Wouldn’t it be wonderful if parking your car became one of the least stressful things that could happen to you? No more endlessly circling blocks, wasting precious time and fuel. This convenient reality is getting nearer and nearer with the help of smart parking system.
But how does the smart parking system work? The answer lies in the Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Let’s uncover smart parking systems and the impact of IoT as the key to turning the wheel.
Table of contents:
- What is a Smart Parking System?
- The Problems with the Current Parking System
- IoT-based Sensors Used in Smart Parking System
- How IoT Can Be Used in the Smart Parking System
- How IoT-Based Smart Parking System Can Solve the Existing Parking Problems
- Benefits of IoT in Smart Parking System
- Challenges in IoT-based Smart Parking System
- Conclusion
What is a Smart Parking System?
A smart parking system is a centralized medium that assists vehicle drivers in searching as well as reserving parking spaces remotely via their smartphones. It is a convenient option for the drivers to get details about the parking slot and book parking. In fact, it helps them to avoid traffic congestion.
With the hardware sensor of the smart parking system, drivers can learn about the available parking slots in a specific area in real time. This helps make travel convenient for drivers through IoT technology.
In addition to that, the connected devices send alerts to the drivers regarding the peak parking time and share duration. It reduces extra upfront parking charges and helps the drivers economically.
A smart parking system using IoT can help in maximizing the efficient occupancy of the parking slots. It can also enhance the effective parking operations. On top of that, it assists in much easier traffic flow. These can be managed with a few clicks on the mobile applications.
IoT-based smart parking systems are the pioneers in the advancement of technology. The technologies provide the driver full control of their traveling journey. It almost covers the beginning from the finish without having the hassle of parking. The IoT-based smart parking system helps save costs and minimize the time of travel. The IoT devices provide real-time data collection and deep analysis of that collected data.
IoT connects several devices, sensors, and technology in the parking ecosystem to optimize the overall operation. With the smart parking system, people will have huge road and footpath spaces and efficient parking. How? Let us explain in the next point.
The Problems with the Current Parking System
In the current parking system, it takes a lot of time to park a car. In crowded cities, people lose hours for car parking. Drivers who lack patience sometimes park illegally and pay massive fines. The enormous issues regarding the standard parking system are not worth the hassle. The issues regarding standard parking systems are:
Inappropriate parking: In the parking stations, people usually park outside the parking lot due to a lack of parking space. Hence, it results in traffic issues.
Overpaying parking fees and fines: Sometimes drivers are unable to determine the duration of their stay, resulting in extra parking fees. On the other hand, Illegal parking also results in hefty fines.
Fault in parking space utilization: Some people lack patience or are not aware of the parking space availability. They sometimes park the car improperly due to less information and rush. Additionally, it causes less space for other parking vehicles. In fact, it causes traffic congestion.
Impact on the environment: A congested parking lot causes a dirty, muddy and smelly atmosphere. Even due to the inappropriate parking spaces, a lot of fuel is wasted. These actions have harmful consequences for the environment.
IoT-based Sensors Used in Smart Parking System
There are several IoT-based sensors which are used in smart car parking. These IoT sensor-based systems help in efficient, convenient and comfortable car parking.
The sensors are:
- Ultrasonic sensors.
- Electromagnetic field sensors.
- Infrared sensors (IR sensors).
Ultrasonic sensors: Ultrasonic sensors measure the distance while parking with ultrasonic waves. It converts the ultrasonic sounds into electrical signals.
Electromagnetic field sensors: Electromagnetic field sensors are useful to detect metal in the surroundings by detecting changes in the magnetic field.
Infrared sensors (IR sensors): Infrared sensors (IR sensors) are electronic devices. These sensors emit infrared signals and collect the signal reflection from the environment. These devices can measure the motion and heat of the objects.
How IoT Can Be Used in the Smart Parking System
With urbanization and car ownership, the demand for parking space is growing rapidly. Though an IoT-based smart parking system has been implemented very recently, it has impacted positively.
With the IoT-based smart parking system, drivers can easily travel and manage the parking slot occupancy. Even law enforcement teams can detect parking rule violations easily.
Parking managers can easily optimize the use of the available space.
With the IoT-based parking system management, we can perform the following tasks:
- Creating smart parking meters that can accept parking charges via cards or smartphones and provide real-time data on parking place availability.
- Extending the operating time of the autonomous parking system with the LoRaWAN networking standard.
- Determining the number and position of the parking spaces using IoT sensors
- IoT gateways, as well as LPWAN protocols, can help in connecting IoT devices and sensors in parking lots.
- By optimizing parking operations and improving security parking management agencies can track vehicles.
- Mobile applications can display parking to the users and send alerts.
- Monitoring the environmental conditions such as temperature, and air quality in the parking garages. It will ensure the safety of the vehicles and the drivers.
