## 6 Smart Parking
### Why Smart Parking?
The node can be activated every few seconds. Generally, when it comes to nodes/sensors, the optimized configuration of sensor nodes and core/radio network parameters is very important since, if the configurations are not done properly, the frequent (unnecessary) updates of information or the activation of the sensors, can negatively affect the life of the batteries, and certainly the traffic on the network, including signaling. The responsibility for the battery life is upon the manufacturer and service provider as well as the set parameters of the core and radio network and sensors. If there is a change in the status, the new status will be sent to the Cloud server. After reporting the status, the node can go to sleep mode. NB-IoT devices can send full information about the status of each parking spot, time, and date. This information is primarily available to parking controllers and drivers who would like to use this service to check if a parking space (and which one) is available. The driver receives information about the exact locations of empty parking spaces on the application and, if possible, on the control panel of his/her car. The driver can book a parking spot up-front or proceed directly to the empty spot. The driver is charged for his/her occupancy or reservation of the parking spot for the calculated amount of time. A holistic representation of the solution is given in Figure 19 with its main components: NB-IoT sensors, the IoT platform and the applications, the database, and the CoAP server. EPC or the Evolved Packet Core is the interface collection to bridge the physical layer of sensors with the applications in the IoT platform. The proposed solution consists of the components listed below. 1. **The NB-IoT sensors** The sensors should provide insight into the availability of parking spaces in open and closed parking lots. They can be installed in all individual parking spaces and should send real-time information if there has been a change in the status of the parking spot. This change happens through the communication solution defined by the equipment  
Figure 19: The proposed solution architecture has for main components: the NB-IoT sensors, IoT platform, database, and CoAP server. The EPC packet contains the communication interfaces. manufacturer. The communication in the case of NB-IoT sensors is direct, since each has a communication module and a SIM card (an industrial SIM card (nano-SIM) or chip-SIM), thereby allowing real-time communication via the NB-IoT telecom network. This also allows easy data integration (API) with third-party applications. Quality sensor solutions require a low level of maintenance, with an expected battery life span of up to 10 years (depending on the type of application). The NB-IoT sensors are built into the base of the parking lot and aligned with the ground level, having small dimensions and usually shaped like a roller (with a height and diameter of approximately 8 cm), and have been proven to be reliable and durable solutions for parking detection. 2. **The IoT platform and applications** The IoT platform has an integrative role in communicating with all nodes and components, directly or indirectly, through the standard protocols and interfaces (HTTP, REST, CoAP) described in the previous chapters. The IoT platform stores the data collected from the server and provides a clear insight into the integrated devices, the configured or created parking lots, and all individual parking spots in all configured or created parking spaces. By changing the status of the parking spot, and in case of reservation, the creation of a ticket for payment via SMS, mobile payment platforms, credit cards, and so on should be initiated. The information about how long a parking spot has been free or occupied for (via the real-time log of all events from the parking spot or sensor) should be available.