In recent years, the rapid increase in the number of cars has intensified the imbalance between the supply and demand of parking lots and street parking spaces, leading to a significant increase in the need for parking spaces. According to traffic research data, the ideal ratio of vehicles to parking spaces is 1:1.2, meaning each vehicle should have 1 to 2 parking spaces. Achieving this ratio would effectively solve the problem of insufficient parking.
However, the reality is that the shortage of parking spaces has become a common problem in highly developed cities. The dilemma of “one spot is hard to find” is particularly frequent in densely populated areas such as department stores, supermarkets, exhibition halls, industrial zones, city centers, train stations, and airports, not to mention during peak hours.
Whether parking problems are properly solved is not only one of the key indicators for measuring the development of a smart city but also relates to the effectiveness of a government’s policies in handling civil transportation issues. In the context of smart city development, improving parking difficulties requires not only increasing the number of parking spaces but also enhancing their utilization and turnover rate.
Since the concept of smart parking poles was proposed in 2014, with the vigorous development of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), smart parking management systems have emerged. Integrating urban parking resources to create a high-efficiency smart parking environment has become a common strategy for major cities worldwide to move towards a smart city and alleviate the problem of insufficient parking spaces.
📌 Table of Contents
■ Common Problems with Street Parking Management
■ Revolutionizing Street Parking Fee Management
■ ParkGuide® Smart Street Parking Management System Features
■ ParkGuide® Smart Street Parking Management System Operation Flow
■ Conclusion: Moving Towards Smart Transportation and a Net-Zero Future
Common Problems with Street Parking Management
Increasing the number of parking spaces is the best solution for the shortage, and major cities plan some street parking spaces on existing roads to alleviate this situation. However, illegal parking, labor-intensive fee collection, long-term space occupation, payment disputes, evasion of fees, and difficulty in providing evidence are all urgent problems that need to be solved. This is especially true when parking fee disputes occur, and clear photos or videos cannot be provided as evidence. The above-mentioned problems are common in street parking management, making parking on both sides of the road the most difficult part of urban parking. Although increasing parking spaces is the best solution for the shortage of parking spaces, it is not the most effective method. In addition to space planning and location selection, finding space in a metropolis is often a very difficult task. Therefore, effectively utilizing existing parking spaces to increase turnover is a more immediate solution.
Manual Fee Collection
- Lack of clear evidence and records, easily leading to disputes.
- High labor costs.
- High rate of fee evasion by drivers.
- Prone to human error or corruption.
Coin-Operated Parking Meters
- High equipment costs.
- Weak information collection capabilities, unable to effectively manage traffic flow.
- No surveillance video, making it difficult to verify disputed incidents.
Geomagnetic Sensors with Electronic Payment
- High and low temperatures can affect the accuracy of the geomagnetic sensor.
- Prone to misjudgment, leading to incorrect fees.
- High maintenance and battery replacement costs.
- No video evidence, lacking a basis for management.
Revolutionizing Street Parking Fee Management
The ParkGuide® Smart Street Parking Management System, developed by i-View, integrates AI image recognition, cloud computing, IoT, and solar power generation to completely solve the pain points of current street parking fee systems. The system has the following five core advantages:
- Fully automatic image analysis and evidence collection.
- Supports multiple payment systems, including LINE Pay, credit cards, and mobile online payments.
- Solar-powered for EOC energy saving and carbon reduction.
- No need for power grid construction, low construction and maintenance costs.
- Comprehensive cloud management, reducing reliance on manpower.
Complete Information Collection
Multiple Payment Options
EOC Energy Saving and Carbon Reduction
Low Investment and Maintenance Costs
Comprehensive Cloud Management
By using new-generation information technologies such as cloud computing and wireless network transmission, the existing street parking management model is improved. The system replaces manual labor with intelligence to reduce labor costs, eliminate loopholes in fee collection, and increase revenue by raising the turnover rate of parking spaces. At the same time, it improves parking management order, makes effective use of road resources, and ensures smooth traffic flow, aligning with the requirements of smart city transportation. The smart parking pole, combined with solar power generation, achieves net-zero carbon emissions, making parking environmentally friendly.
ParkGuide® Smart Street Parking Management System Features
- Vacant Space Detection and Guidance
Using the AI image recognition technology of the smart parking pole, it can accurately detect whether a parking space is occupied and instantly upload the information to the cloud management system via 4G/5G networks. The information is then simultaneously displayed on LED screens and mobile applications, helping drivers quickly find a vacant space, which reduces unnecessary circling and traffic congestion.
- Automated Parking Fee Collection
The system automatically takes photos and identifies the license plate number when a vehicle enters and exits, calculates the parking duration, and generates a parking bill. All records are stored in the clouds. Drivers can pay by scanning a QR code with their mobile phone or by going to a payment machine to use cash or electronic payment.
- Illegal Parking Detection and Reporting of Criminal Vehicles
The AI parking space recognition system has a built-in high-precision image algorithm that can not only instantly determine the occupancy status of a parking space but also automatically detect and report abnormal parking behaviors such as crossline parking, non-standard diagonal parking, or reverse entry. For vehicles without license plates, those that occupy space for a long time, and vehicles suspected of criminal activity (such as stolen cars or drug-related vehicles), the system can actively capture high-resolution image data and connect to the backend of law enforcement agencies or a cloud platform to provide evidence and notification information for violations. This technology not only improves the operational efficiency and accuracy of parking fee management but also enhances public security and the effectiveness of tracking illegal vehicles in smart areas, achieving the dual benefits of parking fee management and public safety.
ParkGuide® Smart Street Parking Management System Operation Flow
- When a vehicle enters a parking space, the smart parking pole camera automatically takes a photo and uploads it.
- After parking is completed, another photo is taken to record the occupied status.
- Photos are automatically taken before and after the vehicle leaves, and four sequential photos are compiled.
- After license plate recognition, a parking fee bill is automatically generated.
- Information is instantly synchronized to the cloud and the street’s LED display.
- Drivers can pay via mobile phone, payment machine, or a third-party payment system.
- The system is connected to police databases to assist in the tracking of criminal vehicles and provide alerts for long-term occupation.
Conclusion: Moving Towards Smart Transportation and a Net-Zero Future
The ParkGuide® smart parking pole is more than just a tool for street parking fee collection; it is a crucial cornerstone for building smart cities and green transportation. By combining intelligent recognition, renewable energy, and cloud systems, it not only effectively increases the utilization and fee collection efficiency of street parking spaces but also significantly reduces carbon emissions and saves on labor costs, making every parking event a part of the city’s sustainable development.