ANPR-Driven Parking Systems: Efficiency, Revenue, and Smarter Urban Mobility

For many drivers, the parking experience in and out of a parking lot shapes their first impression of a commercial center, residential area, or even a scenic spot. In the past, parking lots relied on manual payment, paper receipts, or a single card swipe method, which was inefficient and prone to errors. In recent years, however, intelligent parking systems based on ANPR have become a core technology for upgrading parking management worldwide.

Overall Parking System Architecture

A complete intelligent parking system typically consists of three key components: entrance control equipment, exit control equipment, and a central management platform:

l Entry equipment: This includes barrier gates, high-definition license plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, LED fill light, ticket machines or QR code scanners, as well as voice intercoms and display screens. When a vehicle enters, the ANPR camera automatically captures the license plate and transmits it to the backend. The recognition result is compared with a database, and only when a match is found does the barrier automatically lift and release the vehicle.

l Exit equipment: Similar to the entrance, it also features an ANPR camera, LED fill light and barrier, and automatically charges parking fees based on parking time. Vehicles can pay at the exit using contactless payment (using an e-wallet linked to the license plate) or by scanning a QR code provided by the parking lot before exiting. This "pay first, leave later" system effectively improves traffic efficiency and reduces congestion at the exit.

l Central management platform: This stores license plate data, billing rules, and user information, and supports remote monitoring, data statistics, and exception handling. Management personnel can use the backend system to monitor parking space usage, fee collection data, and vehicle entry and exit records in real time.

How ANPR Works

The core of ANPR technology lies in image acquisition and character recognition. High-definition cameras automatically capture license plate images as vehicles enter or exit. Using deep learning algorithms, the system rapidly segments the license plate area and identifies the subtitles and numbers. Recognition accuracy can reach over 98% under normal lighting conditions and with standard license plates. In actual use cases, the average vehicle clearance time for the ANPR parking system is only 2-3 seconds, significantly less than the 10-15 seconds required for manual ticketing, significantly reducing congestion during peak hours.

Multiple Parking Lot Entry and Exit Methods

The ANPR-based parking system provides a variety of entry and exit options for different users:

l Contactless Payment: Vehicles with linked license plates can enter and exit without any action; fees are automatically deducted from the user's account. This method is suitable for residential areas or users who park in fixed parking lots for daily commutes, who typically pay annual or monthly parking fees. Once the user's license plate number is registered, daily parking access is streamlined.

l Scan-to-Pay: For temporary parking, such as at scenic spots and shopping malls, users can pay by scanning a QR code posted in the parking lot or displayed on the parking system's LED display at the exit.

l Membership Card/IC Card: Suitable for regular vehicle owners or corporate users, dual authentication is achieved through a card swipe and license plate recognition upon entry.

l Paper Ticket Collection: Upon entering the parking lot, the driver presses a button on the ANPR device, which automatically prints a paper receipt. Upon exiting, the driver scans the receipt on the ANPR device at the exit to obtain payment information.

According to Research and Markets, the global ANPR market is projected to exceed $6 billion by 2028, with vehicle management systems being one of the primary applications. Chinese manufacturers have significant advantages in hardware manufacturing, cost control, and AI algorithms. ZOJE’s ANPR parking system has been widely deployed in residential and commercial buildings. Its stable recognition rate and flexible delivery interface have secured numerous contracts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

ANPR is more than just an identification technology; it's reshaping the way parking systems operate worldwide. From improving vehicle traffic efficiency to optimizing toll collection and data management, and supporting the overall development of smart cities, ANPR is playing an increasingly important role. For parking operators, choosing a stable, intelligent, and scalable ANPR system not only improves efficiency but also becomes a key foundation for smarter and more convenient urban living.