Why is parking so important to the transport industry?

Despite being overlooked in the past, parking has started generating recognition as an essential component of the transport industry. All kinds of vehicles need a place to park, and this process is becoming more complicated as new vehicles are introduced to the roads daily. Parking lots are becoming more congested, making it difficult for drivers to find parking spaces; and this is reportedly keeping drivers on the road longer. There is a possibility of parking becoming a regulatory factor on the quantity of vehicles to be released into the market. Consequently, a smart solution to realize a more seamless process is required. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology has proven a useful prospect in developing a smart parking solution.

What is the importance of the Internet of Things?

IoT is a network of interconnected devices, systems, or “things” that can exchange data with other devices through the internet. These devices can range from simple household devices or appliances to industrial machines. What makes the IoT unique is that these smart devices can share data with the user over a mobile application without human intervention and process and analyze real-time data. This gives the user an insight into the working of the devices around them.

The IoT has numerous uses depending on the field of application. In this case, empty parking lots can be shown on the map of a mobile application that uses sensors and IoT technology to receive data on nearby vacant parking spaces in real-time. So, how exactly does the IoT help improve the parking experience?

How does IoT enhance the parking experience?

The IoT requires the exchange of information between the car and a parking sensor. The sensor detects the parked vehicle by measuring the distance to the bottom of the car. The measurements are then periodically transmitted to the microcontroller in the Cloud server, where it is processed and stored as sensor states. When a driver accesses the system using a mobile or web application, a signal is sent to the cloud server, which read the sensor states to determine the occupancy of the parking lot and is then sent to the user.

Smart parking can optimize urban traffic flows and reduce pollution through creation of smart cities or environments. Maximum parking lot utilization can optimize the effective allocation of monthly and hourly space, thus maximizing Additional Income for Facilities, Municipalities, and  car park rentals.