Introduction
As economies grow and incomes rise, the demand for cars has surged. This trend, combined with increasing urbanization, has led to a persistent shortage of parking spaces problem that has plagued cities for over a decade, especially in metropolitan areas. With limited land available, significantly expanding parking capacity is nearly impossible. Therefore, a crucial and effective solution is to increase parking space turnover. Among the many methods of achieving this, parking guidance systems that indicate space occupancy are one of the most effective. These systems can be applied to both indoor and outdoor parking lots, with different solutions for each. This article will focus on the solutions for indoor parking lots.
📌 Table of Contents
■ Why is a Parking Guidance System Needed?
■ Methods for Detecting Parking Space Occupancy
■ Conclusion
Why is a Parking Guidance System Needed?
While increasing parking turnover is the primary goal of a parking guidance system, different owners have different considerations. Some companies install these systems to manage employee parking, ensuring spaces are not used for long-term storage and helping employees quickly find spots during peak hours. Department stores and malls want to attract more customers and increase sales, so helping shoppers find parking quickly is a key strategy. For governments, public parking lots in crowded urban areas aim to provide a public service and reduce traffic congestion caused by people searching for parking. These diverse needs all serve as strong incentives for implementing a parking guidance system.
Methods for Detecting Parking Space Occupancy
The most common methods for detecting parking space occupancy include video analytics, ultrasonic detection, and geomagnetic sensors. Which one is the best?
Each detection method has its own advantages and is suitable for different environments, so there is no single definitive answer. In this article, we’ll explore the two most prevalent detection methods for indoor parking lots: ultrasonic detection and video recognition. We’ll conduct a comprehensive analysis from several perspectives, including detection principles, installation and maintenance, suitable environments, functionality, and cost.
① Detection Principles:
Ultrasonic Detection: The device has a built-in ultrasonic transmitter and receiver. It typically detects objects within a range of 2-3 meters. When a parking space is empty, it does not receive a reflected signal. When a car parks, the ultrasonic waves reflect off the vehicle, indicating that space is occupied.
Video Recognition: A camera with a built-in DSP chip and an algorithm that analyzes incoming video feeds. The algorithm determines if a vehicle is occupying a predefined position. The accuracy of this method is heavily dependent on the quality of the algorithm and the video feed.（Further reading：Parking Cameras）
② Installation and Maintenance:
Ultrasonic Detection:
- The system consists of three main components: ultrasonic detectors, regional controllers, and a central computer.
- One detector must be installed for each parking space, making installation more complex.
- Each regional controller can connect to 40 detectors using an RS485 wiring structure with a transmission distance of up to 1,200 meters.
Video Recognition:
- The system consists of three main components: parking cameras, a hub, and a central computer.
- One camera can cover up to six parking spaces, simplifying installation. The cameras also have a built-in motor for adjusting the angle, which can be done remotely by a single person from any computer.
- Each hub port can connect to 10 cameras, with a transmission distance of 100 meters.
- The system uses a TCP/IP network, so the transmission distance for video information is virtually unlimited.
③ Suitable Environments:
Ultrasonic Detection: This method can be used in almost any environment with space for installation, covering nearly all underground parking lots.
Video Recognition: This method is limited by lighting conditions. It is not suitable for parking lots that use power-saving modes (e.g., turning off lights when no one is present) because the cameras require adequate light to function.
④ Functionality:
Ultrasonic Detection: Functionality is relatively simple, primarily indicating whether a space is occupied and its type (e.g., handicapped parking).
Video Recognition: Offers more diverse functionality. In addition to indicating occupancy and space type, it can be used for managing EV charging spots, preventing specific spaces from being occupied, helping to investigate vehicle damage or theft, and controlling access for reserved spots.
⑤ Price Analysis:
The unit price of an ultrasonic detector is much lower than a parking camera. However, because each parking space requires one detector, the number of ultrasonic devices needed can be 3-4 times that of cameras. When factoring in installation and maintenance costs, the overall price of an ultrasonic system may be comparable to, or even higher than, a video recognition system.
Conclusion
No single solution is perfect for every environment, and this principle holds true for parking guidance systems. However, a system that integrates different detection methods while mitigating their weaknesses—can create a nearly perfect parking guidance system. Such a solution can meet diverse market demands and adapt to various usage environments.
📖 Further Reading：Dual-Detection Parking Guidance Systems