Reading registration numbers is no longer the exclusive domain of large shopping centres. Today, it is commonly deployed at small business car parks, courtyard entrances and residential buildings. Where it makes sense and what to watch out for in the design.
SPZ reading (ANPR) is the automatic recognition of a vehicle registration number from a camera image. The system reads the number, compares it against a list of authorised vehicles and reacts according to set rules, opening the barrier, logging the arrival time or alerting to an unauthorised vehicle. The whole process takes place without operator intervention and without the driver having to present anything or enter any data.
The most common application is replacing cards, chips and remote controls at barriers. Authorised vehicles are entered into the list once and then simply pass through: no lost cards, no need to lend remotes between employees. Unauthorised vehicles are merely recorded by the system, or the operator is alerted that an unknown vehicle is attempting entry.
At company car parks, number plate reading most commonly addresses two issues: who is entitled to a reserved space and how long vehicles actually remain there. The system records both arrival and departure, giving you an overview of occupancy without manual checks, and allowing you to easily identify which vehicle was parked at a specific spot at a given time. It is also useful for premises with customer parking where you wish to limit the duration of free parking.
In apartment buildings and the building's owners' association, reading licence plates addresses a recurring issue: unauthorised vehicles in reserved spaces. The committee or property manager maintains the list of permitted registration numbers without needing to update it every time a tenant with their own car changes. Temporary permits for visitors for a limited period are also common. Additionally, the system serves as evidence when it is necessary to prove which vehicle was actually parked on the premises.
The reliability of reading depends on camera placement, angle of view, lighting and vehicle speed at the given location. A camera aimed too much from the side or from too great a distance will read number plates unreliably, especially at night or in rain. Therefore, for each entrance we design a custom camera position, lens and supplementary lighting: the same camera that works well at one entrance may not work at another with different geometry. This also relates to the choice of how long to retain arrival records. We cover this in the article about cameras and GDPR in practice.
SPZ reading can also be connected to other operational systems, for instance, to attendance records if employees use company vehicles, or to a parking app where visitors or clients enter their vehicle details in advance. This eliminates duplicate recording, where the vehicle is manually logged at the reception and simultaneously automatically recorded at the entrance. Whether such integration makes sense depends on the specific operation, for smaller buildings, SPZ reading alone without further connections is often sufficient.
The most common mistake is trying to save money on the camera at the entrance and relying on a general-purpose camera that must also handle other tasks, providing an overview of the yard and reading number plates simultaneously. The result is unreliable reading precisely when it matters most. Another frequent error is forgetting to maintain the list of authorised vehicles, as tenants or employees change and the list is not updated, the system gradually loses its purpose and people revert to manual opening. It is therefore worthwhile to agree from the outset who will be responsible for managing the vehicle list.
If you manage multiple properties or several entrances to a single site, the licence plate readings can be consolidated into one overview: the same vehicle is then recognised across all entrances it has passed through and when. This is useful for property management companies with multiple real estate assets or for sites with separate entrances for deliveries and staff, where you want to ensure that separate routes are followed.
During the design phase, we will assess the specific entrance or car park, propose camera placement and integration with the barrier or gate, and configure the list of authorised vehicles. The solution can also be extended to include person and vehicle detection across a wider area of the site, not just at the entrance itself, see the overview on the page. SPZ reading (ANPR).
Free ANPR design for your driveway, car park or the building's owners' association in Prague and surrounding areas.