PIPS Technology is to supply Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to Siemens.
It’s part of a contract awarded by Transport for London (TfL) to provide an enforcement infrastructure for the western extension of the Central London Congestion Charging Scheme.
The contract worth some £5m to PIPS is for the Spike+ cameras, already in use for applications such as road user charging and enforcement, the Hampshire-based product firm adds.
Spike+ is a combination of colour and infrared CCTV cameras, a computer, a mobile phone, digital video recorder and power cables integrated into one unit. The product has, its makers report, local storage capacity for thousands of vehicle records, including colour overviews. Data is encrypted and transmitted across the network, providing a significant reduction in communications costs, it is claimed. The product can take pre and post event images in addition to contextual images, the makers say. This technology can be utilised for, but not limited to, highway enforcement such as congestion charging zones, red light offenders and unauthorised use of bus lanes, the firm adds.
What they say
PIPS Technology Managing Director, Paul Negus, said "Spike+ is a proven product and was selected after a rigorous Technical Design Evaluation. We have been associated with the supply of ANPR cameras to both TfL and Siemens for some time and are delighted to be working with them on such an important project." In April 2005, PIPS Technology was awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its Spike ANPR camera, and has been short listed for the National Transport Awards 2006.