Smart Parking: A growing industry to improve the driver experience
By: Partteam
Tags: Smart Parking, Payment Kiosks, Smart Cities, IoT, Digital Signage

Smart Parking solutions are the most necessary, even to contribute to the development of Smart Cities

With more than 88 million vehicles sold annually, parking problems are becoming more frequent. Ensuring sufficient parking spaces is a concern for all sectors of activity, hence the importance of intelligent parking solutions (smart parking).

Considering that city populations are growing all over the world and that almost 30% of traffic in busy urban areas is from people looking for parking, smart parking solutions are the most necessary, even to contribute to the development of smart cities.

This increase in traffic is a major problem for cities, as there is limited mobility and consequently limited access to business, housing and leisure activities. All these situations make cities less sustainable and habitable.

However, these problems end up being caused not by lack of parking, but by lack of information. In this sense, smart parking is a real-time parking management solution that collects performance indicators and turns them into insights for better policy and management.

The objective of implementing intelligent parking systems is, then, to reduce the driving time required to find a space, making use of those that are available. Therefore, it is important to create a system that can accurately and reliably predict the availability of parking spaces for drivers, and that leads them to those spaces.

Smart parking makes use of smartphones and other detection devices to determine the occupation of a parking structure. This is done not only through cameras, sensors, variable road signs, automatic payment kiosks, mobile map applications and other electronic devices, but also through data collection — which inform passengers and drivers in real-time.

According to data from IoT (Internet of Things) Analytics, 11% of public parking spaces worldwide are already smart, and this number is now expected to increase to 16% by 2023.

How does this smart parking system work?

Taking into account technological innovation, smart parking can cover several solutions, among which some stand out.

1 — License plate recognition system

Through a license plate recognition system, it is possible to register visitors automatically. This is possible through two cameras — one that registers the front license plate and the other that registers the back. In this way, payment can be made online, even after the driver has left the parking lot.

2 — Information displays

Digital signage is also very useful in smart parking. In this sense, information displays end up being a dynamic communication channel, which can be used to welcome drivers into the parking lot. In addition, various messages can be created (welcome, farewell, etc.), either to give customers relevant information, or to transmit price information or promotional marketing messages.

3 — Several payment methods

With smart parking, the customer can be provided with several payment options, which leaves them more time to do what they are looking for. Traditional payment through a local payment machine, mobile payment through apps and online payment are some of the options available.

4 — Payment machines

PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS provides automatic and simple to use automatic payment kiosks which, in addition to their robustness, are characterized by the possibility of personalization and vast payment options. Different components can be integrated in these payment machines, such as card reader, anti-vandal keyboard, printer, barcode scanner, webcam, among others.

5 — Parking indicators

There are several kiosks and systems developed by PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS that can be used to manage access to a car park with or without a ticket office, with signs indicating the available parking spaces, in a specific area or location.

6 — Access control and management

Multimedia kiosks allow access control and management, from entrances to transport exits, more specifically to car parks. These access control kiosks can be customized and developed according to the needs of the project and the client, and different components can be integrated, such as: webcam, card reader, keyboard, among others.

7 — Customization

Through smart parking, the entire parking experience is simplified. There is no need for tickets or cards. In addition, there is the possibility of personalization, as well as the collection of parking data — which, in turn, includes customer perceptions.

8 — Parking management software

In order to function in the best possible way, a parking management system must make the most of what smart parking technology offers. Thus, here are some resources that can be used:

Device that shows free parking spaces and occupied parking spaces;

Real-time monitoring of the parking lot occupation situation through a computer or smartphone;

Mobile applications.

9 — Smart spots

Smart spots provide an IoT gateway that allows multiple distinct devices to connect, providing open connectivity areas — the smart zones.

10 — IoT sensors

The installation of IoT sensors can help determine the location of parking spaces. Drivers looking for a parking space can consult the intelligent parking map in real time and be guided to the nearest available parking space.

The most advanced systems even allow us to reserve these spaces and receive electronic payments from customers.

The benefits of smart parking

As already mentioned, parking management systems aim to meet the needs of drivers. Thus, there are several advantages that they bring:

Parking places found more easily;

Real-time monitoring of parking space;

Reduction of traffic;

Increased efficiency in the search for parking spaces;

Optimization of space and time, in a busy urban environment;

Vehicle flow forecasting;

Automatic payment (more specifically through payment machines);

Formulation of rational policies that take into account infrastructure and demand — so that parking rates can be precisely defined and adjusted;

Customer satisfaction;

Less frustration felt by drivers;

Sustainability, since the level of traffic and, consequently, pollution is reduced;

Security — the presence of sensors and real-time parking management systems minimize the risk of theft;

New revenue streams, possible through the use of intelligent parking technology;

Reduced management costs;

Fuel economy.

PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS provides simple and effective to use automatic payment kiosks

Smart parking solutions not only contribute to the improvement of driver satisfaction, but also boost the emergence of smart cities. With the sharp growth in urban areas, smart parking is a key industry for the success of smart cities.

Smart parking will thus offer countless solutions to help cities better serve their inhabitants, more specifically to save time and money. These same solutions also aim to reduce traffic and create a city that works more efficiently.

The potential for expanding the smart parking industry is huge, so as new communication standards advance, problems can be solved and parking can be made even easier.

PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS solutions and contributions

For a better management of parking lots and service, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS has been developing several solutions. Besides an AUTIK BALCONY balcony kiosk with a button for emitting tickets, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS has also developed a digital billboard (FLAG) that displays which parking spaces are available, automatic payment kiosks for easy parking in a shopping mall, multimedia kiosks that allow access control and management (namely in parking lots) and also parking indicators.

With the objective of developing and producing innovative and integrated urban solutions, PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS intends to promote cities in the smart cities market, with innovative products and services, such as smart parking.

PARTTEAM & OEMKIOSKS continues to develop solutions for parking lot management and for the improvement of the quality of service and citizen experience.