SeeFilm is a revolutionary application for off-line processing of speed and red-light violations that were captured on film. The application automates the tedious manual process of scanning violation films, extracting the plate registration number, reading the speed and red-light information, verifying the data and issuing the violation fine notice.

This automation allows the municipality to increase the rate of fines issued to drivers while reducing the processing time and expenses.

 

  • Uses SeeCarDLL for automatic plate recognition

  • Uses SeeCarSpeedDLL (reads 7-segment data data block on the image)

  • Includes Site information dialog that defines the details of the camera location

  • Includes Film information dialog that defines the current processed film

  • Employs special techniques to improve the film image quality

  • SeeFilm sends DDE messages to client applications for automated fine processing

  • SeeFilm writes a log file with all the violation details

  • Runs in either automatic-mode or manual-mode (with on-line manual verification)
     

 

SeeFilm animated example is shown below. In this example 3 different captures are shown, and the application displays all the data extracted from the violation image. The system runs in automatic mode, where all violation results are reported out to the fine processing application.


 

 

This system is installed in a traffic police violations processing center in Pretoria, South Africa (in conjunction with Labat Traffic Solutions using the Startrap Intelligence violation data processing system). It is used to automate the process of handling the fine processing (a fast turnaround from film to fine). The application reads both the license plate off the frame - together with violation information.

A sample violation is shown in the following photo. The frame, read from the film, includes the view of the car, the vehicle plate, and the violation information - which includes the date, location and speed, and is attached in the upper-right corner.
 

 

The application, SeeFilm, converts the image to a text information and verifies its correctness. The extracted violation information, plate number and the digital color image are saved on a database for archiving. The database can also be viewed on the web by the offendors. The violation fee can be paid on-line (See Startrap web site ). This on-line service reduces the cycle time of the entire process and cuts the fine collection overhead. An example of an actual violation record seen on the web is shown in the following image:

 

 

 

The system started its operation in Spring 2000 in Pretoria - and has since been installed in many other locations. Its first effect was to improve the fine processing cycle time and lowering its overhead by several orders of magnitude. The following chart shows the improvement of fine processing volume over the manual operation (the leftmost bar) by an average factor of X5.

 

 

This operation also has a dramatic reduction of traffic violations. An example of reduction in volume of traffic violations (in the corner Potgieter str and Klawer str, Pretoria) is 73% reduction in 11 months - as shown in the following graph. The introduction of the system has reduced the traffic speeds and red-light violations and thus contributed to saving lives on the road.

 

 

Due to their success in automation, these systems were installed in many other municipalities.