MAV Systems have an exciting opportunity with our software development team. Please read through the job description and if you think you are the right person for the job send your CV, with cover letter, to the email address below.

Job Title: Junior Developer
Location: Office-based – Eynsford Kent

Company Overview: Join our innovative tech team as a Front End Developer, where you’ll have the opportunity to work on cutting-edge projects and grow your expertise in front end technologies. We value detail-oriented, proactive, and collaborative professionals who thrive in a fast-paced environment. This role also offers a fantastic opportunity to gain exposure and learn backend development with the support of our experienced team.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop user-friendly web applications using JavaScript, HTML, CSS, JSON, React.js, and TypeScript.
Design and implement REST APIs and GraphQL.
Conduct automated testing using Selenium, and manage deployments with AWS/Azure.
Version control using Git(BitBucket) and work in a Linux environment.
Collaborate with our back end team to integrate front end designs with back end systems.

Required Front End Proficiency:

Languages & Frameworks: JavaScript, HTML, CSS, JSON, React.js, TypeScript
APIs: REST, GraphQL
Testing & Deployment: Selenium, AWS/Azure
Tools: Git(BitBucket)
Operating Systems: Linux

Preferred Backend Experience:

Languages & Frameworks: Java, Spring, Spring Boot, JPA / Spring Data
Databases: SQL, NoSQL
Message Queues/Brokers: Rabbit MQ, Kafka, Redis
Testing: JUnit, Mockito, JaCoCo

Learning Opportunities:

Gain hands-on experience with backend technologies and frameworks.
Receive mentoring and support from our experienced backend developers.
Expand your skillset and grow into a full-stack developer.

Package:

Salary Negotiable based on experience and skillset, company benefits included.

Please email your CV and cover letter to paul.keeling@mav-systems.com

The misuse of ghost plates, illegal number plates, and counterfeit plates has emerged as a significant challenge for law enforcement and local councils across the UK. As new speed cameras and traffic enforcement systems are rolled out, these deceptive tactics threaten the effectiveness of road safety measures and public transport networks. Enter the MAV AiQ Advanced Intelligence ANPR camera, a cutting-edge solution that empowers councils and law enforcement to detect and deter offenders with unparalleled precision.

The Rising Threat of Ghost and Counterfeit Plates

Commonly referred to as “ghost plates,” illegally designed licence plates are increasingly being used to evade ANPR systems. By distorting or obscuring vehicle registration details, these plates allow drivers to avoid penalties for speeding, entering low-emission zones, or road networks. Estimates suggest that one in 15 motorists may be exploiting these illicit methods, causing millions in lost revenue whilst also threatening road and public safety.

Even more concerning is the ease with which these plates can be acquired online, alongside other deceptive tactics like reflective tape and cloned registration marks. With over 15,000 traffic cameras nationwide, current systems read 75–80 million number plates daily, yet roughly 2.4 million of these are misread, highlighting vulnerabilities in the existing infrastructure.

AiQ: A Game-Changing Solution

The AiQ provides a transformative approach to tackling this issue becoming a ‘ghostbuster’. Here’s how it works:

Advanced Detection Technology -The MAV AiQ leverages state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the capabilities of existing ANPR systems. By employing advanced machine learning algorithms, MAV AIQ can:

• Detect anomalies in number plate designs, including reflective distortions and counterfeit characteristics
• Identify subtle discrepancies in cloned or altered plates
• Provides IR and colour capture to overcome reflective alterations
• Process millions of reads daily with unrivalled accuracy
• Generate multi-captures that are filtered through ‘best match’ software

Real-Time Data Integration

AIQ integrates seamlessly with enforcement databases, allowing councils and police to:

• Flag suspected illegal/altered plates in real-time.
• Cross-reference captured data with registered vehicle records for instant validation
• Generate actionable alerts for immediate investigation

Empowering Councils and Law Enforcement

Local councils have already started identifying the need for technology with the advancements offered by the MAV AiQ, setting a precedent for modern enforcement. Using the MAV AiQ, authorities can significantly:

• Reduce the number of undetected violations
• Increase enforcement efficiency, ensuring penalties are issued accurately
• Protect the integrity of public transport networks and low-emission zones
• Supporting Road Safety and Compliance

The AiQ’s impact extends beyond enforcement

• Improved Public Safety: By deterring offenders, the MAV AiQ ensures safety cameras, speed cameras and bus lane regulations fulfil their purpose of protecting citizens
• Revenue Recovery: Accurate detection of illegal plates helps recoup losses from unpaid fines and charges, which can be reinvested into public infrastructure
• Sustainability Goals: As councils implement clean air initiatives, ensuring compliance through advanced ANPR solutions supports environmental objectives

The rise of ghost and counterfeit plates presents a complex challenge, but the MAV AIQ offers a robust, scalable solution. By enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of ANPR systems, the MAV AiQ enables councils and law enforcement to enhance public safety, enforce compliance, and maintain the integrity of the UK’s road networks. As traffic volumes and enforcement demands grow, adopting innovative tools like the AiQ is not just an option—it’s a necessity.

