Four Aumar-operated toll plazas along the 647 kilometer corridor of highways in the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina recently deployed eight Axis Communications network cameras with Neurallabs ALPR to help identify about 16,000 vehicles that are exempt from tolls or qualify for special rates. The system was designed by system integrator Telectronica.
Four Aumar-operated toll plazas along the 647 kilometer corridor of highways in the province of Buenos Aires in Argentina recently deployed eight Axis Communications network cameras with Neurallabs ALPR to help identify about 16,000 vehicles that are exempt from tolls or qualify for special rates. The system was designed by system integrator Telectronica.
In July 2011, a new concession was created for highway linking Routes 2, 11, 63, 56, and 74. Within this corridor there are four tollbooths: Samborombón, La Huella, Gral Madariaga, and Mar Chiquita. The Concession Agreement stipulates that users residing within a 10 kilometer radius of a toll plaza are exempt from tolls, and there is a different rate for those who live in certain parts of the coast.
At first, different technologies such as ID cards or RFID tags were considered to meet this need. However, these options involve high investment costs that are difficult to recuperate. It was therefore decided to test ALPR technology with different types and brands of cameras. After several tests, Neurallabs ALPR was completed with Axis network cameras, with image control and shutter control software. Initially eight sets were installed: four at the La Huella toll plaza, two at the Madariaga plaza, and two at the Mar Chiquita plaza.
With the implementation of ALPR technology and Axis IP cameras, Aumar succeeded in automating vehicle identification for most residents within the zone in question, and the system achieved an extremely high recognition rate. Furthermore, the solution allowed the concessionaire to improve both its auditing processes and security.
“At first we were a little skeptical regarding recognition rates and processing speed after everything was integrated into the toll collection system; we even thought that cars might have to stop for the system to recognize and authorize them,” said Claudio Reynaga, System Administrator, Aumar. “But the numbers show us that the recognition rates are excellent, and users can go through the plazas without stopping, just as if there was a free-flow type system in place.”
Following these excellent results, AUMAR evaluated the use of the same technology for other applications. “ALPR technology is very interesting to us and allows us to think of many applications: for example, to measure average vehicle speed between toll stations, or using it as a backup in electronic toll lanes when the device tag is not recognized but the license plate is,” said Reynaga.