Milesight & Anchor Revolutionised Remote
Car Park Management in the UK

Location: UK

Milesight Partner

Anchor, Go2Sim

Location

UK

Industry Segment

Parking Management

Related Products

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Success Story
  • Overview
  • Challenges
  • Solution
  • Conclusion
  • Product Showcase

Overview

  • Milesight has partnered with UK-based facilities management leader Anchor to deliver a pioneering solution for remote car park management. Leveraging solar-powered 4G ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology, the collaboration has introduced a cost-effective and intelligent alternative to traditional parking enforcement across various sites in the UK, particularly in locations without access to power or communications infrastructure.

  • With eight cameras already deployed nationwide and more in the pipeline, this solution has proven effective in overcoming longstanding operational challenges while enabling real-time monitoring, enforcement, and data analytics - all without the need for conventional power supply or costly installation methods.

  • Crucially, the solution is backed by Unity5's cloud-based Zatpark platform, providing a robust and scalable backend system that enables seamless enforcement and permit management across multiple sites. By integrating Milesight's AI-powered edge recognition with Zatpark's centralised processing and analytics engine, the solution delivers smarter, faster, and more reliable parking operations.

bg overview

Challenges

Managing car parks in remote or infrastructure-deficient areas presents multiple operational and financial obstacles. Anchor, like many other service providers, faced the following core challenges:

Lack of Infrastructure

Many sites are remote, rural, or historically protected, making them difficult or impossible to service using traditional power-hungry enforcement systems.

High Setup and Maintenance Costs

Traditional solutions require trenching, cabling, electrical cabinets, and specialised equipment for installation and upkeep - resulting in high deployment and ongoing operational costs.

Manual Enforcement Limitations

In absence of automated systems, car parks rely on on-site patrols. This approach is costly, labour-intensive, and infeasible for low-traffic or geographically dispersed sites.

Limited Access to Actionable Data

Without intelligent technology, site managers lack visibility into car park usage, making it difficult to plan capacity, optimise turnover, or manage resources efficiently.

Rising Incidents of Antisocial Behaviour

Public car parks without oversight are increasingly prone to problems such as loitering, car cruising, and vandalism. A 2023 study by the College of Policing highlights how coordinated responses have been required to tackle such behaviours in vulnerable public spaces.

Solution

To meet these challenges head-on, Milesight developed a compact, intelligent ANPR solution capable of operating in completely off-grid conditions. With a modular design, real-time connectivity, and local processing power, the solution enables low-cost, low-maintenance, and highly scalable deployments.

At the system's core is Unity5's Zatpark, a flexible cloud-based platform that handles enforcement, permit management, occupancy calculation, and data analytics. Together with Milesight's edge-based ANPR cameras, the integration creates a closed-loop smart parking system that requires minimal infrastructure but delivers maximum operational visibility and control.

solution 1 solution 2

Feature Highlights

All-in-One Design

Integrated solar panel, battery, 4G module, and edge AI processing in a single compact unit - no need for separate electrical cabinets, modems, or external computing devices.

Plug-and-Play Deployment

No trenching, no cabling, no heavy equipment. Camera units can be installed quickly and non-intrusively, even during site operation.

Powered by platexpert pc logo - Edge AI ANPR

Real-time license plate recognition and vehicle attribute detection with 99% high accuracy are performed on the device, eliminating dependency on cloud or central servers.

Optimised Power Management

Smart scheduling and intelligent battery control ensure 365days uninterrupted operation even during the UK's low-light winter months.

Data Usage Optimisation

Configurable image resolution and smart compression significantly reduce bandwidth - from 70-80GB/month to approximately 20GB/month per unit.

Cloud Backend Integration with zatpark pc logo

Zatpark provides centralised permit and violation processing, visualised search and reporting tools, and occupancy tracking across multi-site deployments—all linked seamlessly with the on-site Milesight cameras.

Key Benefits

Significant Cost Reduction - Up to 85% Lower Operational Costs

Compared to traditional manual enforcement - which can cost around £30,000 per site annually - the Milesight solar-powered ANPR solution reduces total operational expenditure by up to 85%. With a one-time deployment cost of approximately £4,000 per site and minimal ongoing maintenance, the return on investment is rapid and substantial.

Infrastructure Independence

Operates in locations with no power or communication lines, unlocking new possibilities for car park coverage in rural, protected, or underdeveloped areas.

Faster Time-to-Deploy

Simplified installation process allows sites to go live quickly, supporting dynamic parking projects or seasonal deployments.

Scalability and Flexibility

Modular system allows easy addition of new sites or cameras without major upfront investments, making it ideal for network expansion.

Enhanced Data-Driven Management

Enables accurate monitoring of traffic volumes (~2,500 plate reads/day; ~9,000 visits/week), dwell time, and usage trends - empowering smarter planning and reporting.

Improved Site Security and Oversight

Real-time monitoring and video verification help prevent loitering, car cruising, and other antisocial activities common in unattended parking spaces.

Connectivity Advantage with gosim pc logo

A crucial component of the solution's reliability comes from its integration with Go2Sim, a UK-based specialist in IoT and M2M connectivity. Unlike traditional SIM providers, Go2Sim offers customisable SIM packages that are specifically designed for machine-to-machine applications such as remote ANPR.

With real-time monitoring of data usage and flexible billing models, Go2Sim ensures that Anchor and its clients only pay for the data actually consumed, eliminating the risk of unexpected charges. This approach perfectly complements Milesight's data optimisation features, further reducing operating costs while ensuring stable 4G connectivity across all deployed sites.

By leveraging Go2Sim's managed connectivity, the solar-powered ANPR system gains:

  • Reliable Coverage Across the UK – ensuring camera units maintain constant connectivity even in rural or infrastructure-limited locations.
  • Cost Predictability - pay-as-you-go data plans tailored to each site's traffic volume and ANPR frequency.
  • Operational Transparency - real-time insights into SIM usage, enabling proactive management and preventing bill shocks.

Together with Milesight's edge AI processing and Unity5's Zatpark backend, Go2Sim's IoT connectivity forms the final link in delivering a fully autonomous, scalable, and cost-efficient remote parking solution.

solution 3

Conclusion

Milesight's partnership with Anchor is setting a new benchmark for car park management in the UK. By combining solar power, intelligent edge processing, and seamless connectivity with the Zatpark platform, the solution enables:

  • Cost-effective expansion of car park management to previously unreachable locations
  • Data-driven decision-making based on real-time vehicle behaviour
  • Enhanced security and oversight with minimal human involvement
  • Reduced environmental and infrastructure impact. Through continued collaboration and technical refinement, Milesight, Anchor, and Unity5 are transforming car parks from passive spaces into actively managed assets - supporting a smarter, safer, and more efficient future for facilities management.

Product Showcase

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4G Solar-powered Security Camera

  • 2.8mm/6mm Lens
  • Perimeter Protection & Proactive Defense
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4G Solar-powered ANPR Camera

  • 16mm Lens
  • Comprehensive License Plate & Vehicle Type Recognition
  • Efficient List Management & List Event
  • No-plate Event

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