920-0028A-Rev4

Design and Installation Guide

Avigilon License Plate Recognition System

Version 2.0

Copyright © 2013 Avigilon. All rights reserved.

No copying, distribution, publication, modification, or incorporation of this document, in whole or part, is permitted without the express written permission of Avigilon. In the event of any permitted copying, distribution, publication, modification, or incorporation of this document, no changes in or deletion of author attribution, trademark legend, or copyright notice shall be made. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, published, used for commercial exploitation, or transmitted, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written permission of Avigilon.

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AvigilonTel +1.604.629.5182Fax +1.604.629.5183

http://www.avigilon.comRevised 7/16/13

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Site Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Overhead Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2Roadside Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Maximum Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Field of View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4LPR Camera Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5NVR Processing Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Mounting the LPR Camera Enclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Mounting PSU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Connecting Data and Power to LPR Camera Enclosure . .7Positioning the LPR Capture Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Verification Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Appendix of Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

IntroductionThe purpose of this guide is to detail how to design and install a License Plate Recognition (LPR) system using the Avigilon HD LPR Capture Kit.

The first section, Site Design on page 2, covers possible mounting locations and equipment selection.

The second section, Installation on page 6, covers the physical installation of the LPR Capture Kit, configuring the software, and a simple test to verify that the system is functioning properly.

1

Site DesignThe Avigilon HD LPR Capture Kits are designed to cover a single traffic lane of 10 ft (3 m) or two adjacent traffic lanes for a total of 20 ft (6 m). For each LPR Capture Kit, a mounting location must be selected. The kit can be mounted in either the overhead or roadside position.

Overhead MountingIn overhead mounting, the LPR Capture Kit is mounted directly above the vehicle path. Table 1 lists the recommended mounting height and Table 2 lists the maximum mounting height for each LPR Capture Kit model. Refer to Figure A: Overhead mounting (top view) and Figure B: Overhead mounting (side view).

Table 1: Overhead Recommended Mounting Height

LPR Capture Kit Model

Target Distance(ft [m])

Recommended Mounting Height(ft [m])

Horizontal Distance(ft [m])

1L-HD-LP-35 35 [11] 9 – 12 [2.8 – 3.6] 33 [10]

1L-HD-LP-50 50 [15] 13 – 17 [4.0– 5.2] 48 [14.5]

1L-HD-LP-75 75 [23] 19 – 26 [5.9 – 7.8] 72 [22]

1L-HD-LP-100 100 [30] 26 – 34 [7.9 – 10] 95 [29]

2L-HD-LP-40 40 [12] 10 – 14 [3.1 – 4.2] 38 [11.5]

Table 2: Overhead Maximum Mounting Height

LPR Capture Kit Model

Target Distance(ft [m])

Maximum Mounting Height(ft [m])

Horizontal Distance(ft [m])

1L-HD-LP-35 35 [11] 18 [5.5] 30 [9.2]

1L-HD-LP-50 50 [15] 25 [7.5] 43 [13]

1L-HD-LP-75 75 [23] 38 [11] 65 [20]

1L-HD-LP-100 100 [30] 50 [15] 87 [26]

2L-HD-LP-40 40 [12] 20 [6.1] 35 [11]

2

Figure A: Overhead mounting (top view)

Figure B: Overhead mounting (side view)

Roadside MountingIn roadside mounting, the kit is not directly above the vehicle path and is often pole-mounted on the side of the road. Table 3: Roadside Mounting Height and Offset lists the maximum mounting height and maximum offset distance for each LPR Capture Kit model. Select the shortest target distance that results in a practical mounting location. Refer to Figure C: Roadside mounting (top view) and Figure D: Roadside mounting (side view).

NOTE: The dual lane kit should not be mounted in the roadside position.

Table 3: Roadside Mounting Height and Offset

LPR Capture Kit Model

Target Distance(ft [m])

Max Mounting Height(ft [m])

Max Offset(ft [m])

Horizontal Distance(ft [m])

1L-HD-LP-35 35 [11] 12 [3.6] 12 [3.6] 32 [10]

1L-HD-LP-50 50 [15] 17 [5.2] 17 [5.2] 46 [14]

1L-HD-LP-75 75 [23] 26 [7.8] 26 [7.8] 69 [21]

1L-HD-LP-100 100 [30] 34 [10] 34 [10] 93 [28]

3

Figure C: Roadside mounting (top view)

Figure D: Roadside mounting (side view)

Maximum Vehicle SpeedThe Avigilon HD LPR Capture Kit can recognize vehicles travelling at up to 60 mph (100 km/h) when mounted in the overhead position at the recommended mounting height. The maximum speed is limited to 40 mph (65 km/h) when mounted in the overhead position at the maximum mounting height or when mounted in the roadside position.

Tip: To increase accuracy at high speeds (greater than 40 mph [65 km/h]), install the camera in the overhead position at the lowest recommended mounting height and the shortest target distance that is practical (See Table 1: Overhead Recommended Mounting Height).

Field of ViewThe field of view is the physical area that is visible in the image.

