ADR Plate Recognition with AI: Automated Dangerous Goods Identification by ICX
Smarter Dangerous Goods Identification with Computer Vision
The transportation of dangerous goods requires accurate identification, rapid response and reliable monitoring.
Vehicles carrying hazardous materials may display ADR orange plates and hazard identification information that allow authorized personnel to understand the type of dangerous goods being transported.
However, manually reading these plates from moving vehicles, CCTV cameras or entrance checkpoints can be difficult, especially under challenging environmental conditions.
ICX ADR Plate Recognition uses artificial intelligence and computer vision to automatically detect, read and interpret ADR-related identification information from camera images and video streams.
The system can recognize information such as:
- ADR orange plates
- Hazard Identification Numbers / Kemler Codes
- UN Numbers
- Dangerous goods identification information
- Multiple ADR-related markings within the same scene
This allows security and operational systems to automatically identify potentially hazardous cargo without relying entirely on manual inspection.
What Is ADR Plate Recognition?
ADR Plate Recognition is a computer vision technology designed to automatically locate and read identification information associated with vehicles transporting dangerous goods.
In common ADR transport configurations, an orange identification panel may contain two numerical fields:
Upper number – Hazard Identification Number (Kemler Code)
This number provides information about the type of hazard associated with the transported material.
Lower number – UN Number
The four-digit UN number identifies the specific dangerous substance or article.
For example, an ADR recognition system may detect:
33
1203
The system can recognize both values and convert the information into structured digital data that can be transferred to another security, access-control or monitoring platform.
ICX can therefore transform information that normally exists only visually on a vehicle into actionable machine-readable data.
How ICX ADR Plate Recognition Works
ICX uses a multi-stage AI-powered computer vision pipeline.
1. Vehicle and ADR Plate Detection
The system analyzes images received from:
- IP cameras
- RTSP video streams
- CCTV systems
- Gate cameras
- Mobile cameras
- Industrial vision systems
AI models locate ADR orange plates within the image.
2. Plate Region Extraction
Once an ADR plate has been detected, the relevant image region is extracted and optimized for recognition.
The system can process plates captured under different:
- distances
- viewing angles
- resolutions
- lighting conditions
- vehicle positions
3. Kemler Code Recognition
ICX OCR technology analyzes the upper section of numbered ADR orange plates and recognizes the Hazard Identification Number, commonly known as the Kemler Code.
The detected number can then be transferred to external applications for classification, alarm generation or database queries.
4. UN Number Recognition
The lower section of the ADR panel can be analyzed separately to recognize the four-digit UN Number.
For example:
1203
can be returned as structured recognition data.
5. Structured Recognition Output
The recognition result can be delivered to the customer’s system through ICX integration interfaces.
A typical result may contain information such as:
- Camera ID
- Recognition timestamp
- Vehicle image
- ADR plate image
- Kemler Code
- UN Number
- Recognition confidence
- Event information
This data can then be used by security management, logistics or access-control applications.
Beyond OCR: ADR Event Detection
ICX ADR recognition is designed as more than a simple OCR engine.
The technology can become part of a larger dangerous goods monitoring and event detection platform.
For example, a security system could automatically detect situations such as:
Dangerous goods vehicle detected
A vehicle displaying ADR identification enters a monitored area.
Specific UN Number detected
The system recognizes a predefined UN number that requires additional security procedures.
Restricted hazardous material detected
Recognition results can be compared against configurable watchlists or operational rules.
ADR vehicle entering a sensitive zone
The recognition event can be combined with camera location information and access-control rules.
These events can be forwarded to a Video Management System, command center, security application or industrial control platform.
Where Can ADR Plate Recognition Be Used?
ICX ADR Plate Recognition can support organizations operating in environments where dangerous goods vehicles must be identified and monitored.
Typical applications include:
Ports and Container Terminals
Ports process large numbers of trucks transporting chemicals, fuel and other hazardous materials.
Automatic ADR recognition can help identify these vehicles at terminal entrances, inspection zones and internal checkpoints.
Logistics Centers
Distribution centers handling dangerous goods can automatically record ADR-related information when trucks enter or leave the facility.
Industrial Facilities
Chemical plants, refineries, manufacturing facilities and energy installations can use ADR recognition as another layer of perimeter and gate security.
Border Crossings and Customs
ADR identification data can be captured automatically during vehicle inspection and border-control processes.
