Metrici - Accurate recognition of license plates, vehicles, people, boats, industrial pieces on Axis, Bosch, Hikvision, Mobotix, Pelco, Uniview

The Challenge

A remote site with extreme conditions

Like most ballast pits, the Colun site is remote — 40 km from Sibiu, with limited access and far from the owner's direct oversight.

The Site

The Colun project is one of the most unusual for the Metrici LPR team. It demonstrates how LPR software can be adapted for unexpected use cases to improve business performance.

The client operated a ballast pit in Colun, Sibiu County. Like most ballast pits, it's in a remote location — 40 km from Sibiu, with limited access and far from the owner's direct oversight.

The Problem

The owner wanted better control — tracking every vehicle leaving the pit, eliminating losses and theft, and verifying cargo. The access road was dusty, and even when plates were present, dust made them unreadable. When it rained, dust turned to mud that completely covered the plates.

Ballast pit entrance

Trucks at the pit

Pit operations

Site overview

The Solution

IR-triggered detection that works without plates

Metrici integrators designed a more complex installation to handle these unique conditions — using IR sensors and a companion camera to capture every event, regardless of plate readability.

Step 01

IR Sensor Trigger

An IR barrier was installed on the single access road, triggering detection for any vehicle movement.

Step 02

Dual Camera Setup

Two Hikvision cameras — one for LPR, one as a wide-angle companion to capture cargo and surroundings.

Step 03

Event Logging

Every IR trigger saves an event to the database — whether a license plate is present or not.

Step 04

Remote Monitoring

The owner can monitor all activity remotely via internet — no need to be on-site 40 km away.

System Specifications

Access Roads 1

Cameras 2 × Hikvision

LPR License 1 × Metrici LPR BL

Server Metrici Microsys 30

Controller Barix Barionet 50

Trigger IR Barrier Sensor

Results

Complete control over a remote operation

After installation, the client has complete records of all activity at the ballast pit — eliminating theft and enabling remote monitoring from anywhere in the world.

🛡️

Theft Eliminated

The system eliminated theft from the operation. Every vehicle leaving the pit is recorded and logged.

📸

Cargo Verification

The companion camera captures every vehicle, showing exactly what each truck is transporting.

📡

Remote Monitoring

With an internet connection, the owner can monitor the entire operation remotely — from anywhere in the world.

📋

Complete Records

Every IR trigger saves an event to the database — whether a license plate is present, readable, or missing entirely.

🌧️

All-Weather Operation

The IR-triggered system works reliably in dust, mud, and rain — conditions that made traditional LPR impossible.

⚡

Single License Needed

Since only one camera handles LPR detection, a single Metrici LPR BL license was sufficient for the entire site.

🔬

From Colun Pilot to Full Weighing Automation

The lessons learned at this Colun ballast pit pilot led Metrici to develop a complete automated weighing system — integrating LPR, weighbridges, and traffic control into a single platform. This evolved into the Metrici LPR Weighing Module, now deployed at industrial sites across Romania.

View the weighing automation case study

🤝

Partner: Colun Ballast Pit Owner

A private ballast pit operation in Colun, Sibiu County — 40 km from Sibiu. This project was one of Metrici's most unusual, proving that LPR technology can be adapted even for the most challenging remote-site conditions.