How IoT-Based Smart Parking System Can Solve the Existing Parking Problems
The IoT sensors can collect the data and transmit it through a wireless connection to a cloud server. By analyzing this data in real time we can create a map of available parking spaces. IoT-based parking systems help in meeting the standards and solving various issues.
Improving car safety and control
With the alerts, drivers can know the parking areas and manage vehicle safety. Connected IoT systems provide data about the areas of timing, parking violations, and high violation density. IoT-based systems also monitor traffic laws, rules and structures. It assists in creating an efficient slot for managing parking and tacking vehicles.
Monitoring parking space in real-time
With the IoT-based smart parking system, the parking procedure is simplified and faster with automated parking and less human interference. It removes the uncertainty in parking spaces. The technology also helps the drivers in the occupied crowded parking lot, saving time and energy. This also helps in finding parking spaces by monitoring the parking area and occupancy in real-time.
Examining parking patterns
IoT systems can examine the patterns in high-traffic zones like offices, shopping malls, and airports for optimization. These systems provide data-driven insights on parking slots and traffic spaces.
With the parking patterns, drivers and packing managers have an understanding of how to utilize the parking spaces and parking density. With the trends, managers can learn about the parking pressure and parking in specific periods. Besides, they can optimize the parking space with this information.
Reducing the congestion in an urban environment
With smart parking technology, people can find available parking spaces easily. As a result of that, traffic jams will be reduced and the city people will be able to reduce time usage. IoT-based parking management systems can help in modifying meter rates according to the current requirement and manage the condition of parking slots.
Benefits of IoT in Smart Parking System
Smart parking uses sensors like infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and electromagnetic field sensors like other applications. With the help of these, the smart parking system gets automated and reduces the time stage.
Reduced cost: By using IoT in a smart parking system, you can reduce the overall cost associated with managing the parking facility. You can use the sensor to detect when a space is empty and make it available for other vehicles. It also reduces the amount of manual labor.
Enhance security: IoT-based systems enhance security, in fact, the sensor detects the vehicle and sends an alarm in the case of an authorized control. With security cameras and license scanners, IoT-based platforms can detect and track suspicious activities of cars.
Increased efficiency: With the IoT-based parking system, the drivers can find the nearest parking space. it helps in serving fuel and time. Even the parking agency can easily manage more vehicles.
Improve customer experience: With the IoT smart packing system, people get an improved customer experience. Functionalities like real-time information on parking availability, automatic payment options, and guidance on the nearest available parking space people can get notified and take efficient actions. With this, the customer experience gets enhanced, and it helps businesses to get more customers.
Challenges in IoT-based Smart Parking System
Though IoT-based parking systems have several benefits, they come with a few drawbacks. Those are:
Acceptance: The acceptance and the transition towards a smart parking system can be a hassle due to less acceptance. People are more familiar with the strand parking and this cultural shift will take time.
High-cost Implementation: Due to the implementation of several IoT sensors and technological advancement, the cost of implementation can be very high.
Requiring several extensive devices and systems: To integrate and implement a smart parking system, several servers, platforms, sensors, devices, hardware, and software are required.
Inaccuracy and delay in information: As this is almost fully automated, a bit of inaccuracy and delay in information can collapse the whole smart parking system very easily.
Conclusion
It is possible to conclude that IoT is the leading actor of smart parking. Sensors installed in parking spaces determine the status of parking in real time, while license plate identification guarantees the right car. This data is then transmitted and processed, giving the users the ability to find an available spot either by using an app on their smartphone or by signs around the parking lot.
The benefits of smart parking system using IoT are undeniable. Drivers use it to cut on time they spend looking for a parking lot and the unnecessary time wasted circumventing in search of one. Additionally, city and business entities benefit from parking space utilization information. Also, smart parking plays a great role in making the future free from environmental problems like traffic circles for parking.
FAQ
Q. What is the role of IoT in a smart parking system?
A: IoT smart parking system provides information about parking slots, cost and billing of parking space to make parking easier for drivers, and businesses. In fact, it can be equally beneficial to the environment since traffic will be minimized or at least reduced. Secondly, it eliminates reservations and management-related complications in businesses.
Q. What is a smart parking system?
A: Due to the availability of information about the parking spaces that are vacant or free, smart parking resolves the issue of parking in cities, garages, and lots all over the world. If you are in a shopping mall or a train station or in your office campus, you can locate it as soon as possible in a few clicks.
Q. What is the function of the parking system?
A: Contemporary parking management solutions used today are IoT sensors, LPR, and mobile applications. This dynamic system aims at parking space availability by constantly updating the data. Such important information can be acquired through digital dashboards and dedicated and specific applications on users’ smart devices to get a precise indication of the available parking zones. This not only benefits the drivers by saving their time and preventing stress but also increases parking performance.
