Maintenance of Urbiotica’s smart parking solutions is virtually non-existent. Unlike other systems, the sensors are powered by batteries that last around 10 years and update software and firmware remotely and simultaneously. Physical interventions are infrequent and, if they occur, it takes only a few minutes to replace the devices. These and other advantages enable cities and private operators of parking save time, reduce operating costs and adapt to future changes.
U-Spot: parking space IoT detection
Actual maintenance: what do you need to know?
Urbiotica’s smart parking solutions combine hardware and software to detect whether parking spaces are free or occupied, monitor violations and direct drivers to available spaces. That said, one of the great advantages of this technology is that maintenance is virtually non-existent thanks to its wireless installation, long lifetime, automatic calibration and remote management.
Battery life
Traditional parking management systems need to be connected to the power grid, hence the need for complex wiring and investment in infrastructure and maintenance, while Urbiotica’s wireless sensors are powered by internal autonomous batteries. These manganese-lithium batteries do not require constant external power supply and last approximately 10 years. There is no need to change or recharge the batteries during that time.
2. Updates
The update process is simpler in Urbiotica, both for the software and firmware of the sensors and for the management platform and gateways. It is done completely remotely and simultaneously from the online platform, there is no need to send technicians to each parking space where devices are installed.
It should be noted that updates are also infrequent, the system is very stable and does not require constant changes. This means that service is not interrupted, operating costs are reduced and system management is simplified.
3. Physical interventions
However infrequent they may be, it is important to consider possible contingencies. The replacement of any wireless device is fast: it is replaced in less than 10 minutes if it is a buried sensor, and in less than 3 minutes if it is a surface sensor.
Unlike cabled systems, there is no need to plan construction work, limit street traffic or deal with complicated dismantling. There is also no risk of affecting the rest of the system through cuts, corrosion or handling errors. Although physical interventions are involved, they are more efficient and have minimal operational impact.
4. Sensor calibration
The sensors must be calibrated to correctly detect the vehicles occupying the parking spaces and send the data to the central platform. Urbiotica’s smart sensors perform automatic and continuous calibration thanks to their remote connection. There is no need to dedicate time and resources to this type of maintenance.
| Maintenance | Wireless systems | Wired systems |
| Shelf life | They are powered by internal manganese-lithium batteries that have a useful life of approximately 10 years. | They need to be connected to the power grid by complex wiring. |
| Updates | They are done remotely and simultaneously from the platform; reduces operating costs. | Manual intervention, requiring physical movement and interruption of circulation. |
| Replacement | Very fast: less than 10 minutes for buried sensors, less than 3 minutes for surface sensors. | Requires construction work, traffic interruptions, complicated dismantling, increased risk of breakdowns. |
| Calibration | Automatic and continuous calibration; no physical inspections or need to travel to service technicians. | Periodic review and manual adjustment of each sensor; involves constant time and resources. |
In summary, although every system requires a minimum of attention, at Urbiotica the idea is to install and “forget about it”. This is a departure from other systems that require wiring, periodic adjustments or constant calibration. Smart wireless solutions save time and investment for cities and private operators.
Advice during the implementation phase
For the smart parking solution to be useful in the long term, it is important to consider some external factors during the implementation phase, as well as to ensure a scalable and flexible system that can be adapted to the urban or private parking infrastructure.
Quality of the installation
There are some external factors that can influence the performance of the sensors and, therefore, Urbiotica takes them into account when designing the smart parking system for each project it undertakes. For example, in cities with cold winters and frequent snow plows, it is often better to install buried sensors to avoid damage.
Moreover, the communications network connecting the sensors to the management platform must be kept operational to ensure continuous data transmission, whether NB-IoT or LoRaWAN. A quality installation from the start reduces the risk of failure.
2. System scalability
In addition to a long service life, it is important to have a scalable solution that can be easily adapted to changes in the infrastructure or the needs of the parking lot, whether it is for public or private use. It is also useful that it can be integrated with third-party systems to avoid having to undo previous projects.
If there are plans to expand the number of places or to incorporate new functionalities, it is essential that the solution be as flexible as Urbiotica’s, allowing the integration of new technologies without complex interventions.
