With more than 88 million cars sold each year, people’s daily parking needs are also increasing. The commercial sector and large enterprises are facing increasing parking problems. Ensuring that customers, employees and visitors have enough parking spaces is a key step for retailers. , hotels, hospitals and corporate priorities.
The emergence of the Internet of Things (IOT) provides innovative solutions for smart parking systems. Low-power geomagnetic, ultrasonic or optical sensors embedded in the ground record whether a parking space is occupied and for how long. This IoT sensor data is wirelessly routed to the gateway and then transmitted to the cloud platform for analysis by parking lot managers.
Smart parking solutions bring huge benefits to businesses by enabling unprecedented visibility into parking spaces:
1. Improve parking experience and reduce emissions
Data flows and is stored in the cloud, helping to develop professional services for a stress-free parking experience. API-based user applications, digital signs or light indicators retrieve real-time parking data from the cloud to notify and guide drivers to the nearest parking space. In addition to preventing frustration and lost productivity, this reduces carbon emissions and improves air quality in indoor parking lots.
2. Determine inefficiency through parking time
Real-time information on individual vehicle parking times helps companies identify unusual or illegal parking activity so they can respond proactively. For example, supermarkets and retailers can monitor excessive parking times, which could mean unauthorized use of their car parks. Other problematic behavior, such as parking beyond the limit or taking up two parking spaces with one car, can be detected immediately with automatic alerts. (Source: IoT Home Network) Similarly, a parking space that has been idle for several weeks also prompts the need to check for potential problems.
3. Optimize facility usage and create new revenue streams
Sensor data reveals powerful insights into which spaces or areas have the highest and lowest parking traffic. This helps facility owners decide where to expand with more parking and where to scale back accordingly. At the same time, misuse of dedicated parking spaces or emergency access can be more easily monitored and controlled. Smart parking solutions can also enable businesses to generate additional revenue on their parking spaces outside of business hours.
Viable connectivity is at the heart of every IoT architecture. When it comes to smart parking systems, cost and energy efficiency as well as ease of installation and management are the main requirements. In addition, wide coverage and deep penetration are necessary to ensure reliable data communications in indoor and underground parking facilities.