Vehicle Access Control & ANPR: A Buyer's Guide

What are the benefits of vehicle access control and how does it work?

Vehicle access control systems help businesses manage vehicle entry and exit without relying on a permanently manned guard booth or manual checks. It can also offer several other benefits beyond security.

Restricting access

Controlling which vehicles can enter your site helps protect your people, property and assets. Access permissions can be configured to allow entry to only authorised staff, contractors, delivery drivers and registered visitors.

For example, a construction site could restrict access to only approved vehicles, while a commercial premises could limit entry to staff and scheduled deliveries. This can support site safety and by preventing unauthorised vehicles from entering areas with frequent vehicle movements.

Monitor and manage vehicle movements

Monitoring vehicles entering and leaving your premises can help you understand traffic patterns and manage site capacity. This is particularly useful for sites with large car parks or a high volume of deliveries.

Access records can also be used to assist with time management by monitoring delivery schedules across multiple sites, to ensure they arrive and depart at the scheduled times.

Payment

Access control can also be used as a means to determine payment amount when leaving a parking area, ensuring that they are registered when they arrive in order to calculate the fee when they leave.

Improve traffic flow

Entrances can become bottlenecks, especially during shift changes or peak delivery times. Choosing an appropriate access method can help keep vehicles moving and reduce unnecessary delays.

For example, long-range smart card readers allow drivers to present their credentials without leaving their vehicles, while ANPR can identify registered vehicles as they approach a gate or barrier, even at speed. Intercoms can allow visitors to request access without requiring staff to leave their office and physically let them in.

Gates and barriers for vehicle access control

Fences, walls and other physical boundaries around the perimeter of your site are an important part of controlling access. They help direct vehicles towards designated entry and exit points, making it easier to monitor vehicle movements and prevent unauthorised access through alternative routes.

For additional perimeter security, consider monitoring the boundaries with CCTV systems to help identify suspicious activity and alert appropriate people to any potential security breaches.

Choosing the right physical restrictions

Vehicle access control requires some form of physical restriction at entrance and exit points of your site to ensure only authorised vehicles have access.

It is important to consider the purpose and degree of security required when deciding on what gates and barriers to use, as well as the volume of traffic and space available.

Whichever method you choose, make sure your selected gate or barrier is of high quality, for reasons of security, durability and maintenance and that it not only suits your needs now, but also any potential future plans.

A benefit of using one of Tensor's gates or barriers is that it can seamlessly integrate with Tensor's other systems (including Visitor Monitoring, Time and Attendance, and CCTV) and the software can scale with your business.

Methods of authentication for vehicle access control

There are several ways to authenticate drivers at a site entrance, allowing access control systems to grant or deny entry. The most suitable method for your business depends on your security requirements and volume of traffic.

Traditionally, vehicle access would have been managed by a person in a booth who would manually operate a barrier or gate. However, automated authentication methods are now available that can provide a more efficient and cost-effective way to manage vehicle access.

Intercoms

With an intercom at an entry gate, people can easily buzz through to security or reception to request access. This requires a member of staff to be on hand at all times to ensure the intercom is answered which can cause delays during busy periods. Depending on the positioning, the intercom may not be reachable for certain types of vehicles where the driver may struggle to reach it. However, intercoms can be particularly useful for visitors, contractors and delivery drivers who may not need frequent or regular access.

Keypads

Entering a code on a keypad is a simple and relatively cost-effective method of vehicle access control, as it means only personnel with the code can enter the premises. However, keypads need to be positioned within easy reach of drivers and may require drivers to leave their vehicles. Codes can also be shared between individuals, making it harder to maintain control over who has access. Changing codes regularly can help reduce this risk.

Smartcards

Smartcards provide a quick and convenient way for authorised personnel to access your premises by presenting the card to a reader. They can also be used site-wide, both externally and internally, to access other areas of the site. A smartcard-based access control system can be integrated with a time and attendance system to better manage employee timesheets, and fire roll call systems to more easily see staff locations in an emergency.

For vehicle access, long-range access control offers an additional level of convenience. Long-range readers can identify a smartcard from a distance, meaning personnel can gain entry without leaving their vehicle. The average read range of Tensor's long-range access control system is up to 15m, however some of our products can reach up to 100m; the read range can be adjusted to suit your business needs.

