Electrical Engineering Project: Plate Recognition System Report (CE 1)

This report details a Plate Recognition System (PRS) project implemented in Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, focusing on the installation and integration of a license plate recognition system at a gate. The project involved detecting vehicles, capturing images, performing OCR, and comparing plate numbers with a database. The author, as a team member, was responsible for connecting the system to the organization's mainframe, vendor management, and logistic maintenance. The report highlights the technical aspects of the system, including the use of digital cameras, TCP/IP connection, and the challenges faced with bandwidth limitations. The author also discusses implemented innovations, collaborative work, and the project's successful completion within the specified timeframe, emphasizing contributions to connectivity, reporting, and coordination of power circuits and data switches.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 1
SRIKUMAR CHAKKALETHU RAM

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Plate Recognition System (PRS)
Location of the project: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Project Duration: December 2010
Organization: Sumitomo Corporation and Petrocon Arabia Limited
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The project was based on the basis of providing the client with a plate recognition system.
The system once installed along with the main gate would be able to detect any vehicles approaching
the gate, get a visual recognition of the number plate and check it with the database of the system.
On correct approval of the number plate the gate will open. Alongside of this work the security
officials will also be notified of the incoming vehicle. The device that is to be installed in the facility
has been produced by FOREVISION. The system has been designed with the following of the
detailed specification of the requirement. I had followed the project to be developed based on the
best applicable Saudi Aramco Standards. The device has been installed and tested in accordance to
the BI – 10 – 00505.
CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
For the completion of the project I had followed the following project objectives to provide
the best quality work:
 To detect the presence of the vehicles which are approaching the gate.

 To capture the images of the approaching vehicles.
 To carry out OCR operation on the number plates.
 To compare the plate numbers against the stored plates in the database.
 To provide the authorities with the total count of vehicles which are coming through the
gate.
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
For the project I was responsible to work with the connection team which was responsible for
the connection of the plate recognition system with the main frame of the organisation. I was also
responsible for the logistic maintenance of the complete project. I had worked with my team mates
for the complete duration of the project to provide the best quality of work. I had taken care of any
vendor or manufacture problems related to the project. At the end of the project completion I had
provided the client with the complete list of all the products that had been used for the completion of
the project and the workers that were related to the working of the project.

CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: The hierarchy of the project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
For the complete duration of the project time line I was responsible for the working of the
connectivity of the plate recognition system interface with the main frame work of the organisation. I
was also responsible for the maintenance of the orders that were being requested and the
management of the vendors and the manufacture problems. The guarantee of all the devices and the
systems that were used in the project. I had also compiled a complete list of the devices and the
workers related to the project.

CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
The project required me to install the plate recognition system designed by fore vision. The
device is to be installed at the ISF gate house number 1. The gate is to be comprised of digital
cameras of digital output along with a collective illuminators. The cameras is to have image
capturing and processing ability and external data input facility. I had implemented the system to be
set up to constantly monitor and register incoming vehicles at the gate entry points and exit points.
The device has two modules. The first module is the plate recognition system with the cameras and
the processors and the second module is the processor and storage unit which will be responsible for
the OCR processing on the number plate images. I had configured the system to accept 95% of
Arabic and 95% of Latin characters without the involvement of any other official. The characters
once recognised by the system will store the values in the database in form of ASCII, Unicode or
UCS coding format. The system will be able to provide the security officials with round the clock
assistance in the number plate recognition software. The software is capable of recognizing number
plates of vehicles traveling as fast as 80 KMPH. The system has been connected to the mainframe of
the processing unit with the help of TCP/IP connection protocol. The system also has the ability to
generate alarm based on the unavailability of the number plate in the data base.

Figure 2: the block diagram of the proposed system
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
The knowledge of telecommunication engineering had been used. I was able to complete the
project with the help of my project team members and my project supervisor. I was in charge of the
team responsible for the connection of the system with the main frame of the organisation. I had
helped in the completion of the connectivity issues and the problems that were raised during the
timeline of the project with the help of my telecommunication skills. I was able to solve majority of
the problems that were faced by the project.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
I had helped in the connection of the plate recognition system to the main frame of the work.
The system was to be installed at the ISF Gatehouse number 1. I had helped in the installation of the
cameras and then connecting the system with the framework with the help of TCP / IP connection
protocol. I had helped in the installation of the temperature monitoring system into the project to
maintain the best quality transmission of the signals.

CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
I had found that the cameras which had been setup for the system was not able to transmit the
images from the cameras to the framework which was going to work on the OCR algorithm to find
the number on the plate. This was the most crucial part of the project. Moreover the system promised
to complete the retrieving of the image and the completion of the processing of the image with in a
minute. However during the testing phase of the system I found that the time being taken for the
completion of the analysis of the images were more that the actually promised.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
On careful validation of the two problems it was found that the problems was mainly due to
the problem of the bandwidth of the internet which was being used by the organisation. I had
checked the connection of the system which showed that the amount of bandwidth which was
provided by the organisation to run the system was not enough for the images to be sent and then
processed and then the response to be sent back to the framework for the operation.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
I was able to implement some of the innovation work apart from all the readymade system
that was to be installed in the system. I had changed the authorization system of the protocol to work
with the range of designated individuals. I had implemented the security protocol of the system
which made the availability of the authorization of the files restricted to proper individuals. Every
user of the system is provided with a separate ID and password which would help in the maintenance
of the data flow within the organisation. I had also helped in the providing of the idea for the system
logging of the informations being imported and being used by the systems of the organisation.

CE 1.3.6 Collaborative work
For the completion of the work I was in collaboration with my team mates and my project
supervisor. I was recruited under my parent company where the client had asked us to install for
them the plate recognition system on their gate number 1. This was completed under the supervision
of my project supervisor. The system was comprised of digital cameras which would be responsible
for the transferring of images to the main framework for processing of high speed OCR calculations.
The team helped in the completion of project in the required time line.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
The project was completed within the timeline. This was possible with the help of my team
mates. I had completed the working of the connection of the system with the frame work with in the
designated time line. This helped me to proceed with the other tasks which were assigned. The local
processing of the tenders were completed with fast action thus helping in the completion of the work.
CE 1.4.2 My contribution to work
I had helped in the completion of the connectivity of the main plate recognition system with
the main frame work of the organisation. I had also helped in the production of the workers report
which was based on the number of workers who had worked for the project. I had also conducted a
detailed report based on the equipment’s usage. I had also helped in the coordination of the power
circuits and the data switches of the gatehouse of the organisation.