Urban parking went from being “a burden” to an opportunity for urban transformation thanks to smart parking. The data provided by the technologies that make up the system are analyzed and transmitted in real time, improving the management of available space and recovering useful surface area for other purposes. Whether as a stand-alone solution or integrated with other means of transport, smart parking systems provide a solution to traditional urban challenges, making cities more accessible.
Parking Guidance
Urban parking as a strategic and not a residual element
Parking used to be a functional solution, almost a secondary “consequence” of the population starting to own private vehicles, which had to be located wherever there was space left to meet the growing demand without taking into account how it affected the rest of the city. Today we understand the impact that parking has on the distribution of urban space, how its location, number of spaces, design and management can affect mobility and the quality of life of citizens and visitors.
This paradigm shift considers that parking should be planned following a well-defined strategy based on real data on the city’s needs. It is not a matter of placing parking spaces at random, but rather of analyzing how many are needed, deciding where it is best to locate them and what technology is the most appropriate for the system to be efficient and for the population to be able to reach them easily.
From urban burden to transformation opportunity
Taking up too much space in the city to park vehicles without a clear strategy can lead to certain complications, such as cars sitting idle, limiting turnover in key areas, or parking spaces remaining empty for long hours. Also, providing too many spaces encourages people to use private vehicles more, leading to more congestion and air pollution.
To solve these problems, cities around the world are turning parking into an opportunity for urban transformation. These strategies seek to balance supply and demand by taking into account certain data to know where more spaces are needed and where they are in surplus, and to reduce unnecessary car use by encouraging walking, cycling and public transport. This frees up space for other uses: green areas, wide sidewalks, playgrounds and local commerce.
Intelligent parking: technology at the service of the city
Smart parking technologies form an interconnected system that captures and transmits data on parking space occupancy in real time with the aim of improving the user experience and facilitating the management of available parking spaces in the city for the technicians responsible for them and the competent authorities that determine planning.
Its components include sensing devices with integrated IoT technology, as well as mobile applications and variable signage panels that inform drivers about availability and help reduce search time. All information on occupancy, duration, most used zones and schedules are analyzed in a centralized platform and connected in real time with the rest of the devices.
Thanks to smart parking systems, the infrastructure is not isolated, but can connect with other city services, facilitating accessibility to public space and encouraging more sustainable alternatives such as the subway or bus to reduce vehicle circulation in the center without being inconvenient for users.
Data that plans: real-time urban intelligence
Smart parking systems generate real-time data that can be taken into account to make important decisions on how to organize and improve mobility.
Parking lot zoning
As we mentioned, it is possible to know which parking spaces are occupied and which are free, at what times there are more cars parked and how long they stay there. Thus, it is easier to identify the areas with the highest demand and those in disuse that can be used for other purposes. Reserved spaces can be redistributed to meet specific needs.
2. Dynamic rates
Returning to the option of placing rates in the most congested areas, the data obtained in real time makes it easy to update rates according to demand in order to redirect traffic to nearby unoccupied areas.
3. Space distribution
In addition to guiding, intelligent parking systems can monitor the proper use of available parking spaces, detecting certain incidents or needs. For example, it can help relocate parking spaces for loading and unloading in commercial areas with high demand, even if it is only during certain hours.
Reclaimed space: fewer squares, more city
Smart parking can be used to convert unused parking lots and gain space for public use, from wider sidewalks for walking to safe bike lanes connecting different parts of the city. It can also be used for businesses with the aim of reviving the local economy, such as terraces for bars and restaurants, open-air markets and small temporary street stalls.
Replacing squares with green areas, beyond creating rest areas or space for sports, is also a great environmental improvement. While asphalt causes the “heat island” effect, vegetation purifies the air, provides shade and cools the environment, which is very convenient in cities with high summer temperatures.
Connecting modes: parking as a mobility node
The trip does not have to end when you park your car; many cities are promoting intermodal trips, those in which several types of transport are combined. Parking has gone from being the final destination to become a node in the mobility network.
One of the most common solutions is to set up Park&Ride park-and-ride facilities on the outskirts or at strategic points near subway, train and bus stations or shared-mode services such as public bicycles or electric scooters. Drivers can leave their car there and continue to the city center using another service, reducing traffic and polluting less.
Smart parking also helps in low-emission zones (LEZ), controlling access to spaces reserved for authorized vehicles, whether electric, hybrid or environmentally labeled. From the app, drivers can see whether or not their car can park in the spot in question. Real-time information reduces traffic jostling, i.e., the twists and turns users make in search of free parking, especially when it is a non-traditional space.
Urban challenges and keys to effective implementation
When implementing intelligent parking solutions it is important to consider a number of details: the budget available, whether it can be integrated with existing systems, how intuitive the technology in question is, and how it ensures ethical and secure use of the information obtained.
Strategic planning with clear and measurable objectives is needed as a basis for designing a scalable project that involves the population, municipal technicians and private companies. The system must be able to adapt to the specific needs of each city and to connect with new platforms in the future so as not to have to start from scratch.
Smart planning for more livable cities
Technologies such as those developed by Urbiotica allow both users and municipal authorities to make informed decisions, adjusting regulations and land use based on real data, not just assumptions. With the improvement in the management of public space, sustainable mobility is boosted and much more accessible and livable cities are created in which quality of life is taken into account.