A potential downside of a smartcard system for access control is that cards can get lost or stolen; with a quality system like Tensor's this negative impact is lessened by everything being managed from a convenient platform where permissions can be removed or added on an individual basis.

Biometrics

Another potential method of vehicle access control is biometrics: the use of a fingerprint or facial authentication at the gate. Unlike a smartcard, the credential of a face or finger will not get lost, but it may be difficult for use in a vehicle, particularly for vehicles of different heights at one reader.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)

Automatic Number Plate Recognition uses cameras and image-processing technology to read vehicle registration plates. ANPR is an ideal method for convenient and effective vehicle access control, but you will need an additional method of entry for personnel arriving on foot or bicycle.

What is Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR)?

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) uses Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology to identify information on a number plate, providing a highly effective, straightforward and flexible method of vehicle access control.

Cameras 'read' the number plate of a vehicle, and the ANPR system checks it against a database of number plates.

ANPR is most commonly known for its use by law enforcement where the police use ANPR to check for vehicles that have been stolen or used in relation to a crime. It is also used in paid car parks to reduce congestion at entry and exit points and accurately calculate length of stay and therefore parking costs. When used for access control, if there is a match found in the database, the gate or barrier will open. It can even flag undesired number plates with an alert.

How does ANPR access control work?

ANPR can provide a much more efficient vehicle access control method because the driver does not need to do anything, and the readers can scan number plates at speeds over 100mph from a distance of 25 metres.

There are some limitations and considerations to using ANPR for access control. Cameras must have a clear view of number plates, so poorly positioned, dirty or damaged cameras, damaged or dirty numberplates, or poor lighting can limit their effectiveness.

Things to consider when using vehicle access control

As with all forms of access control, there are some key considerations that must be accounted for when implementing a vehicle access control system to provide the safest and most secure outcome.

Tailgating

Making sure that only the authorised vehicle is given access could be tricky, as gates, bollards and barriers all take time to open, so another vehicle following close behind may be able to sneak in as well. However, integrating your vehicle access control with CCTV would provide you with a clear picture of exactly who is entering, and allow time codes to be easily found across linked systems. ANPR cameras could also be used to monitor the rear of vehicles coming in to compare with the front reading, ensuring only one vehicle has gained access.

Emergencies

A good access control system must allow for ease of evacuation in emergencies without the need to present any credentials. For vehicle access control, this may mean linking the barrier or bollard controls to the fire alarm or emergency system to allow for straightforward exit.

An additional consideration is that there may be an occasion where emergency vehicles must be able to get onto the premises. As these vehicles would not be registered on the access control system, an override to allow the gates or barriers to open without presenting credentials may be necessary.

Further consideration must also be given to what happens in the event of a power or mechanical failure. Can your chosen method of access control be manually operated to allow entry or exit if the mechanism is damaged or no longer receives power?

Data protection

ANPR systems are governed by GDPR laws in the UK, because they collect individual data. The Information Commissioner's Office has a useful checklist of factors to consider when thinking about installing an ANPR system. Most important, is that the data is kept safe and secure, that only relevant vehicles are being captured (i.e. the cameras are not pointed at public roads or other privately-owned land), and that there is plenty of easy-to-see signage informing drivers of its use.

How much does vehicle access control cost?

Vehicle access control systems can be substantially costly for your business, but the overall cost will be determined by several factors, such as:

Number of access points: The more access points you have, the more hardware will be required, so the cost for your vehicle access control system will increase.

Authentication method: Initial setup costs will vary depending on your chosen method of authentication, and the use of smartcards will likely require additional purchases in future, so make sure you know how much these will cost upfront.

Software licences and maintenance contracts: Some providers of vehicle access control may offer a one-off cost, a monthly payment, or a yearly subscription for software subscriptions and maintenance contracts, or they may not be included at all. Ensure you have clarified these details during your initial conversations and quotations.

Integrating with existing systems: Enabling your vehicle access control system to work with existing systems such as fire alarms, CCTV or existing equipment, may require additional work for seamless integration, which will likely increase the cost.

Setup costs: Will your system require lengthy setup by professional installers, and does the quote include setup time and additional materials?

When choosing a vehicle access control system, the price is most likely one of the biggest deciding factors, so make sure you will receive the system you want and know exactly how much you will need to pay.