ANPR is often seen as a stand-alone technology which provides independent data for use in specific applications. The reality is that today’s ANPR, using next generation models such as the MAV IQ range, forms part of a wider framework of technologies that utilise multiple data sensors in live and AI based analytic scenarios.

The best Intelligent ANPR cameras have evolved each year providing much more than on board processing and storage options. The key differential within ANPR technology is the ability to offer alignment of causal data with associated peripheral sensors and devices that provide a wealth of data which is tagged for each vehicle’s passage. This allows for geographic analyses to be completed with a greater depth of information for comprehensive study of behaviours, trends and responses to traffic stimuli.

Such flexibility of Intelligent ANPR technology and subsequent compatibility across multiple systems offers opportunities for:

• Emission studies per location
• Emission impact per vehicle type, including enforcement of CAZs
• Traffic volume and dispersal analysis
• Average and Spot Speed analysis and associated actions
• Journey Time Management
• Smart City interfacing from Car Parks/Motorways/Inner City routes/Hotels/Conferences/Events
• Cross-border journey analysis
• Road Work traffic ripple effect studies

Whilst these applications provide examples of systems which use core Intelligent ANPR cameras and the multiple communication and data gathering functions, new applications are being continually developed which utilise the benefits of cameras such as the IQ range of intelligent ANPR technology.

Steve Walker, Managing Director of MAV Systems commented:

“Our world has become far more sophisticated and reactive to the environmental impact of our lifestyles. This is necessarily being matched by the technology needed to keep it running efficiently and providing vital information on the consequences of our actions. MAV have pioneered some of the most cutting edge ANPR cameras with our IQ range and, due to customer demand and legislative requirements, the next enhancement is never far away. We now offer a range of combined speed, emission sensing and ANPR products that open up new exciting possibilities for our system integrator partners.”

Future proofing of technology is a well-worn phrase that is often mis-represented as adding a few spare ports but businesses such as MAV Systems believe this phrase needs to be redefined.

Peter Henden, Technical Director of MAV Systems stated that “Our method of future-proofing ANPR technology, the needs of our partners and indeed the market as a whole, is to be agile and adopt new technologies quickly and often. To ensure you offer the best technology, you must be constantly evolving and developing the best functionality possible. At MAV Systems we dedicate a vast amount of time and funds to targeted research and development. Our specialist team of embedded engineers constantly design and test to see how we can improve and offer our partners the technologies that will allow more flexibility, further integration and more efficient data collection.”

All these worthy goals mean nothing without practical applications and MAV Systems are being constantly requested to assist with new ways of achieving cost effective systems that are hybrids and extensions of their core products. By way of example, the EQ range of gas and particulate sensors can be seamlessly integrated with the IQ to correlate ANPR for classification and emissions data. Integrated systems can collate information on traffic flow, volume, congestion patterns and wait times at traffic lights/junctions and pair this with real-time air quality. This provides a baseline for analysis and enables process improvement through links into traffic control and SCOOT systems.

This is not just a retrospective tool, the ANPR can be linked to control systems that affect traffic flow based on live classification data. The effect of the adapted flow can then be measured using the intelligent ANPR data and emissions sensors. In this way, the traffic model can be optimised and further traffic improvements can be performed at a local level as well as influencing national policies. Continual analysis of process changes allow for impact evaluation to identify best practice and system improvements reducing emissions further.

With such integration available for emissions regulation using the IQ range of ANPR cameras, Low Emission/Clean Air Zones are now being introduced across the world. It is only with sophisticated technology, such as the IQ and EQ, that targeting specific locations for dramatic emissions reduction through traffic control can be effectively conducted. These systems can be further supported by speed regulation using average or spot speed integration to provide a full traffic control system and data retrieval. Such demands have led to the market leading IQ becoming pivotal in the development of traffic and emission control, regulation and implementation systems.

In a data driven global society that is always looking to find efficiencies, ANPR technology is pivotal. Previously only seen as a blunt instrument, ANPR now offers the key to linking Smart City technologies that can provide flexibility, open integration and enhanced functionality. MAV Systems believe that they offer the vital components of measuring the impact and efficiency of our rapidly changing world of traffic.

This article was recently featured in Intertraffic World Showcase 2019