Direct naar content

You are here:

  1. Home
  2. Algorithms

Please note: The algorithm descriptions in English have been automatically translated. Errors may have been introduced in this process. For the original descriptions, go to the Dutch version of the Algorithm Register.

Automated enforcement of environmental zone centre ring Arnhem

Municipality of Arnhem

An environmental zone applies in the centre of Arnhem for highly polluting diesel-fuelled vehicles. These include lorries, passenger cars and also vans. This environmental zone has been set up to keep out the most polluting vehicles.

Last change on 22nd of May 2024, at 13:29 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
Publication category
Impactful algorithms
Impact assessment
Field not filled in.
Status
In use

General information

Theme

  • Economy
  • Space and Infrastructure

Begin date

01-2014

Contact information

algoritmeregister@arnhem.nl

Link to publication website

https://www.arnhem.nl/stad_en_wijken/Wegen_en_vervoer/milieuzone

Responsible use

Goal and impact

An environmental zone is an area in a city where certain means of transport are not allowed to drive. Residents and visitors to the municipality of Arnhem are entitled to clean air and a liveable climate. The air that visitors and residents currently breathe is not clean enough and this is largely due to city traffic. The municipality of Arnhem wants to improve the air quality in the city and thus pursue its policy in this area.


The environmental zone centre ring road has been established for passenger cars, trucks, vans, taxis, buses and mopeds and mopeds in the municipality of Arnhem with the aim of keeping out the most polluting vehicles. Any vehicle with Dutch registration plates driving unauthorised within the environmental zone will be fined. Other vehicles do not notice anything from this control.


Considerations

The impact for the use of the algorithm is proportional to the goals that the municipality of Arnhem pursues: the right of Arnhemmers and visitors to clean air, a liveable climate, traffic safety, an accessible city and a pleasant living environment. Through the established environmental zone, the most polluting vehicles are kept out of the city. This improves the city's air quality.

Human intervention

The license plates identified by the algorithm as illegally present in the environmental zone are always manually checked by a BOA before a fine order is issued.

Risk management

There are two types of risks in the context of the Arnhem city centre environmental zone.


Risk 1: Falsely identifying violations

If a registration number is misread and the misread number turns out to exist and is linked to a vehicle that does not have access to the environmental zone, the wrong person will be fined. The risk of an incorrect fine is minimised because of a manual check carried out by a BOA. In addition, there is always the possibility of objecting to the fine imposed. For the above reasons, the licence plate recognition algorithm contains minimal risk.



Risk 2: Offences are not noticed

If a license plate of a vehicle - which does not have access to the environmental zone - is misread by the license plate recognition algorithm, the owner of the vehicle is wrongly not fined. This rarely happens. Unlike the measures taken for the first mentioned risk, this risk cannot be mitigated. In this context, the reliability estimation algorithm mitigates the previously mentioned risk, imposing a fine on the wrong person.

Legal basis

Policy rules exemptions environmental zone Arnhem 2022


An offence can be established "in an automated manner" under section 3(2) of the Administrative Enforcement of Traffic Regulations Act ("Mulder Act").

Links to legal bases

Beleidsregels ontheffingen milieuzone Arnhem 2022: https://lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl/CVDR667348

Operations

Data

Images, vehicle data.


Sources: RDW, RVO

Technical design

Within the environmental zone centre ring of the municipality of Arnhem, ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras with algorithms are used to read license plates of passing vehicles. The license plate is then linked to information, such as vehicle information from the RDW (National Road Transport Agency), to a date, time and location.


Environmental zone enforcement is supported by several other rule-based algorithms. All these algorithms contribute to a decision with legal effect when an offence is committed in the environmental zone (penalty decision).

External provider

iEnforcement

Similar algorithm descriptions

  • Automated enforcement Environmental zones

    Municipality of Amsterdam

    The environmental zones for cars, trucks, vans, taxis, buses and mopeds and motorcycles in the municipality of Amsterdam have been set up to keep out the most polluting vehicles.

    Last change on 17th of September 2025, at 11:54 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
    Publication category
    Impactful algorithms
    Impact assessment
    Privacy Quickscan, Privacy Statement
    Status
    In use

  • Healthy Area Development

    Province of Utrecht

    Healthy Area Development Template for Digital Twin (GGO-DT): The province of Utrecht wants to take health and safety into account when making provincial environmental policy. It is then important to correctly include the effects on health and safety in algorithms and indicators for major tasks such as housing construction, climate adaptation, energy transition and mobility transition.

    Last change on 10th of November 2025, at 12:32 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
    Publication category
    Impactful algorithms
    Impact assessment
    Field not filled in.
    Status
    In use

  • Scan car

    Municipality of Nijmegen

    Nijmegen municipality has a scan car that takes pictures of parked vehicles. This is how the municipality monitors paid parking and parking permits. This is good for the city's accessibility and road safety and ensures that residents can live more pleasantly in the city.

    Last change on 3rd of November 2025, at 10:17 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
    Publication category
    Impactful algorithms
    Impact assessment
    DPIA
    Status
    In use

  • Dynamic waste collection

    Municipality of Utrecht

    By correctly determining when and where waste should be collected from containers, we ensure that relatively little waste is visible in public spaces and contribute to a cleaner city.

    Last change on 31st of October 2025, at 13:35 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
    Publication category
    Impactful algorithms
    Impact assessment
    Uthiek, DPIA
    Status
    In use

  • Camera surveillance traffic measures

    Municipality of Leiden

    Leiden municipality uses ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras to check whether vehicles are allowed to drive in a certain area. This applies to zero-emission zones and car-free zones in the city. If a vehicle is not allowed to drive in an area, the camera recognises it and a manual check takes place to see if someone is fined.

    Last change on 13th of May 2025, at 7:47 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0
    Publication category
    Impactful algorithms
    Impact assessment
    DPIA
    Status
    In use