As streets become more crowded with vehicles, city governments need to take steps to reduce traffic congestion and parking problems. When people have to park far from work or spend extra time looking for available slots, it causes them to show up late for work. As this can cause increased levels of stress among workers and managers, company productivity can be hurt by this issue.
Besides creating more efficient public transportation services, a key solution to this problem is adopting smart parking technology.
The Basics of Smart Parking
Emerging smart technology is paving the way toward a future of more efficient parking. Not only does it save time for drivers by preventing them from having to find appropriate parking slots, it also helps conserve the fuel used from motorists driving in circles in search of open parking spaces. IoT sensors can be placed in parking meters that communicate with drivers through smartphones, letting them know where slots are available in real-time.
Another component of this new parking technology is artificial intelligence (AI), in which machine learning will play a crucial role. Not only does this system use minimal human resources, it also tracks parking more accurately at a faster pace than traditional methods. The overall concept of a digital monitoring system for parking also integrates with a similar idea known as "intelligent transportation" – an advanced application essentially aimed at helping users make safer, more coordinated, and smarter use of transport networks.
In the future, the practice of planning destinations with your smartphone will become the norm. You'll use an app to plan your shopping and parking, along with walking distance. The app will give you parking options based on pricing and proximity to your destination, and you can then pay for parking in advance through your smartphone or other mobile devices.
Shopping establishments can also have the opportunity to offer store coupons and parking discounts through this system. Additionally, GPS will give you access to rerouting information in case there is a traffic accident or slowdown on your planned route.
Innovative Elements of Modern Parking Solutions
Several innovations, such as real-time parking maps, are being developed for smart cities. Here are other components that exist or are being developed that will define future parking parameters.
- IoT Sensors - GPS or OBD sensors will give drivers accurate data in real-time where parking slots are available. This technology is currently used for fleet management in the transportation industry.
- Automated Parking System (APS) - This mechanical system can be used to park a large number of vehicles on multiple vertical levels. It's useful for maximizing space in a multi-story parking facility. The system can also take advantage robotic machinery that can automatically park vehicles without the need for a driver. An alternative is a semi-automated parking system that requires assistance from an attendant and driver.
- Parking Counter Sensors - This solution encompasses a digital counting system that tracks vehicles entering and exiting a parking garage. It lets motorists know how many parking slots are available in real-time. Using machine learning, it can predict parking trends and patterns.
- IoT Sensors for Detecting Parking Violations - Another way IoT sensors give parking management more control is through the ability to detect when cars are parked in prohibited areas. It alerts officials on violations, saving them time from patrolling parking areas to check for compliance. This system is also capable of issuing parking violation tickets, with visual evidence, in a matter of seconds.
Toward More Practical Parking
The advent of smart technology is already helping cities reduce congestion, pollution, and other inefficiencies. City officials, smart technology manufacturers, and motorists will all benefit from this innovation. Traffic control personnel will be better able to monitor traffic with more precision. Manufacturers will also help local governments become more efficient, while helping drivers reduce time on their commutes.
Conclusion
Local governments can make parking safer and more efficient by deploying smart parking technology. It's just one of many ways smart technology can save time and money, while improving the quality of life for citizens. As IoT sensors spread throughout local infrastructures, streets will become safer and people will get to their destinations faster, with more confidence and with less stress.