SMC installs AI-enabled equipment for “barrier-less” tollgates in expressways

SMC Infrastructure has installed AI-enabled license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras on all of its toll gates, creating barrier-less toll plazas along its expressways.

In a statement, SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said over 522 ALPRs have been installed in over 220 kilometers of its expressway network, allowing improvements on the vehicle throughput by supporting the Autosweep radio frequency identification (RFID) electronic toll collection system.

With the new barrier-less system, each toll plaza will be equipped with an ALPR camera and an RFID scanner, which will allow the SMC servers to cross-match vehicle information from a distance.

“All of our toll plazas and gantries are equipped with ALPR cameras, which support our RFID antennas, which read the account information of motorists. With help from artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, our ALPR cameras cross-match motorist information from RFID tags to ensure customer data is accurate, and correct toll is debited from motorists’ Autosweep wallets,” said Ang.

He also said that future expressway projects will be equipped with ALPR cameras.

He added that the barrier-less system will help address concerns about traffic congestion to and from expressways.

“Our host LGUs had been seeking our help to reduce traffic congestion at entry points along SLEX. Through pilot-testing of the ALPR cameras, we have been able to address their concern. We’ve reduced the need for motorists to fully stop at toll plazas,” Ang said.

“Our expressway network does not operate in a vacuum. They are part of our country’s wider road network. Congestion at toll roads can affect traffic on public roads, and vice versa. That is why it’s important that we continue to work with LGUs and all stakeholders,” he added.

Meanwhile, SMC continues improvements on the AutoSweep system as it will remain the primary means for toll collection.

“There are still a number of key milestones that government needs to reach before full implementation of barrier-less expressways. But essentially, in line with government mandates, we’ve made the necessary investment and our barrier-less system is already physically in place and ready to be used at any time,” Ang said. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News