LPR Systems Abound Both in the US and Abroad

Whether to capture bank robbers and kidnappers on the run in the Cincinnati region or just to enforce local parking lot limitations in Aspen, License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems are spreading quickly throughout the country -- and as evidenced from recent headlines, they are finding their way overseas as well.

Yesterday, the Anti-Aggression Brigade from the Brussels Police Department in Belgium announced its deployment of AutoVu, Genetec’s IP LPR solution, to help detect stolen vehicles throughout the city. The day before, Hi-Tech Solutions Ltd. announced that its LPR solution, SeeCar, was selected to automate access control in 1,300 parking spots for AFCON’s Fast Park in the B.S.R. Towers in Israel.

While each initiative is meant to achieve a distinct objective — in Belgium, to track and find stolen vehicles, and in Israel to ensure that only permitted guests enter parking lots and to block unwelcome vehicles — these projects demonstrate the growing trend of LPR across major cities and ultimately the rise of urban surveillance worldwide.

Reported success has been limited for the numerous projects deployed thus far; however, recent innovation in camera technology, increased sensitivity to privacy infringements, and the hope of thwarting criminal attempts and increased protection of urban populations should indicate a promising future for LPR technologies.