Sensing and privacy
License plate recognition (LPR/ANPR)
Lecture automatique des plaques (LAPI)
License plate recognition (LPR/ANPR) is the automated extraction of vehicle registration characters from images, also called automatic number plate recognition. Curb applications can support parking checks or access monitoring, while image quality, error handling, retention, and legal authority determine whether a reading can responsibly support an operational or enforcement decision.
Understanding the term
A plate match should not be treated as infallible identity evidence. Verify ambiguous characters and account for plate duplication, foreign formats, and timestamp or location errors.
Validate the measurement against an independent reference under representative conditions. Record uncertainty, coverage, missing intervals, and the difference between a raw observation and an inferred activity. Technical outputs should be used only for purposes they can support reliably. Assign responsibility for calibration, corrections, access, and retention, and assess privacy across the complete data flow. An operational dashboard can conceal measurement errors if it displays precise values without their method or limitations.