Innovative app enables next-generation parking management
Every day, our roads are packed with vehicles taking millions of commuters in and out and all around cities. With 70 % of the global population predicted to live in urban areas by 2050, road congestion will only increase, thus creating new challenges to both mobility and sustainability. The key to managing the megacities of tomorrow is smart technology, such as the next generation parking management system developed by the EU-funded FastPrk-2 project. “The FastPrk-2 smart mobility solution not only enables cities and parking operators to manage parking spaces in real time, it also improves the citizens’ quality of life by helping drivers efficiently locate free parking spaces,” says project coordinator Francisco Hernandez. Benefiting cities and citizens The FastPrk-2 system uses small parking sensors installed in each parking spot, which guide drivers via electric panels. Once a car is parked, the sensor wirelessly relays this information to the gateway. Utilising the system’s mobility software platform, city managers obtain real-time analytics about parking occupancy per area and by the time of day. This information can then be used to, for example, predict parking occupancy, foresee availability and make planning more efficient. The system also integrates a list of innovative transport services to facilitate operational intelligence. For instance, by predicting traffic flow, FastPrk-2 can recommend alternative routes that take into account traffic and available public transport options. By automating such functions as parking reservations and online payments, FastPrk-2 also benefits citizens through its smart parking app. “Using reliable real-time traffic and parking information, the free FastPrk app notifies drivers of open spots,” says Hernandez. “It even remembers where you parked!” According to Hernandez, the app has reduced the time drivers spend searching for an available parking spot by 35 to 60 %, or from 15 minutes to between just five and seven minutes. “Needless to say, this reduces the frustration drivers experience when trying to find a free space, not to mention the savings in time and fuel,” he adds. Real-world tests with partners across the globe The FastPrk-2 technology has been validated through an ambitious pilot campaign carried out in Spain, France, Belgium, Poland and Austria and involving stakeholders and key players from the smart parking industry. FastPrk-2 is also part of the world’s largest parking project, which is currently happening in Los Angeles, United States. Together with Parking Sense, a global leader in parking management, FastPrk-2 partner Worldsensing is deploying 20 000 outdoor parking sensors in the proximity of LA Metro stations. The combined solution enables drivers to see real-time availability of spots for car-sharing and electric vehicles, as well as those requiring special permits like spaces for disabled drivers. “Had I not seen it with my own eyes in LA, I would not have believed how good the FastPrk-2 product works,” says Parking Sense Vice President of Operations Larry Eade. “With 97-98 % accuracy and hitting sensors from the gateway over 300 metres away, the FastPrk-2 solution has left us all very impressed.”
Keywords
FastPrk-2, Smart Mobility, Parking Management Systems, Smart Technology, Parking Spaces, Worldsensing, Parking Sense
