Secure and Anonymous Vehicle Access Control System to Traffic-Restricted Urban Areas

The traffic control system proposed in this article has as its main objectives the security, the reliability and the anonymity of the vehicle access to traffic-restricted urban zones. The aim of these zones is to reduce atmospheric pollution in urban centers. The presented approach makes use of smartphones as a communication device between the user and the virtual barrier, which acts as electronic validator and controls the access to the restricted zone. The access is fast (it does not require the complete stop of the vehicle) and is less invasive when compared to existing systems that are based on video camera recording. This is a versatile and cost-efficient system that can be adapted to other access-controlled urban settings: parking lots, sport event access zones, festivals, etc.