It is important that there are no objects with high detail in the field of view when a vehicle is not present. For example, if the LPR camera is installed on the shoulder of a highway, it is important that the field of view be limited to a single lane and that the camera cannot see into other lanes. This will prevent it from generating incorrect results.

Important: When a vehicle is not in view, the image should not contain anything that could beinterpreted as a series of alphanumerics or any objects with high detail.

4

LPR Camera SelectionSelect the HD LPR Capture Kit based on the determined target distance.

NVR Processing RequirementsAvigilon LPR software should only be run on Avigilon NVR Servers or machines with similar specifications. For Avigilon NVR Servers, it is recommended to purchase an additional processor to supplement the high computational requirements of LPR.

The maximum number of LPR lanes that can be enabled on a single server depends on the target vehicle speed and the mounting position.

Table 4: Camera Selection Based on Target Distance

Target Distance(ft [m])

Single Lane Dual Lanes

35 [11] 1L-HD-LP-35

50 [15] 1L-HD-LP-50

75 [23] 1L-HD-LP-75

100 [30] 1L-HD-LP-100

40 [12] 2L-HD-LP-40

Table 5: NVR Processing Requirements

Speed (mph [km/h])

Maximum number of lanes per NVR(Recommended Overhead)

Maximum number of lanes per NVR(Maximum Overhead or Roadside)

0-20 [0-32] 4 2

20-30 [32-50] 2 1

30-40 [50-650 1 1

40-60 [65-100] 1 Not recommended

5

Installation

Package Contents• LPR Enclosure

• HD LPR Camera and Lens

• Power Supply Unit (PSU)

• Enclosure Bracket Assembly

• Camera Power Connector

• 3 mm Hex Tool

• Camera Mount Shims (Single Lane only)

• Shim mounting screws

Power RequirementsThe LPR Capture Kit requires 78 W plus an additional 6 W for an overview camera. The following power transformer type is recommended:

Recommended Transformer: 24 V secondary, 100 VA or higher.

Figure E: System Diagram

Mounting the LPR Camera EnclosureInstall the enclosure and the enclosure mount in the location determined in the previous section.

Caution — Do not tilt the enclosure backwards with the back removed. It is possible for the camera to slide out.

Power cable

Network cable

24 V AC/DC

Network cable

6

Mounting PSUThe distance between the LPR Camera Enclosure and the PSU is limited by the maximum length of the IR power cables. See the following table in reference to Figure E: System Diagram.

Install the PSU within the maximum distance using the 4 x M4 mounting holes.

Do not connect power to the PSU yet.

Connecting Data and Power to LPR Camera Enclosure1. Terminate the network cable after passing it through the environmental glands.

Connect the network cable to the camera.

If you are planning to install a secondary camera inside the enclosure, be aware that the network cable between the PSU and the enclosure combines data from both cameras.

2. If the camera is not powered using PoE, connect the terminal-block inside the enclosure to the camera.

3. Connect power to the IR panels using the wire gauge determined in Table 6: Wire Gauge vs. Distance and the wiring diagram in Figure F: Wiring Diagram.

4. Do not adjust any of the potentiometers in the PSU.

5. After the IR panels have been wired, connect input power to the PSU (terminals ‘L’ and ‘N’).

There should be a red glow from each IR panel. If only 1 panel is glowing, immediately disconnect input power to the PSU and check the wiring.

Table 6: Wire Gauge vs. Distance

Wire gauge Max Distance

AWG (m) (ft)

18 4.0 13

20 2.5 8.4

22 1.6 5.3

24 1.0 3.3

7

NOTE: The environmental glands are designed for cables between 0.15 – 0.30 inches (4 – 8 mm) in diameter. For thinner cables, thicken the cable with electrical tape at the gland to ensure a tight fit. Unused glands should be plugged or sealed.

Figure F: Wiring Diagram

Positioning the LPR Capture KitAvigilon HD LPR Capture Kits are pre-calibrated for a specific distance as indicated in the model number. It is important to accurately aim the camera to this distance. Use the horizontal distance determined when measuring the mounting position.

When the LPR kit is mounted in the roadside position, vehicle license plates may not appear horizontal in the captured image (see Figure G: Rotated License Plate (Incorrect)). For high accuracy, it is important that license plates are oriented horizontally in the image as in Figure H: Horizontal License Plate (Correct).

To compensate, the included shims can be placed between the enclosure and mount interface. The shims should be placed under 2 screws on either the left or right side of the interface. If the LPR kit is mounted on the right side of the road, shims should be installed on the left side of the enclosure/mount interface, and vice versa for the left side.

1. Park a vehicle in the centre of the target zone.

2. View the image of the vehicle. If the image is horizontal, you do not need to install the shims.

3. If the vehicle’s license plate is not horizontal in the image, replace the 2 screws in the base with the shim mounting screws on the side that needs to be corrected. Do not tighten.

4. Install a shim under each of the mounting screws between the enclosure and the mount. Repeat until the license plate is horizontal in the image. Up to 3 shims per screw may be necessary.

