased flow of traffic with the initial test results on the first site entrance that they commissioned a duplicate system on the second site entrance," says Mike Wigley, Director of SBR Steris Ltd.