Vitronic tolling success

The solution, which combines laser detection and classification with licence plate reading (both front and back) is based on Vitronics TollChecker freeflow system and requires no in-road equipment.

Vitronics was the only system we could find that was able to provide classification to the standard we wanted, Mumford continues. Other systems give height and length information whereas Victronics optical classification gives a vehicles full characteristics. Were continually optimising but have already achieved in excess of 98 per cent accuracy. Over time, we expect to creep closer and closer to the magic 100 per cent. The OCR system, meanwhile, is achieving 95-96 per cent accuracy on Australian number plates.

With 220,000 vehicles per day using the facility, such accuracy significantly reduces the back office burden as there is a much reduced need for manual checking.

By comparison with a tag-based solution, there is less revenue leakage, says Richard Middelmann, Managing Director of Vitronic Australia Pty.

The single-gantry solution results in much reduced civils work; installation and ongoing maintenance are much reduced. It also allows bi-directional or HOT lane schemes to be accommodated far more easily by comparison with a multiple-gantry system.

Not only does this allow use to charge more accurately first time out, so improving the customer experience; the identification clarity possible greatly increases the options for a tolling regime, says Mumford.