Introduction
Worldwide, people are more dependent on their vehicles despite public transportation facilities. This dependency on vehicles highlights a requirement for a robust parking infrastructure. The lack of such infrastructure can consume so much time for motorists searching for car parking spaces.
Sometimes severe congestion happens leading to blocked traffic and creating inconvenience to motorists for not getting the desired parking space. However, it becomes easy when drivers or motorists get notified about this unavailability or availability of parking spaces by booking the parking slots beforehand. A robust parking infrastructure offers multiple payment options detects unauthorised vehicles without human intervention and reduces operational costs. All these smart solutions in parking spaces help car park operators manage the parking space conveniently and effortlessly.
Modules of Parking Management System
To provide an efficient parking experience and to meet market demands, strong and different modules of parking management are essential to serve customers with smart parking services.
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Real-time vacant space detection
Traditionally, parking systems are manually operated which is time-consuming and not that much accurate. So, real-time vacant space detection is an emerging need globally.
The systems that are already in existence are based on machine learning. However, the advanced technology is based on algorithms used for the detection of vacant parking spaces
in real-time. Car park operators use sensors to detect empty spaces. These sensors are equipped with ultrasonic and 3D vision technology that helps to collect the information which is monitored by the system administrator and displayed on the vehicle owners’ device. They use this information to book parking spaces on a prior basis. As the system works on a
sensor mechanism, it requires an individual sensor at each parking space and regular maintenance, which is quite expensive.
The other option would be iPAM (IP Address Management) to integrate computer vision into the cameras installed in parking spaces. These cameras can detect motion and empty parking spaces in real-time. This information is displayed on the motorist’s app. When the motorists leave the parking space the status will automatically updated on the portal allowing others to book slots.
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Vehicle Recognition
Vehicle recognition is seen as a rapid development of computer technology in almost all fields but has distinct degrees of application. As an essential feature that captures real-time data, the parking management system has also begun to use vehicle recognition technology. The main reason is the swift development of society, the large number of vehicles making the roads congested due to lack of parking spaces in urban cities resulting in unauthorised use of parking spaces.
Vehicle recognition systems are effective in easing the pressure caused by unauthorised parking and work by integrating various technologies in one place such as information technology, data communication technology, control technology, and other computer-based technologies. These combined technologies help in the identification of vehicles. The installed cameras in the parking spaces collect video images used to extract information about vehicles and this mechanism is possible through OCR.
OCR refers to Optical Character Recognition is an algorithm-based technology that can read the characters in an image and translate them into a computer. ANPR (Automatic Number Plates Recognition) system uses this process to recognise and detect the licence plates for maintaining secure and authorised parking spaces.
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Allocating and Booking
In large shopping centres and retail parks, motorists struggle to find the desired parking space and end up frustrated and wasting much of their valuable time. To address such parking problems, AI-based systems offer the most needed solutions. This system requires a dedicated application with pre-booking and cancellation options that help motorists reserve their parking space beforehand and reduce fuel consumption.
Car park operators need to set up their parking application which requires an IoT platform with ultrasonic sensors such as Wi-Fi and Arduino.
To book a parking space, motorists need to download the app where they can select the vacant parking slot. Once booking is done, the portal will be updated accordingly.
AI-based smart parking systems also help to analyse the behaviour patterns of motorists to design personalised experiences that enhance customer satisfaction.
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Digitised Payment System
Digital payment options have replaced the traditional payment methods where motorists have to purchase a parking ticket at the entry/exit barrier to access the parking space. When motorists leave the parking space they need to show the ticket and confirm the stay duration in parking spaces. This system has various disadvantages such as waiting in long queues and congested roads that cause loss in business.
Digital payment options not only solve parking ticket problems but also, reduce the workforce required to manage the cash and oversee the entry/exit gates. The multiple payment options allow motorists to pay their dues online through mobile apps, smart payment kiosks, and other credit/debit card options.
The benefits of digital payment machines include diversification of services, less reliance on machines, and extended stay via the app without needing to return to the car.
Conclusion
The use of the Internet and AI technologies is rapidly increasing, and the service sector is more equipped with smart solutions to meet the market demands. In parking management systems, motorists prefer to park their vehicles where automated parking facilities are available rather than manual parking spaces.
These smart parking facilities meet the market demand and make the parking process more efficient and less complex for both car park operators and motorists. Moreover, smart parking solutions save valuable time and fuel consumption reducing carbon footprints which is the need of the hour to preserve the environment.