ANPR technology aids barrier-free parking

APT Controls Group CEO Dermot Murphy introduces a new suite of parking solutions and explains the benefits of barrier free parking systems Following its acquisition of Parking Applications in September 2011, the APT Controls group is launching a new barrier-less parking and payment solution called Veri-park. This is based on proven automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology and flexible payment channels. At present the concept of barrier-less parking using ANPR is still a relatively new one, which
May 22, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
New Veri-park kiosks provide car park operators with a variety of payment options and feature a 15” touch screen

APT Controls Group CEO Dermot Murphy introduces a new suite of parking solutions and explains the benefits of barrier free parking systems

Following its acquisition of Parking Applications in September 2011, the 988 APT Controls group is launching a new barrier-less parking and payment solution called Veri-park. This is based on proven automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology and flexible payment channels.

At present the concept of barrier-less parking using ANPR is still a relatively new one, which to date has not been widely utilised by the parking industry. However, Veri-park builds on the success of existing ANPR-based solutions developed by 550 Parking Applications and already proven in the field.

As a result, APT Controls can now offer a wider array of options, tailoring each individual solution depending on variables such as how the end customer is required to use the car park; how the customer is required to pay for parking; and how the operator wishes to manage the car park.

Operators have the freedom to decide which is the most suitable system for them, whether that be in the form of a more familiar pay-on-foot system, such as those supplied by 1774 APT Skidata, or a barrier-less system such as Veri-park that can allow customers to pay either on-site or from home over the internet.

At a basic level, barrier-less parking is by no means a new phenomenon; pay and- display car parks, for example, do not rely upon barriers to control customer usage. However, what the pay-and display approach does demand is costly enforcement, as traffic wardens or parking attendants must regularly patrol the car park to check that customers have paid correctly. Furthermore, the pay-and-display system imposes restrictions on the customer experience.

Conversely, with the Veri-park solution, customers are given a choice of payment options, do not have to pay in advance, only pay for what they have used and can receive change. For on-site payments, a new range of Veri-park payment kiosks provides car park operators with a variety of payment options including cards, notes and coins, with change available. A large 15” touch screen provides users with a clear and easyto- use set of payment instructions, and the Veri-park software is configurable to allow payment on both entry and exit, and topup concurrently. The facility to handle user configurable promotions and validations is available either by manual code entry or automated bar code scanning.

If customers are not able or do not wish to pay on-site, Veri-park allows remote web-based pre- and post-visit payment options allowing customers to pay from anywhere, similar to the London congestion charge. Furthermore, use of ANPR means that it is possible for frequent customers to register online and purchase a parking season ticket or select to have their account debited automatically each time they use the car park. Overall, the process of parking becomes much quicker and simpler for customers and more efficient for operators.
Parking & Access Control Detection, Monitoring & Machine Vision

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Charging trial tests smartphones for road user charging
    January 26, 2012
    A new project is under way in Minnesota, investigating whether smartphones are technically and publicly acceptable for use in road user charging. Jason Barnes reports. In Minnesota, trials have been launched to determine whether smartphones are technologically viable and acceptable to the public for distance based road user charging (RUC). The Midwestern US state has engaged with Battelle to explore RUC technology options in a project which falls under the auspices of the US Federal Connected Vehicle progra
    Read More
  • Adopting universal technology platforms for tolling
    July 16, 2012
    Dave Marples of Technolution argues that the continuing development of tolling-specific onboard equipment is leading us up a blind alley. We should, he says, be looking to realise universal platforms with universal application. The near-future automobile contains information systems of a sophistication to rival a jet airliner of only a few years ago, yet is 'piloted' by a considerably less well-trained individual of highly variable mental and physical capacity, and operated in a hostile, unpredictable and p
    Read More
  • European ideal poses local problems for toll companies
    December 16, 2013
    Being the first organisation attempting to implement an interoperable system poses challenges and increases risk that must be managed to realise the benefits. The European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) legislation aims to avoid the problems experienced in the USA and provide road users with seamless travel across the EU but it can pose big problems for some toll operators. Take, for instance, the case of the Humber Bridge in the UK. Its case was highlighted at the recent ITS World Congress by Tim Gammons,
    Read More
  • Metric parking wins
    November 29, 2012
    Metric Parking has been successful in winning orders for their pay and display parking machines in the UK and is to supply three local authorities in the south-west of England with their popular Elite pay and display machines. Bristol City Council has ordered the machines for on-street resident parking schemes in the city, using coin operated machines which will have an alpha numeric keypad for vehicle registration entry and will be networked through the Metric ASLAN web back office system.
    Read More

Highlighted Content