5. Tighten the screws at the enclosure/mount interface.

Red

Black

Purple

White

Red (Lamp + ) Black (Lamp - )

Purple (Aux power + )

White (Aux power - )

Enclosure PSU

8

Important: If using roadside mounting, the included shims must be installed so that licenseplates are horizontal in the image.

Figure G: Rotated License Plate (Incorrect)

Figure H: Horizontal License Plate (Correct)

Software ConfigurationFor more information about each step in the the following procedure, see the Avigilon Control Center Client User Guide.

1. In the Avigilon Control Center Client software, configure the License Plate Recognition options in the server Setup dialog box.

2. In the LPR camera Setup dialog box, click Compression and Image Rate and set the following options

a. Set the Image Quality to 4.

9

b. Set the Image Rate according to the camera mounting position and estimated vehicle speed.

Verification TestAfter the LPR Capture Kit has been installed and the software has been configured correctly, a simple verification test should be performed. Before performing this test, make sure to block off a section of the road with safety cones and obey local laws.

1. Park a vehicle in the centre of the field of view of the LPR camera.

2. The vehicle license plate text should be displayed in the image panel as an image overlay.

3. If the license plate does not appear or does not appear correctly, check the following.

a. Software is setup correctly. See Software Configuration on page 9.

b. The camera is aimed so that the target vehicle is at the correct distance. See Overhead Mounting on page 2 or Roadside Mounting on page 3.

c. The license plate is horizontal in the image. See Positioning the LPR Capture Kit on page 8.

d. The license plate should be bright compared to the rest of the scene.

e. There is contrast between the license plate background and the alphanumerics.

4. Drive a vehicle through the field of view of the LPR camera and check that the license plate was read correctly.

5. Review each frame of the vehicle passing through the field of view. The brightness of the license plate should peak as the vehicle passes the centre of the field of view.

6. Unblock the road and watch the LPR camera capture actual traffic. Run a License Plate Search with a blank search term and wait until at least 100 search results are found. For help on using the search function, see the Avigilon Control Center Client User Guide

7. Playback the video over the search range and see if any license plates were rejected (did not generate a result). Most often license plates are rejected if:

• The reflective coating is severely worn off.

• The license plate is from a region with a different font.

Speed (mph [km/h])Minimum Frame Rate (ips)(Recommended Overhead)

Minimum Frame Rate (ips)(Maximum Overhead or Roadside)

0 – 20 [0 – 32] 5 10

20 – 30 [32 – 50] 10 15

30 – 40 [50 – 65] 15 24

40 – 60 [65 – 100] 24 Not Recommended

10

8. Click through the search results and compare it to the captured image. Incorrect results are often caused by:

• The license plate is partially covered.

• The license plate is dirty.

9. Advertisements and other text on vehicles may be interpreted as license plates and generate extra results.

11

SpecificationsCamera Resolution

Single Lane 1280 x 720

Dual Lane 2592 x 720

Illuminator Technology High-power SMT LED

Wavelength 850 nm

Network

Network 100BASE-TX

Cabling Type CAT5

Connector RJ-45

Security SSL

Protocol UDP, TCP, SOAP, DHCP, Zeroconf

Mechanical

Enclosure Dimensions(LxWxH) 284 mm x 279 mm x 221 mm (11.0” x 11.2” x 8.7”)

Weight 4.0 kg (8.8 lbs)

Mount 4x M5 holes at 40mm x 62mm (1.57” x 2.44”)

Illuminator Power Supply

Dimensions (LxWxH) 160 x 160 x 81 mm (6.3” x 6.3” x 3.2”)

Weight 1.85 kg (4.1 lbs)

Mount 4 x M4 holes at 145 mm x 123 mm (5.71” x 4.85”)

Electrical

Camera

Power Source 24 VDC, 24 VAC, PoE: IEEE802.3af Class 3 compliant

Power Consumption 6 W per camera

Power Connector 2-pin terminal block

Illuminator

Power Source 24 VDC, 24 VAC

Power Consumption 72 W

Power Connector 3-wire terminal block, 12-20 AWG

Environmental

Environmental Rating IP66

Operating Temperature -10 °C to +45 °C (14 °F to 113 °F)

Storage Temperature -10 °C to +70 °C (14 °F to 158 °F)

Certification

UL 60950 CSA60950 EN 60950-1

CE ROHS WEEE

12

Appendix of ImagesThe following images provide a reference when installing an LPR camera.

Figure I: Recommended Overhead Mounting Location

Figure J: License Plate Illuminated at Night

13

Figure K: Roadside View at Max Offset

Figure L: Enclosure Bracket Assembly

Figure M: Enclosure Bracket Assembly Dimensions

65˚

5˚

Ø 6

10

1040

75

= 62 =180

204

30˚

80

40

86=

=12

0

10

A - A

A B

BA

[7]

[8]

[.4]

[1.6]

[.4]

[3]

[2.4] [.24]

[3.1]

[4.7]

[3.4]

[1.6]

[.4]

INCHES

MM

14