Efficient Thinning Algorithm for Malaysian Car Plate Character Recognition

Authors

  • Saifullahi Sadi Shitu UTM
  • Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abu Bakar
  • Nura Musa Tahir
  • Usman Isyaku Bature
  • Haliru Liman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/elektrika.v20n3.286

Keywords:

Thinning algorithm, Malaysian car plate, Car plate character, License plate, Pixel, Single pixelate.

Abstract

The thinning algorithm is one of the approaches of identifying each character printed on the car plate. Malaysian car plate characters appear in different character sizes, styles, customized printed characters etc. These variations contribute to difficulty in thinning successfully segmented and extracted license plate characters for recognition. To address these problems, an improved thinning operation for Malaysian car plate character recognition is proposed. In this algorithm, samples from segmented and extracted license plates are used for a thinning operation which is passed to Zhang-Suen thinning algorithm that could not guarantee one pixel thick and then to single pixelate algorithm that provides one pixel width of character for recognition. From the simulation, the result obtained has clearly proven to be the best for character recognition systems with least number of white pixels (777 pixels) and 0.26% redundant pixel left in the medial curve.    

Author Biographies

Saifullahi Sadi Shitu, UTM

Mr Saifullahi Sadi Shitu received the B.Eng. Degree in Computer Engineering from Bayero University, Kano in 2012 and M.Eng. Dgree in Computer and Microelectronic Systems Engineering from Universiti Teknology Malaysia (UTM) in 2016. He is currently with the Department of Cyber Security, Faculty of Military Science and Interdisciplinary Studies, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. His main research interest include Image Processing, Biometric Security Technology and Ethical Hacking.

Syed Abd Rahman Syed Abu Bakar

My name is Syed Abd Rahman bin Syed Abu Bakar and currently a Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Johor Bahru campus. I’ve been with UTM since 1992. My area of expertise is in Image Processing and Computer Vision. I teach Digital Signal Processing at the undergraduate level and Image Processing at the postgraduate level. I’ve supervised a number of PhD students both locally and internationally.

Some of the administration posts I have held include Head of Electronic Digital Lab (1999 – 2008), and Head of Postgraduate Department (2008 – 2012).  I was the chair for IEEE Signal Processing Society Malaysia Chapter (2014 – 2018). Currently, I’m the head of Computer Vision, Video and Image Processing (CVVIP) Research Lab.

Nura Musa Tahir

Nura Musa Tahir received the B.Eng. degree in Electrical Engineering from Bayero
University, Kano in 2012 and M.Eng. Degree in Mechatronics and Automatic Control from the
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2016. He has been involved in research at Mechatronics
systems and Robotics Laboratory in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia on vibration control,
robotics and Mechatronics system design. He has been a lecturer at the Department of
mechatronic and system Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi Nigeria
since 2014. His main research interests include Vibration Control, Mechatronics Systems
Design, Control System Design and Robotics.

Usman Isyaku Bature

Usman Isyaku Bature is currently a PhD. Candidate in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Universiti of
Teknologi Petronas (UTP) Malaysia. He received a B.Eng. Computer Engineering from Bayero University Kano
(BUK), Kano city, Nigeria and degree of Master of Engineering (Electrical - Computer and Microelectronic
system) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. He is currently a lecturer in
the Department of Computer and Communications Engineering, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi
(ATBU), Nigeria. His research interest includes Image processing, Nano-material, Embedded systems and
Biomedical Systems.

Haliru Liman

Haliru Liman recieved his B.Eng Degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering from the federal University of technology, Minna, Nigeria in 2006 and M.Eng. Degree in Electronic Engineering from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria in 2018. He is currenetly with the departement Electrical?electronics Engineering, Abubakar Tabawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria. His current research interest includes Modeling and Simulation of dynamic Systes, Development and conrol of Electric Drive System, System Identification and Estimation, Optimisation and Intelligent Control.

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Published

2021-12-27

How to Cite

Shitu, S. S., Syed Abu Bakar, S. A. R. ., Tahir, N. M. ., Bature, U. I. ., & Liman , H. . (2021). Efficient Thinning Algorithm for Malaysian Car Plate Character Recognition. ELEKTRIKA- Journal of Electrical Engineering, 20(3), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.11113/elektrika.v20n3.286

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 3 (2021): December

Section

Articles

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