Optimización del despacho de combustible mediante un sistema automático de reconocimiento de placas.

Abstract

This project proposes a technological solution to improve fuel dispatch at service stations: an automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) system. Its implementation seeks to eliminate human error, reduce service times, and strengthen process traceability through the use of technologies such as computer vision and local databases. The system works by capturing the vehicle's license plate number through a camera, processing it with optical character recognition (OCR) algorithms, and comparing it with a pre-authorized record to validate the dispatch. It also incorporates a real-time report generation module, allowing for more accurate monitoring of each operation. Right now, we face several problems: people make frequent errors when entering license plates, it takes a long time to inspect vehicles, fraud occurs with fake license plates, and it is difficult to keep track of everything at the moment. These factors affect the profitability of stations, impair the end-user experience, and limit the State's ability to oversee subsidies and strategic resources. According to the CNDDP (2023), the economic losses amount to millions of dollars annually. From a technical perspective, the development of a modular and scalable architecture capable of operating in different stations and logistics scenarios is planned. Recognition platforms such as OpenALPR and PlateRecognizer, development tools such as Python and OpenCV, and web integration models for querying and generating reports will be studied. The entire system will be framed within international standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and compliant with the Organic Law on Personal Data Protection in force in the country (Organic Law on Personal Data Protection, 2021). The project will also address a diagnostic phase, in which current dispatch processes will be analyzed, operational risks will be identified, consumption data will be collected, and improvement indicators will be established. We hope this will improve things in practice and in strategy. Implementing the ALPR system will help us achieve automatic energy control, reduce losses due to theft, improve customer service, and comply with regulations. Considerations regarding the Ecuadorian legal framework, such as personal data protection and hydrocarbon regulations, as well as compliance with international standards (e.g., ISO 27001) are included to ensure that the solution complies with current regulations and information security best practices. In short, this proposal is a specific, robust, and forward-looking response to the challenges facing the energy sector in Ecuador. Transforming the fuel management culture, creating a safer, more efficient, and more transparent environment for the benefit of end-users, institutions, and operators, is not just a matter of implementing a technological solution.