Wrocław is revolutionizing urban parking with a smart pay-per-space system
Digitize metered parking and reduce errors in payment validation
Wrocław has become the first city in Poland to implement a pay-per-space system, taking an important step toward smarter urban space management.
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Without a smart parking system, managing metered parking often involves errors in payment validation and difficulties in determining in real time whether users are complying with the regulations. The traditional model relies heavily on manual monitoring or imprecise validations, making it more difficult for authorities to determine how best to utilize available urban space.
To address this issue, Wrocław has implemented a system that links each payment to a specific parking space, enabling more reliable and automated control of parking in the city. This decision responds both to an operational need and to current trends in urban digitization that help improve public services.
In this case, we are talking about a solution based on machine vision cameras—rather than sensors installed in each individual space—which reduces the investment required for deployment by allowing a single device to monitor multiple areas. This approach simplifies implementation while also making it easier to scale the system as future needs arise.
The control system has been deployed on Mennicza Street in collaboration with our partner PM3D and Flowbird, the company responsible for managing digital parking payments in the city.
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The technology used in Wrocław relies on computer vision systems developed by Urbiotica, which are capable of identifying the actual occupancy of each parking space. This solution is combined with Flowbird’s network of parking meters and the collaboration of PM3D, a partner that has facilitated the integration of the solution into the existing infrastructure.
As a result, it is now possible to automatically verify whether a vehicle has paid for the parking space it occupies in Wroclaw without having to rely on manual inspections. This reduces human error and streamlines monitoring tasks. Furthermore, the system immediately detects any discrepancy between actual occupancy and the recorded payment, which improves the response time of the teams responsible for monitoring.
The most significant change is that users no longer pay just for the duration of parking, but for the specific parking space they occupy. Drivers enter the number of the space where they have parked using a parking meter or a mobile app, thereby linking the payment to a specific space. Parking management becomes more transparent.
- Greater accuracy when validating parking.
- Reduction of fraud and oversight errors.
- Optimization of the work of the control teams.
- Improved management of available public space.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Wrocław's pay-per-space system differ from a traditional parking meter?
Parking meters track parking duration, not the vehicle’s exact location. The “pay-per-space” model links the ticket to a specific parking space in order to accurately verify whether the payment actually corresponds to the vehicle in question. This significantly improves the management and validation of regulated parking.
How does this model improve the citizen experience in Wrocław?
The pay-per-space model makes regulated parking easier for users and reduces the confusion often associated with the time or location of the ticket. By improving the system’s accuracy, it reduces the number of unjustified fines and provides a clearer, more predictable experience for citizens.
What role does data play in this solution implemented in the city of Wrocław?
The data generated by the system implemented in the city makes it possible to analyze occupancy patterns and better understand how public space is used throughout the day and in the future, allowing for the identification of areas with higher demand. All of this helps the city government improve parking planning and urban mobility policies.
