To solve the high demand for parking in cities and the chaos that can result from inefficient space management, smart parking solutions are the order of the day. However, few are aware of all the advantages they can offer. In addition to helping to make better use of available space, they are a great tool for improving the driver experience and reducing the negative effects of traffic on the environment and urban mobility.
Intelligent guidance solutions
Using advanced technologies such as sensors in each parking space and detection cameras to know whether a space is free or occupied, as well as mobile apps and signage panels to inform drivers, guidance solutions help users find a parking spot faster and without driving around so much. This helps to reduce the number of cars in motion and, therefore, to reduce traffic jams.
In addition to parking space management in urban areas, guidance solutions have many other uses that cities can take advantage of.
Park&Ride
It is possible to decongest the city center by setting up Park&Ride zones in peripheral areas with good connections. Intelligent guidance solutions can direct drivers there, so that they can then reach the city center using public transport.
This combined strategy greatly facilitates access to the city while promoting more environmentally responsible alternatives for getting around, taking advantage of existing infrastructure. There is no need to invest in new facilities to provide more spaces in the city center. Moreover, the less traffic on the streets, the less pollution and the better the quality of the air that citizens and visitors breathe.
Tourist buses
Tour buses need specific spaces to provide the best service to tourists and meet their itinerary without delays. These buses stop at key points in the city so that tourists can visit the main attractions.
A guidance solution can be easily configured to manage spaces reserved for this purpose. In addition, violations such as improper occupation of these spaces can also be detected, which will be discussed later.
Shopping malls
Shopping malls tend to have congestion problems at their parking lot entrances, especially during rush hour, because of the difficulty customers have in finding free spaces. Guidance systems help drivers locate spaces through strategically placed signage panels that are updated in real time.
In addition to streamlining the flow of vehicles, these solutions also improve the experience for customers, who can better plan the time they spend shopping and even extend their visit to the mall.
Companies and carriers
Whether in the city center or on the outskirts, company parking lots of all types and truck parking areas can take advantage of intelligent guidance systems. As in other cases, these systems help employees find free spaces in the shortest possible time, which encourages punctuality.
In the case of carriers, they can better plan their breaks and routes for the distribution of goods. We could even say that it has a positive impact on road safety.
Park&Ride
Intelligent control solutions
While guidance systems focus on directing drivers to available spaces, intelligent control solutions monitor parking usage, reducing violations, and provide useful data to improve urban planning. Like the above, there are many areas where they can be beneficial.
Loading and unloading
Loading and unloading zones are susceptible to being occupied inappropriately, often forcing delivery vehicles to double-park and complicate traffic flow on the streets. With control systems, it is possible to detect in real time if the spaces reserved for this purpose have been occupied by an unauthorized vehicle, sending alerts to the driver himself or to the responsible authorities.
By controlling the use of these plazas, it is possible to ensure a good flow of goods, especially in commercial areas, and to avoid blockages in the streets or accidents due to risky maneuvers.
Paid or time-limited places
The paid or time-limited system that we usually find in city centers or areas with high demand for spaces, allows drivers to pay only for the time they actually park. Thanks to monitoring systems, it is possible to ensure compliance with parking regulations and improve the supervision of spaces. Alerts are sent to alert area managers if there are non-payments or the allowed time is exceeded, without the need to go vehicle by vehicle.
Among its benefits, it promotes vehicle rotation and, therefore, the availability of parking spaces, as well as reducing prolonged parking in areas with demand. In short, it improves access to specific areas of the city.
People with reduced mobility
Intelligent control solutions provide very useful information regarding the redistribution of reserved spaces. By analyzing the data, we can detect the real needs of the population and mobility patterns, it is easier to identify in which places it is more convenient to have reserved places for people with reduced mobility.
As in other cases, systems can also be implemented to prevent unauthorized drivers from occupying these spaces. Having accessible parking favors social equality, facilitates access to urban areas for people with disabilities.
Electric Vehicles
It is becoming increasingly common to see electric vehicles in large cities and, little by little, more charging points for them. Control solutions make it easier to monitor these reserved spaces to ensure that they are available to the users who need them. If an unauthorized vehicle is parked, the system can alert area supervisors.
This solution contributes its grain of sand to promote the use of environmentally responsible alternatives that minimize polluting gas emissions and improve air quality in cities. At Urbiotica, we adapt our intelligent solutions, both guidance and control, to the needs of each project, providing reliable advanced technology to improve parking management in cities and promote sustainable mobility.
