Laying out a factory gate for licence plate recognition

A factory gate has to control vehicles of staff, contractors and visitors within the same peak hours. The software can only record correctly when the gate devices are laid out properly, so the layout drawing is the first step of a plate recognition car park project.

This post goes through the parts shown on a Sol26 Parking entry and exit gate floor plan: lanes, cameras, barrier, Face ID, guard house and the drawing set required.

Separate car and motorbike lanes

The device layout drawing separates the car lane and the motorbike lane with a lane divider post. Each lane has its own set of devices, because vehicle size, plate position and identification method differ between the two.

Cars can use UHF tags read by a long-range reader, while motorbikes use short-range cards at a short-range reader. Separate lanes mean each reader and camera serves only the vehicle type of its lane.

Plate recognition camera and overview camera

Each lane on the drawing has two cameras: a plate recognition camera and an overview camera. The plate recognition camera reads the plate, and the overview camera records the general scene of the lane.

Images from both cameras are stored in the visit record. When entry and exit plates do not match, the guard has additional images to compare before accepting or rejecting the exit.

Barrier and Face ID device

The barrier sits in the lane, and the drawing places a Face ID device next to it. The gate access software integrates control of short-range readers, long-range readers, automatic barriers, Face ID and RFID cards.

• Automatic barrier for each lane
• Short-range reader for cards
• Long-range reader for UHF tags
• Face ID device that triggers the barrier when it recognises a registered person

The barrier controller is third-party equipment in many projects. The hardware supplier needs to provide API or SDK documentation so Sol26 can connect the barrier to the software.

Guard house and monitoring screen

The guard house sits beside the lanes, with a 40-inch LCD screen showing entry and exit information. The software controls several lanes from one computer, so one guard house can monitor both the car lane and the motorbike lane.

The screen shows the plate, recognition images, and the card or face owner's details together with the plate. The guard house should give the guard a direct view of the lanes for cases that need manual handling.

Drawings required

• Floor plan of devices at the entry and exit gate, with lane widths and device spacing
• Section showing the guard house and screen position
• 3D perspective so the owner can picture the result before approval
• Issue status: preliminary, for approval, reference, construction, revised, as-built

Supporting infrastructure

Lane devices need network cable, power cable and conduit to the guard house and network cabinet. In Sol26 equipment quotations, infrastructure such as a managed switch, CAT6 cable, PVC conduit, power cable, an online UPS and installation accessories is listed as a separate item.

Frequently asked questions

Why does each lane need both a plate recognition camera and an overview camera?

The plate recognition camera reads the plate and the overview camera records the general scene of the lane. Two image sources help the guard compare when plates do not match.

Can one guard house handle both the car lane and the motorbike lane?

Yes. The gate access software controls several vehicle lanes from one computer.

At which step is the layout drawing produced?

It is produced during survey and design, before devices are installed and software is set up.