Tunnels and Critical Infrastructure
Certain dangerous goods may be subject to additional operational procedures around tunnels and other critical infrastructure.
Automatic ADR vehicle identification can provide real-time information to monitoring systems.
Fuel and Chemical Transportation
Tanker trucks and vehicles transporting fuel or chemicals can be automatically identified as they move through controlled facilities.
Smart Gate Systems
ADR recognition can be integrated with:
- ANPR / License Plate Recognition
- barrier systems
- access-control systems
- vehicle classification
- security cameras
This allows multiple vehicle attributes to be analyzed during a single gate transaction.
ADR Recognition + License Plate Recognition
One of the major advantages of the ICX computer vision platform is the possibility of combining several recognition technologies.
A single vehicle event can potentially contain:
License Plate
34 ABC 123
ADR Hazard Identification Number
33
UN Number
1203
The same event may also include vehicle characteristics such as:
- vehicle type
- vehicle make
- vehicle color
- plate country
- entry/exit direction
- camera location
This creates a richer vehicle intelligence record than traditional license plate recognition alone.
ADR Recognition for Video Surveillance Systems
ICX ADR Plate Recognition can operate as part of an intelligent video analytics architecture.
Recognition results can be integrated with:
- VMS platforms
- PSIM systems
- command-and-control platforms
- gate management software
- access-control systems
- logistics applications
- customs applications
- security databases
Instead of requiring an operator to constantly monitor video feeds, ICX can convert camera images into searchable and actionable security data.
Security operators can then investigate questions such as:
- Which dangerous goods vehicles entered the facility?
- Which UN numbers were detected today?
- At what time was a particular ADR vehicle detected?
- Which camera detected the vehicle?
- What was the vehicle license plate?
- Was the vehicle entering or leaving?
This transforms standard surveillance infrastructure into an intelligent dangerous-goods monitoring system.
Edge and Server Deployment
Different projects have different infrastructure requirements.
ICX computer vision solutions can be designed for deployment on:
- local servers
- industrial computers
- edge AI devices
- security workstations
- centralized recognition servers
Camera streams can be processed close to the source or centrally depending on the project architecture.
This makes the technology suitable for both small gate-control projects and larger multi-camera security installations.
Integration with Existing Camera Infrastructure
Organizations do not necessarily need dedicated ADR-reading cameras.
Depending on image quality, positioning and project requirements, ICX can process images from existing IP camera infrastructure.
This enables ADR recognition to become an additional AI analytics layer on top of an organization’s video surveillance environment.
A typical architecture can be:
IP Camera → ICX AI Engine → ADR Detection → OCR → Event → VMS / Security Platform
The same architecture can also combine additional ICX analytics.
A Multi-Analytics Computer Vision Platform
ADR Plate Recognition can operate together with other ICX computer vision technologies.
ICX solutions can include:
- License Plate Recognition
- ADR Plate Recognition
- Kemler Code Recognition
- UN Number Recognition
- Vehicle Make Recognition
- Vehicle Type Classification
- Vehicle Color Recognition
- Container Code Recognition
- Container Seal Detection
- Container Damage Detection
- Wagon Number Recognition
- Hazmat Placard Detection
- Intrusion Detection
- Object Detection
- Event Detection
This approach allows security integrators and operators to use a common AI platform for multiple transportation and infrastructure applications.
Why Automated ADR Recognition Matters
Traditional security cameras record what happens.
AI-enabled security systems can understand what happens.
By automatically extracting ADR information from vehicles, ICX enables security teams to move from passive video monitoring toward real-time vehicle and hazardous-material intelligence.
Instead of manually reviewing footage, operators can receive structured events that can be:
- searched
- filtered
- stored
- analyzed
- integrated
- used to generate alarms
For ports, logistics facilities, industrial sites and critical infrastructure, this provides an additional layer of operational awareness.
ICX ADR Plate Recognition
ICX develops computer vision technologies designed for transportation, security and industrial environments.
Our ADR Plate Recognition solution enables cameras to automatically detect and recognize dangerous goods identification information and convert it into structured digital events.
Combined with ANPR, vehicle analytics and intelligent event detection, ICX provides a comprehensive platform for advanced vehicle monitoring.
Turn your cameras into intelligent sensors with ICX Computer Vision.
For integration, SDK, OEM or project-based ADR Plate Recognition solutions, contact ICX.