Hanwha Vision Europe, the global vision solution provider, has launched RoadWatch, an edge-based ANPR solution ideal for urban traffic. RoadWatch is pre-loaded on six specially selected X series cameras, allowing for a quick and easy deployment with the licence already activated. Roadwatch is also available as a separate application offering compatibility with a wider range of X series cameras.The new solution has been developed in partnership with FF Group and is a further extension of Hanwha Vision’s edge-based ANPR solutions.

Ideal for urban environments

RoadWatch is ideal for monitoring urban traffic and covers one lane of traffic travelling up to 55 mph and 30m IR. Direction detection is configurable on RoadWatch and it comes with two recognition zones, which, due to their quadrilateral shape, can be configured to fit most areas within a scene. Installation is made easy with the intuitive ANPR setup wizard.

The benefits of edge-based ANPR

Due to its edge-based analytics, RoadWatch requires lower bandwidth compared to server-based AI, which can impact energy efficiency, cost savings, and sustainability. The cost of ownership is also lowered, as there’s no need to maintain a large server room. As analytics happens locally on a device, only metadata is transferred back to a server, increasing cybersecurity as no sensitive data can be intercepted.

Improved operator awareness and insights

RoadWatch displays events and key information at-a-glance in list view for quick situational awareness. The solution comes with list management, to trigger specific reactions for vehicles identified on each list. For example, opening a barrier to allow entry for vehicles only on the ‘white list’. The setup for this is simple with a bulk upload option for number plate data. Operators can use Smart Search to find specific plates, including full and partial, of different countries, as well as within a certain timeframe.

Further insights can be gleaned via the application’s Statistics function which can tell operators about the busiest times of day or days of the week. Integration with WAVE VMS is seamless, for further analytics functionality and for the solution to work with other systems like perimeter protection and access control. Rules can be set based on identified number plates, for instance, switching on building lighting and heating when a vehicle enters a site.

A Hanwha Vision and FF Group application

RoadWatch is one of several applications made possible by a partnership between Hanwha Vision and FF Group. Uri Guterman, Head of Product & Marketing at Hanwha Vision Europe explains more about the benefits of this partnership, stating, “Hanwha Vision partners with innovative vendors to increase our intelligent video solutions and FF Group is a prime example of this. With specialist applications in traffic monitoring and management, the partnership with FF Group has led to several leading-edge ANPR applications like Road AI for type, make, model, and colour recognition.”

Oleksandr Osypov, CEO of FF Group said, “The partnership with Hanwha Vision has proved fruitful, with a powerful combined offering that benefits from Hanwha Vision’s specialised and high-quality cameras and FF Group applications. This enables us to better meet the needs of different organisations while increasing the prevalence and use of ANPR on roads and in car parks.”

The next Hanwha Vision and FF Group application planned for later this year will be ParkWatch, an edge-based ANPR solution for the Q series cameras that focuses on stop and go installations such as car parks.