Automatic Number Plate Recognition Data from Bristol, England for Apr-Jun 2019, 2020 and 2021

These files contain data derived from Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) data collected by Bristol City Council as part of their continuous traffic monitoring work. The data was used in a project examining the impact of Covid-19 on travel behaviour in Bristol and the implications for air quality. 

Number plate data cannot be shared, therefore the files contain anonymised vehicle identifiers. Also, specific information about the locations of the ANPR cameras cannot be provided under the data sharing agreement we have with the data owners. Figures 4 and 19 in the project report (see uploaded pdf file) indicate the approximate locations of the ANPR cameras.  

The following files have been uploaded: 

- a metadata file containing descriptions of variables in the vehicle and trip files 

- a copy of the report which came out of this project.   

- BCCANPR21_REG_descrip_withID_NOVRM.csv: This file includes vehicle information for all vehicles observed in the trip data. The anonymised identification numbers can be used to merge this data with the trip files. 

- BCCANPR21_2019AprMayJun_REG_idv2.csv: Three files of this format contain trip data. Each file contains trips in April to June of the year specified in the file name. The number plate data was processed to chain together observations that were part of the same trip and this file only contains the location of the first and last ANPR camera at which this trip was recorded. 

This project was funded by the TRANSITION Clean Air Network through the first round of its Discovery & Innovation Fund in 2021. TRANSITION is a UK-wide network, led by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with nine universities and over 20 cross-sector partners, aiming to optimise the air quality and health outcomes of transport decarbonisation. The network (NERC ref. NE/V002449/1) is itself funded by UK Research & Innovation through its Clean Air Strategic Priorities Fund, administered by the Natural Environment Research Council. 

The number plate data used in this research was provided by the Bristol Traffic Control Service at Bristol City Council. The vehicle data was obtained through the DVLA’s Vehicle Enquiry Service API.