Airports are also joining the digital transformation with the installation of smart parking systems capable of improving their operations. They are a flexible and precise alternative that offers short-term solutions and adapts to the needs of travelers over time, either by integrating with new forms of mobility and contributing to the development of more sustainable and intelligent airports.
The challenge of airport parking
Managing parking at an airport is a complex task. Throughout the day, a large number of vehicles arrive and depart with specific needs that it is essential to take into account when organizing the available parking spaces. They may be travelers who want to leave their car for several days while they are away, companions who only park for a few minutes to drop off or pick up someone, or airport employees themselves looking for free space before starting their day. In addition, there are cabs or VTC (Vehicle Transport with Driver) that are constantly coming and going.
Precisely because of this high turnover, traditional management without clear, real-time information can lead to other problems, such as making it more difficult to find available parking spaces, especially at peak times, or creating traffic jams at the entrances and exits of the parking lot. This can stress travelers who arrive late for their flight and have to spend a lot of time parking, resulting in a poor user experience and a less efficient operation that can cause losses for the airport.
What is Smart Parking and how is it applied in airports?
Smart Parking takes advantage of advanced technologies to know in real time which parking spaces are available and guide drivers to them easily, making it a very useful system to help airports better organize spaces and reduce the chaos that often concentrates at entrances, exits and waiting areas.
Technologies involved in Smart Parking
IoT sensors and cameras
The sensors are placed in each airport parking space to detect whether a car is currently occupying it. They can be at ground level or on the pavement, as would be the case with Urbiotica’s new U-Spot Surface. Meanwhile, the U-Spot VISIO detection cameras are capable of detecting space by space for large parking lots as well as counting vehicle entries and exits in delimited areas.
2. Variable signage panels
Variable signage panels guide drivers to currently available airport parking spaces. The content can be customized to display numeric or alphanumeric information with easy-to-see LEDs at a distance. Very useful for arranging the availability of different parking areas at the same point.
3. Guidance application
The guidance application uses occupancy information captured by sensors and cameras to help users locate available spaces. This reduces congestion in access areas and in the parking lot itself, as well as improving the experience for both frequent travelers and airport staff.
4. IoT management platform
Platforms such as Urbiotica’s U-Admin allow to connect, configure and monitor from a single point all the devices integrated in the smart parking system. It processes the information in real time, applying algorithms that guarantee its reliability, and shares it through standard APIs to other solutions.
Smart Parking for more efficient, fluid and connected airports
Benefits of Smart Parking for travelers and airport operators
1. Less time spent in finding a place
Thanks to real-time guidance, travelers arriving by car at the airport quickly find a free seat. In this way, they waste less time, don’t get stressed and arrive on time for their flight. There are also fewer cars circling the airport unnecessarily.
Better user experience
An intelligent parking system facilitates the entry and exit of vehicles to and from the airport. Travelers have more time tocheck in, calmly pass through security and enjoy the airport’s commercial offerings.
Less emission of polluting gases
By reducing the time spent searching for parking, users consume less fuel and therefore generate less polluting gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2). This is beneficial both for the environment and for the airport’s image.
4. Better use of space and higher profitability
The sensors collect information on occupancy rates, usage patterns by time of day and day of the week, and the average duration of visits by type of user. With this data, airport operators can adjust prices according to demand, reorganize or expand parking areas, and increase profitability by making good use of space.
They can also manage spaces reserved for specific uses, such as those for people with reduced mobility or with charging points for electric vehicles. Users will take less time to access them and can be monitored for proper use at all times.
Trends and future of Smart Parking in airports
Smart Parking is growing rapidly thanks to new technologies that shape it and emerging mobility models, and new trends are emerging that define its direction.
1. Integration with MaaS platforms (Mobility as a Service)
Smart parking systems are integrated with MaaS platforms so that users can plan and combine means of transport from a single application: urban mobility apps, cabs, VTC services, bike rental points, scooters, etc.
2. Use of artificial intelligence for predictive analytics
With the data collected by sensors and detection cameras, artificial intelligence algorithms can be used to predict when there will be more demand for parking spaces and configure parking zones according to the time of day or day, or specific situations.
Sustainability and energy efficiency
Smart Parking solutions integrate with electric vehicle charging points and optimize energy use for lighting and signage. The system can be integrated with the green strategies proposed by the airport to further control emissions.
