Methods and systems for advanced traffic analysis

A traffic analysis system, comprising:

• a plurality of cameras, each camera of the plurality of cameras being configured to capture images of license plates on vehicles passing the camera and convert the images into license plate data including license plate characters;
• a central server coupled to the plurality of cameras via a first network, the central server including a data collection module, a data anonymization module, a data storage module and a data analysis module;
• and
• a traffic management component coupled to the central server via a second network;
• wherein the data collection module is configured to receive the license plate data from the plurality of cameras and package the license plate characters in license plate files;
• wherein the anonymization module is configured to anonymize the license plate files;
• and
• wherein the data analysis module is configured to analyze the anonymized license plate file to identify a traffic condition and output at least one command to the traffic management component, thereby causing the component to adjust an aspect of traffic management based upon the identified traffic condition.

A method for analyzing traffic, comprising:

• capturing images of vehicle license plates using a plurality of cameras and converting the images into license plate data including license plate characters;
• transmitting the license plate data via a first network to a central server having a data collection module, a data anonymization module, a data storage module and a data analysis module;
• extracting, by the data collection module, the license plate characters from the license plate data;
• packaging, by the data collection module, the license plate characters in license plate files;
• anonymizing, by the anonymization module, the license plate files;
• storing, by the data storage module, the anonymized license plate files;
• analyzing, by the data analysis module, the anonymized license plate file to identify a traffic condition;
• and
• outputting, by the data analysis module, a notification regarding the traffic condition to at least one user interface.