An automatic number plate recognition system for car park management

Date
2016-06
Authors
Mutua, Simon Mandi
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Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
With an increased number of motor vehicles on the Kenyan roads, there is need for a vehicle identification mechanism that is effective as well as timely. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is an internationally recognized methodology that is used in vehicle identification. ANPR systems allow for real time recognition of a vehicle’s number plate. Vehicle parking is an important component within any transportation system, whereby vehicles must be parked at every destination. Most vehicles are parked most of the time during the day. There has been a problem with the car park entry registration process for visitor/staff/student entering the Strathmore University. The problem involves a security guard having to confirm membership details by checking for membership sticker on the windscreen of the vehicle or by checking the driver’s identification card. The security guard has then to record by writing onto an occurrence book the vehicle details include vehicle number plate, color, model, entry/exit timings as well as the ticket number assigned to the vehicle. This process of writing is tedious and time consuming and is also prone to inaccurate recordings, furthermore the backup and sharing of this vehicle information is difficult because the data is hard copy. This dissertation has its basis on the adoption of software solution operating on a mobile device that has ANPR capabilities to aid in vehicle identification and vehicle registration. The software application that was developed adopted an object oriented analysis and design methodology, the software developed implements Optical Character Recognition (OCR) using the mobile device camera to detect and capture the vehicle number plate. This resulted in the elimination of the pen and paper that were required in the registration process and introduced a faster electronic means of vehicle identification and vehicle registration as well as an easier means of vehicle data storage and vehicle data sharing.
Description
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Mobile Telecommunications and Innovation at Strathmore University
Keywords
ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), Car, Hard copy, Vehicle, Number plate, Parking, Optical Character Recognition
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